Farmington in chaos

04.01.2003

For Emily and Bay Jo, who missed the last episode of The Shield: Season Two. And for Evil Bill and J. Edmund. You guys missed out. Big. Wow.

OK. Ready for the recap? Here goes. While the last season ended in an explosion, this season ended in a shattering. Every different plot line went shooting in disparate directions, wreaking utter havoc on the characters.

The show starts w/ a murder. Would you expect anything less from our favorite dirty cop drama? Claudette's ex-husband is found dead - in a very shady part of town - and her daughter's the only witness. It might be gang related.

Dutch is on the case. Claudette's in shock, but must pull herself together as Vic rubs salt on the wounds and tries to work the case to his own advantage.

Captain Aceveda's now a lame duck. And Vic knows it. That means a green light for the "money train" (aka robbing the Armenian mafia's money laundering shipment). Vic spends most of the day keeping Tavon ("the new guy") out of the strike team's shady business.

Things get heated up around Julien (the gay-not-gay cop). He's been "outed" by two homophobic cops who're nothing but adolescent trouble.

OK. So what actually happens? Vic and Tavon get the gangbangers that killed Claudette's ex. Tavon plays Russian roulette w/ a suspect to make him confess. Vic and team hit the money train - sloppily. Shots fired; dead bodies. But all our cops walk away intact. Oh, and w/ a truckload (literally) of money (there's a glorious shot of them admiring their loot at the end).

At the end of the workday, Aceveda walks out the "barn" w/ a banker's box full of his personal items. Pathetic. Vic gloats to Claudette and wonders how they'll work together from now on. She coldly corrects him: "Don't you mean work for me?" A close-up as the realization sinks into Vic. Claudette - his most formidable nemesis - is his new boss.

Several cops are fired (the police chief wants a 20 percent cut in staff). None of them important. Except Danny. Remember when Shane planted a knife on an inmate to kill Quintero? Danny took the heat for that. She knows it; she knows she's been betrayed. The last shot we have of her is firing in a gun range - at a picture that looks familiar.

Julien goes home to his wife and step-kid. Touching scene of him helping his wife wash dishes. He's sad his partner's gone, but happy to've survived the job cuts. Unlike the two homophobe rookie cops. Who're waiting for him outside to beat him half to death w/ police batons.

Oh, and Aceveda? He wins the election in a stunning (but narrow) upset. So he's on his way to city council. Which means he'll probably still be on the show. Except this time he'll be more powerful - and he's not happy w/ the police chief who bullied him around.

Posted by Miguel at 11:48 PM

Comments

question - the final scene in the finale, where theyre all looking at the money. What is with the grim faces? They are just stunned at the amount of cash or was something wrong?
also- Does anyone out there agree with me that Vic needs to not only dump
his wife but SMACK HER DOWN like the ungrateful B**** she is? SHe
spends the season finale of season 2 chilling reading and drinking
wine - no job, easy life, and all she does is B**** about Vic? Most
of the bad guys on this show eventually get there fate handed to
them. She needs to get beat down or eliminated from the show.
Otherwise insanly good season finale

Posted by: bill at April 2, 2003 09:36 AM

while I suspect that this is a clever april fools rant at my expense- the joker will need to notice in the future that my electronic name is bil. Also- I think in creating this sataire the writer has certainly stumbled upon some issues for him to work on.
I'm sorry to have missed all the drama- I look forward to catching the dvd. It sounds like the show is off to a good start towards season 3.

oh yeah, also I didn't see the episode so of course I didn't write that other thing.
Is there another bill in your life miguel?

Posted by: bil at April 2, 2003 12:34 PM

Wow. It must be a different Bill. But then again, you are Evil Bill. I put nothing past you.

Posted by: miguel at April 2, 2003 04:12 PM