The Shield Review: A Corrupt Cop at the Centre
9/10 — The Shield (2002)
Pros
- Michael Chiklis's performance
- Gripping storylines
- Uncompromising finale
Cons
- Relentlessly grim
- Violent
Vic Mackey, played by Michael Chiklis, leads the Strike Team, an elite LAPD squad that bends the rules, in a gritty drama set in a fictional Los Angeles precinct. The series ran for seven seasons.
What works
Chiklis is intense, and the show’s handheld style puts you in the middle of the action. The story builds to a gripping, uncompromising end, and the supporting cast is strong.
Where it falters
The pilot is rough, and the show’s grimness and violence can be too relentless.
Verdict
A brutal, riveting police drama.
