So I started The Shield

[Childs]

Banshee is pretty good but b movie good

Yeah, its fairly entertaining and doesn't take itself too seriously. Kinda like Strike Back. The problem with the series discussed in this thread is that the protagonists are despicable people. The last few seasons of The Shield was really good, because all their actions had consequences. It just takes a little while to get there.

 

[SAWYER]

I am almost done with season 3, still not even close to the same level as other mentioned shows. Hiis wife is still the worst character ever and the acting is piss poor. It is decent but nowhere near the hype imo.

 

[Drekce]

I think Vic's wife is the real life wife of the show's creator.

 

[TwiceOver]

I think Vic's wife is the real life wife of the show's creator.

Yes, Cathy Cahlin Ryan

 

[GagHalfrunt]

I am almost done with season 3, still not even close to the same level as other mentioned shows. Hiis wife is still the worst character ever and the acting is piss poor. It is decent but nowhere near the hype imo.

Remember that The Shield is what got the ball rolling on that type of show on basic cable. The Wire and The Sopranos were both on premium cable where the rules are a little different. To see a cop gun down a fellow cop in the very first episode was completely outside the envelope of what had been done on that kind of TV before. The reason we have Justified and Breaking Bad is because of what the Shield did to set the bar. Maybe the Shield was not as good as Breaking Bad was at it's best, but the Shield was, at that time, probably the best show on TV. All the other great series that have followed have built on that.

 

[DaTT]

I am almost done with season 3, still not even close to the same level as other mentioned shows. Hiis wife is still the worst character ever and the acting is piss poor. It is decent but nowhere near the hype imo.

It is possible that the show has been too "hyped up" for you. Still one of my favorites. I have watched it twice front to back.

 

[SAWYER]

Is Justified better than this?

 

[ThinClient]

Yes, Cathy Cahlin Ryan

She looks so much like this cutie I knew in high school. <3

 

[Childs]

Is Justified better than this?

I would say yes, but its a different kind of show. Its not as serious, but really good. I think I would rather watch all of Justified than all of The Shield, The Wire, Sopranos, Breaking Bad, and all those other highly acclaimed shows. But then I would say the same about Banshee or Strike Back. I guess I dont like watching scumbags win.

 

[ThinClient]

I tried The Wire but couldn't get into it. A few episodes into season 2 and it just couldn't keep my attention and I was tired of trying. Yawn.

If I wanted to watch true-to-life police work as boring as sitting in a room and watching them fill out paperwork, I'd go be a cop or something.

The Shield was good. When it came out, I'd never seen the Sopranos or Lost or any other show with a multi-season story arc of that scale. It was really entertaining. I do have to say that the last episode was pretty anti-climactic.

The Sopranos was boring, I didn't make it through season 2.

Breaking Bad is the best show I've ever seen.

Anyone who likes Glee needs to douse themselves in gasoline and light up a smoke.

 

[McLovin]

Walton Goggins gives an absolutely amazing performance as Boyd Crowder on Justified. It blows my mind to think he's not yet won an Emmy. Although I think he went up against Aaron Paul from BB, so kinda makes sense.

I didn't realize Goggins was in the Shield. Makes me want to watch it more now.

 

[GagHalfrunt]

Walton Goggins gives an absolutely amazing performance as Boyd Crowder on Justified. It blows my mind to think he's not yet won an Emmy. Although I think he went up against Aaron Paul from BB, so kinda makes sense.

I didn't realize Goggins was in the Shield. Makes me want to watch it more now.

He was a major character throughout all of the Shield and was REALLY important in the endgame, he was even better there than he is in Justified. So if you're a fan of his it will be well worth your time to watch it. Do you watch Sons of Anarchy? Goggins has a funny recurring bit part that is not to be missed.

 

[ThinClient]

He was a major character throughout all of the Shield and was REALLY important in the endgame, he was even better there than he is in Justified. So if you're a fan of his it will be well worth your time to watch it. Do you watch Sons of Anarchy? Goggins has a funny recurring bit part that is not to be missed.

He played a transvestite hooker in Sons of Anarchy. It was a trip to see him with tits and assless chaps.

Also, LMAO at Tig wanting a piece of that. ^_^

 

[McLovin]

He was a major character throughout all of the Shield and was REALLY important in the endgame, he was even better there than he is in Justified. So if you're a fan of his it will be well worth your time to watch it. Do you watch Sons of Anarchy? Goggins has a funny recurring bit part that is not to be missed.

I absolutely watch SoA and loved the fact he was involved in a few episodes.

I guess you could say that FX has been nailing it recently with regrads to the programs they have.

 

[purbeast0]

repeating that the shield is still the greatest show of all time.

those comparing it to the likes of breaking bad and recent shows need to remember how old it is and that there was nothing even close to it on normal cable back then, that was even close to being as gritty as the shield was. such an amazing show i have to watch it again. the stuff that shane and vic go through ... simply amazing.

 

[Childs]

repeating that the shield is still the greatest show of all time.

those comparing it to the likes of breaking bad and recent shows need to remember how old it is and that there was nothing even close to it on normal cable back then, that was even close to being as gritty as the shield was. such an amazing show i have to watch it again. the stuff that shane and vic go through ... simply amazing.

I was tempted to watch it again, but when I watched it I did it a season at a time. If I hear the phrase "Armenian Money Train" one more time I will chuck my remote at my TV.

 

[PottedMeat]

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

repeating that the shield is still the greatest show of all time.

those comparing it to the likes of breaking bad and recent shows need to remember how old it is and that there was nothing even close to it on normal cable back then, that was even close to being as gritty as the shield was. such an amazing show i have to watch it again. the stuff that shane and vic go through ... simply amazing.

I don't really think it makes sense to rely on its historical context to argue that it's "the greatest show of all time." It's fine to argue that The Shield was a necessary precursor in order to set the stage for, say, Breaking Bad, but if BB surpassed it (and I'd argue that it did, in spades), then The Shield is no longer the greatest of all time. Willie Dixon and Robert Johnson were necessary to set the stage for Jimi Hendrix, but that doesn't make them better than him. Personally I don't think The Shield is even in the top 5 greatest shows of all time, and probably not in the top 10.

 

[GagHalfrunt]

Personally I don't think The Shield is even in the top 5 greatest shows of all time, and probably not in the top 10.

Boy, picking a top 5 or top 10 would be a bitch. Pretty sure The Shield wouldn't make my top 5, but it would easily make top 10. Season 5 with Forest Whitaker through the season 7 finale were especially stellar.

 

[velillen]

It is possible that the show has been too "hyped up" for you. Still one of my favorites. I have watched it twice front to back.

Thats what happened for me and The Wire. And to an extent Breaking Bad as well. I watched The Shield soon after it came out on dvd and loved it. Heard everyone talk about The Wire and recommend it. Tried The Wire and never got into it. Thought it was ok but nothing to special.Never felt sucked into the episodes i guess. The Shield i just felt like watching the next episode soon as i could. Breaking Bad i watched the first 3 seasons and thought it was good. But then the fourth season came and i just stopped. I dunno felt like a rinse and repeat cycle with some twist and turns along the way. Watched Season 4 to the end after the last episode aired and still thought it was good but nothing super special.

I dunno i guess i just enjoy tv shows that mention things from previous seasons. Like how in The Shield things from past seasons would be brought up or be major plot points. Every show has that happen to an extent but i thought The Shield was the most enjoyable. Breaking Bad had its moments but seemed to really only bring the big things in. The Wire...i dunno i dont really remember any of it and its only been 2-3 years.

but like anyhting that is my opinion and thats what makes tv great. i enjoy the shows i enjoy and you can enjoy the ones you enjoy

 

[GasX]

I still cringe thinking about Lem dying...

 

[RossMAN]

repeating that the shield is still the greatest show of all time.

those comparing it to the likes of breaking bad and recent shows need to remember how old it is and that there was nothing even close to it on normal cable back then, that was even close to being as gritty as the shield was. such an amazing show i have to watch it again. the stuff that shane and vic go through ... simply amazing.

It was freaking awesome at the time and I think it opened the doors for better shows.

However let's be realistic, Breaking Bad > The Shield, easily.

 

[purbeast0]

It was freaking awesome at the time and I think it opened the doors for better shows.

However let's be realistic, Breaking Bad > The Shield, easily.

i never got the same feeling while watching breaking bad as i did with the shield. the whole money train season, then the season following that, and how things just unfolded. i never got that feeling watching breaking bad.

 

[RossMAN]

i never got the same feeling while watching breaking bad as i did with the shield. the whole money train season, then the season following that, and how things just unfolded. i never got that feeling watching breaking bad.

The Money Train was definitely intense. I wish The Shield went on for another 1-2 seasons, I don't think the characters were given the right closure, I dunno just feels like a lot of loose ends left open.

Damn I miss that show now.

 

[purbeast0]

The Money Train was definitely intense. I wish The Shield went on for another 1-2 seasons, I don't think the characters were given the right closure, I dunno just feels like a lot of loose ends left open.

Damn I miss that show now.

i loved how it ended. i actually hated it at the time because i did not want it to end, but the more and more i thought about it, the more and more i liked it. it was TOTALLY not what i expected, and it caught me off guard and was just not the happy ending everyone expected. so i was glad it ended like that in the end.

one thing i can say too, if i could only pick 1 season to watch between BB and the shield, it would be the shield for sure. maybe it is because BB is fresh in my head, but i don't know, either way i'd pick the shield.