The Shield

This is un-freakin' believable. Vic's wife did throw a big wrench during the show, then an even bigger one in the trailer for next week.

I keep trying to sort out who's going to live/die/end up in prison for eternity, and this week's episode left me as baffled as ever. My stomach was churning as Vic talked to Ronnie about what the plan needs to be for Shane and Mara. Holy S**T.

This has been an unbelievable season. Can't wait 'til next Tuesday.

 

I am enjoying the hell out of this season, but I have to say, I'm having trouble believing Vic would advocate killing a pregnant woman. Not even in his worst moment, not even to save his own ass.

 

Not me. I'm convinced he'd kill Mara, Corrine and Cass with a machete to save his skin and/or get Shane. And I'll be stunned if at least one of them doesn't die (be it Vic, Shane or third party) by the final credits.

 

But hasn't Vic always had an underlying moral code, as fucked up as it is? That's how he has remained a hero in the story despite doing bad things. That's the key to the whole show -- we can root for Vic because he only does bad things to bad people.

 

At his core, yeah. But if he hasn't cast it aside in his desire to avenge Lem (and do Shane for trying to him and Ronnie), he's gotta be getting awfully close. He's had a gun on Shane twice and not pulled the trigger. I think very soon, that third time's the charm -- even if he's hiding behind Mara's pregnant belly and his comatose son.

 

Maybe, but I think a lot of people would be disappointed if they went there. I think most are resigned to him getting what he has coming, but wouldn't want him to turn truly evil.

 

Perhaps. But I'm pretty sure everyone wants Shane dead, and I don't think they want Dutchboy or Penzuela pulling the trigger for some weird reason.

Not to spoil it if it actually comes to this, but I can't help but to think the only way this show ends is with Mackey at Lemonhead's grave, doing his Budd Dwyer impression, and cut to final black.

 

Mara still needs to pay for Tavon. Not to mention taking some of the money train stash. I'm good with her going down. I'll shed no tears. If only she wasn't pregnant.

 

You're spot-on, Dan -- Mara is definitely due some come-uppance. But being pregnant just takes that to a nasty level. Yet Vic's talk with Ronnie seems to point to such nastiness. Regardless, I'll be tuned in for whatever gut-wrenching moment ultimately comes to pass.

 

A lot of things have happened in the last two weeks that make me question what Vic Mackey is truly all about. He's willing to kill the pregnant Mara. That alone I can justify. But then you add his deal with Corrine---in return for her help this final time, he has to sacrifice his family, no longer be a part of their lives. Based on my perception of Vic beforehand, that was unimaginable. And then he can't get anywhere without his badge, including at Benzula (sp?) and goes so far as to threaten Olivia---and wasn't it a hollow threat, too, since he doesn't have the document that incriminates her?

I don't know. It seems like he just wants to save his own ass. That saddens me, because I agree with Arnold---I always liked Vic because he didn't pick on the little guy. He did some bad things, but it was always at the expense of bad people. That's the difference between him and Tony Soprano. Tony made his living by shitting on the little people and then looking down at those very same individuals.

At least Vic had a moral code that, though it was blurry, made sense most of the time. Tony's moral code always changed to suit his own selfish needs ("I'm a strict Catholic" was the best example throughout the run of the series). I always loved Vic; I had a love/hate connection to Tony that usually leaned towards hate. Now I can't make that important distinction between the two men.

 

Great episode last night. It was a bridge episode to set up the conclusion of the season.
Mara, between what she did to Tavon, stealing from the money train stash, and how she dragged Vic's wife & family into things with her threats and trash-mouth, pregnant or not, she definitely has come-uppance on the way. The only way to protect himself and Ronnie is to kill her and Shane, just like the only way to protect the strike team from a snitch was to kill Terry Crowley, which in a weird way would bring the show full circle.

Vic's moral code is not only to do bad things to bad people but to protect his family at all costs. In Vic's eyes, Mara has been putting his family at risk, so he'll have no problem shooting her. It's this code that made him do the unthinkable - sacrifice contact with his family in exchange for their safety (knowing with Shane and Mara gone, his family is safe).

The next four weeks are going to be great.

 

Damn... another great episode tonight. This series is going out on a high note. Lots of nice little plot twists tonight.

- Mara's in for a tough decision next week.
- You have to wonder how much longer Ronnie's going to stick around before skipping town.
- Vic will keep fighting until the end.