The Shield - S1E2 "Our Gang"

Review

Ah, The Shield. I was always under the impression that this series starts slow. I was wrong.

This episode follows David's search for answers as Terry dies in the hospital from a gunshot wound inflicted by Vince. The subplot is about a churro vendor who was shot by a Los Magnificos gang member, and the sub-subplot is about the initiation of a rookie into the police force.

I like the way the show is developing its characters and the way the writers were able to use the rookie cop's interactions with Danni in this episode to paint a picture of what it's like to be a cop in this police force.

First, there's the news about Terry's fatal gunshot wound. Here, Danni scolds the rookie for not coming to the hospital after she left a message for him on his answering machine the other night:

"What?" he says. "I've been on the job three weeks. I didn't even know that guy"
She replies "Rule number one. He was a cop. You're a cop. You knew him."

Right away we get a feel for the sense of camaraderie these people have. And it speaks to her character, as well, that she's able to respect the situation and treat a death in the unit with due solemnity.

Another scene with similar effect sees the strike force teasing the rookie about needing to get initiated. Walking away from the group, he tells Danni he doesn't want to partake. Her response is that those men may just be over-grown frat guys, but one day they could be all that is standing between him and a bullet.

And it's true. Their jobs are often hard. In the worst of times they're life-or-death. And in those crucial moments all they have is each other. That's not a lesson you want to learn the hard way.

Yet - and I want to stress this as much as I can - they're still normal people. They have lives outside of work. They have relationships; families. They do things that normal people do. In the previous episode it was revealed that Mackie occasionally sleeps with Danni. This episode, we see Mackie at home and interacting with his wife and daughter.

It's also Claudette's birthday. She's older and she's being teased about it. Someone anonymous gets her a gift: dental paste. She goes to celebrate with her friend and a potential love interest after work. Earlier, she harshly criticizes the rookie cop about his handling of a crime scene. Her partner tells the rookie, with a smile, "don't take it too hard. She's in a pissy mood because it's her birthday"

I love that this show is able to be serious when the story needs it to be and light and humorous when it doesn't. One of my major criticisms of modern drama is that hardly anyone is ever having fun. Not so, here.

I'm very interested to see what comes of the David vs. Mackie storyline. Will Mackie get caught? How is Mackie affected by what he did? Will there need to be more casualties as others get closer to the truth? Is Shane liable to break if David keeps pressing? Until episode 3...

7/10

Odds and Ends

• Why do cops always sit at the bar?
• Walton Goggins is a seriously great actor. The interrogation by David is the best scene here.
• I like the action shots in this series. Very active shaky-cam. They haven't overdone it yet.
• Does Mackie's wife have a JOIIIISEY accent? (Jersey)
• Liked this exchange:
• Claudette: "We're too old to be chasing men around." 
• Friend: "I'm not." 
• Claudette: "Neither am I." 
• I initially had issues with Mackie acting so shaken up after Terry died. Maybe this says more about how other shows and movies have conditioned me to see cops on the small screen. These guys do show emotion. Losing one of your own can't be an easy thing. Still, nice affectation there, Mackie! PUNK!
• Terry's story about oral sex at the poker game reminded me of the bullshit story in Reservoir Dogs that the undercover cop has to sell the rest of the criminals on.