Teeming with gang-bangers, perverts, rapists and killers, The Shield is unabashedly adult TV drama; and even liberal viewers may flinch at plots involving child pornography and serial murder. The first series of this uncompromising police drama focuses on pugnacious detective Vic Mackey (Michael Chiklis), whose amoral Strike Team employs dubious tactics in the crime-ridden (and fictional) Farmington district of Los Angeles. Mackey and his maverick partners are at odds with seasoned detectives and beat cops, escalating tensions with precinct Captain Aceveda (Benito Martinez), a Latino with flexible scruples and a political agenda.

The series invites viewers to form their own judgments regarding Mackey's volatile behaviour, which includes killing an undercover cop in the electrifying pilot episode. While each episode stands alone, the arc of the series incorporates Aceveda's campaign to end Mackey's career, the self-loathing of a homosexual rookie (Michael Jace) whose partner (Catherine Dent) is Mackey's occasional mistress, a straight-laced detective (Jay Karnes) yearning for respect, Mackey's compassionate attempt to rehabilitate a crack whore (Jamie Brown, giving the season's finest guest performance), the autism of Mackey's young son and the recklessness of his closest partner (Walton Goggins) and the vigilant stoicism of Det. Wyms (CCH Pounder), who's as sensibly upright as Mackey is corrupted. The Shield is excellent TV for those who can grasp its complexities; all others beware. --Jeff Shannon

...Oh, you thought that was The Wire? Th Shield is much better. Everything here is driven by character - and these are some of the most fascinating, flawed, complex characters to be found anywhere in fiction. There are none of the archly winsome performances and "writerly" dialogue and scene juxtapositions that in The Wire keep reminding you that you're watching a work of fiction. The Shield sucks you right in. Start at the beginning and you're in for a visceral experience that is the nearest TV drama has got to Shakespearean tragedy.

based in the "Farmington"distrcit of los angeles, the shield is a gritty cop drama. lots of action, sex and drugs this show is compelling viewing. good cops, bad cops and then the strike team this show has everything. although many people may see vic mackey as a dirty cop he is keeping the streets safe in his own way which causes problems for everybody else!!! throw in a cast of different cops and you have the wondeful world of the shield

I bought the 1 series solely for Michael Chiklis - well, he is good as usual. I think I managed to watch 2 or 3 episodes before I realized that I had to force myself to do that. Nobody to relate to, nothing to be really interested in, not a single hero to like... Totally unrealistic, but the main problem can be described by a phrase I heard from somebody years ago :I am not interested in the problems of an unwhashed man. If you are - like me - not interested in the problems of drug dealers, pimps and other such - this is probably not for you.

1. Consistent high quality script.
2. Satisfyingly complex plot lines.
3. Great character definition.
4. Super duper acting.
5. Every episode gets you involved by making you think: "What would I do in that position?"
6. Like 24 did - this grips you like a page turning thriller.

GO BUY!!

I started watching The Shield since it was on the shelf in my library. At first I thought Vic Mackey was just a poor man's Grant Mitchell, not that I think much of Grant Mitchell. The filming also seemed horrible, meant to be in the style of independent films and also to make it seem more real, like a fly on the wall documentary. To me it just seemed amateurish (like many independent films).

However the supporting actors were believable and likeable and the stories were interesting and gradually I got drawn in to the series and quite enjoyed it. I still think the strike team are a bit naff but they work ok in the piece and the series as a whole is worth a watch. 3.5 stars less .5 for the camerawork.