Everything good about the first season of The Shield is intensified in the second. For detective Vic Mackey (Michael Chiklis) and his amoral strike team, these 13 episodes follow "the money train," a stockpile of Armenian mob money ripe for the taking. Mackey's team plots to steal this criminal fortune while under pressure from Capt. Aceveda (Benito Martinez), whose political campaign is threatened by a civilian auditor (Lucinda Jenney) assigned to uncover corruption in "the Barn." The uneasy alliance between Aceveda and Mackey provokes the suspicion of Wyms (CCH Pounder), whose by-the-book vigilance is rewarded while Dutch (Jay Karnes) endures a slump that worsens the Barn's sullied reputation. After being horribly disfigured by Mackey, a vile Mexican druglord (Daniel Pino) plots a territorial coup, prompting the strike team's finest police work while Mackey struggles to save his failing marriage. Post-9/11 tensions erupt when beat cop Danny (Catherine Dent) justifiably shoots an armed Arab civilian, and newlywed Julien (Michael Jace) copes with (literal) gay-bashing following his church-sponsored sexual reorientation.

As always, The Shield supports these plotlines with gritty casework, including a brutal kidnapping, homicide, and gangland warfare. Every episode (shot in grainy 16mm) meets the series' high standard of excellence, but "Greenlit," "Homewrecker" (featuring the death of a recurring character), and "Dominoes Falling" are standouts, while the controversial "Co-Pilot" offers a retrospective look at the Barn's volatile origins. Writing and direction are consistently superb, and Pounder deserves honorable mention among the brilliant cast, striking a stoical balance of world-weary wisdom, procedural diligence, and righteous indignation.

Bonus features comprise a virtual film school for anyone seeking a career in television. While the commentaries explore the nuts and bolts of series development, the "Directors' Roundtable" (with creator Shawn Ryan, Scott Brazil, Peter Horton, and Paris Barclay) is a revealing, frequently hilarious study of the rigors of fast-paced production; "Sound Surgery" presents a track-by-track analysis of sound, music, and dialogue; and "Wrap Day" is a celebratory tribute to the series' hard-working cast and crew. It's all good, and guaranteed to stoke anyone's appetite for Season Three. --Jeff Shannon

the second season of the shield starts 4/5 weks after the first season ended. vic mackey's personal life is falling apart as his wife has disappeared with the kids!!! this season sees major changes for all the characters and some new faces on both sides of the fight. throughout the season the strike team are trying to get their hands on their "retirement" fund, which is mostly dodgy dealings which they are known best for. great writing, great acting and the real life feel is still there!!!

Anyone who read my review of Season 1 of The Shield is probably wondering why I subjected myself to this, the second season. My review for those who haven't read it (and why would you have) wasn't overly complimentary, in fact, it almost bordered on the negative. Well visiting the US on holiday earlier this year I caught an episode of Season 2 and for some reason felt a certain affection for the characters (particularly Dutch boy) and also realised that I quite missed a series with plot lines so bad they're funny. So to cut a long story the same length I purchased Season 2.

Now I'm not sure if with age my critical eye is becoming a little myopic or if I have developed a certain affection for The Shield like that for a really annoying friend who you have known for many years, but I quite enjoyed Season 2. Don't get me wrong, essentially the programme is no different. The acting by the strike team is still laughable at times, the storylines are mostly plain silly and the show has absolutely no hold on reality at all. However much of the acting by the supporting cast is in fact very good, the show has a dark moody atmosphere, and rattles along at a good pace witout ever being boring. Where the show lets itself down is that it has no hold on reality. I kind of worry that a generation of kids is growing up thinking that Police work is incredibly exciting and just so easy (take CSI for instance). In The Shield there is a simple solution to every problem. Got a troublesome drug kingpin in town? Well why not just burn his face on the electric cooker that'll solve that one. Or if you deperately need to know the whereabouts of a gang member, burst into his girlfriend's house and pretend you are going to rape her until she gives up the required information (why is that technique not in all Police manuals?). Then need to dispose of said drug kingpin, in case he tells someone you burnt him on the hob, well just get a patsy to stab him for you. Now that wasn't difficult was it?

I appreciate that the show is meant to be raw, mean, gritty and brutal but surely it needs some hold on reality to make it believable. The idea that a Police Officer could run amok in the way that Vic Mackey does is patently absurd though if rather amusing.

Having said all this, I think the show is quite fun if you don't take it too seriously and it is very easy viewing after a long day killing at the abattoir.

Season 2 lives up to the standards season 1 set, easily. It is amazing how the noose tightens around the Strike Team and they still manage to pull their necks out just in time.
IAD once again is all over the Police Department - in form of a civilian auditor. Captain Aceveda is still attempting everything in his power to get rid of the Strike Team. Also wannabe-baddy Armadillo poses a threat to the Strike Team "greenlighting" them, so the suspense is on maximum again.
Although cut by the BBFC (in particular the torture scene where Vic gets even wit Armadillo)- compared with the US DVD season 2 also is the most violent season.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, so what are you waiting for, get it NOW!

The Shield is a series of the highest-order. I could use this review to compare Season 2 to Season 1 (or those that come later), but whatever their individual strengths or weaknesses, they are all great. The acting in the Shield, especially Chiklis, is phenomenal, and the plotlines are all hard-hitting. I especially appreciate how nearly every main cast member gets their own plot arc which runs throughout the season, all tying up in the thrilling finale.

Specifically, this season deals with the crafty gang leader Armadillo who puts a hit out on Mackey and his strike team; Vic trying to keep his family from spiralling further apart; Dutch's dealing with his shortcomings as a detective; Julian's struggle against his homosexual nature; Captain Aceveda's compromising with Mackey's questionable methods in his pursuit of political success; Danny's being targeted by a civilian with a grudge; and, finally, the strike team's plot to rob the Armenian mob.

If you read the above list, which is not comprehensive, you'll realize that this season does a lot (especially given that it only runs 13 episodes long). Most television shows take much more time to achieve much less. This show does all of that with power, reality, emotion and offers three or four compelling crime-drama plotlines for all of its individual episodes, besides. Also, I should specifically mention that there is a "prequel" episode included, which takes place before the pilot episode. Pure brilliance.

The Shield is one of the best shows television has to offer. Its Second Season, however it might relate to the others, is a quality part of the series.

After finishing Season 1 i was straight on to amazon to order series 2. It really is very rare to get me excited about a TV series but this creates something i have never seen before.

The stories are really addictive and you are almost always left with that irritating feeling of "i should sleep but i need another episode" so take my advice and prepare yourself for several sleepless nights.

I can testify to all series being brilliant, though season 5 deserves a special mention as at the moment it it is the greatest season of a series i have ever seen.