Why It Ranks
The show that proved basic cable could be fearless.
Score Breakdown
The Review
The Shield is the most underrated great drama in television history. Shawn Ryan created a show about a corrupt LAPD strike team led by Michael Chiklis's Vic Mackey — a dirty cop who commits murder in the pilot episode and spends seven seasons trying to outrun the consequences. The Shield premiered on FX and proved that basic cable could produce drama as daring as anything on HBO. Chiklis's performance is ferocious, frightening, and somehow sympathetic. The finale — Vic's deal with ICE that costs him everything he loves — is one of the five best endings in television history. The Shield walked so Breaking Bad could run.
Fun Fact
Michael Chiklis shaved his head and gained thirty pounds of muscle for the role after being told he was 'too soft' for the part.
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