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THE SHIELD Season 6 DVD

Cast members include: Michael Chiklis, Walton Goggins, Benito Martinez, CCH Pounder, Jay Carnes and Catherine Dent, with appearances by Forest Whitaker

Created By: Shawn Ryan

By John Delia

The sixth season of The Shield had me very involved with the plots intrigue and outcome of each of the 10 episodes. I have to admit, it was hard to sign off each night after watching several, but the series has enough incentive that made me look forward to another night of the crime drama. With no commercial interruptions the DVD plays like a movie.

In case you have not seen The Shield before, here is a synopsis provided by Sony/Fox/FX. The Shield plays out in a tough, morally ambiguous world in which the line between right and wrong is crossed every day. The series focuses on the tension between a group of corrupt but effective cops and a captain torn between bringing them down and advancing his own political ambitions. The Shield stars Michael Chiklis (The Commish) as rogue cop Det. Vic Mackey, leader of the elite Strike Team unit, who is effective at eliminating crime but operates under his own set of rules. Benito Martinez (Outbreak) plays Cpt. David Aceveda, the young precinct head who doesn’t like Mackey’s tactics and wants to bust him off the force. CCH Pounder (ER & Boycott) plays Det. Claudette Wyms, a veteran detective who understands Mackey and knows how to play both sides of the force.

The commentary on most of the episodes is very helpful and interesting, especially if you have missed previous seasons. For those who have seen season six on television, you have an opportunity to view deleted scenes that were not shown in the series. Some of the scenes are questionably desirable, while others were definitely not needed.

I found the behind the scenes featurettes interesting and educational. ‘The Directors’ featurette was the better of the two. It was enjoyable watching Frank Darabont (The Shawshank Redemption, The Green Mile) putting a scene together and then watching it play out. If you are really into film this is an extra good educational piece for budding directors. Paris Barclay (NYPD Blue, CSI, Monk) was a completely different kind of director who depended more on the actors to bring a scene together. It was fascinating to watch him bring the characters to life. After watching this featurette, I though it must be very difficult for the continuing actors to deal with a new director in each episode.

As for the second feature, ‘Full Circle: Franka Potente’ it was more of a thank you to her for coming on board the series. Franka says in the featurette that she always wanted to do an episode on The Shield because she liked it so much. She is an amazing actress and made her character a favorite of mine.

Chiklis does a great job of keeping his character on track. I especially liked him in the episodes ‘On the Jones,’ ‘The New Guy,’ and ‘The Math of the Wrath.’ But the actor that makes the series work by estimation is Walton Goggins who plays Detective Shane Vendrell. Check him out and let me know if you agree.

The only downside I can find is with the character played by Forest Whitaker. I had seen the film Street Kings in which Whitaker plays a similar character. It bothered me a bit, but not enough to take away from the production. His performance here as with all his films is a standout.

FINAL ALNALYSIS: The Shield is a smart crime drama that plays out well and keeps your interest.