Cop Shows

I like em. Two recently came to an end to my regret. My thoughts.

Last week I watched the series finale of probably my favorite TV show “The Shield”. I was pretty much in shock, speechless and even sad. The show that I’ve been devoted to for the last six years has finally ended, the show that TRS‘ Jeff Cannata rightfully claims as ‘the best show on television’.

In short, Vic Mackey and his Strike Team solved gang problems in the roughest district of Los Angeles with their own sense of rightfulness, while other, more ethically aware characters drifted away from what they thought were their role models.

Shot with handheld camera’s, the show demands words like gritty and raw. The show is both extremely violent and fast paced, but on the other hand makes you question your morals.
It shows you how certain decisions are completely wrong, morally and ethically, while character development in the most dramatic situations makes us look at those choices differently, and even make you kind of agree with it.
It’s in no way the perfect show, but it is a complex drama that draws you in and leaves an unforgettable view on the great character Vic Mackey was. I might even say it’s the end of an era.

“The Wire” is another great loss we saw coming a while ago.
Also acclaimed and debatable as ‘the best show ever’, the HBO delivered drama revolves around the infiltration of a Baltimore city drug ring. Dealing with not only wire taps, but also the politics in the police force and city wide and how this influences the city itself.
While The Shield steered toward a Hollywood type story, roughly shot, The Wire had more of a cinematic approach and a more realistic view on the social class in B-more city. Nonetheless an intense absorbing series with superb writing and performances.

Both excellent shows that strongly improved my stereotypical thinking of the quality of cop shows, television history was written. I strongly urge people to seek these out, if only for your cultural well being.

What now? I haven’t found a good alternative, but fans reported that a new show Sons of Anarchy, by the same producer, is a good alternative to The Shield and rumors started that a movie could happen at some time in the future. I also read that plans have been made to make a movie based on the ‘Omar Little‘ character from The Wire. You heard it here first.