X
  • 2002
  • TV-MA
  • FX
  • 2002
  • TV-MA
  • FX

Summary The Shield breaks the conventional formula of the cop genre. It plays out in a tough, morally ambiguous world in which the line between good and bad 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....

Created By: Shawn Ryan

  • 2002
  • TV-MA
  • FX
  • 2002
  • TV-MA
  • FX

The Shield

7 Seasons
Season 1 Premiere: Mar 12, 2002
Metascore Universal Acclaim Based on 46 Critic Reviews
must-watch
89
User Score Universal Acclaim Based on 703 User Ratings
9.0
My Score
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Where to Watch

Summary The Shield breaks the conventional formula of the cop genre. It plays out in a tough, morally ambiguous world in which the line between good and bad 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....

Created By: Shawn Ryan

Where to Watch

All Seasons

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7 Seasons

Top Cast

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Michael Chiklis

Detective Vic Mackey

Catherine Dent

Officer Danny Sofer

Walton Goggins

Detective Shane Vendrell

Michael Jace

Officer Julien Lowe

Jay Karnes

Detective Holland 'Dutch' Wagenbach

Benito Martinez

Captain David Aceveda, Councilman David Aceveda, David Aceveda

CCH Pounder

Detective Claudette Wyms, Captain Claudette Wyms

Cathy Cahlin Ryan

Corrine Mackey

David Rees Snell

Detective Ronnie Gardocki

Kenny Johnson

Detective Curtis 'Lemonhead' Lemansky

David Marciano

Steve Billings, Captain Steve Billings

Autumn Chiklis

Cassidy Mackey

Paula Garcés

Tina Hanlon, Officer Tina Hanlon

Michele Hicks

Mara Sewell Vendrell, Mara Sewell

Melanie Myers

Officer Paula Myers

Joel Rosenthal

Matthew Mackey

Matt Corboy

Officer Ray Carlson, Ray Carlson

Chaney Kley

Officer Asher

Anthony Anderson

Antwon Mitchell

F.J. Rio

Cruz Pezuela

View All Cast & Crew

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
Universal Acclaim Based on 46 Critic Reviews
89
93% Positive
43 Reviews
7% Mixed
3 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews

  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Mixed Reviews
  • Negative Reviews

Critic Reviews

 View All
Metascore
Universal Acclaim Based on 46 Critic Reviews
89
93% Positive
43 Reviews
7% Mixed
3 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews

  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Mixed Reviews
  • Negative Reviews
100
Jun 28, 2013
Astonishing. ... The Shield did what network cop shows have lately abandoned: it created a richly imagined world with continuing story lines, driven by L.A.'s roiling racial politics--achieving a payoff far bigger than solving the murder of the week.
By James Poniewozik FULL REVIEW
100
Mar 19, 2013
Gritty and grim, The Shield takes the familiar genre to a new level of intensity, graphic violence, nudity and, not least, profanity. The vocabulary may shock some viewers; the casting will surprise others: Michael Chiklis plays the heavy, the corrupt cop at the center of The Shield. It's a riveting star turn. [12 Mar 2002, p.F05]
By Joanne Ostrow FULL REVIEW
100
Mar 19, 2013
The Shield is the kind of cop show you might find on HBO, a superbly written, inventively directed, sharply acted drama that screams authenticity and excellence, and -- like The Sopranos, Six Feet Under and Sex and the City -- makes matter-of-fact use of adult language and nudity. But The Shield is not on HBO. [10 Mar 2002, p.2]
By Mike McDaniel FULL REVIEW
90
Mar 19, 2013
However, I can't give The Shield an unqualified recommendation given its placement on a basic cable network. There are scenes that make "NYPD Blue" look tame, including nudity, sex scenes, horrific violence and everything short of the f-word in terms of language. It looks like something you'd expect from HBO or a pay-cable channel that you specifically pay for and expect to include adult content. Not a basic cable channel that's next to Nickelodeon and the Disney Channel. [12 Mar 2002, p.C08]
By Scott D. Pierce FULL REVIEW
83
Jun 27, 2013
Scratch the gritty surface of this new police drama and you'll find it's not a totally revolutionary contribution to the genre.
By Terry Kelleher FULL REVIEW
80
Nothing about the seventh and final season of The Shield feels like a show running out of gas.
By Matt Roush FULL REVIEW
50
Mar 19, 2013
The Shield gives viewers so much Chiklis, it should be called "The Commish 2." The pilot opens with the unlikely scenario of the portly Chiklis chasing down a teenage drug dealer. It only gets worse...There may be rogue cops out there, but do they really announce to their precinct captains that they can't be controlled? It's hard to watch a show that stars such an unlikable character. [12 Mar 2002, p.41]
FULL REVIEW

User Reviews

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User Score
Universal Acclaim Based on 703 User Ratings
9.0
95% Positive
666 Ratings
1% Mixed
5 Ratings
5% Negative
32 Ratings

User Reviews

 View All
User Score
Universal Acclaim Based on 703 User Ratings
9.0
95% Positive
666 Ratings
1% Mixed
5 Ratings
5% Negative
32 Ratings

There are no user reviews yet. Be the first to add a review.

Details

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Production Company:
  • Fox Television Studios
  • Sony Pictures Television
  • The Barn Productions
  • 20th Century Fox Television
  • Columbia TriStar Television
  • MiddKid Productions
Initial Release Date: Mar 12, 2002
Number of seasons: 7 Seasons
Rating: TV-MA
Genres:
All Details

Awards

Golden Globes, USA
• 2 Wins & 5 Nominations
Online Film & Television Association
• 1 Win & 12 Nominations
Television Critics Association Awards
• 1 Win & 11 Nominations

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