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The Shield – Petty Cash

FX

FX

(Season 7, Episode 11)

Here we are, down to the final few episodes of the series. (The series! Crap!) This was the final episode sent out on screener disc to us press folks, while a bunch of lucky bastards got to head out to private screenings of the final two. If only I lived in NYC or LA.

Personally I liked that this episode didn’t end in a cliff-hangery way, since I would have had to wait months to catch up to find out what happens next. That’s not to say this wasn’t a fine addition to what’s leading to the series end (The series! Damn!)

Finally Julien is put into a situation that makes his character somewhat interesting again. He’s clearly very interested in taking Vic into custody, but having the good guy of the former Strike Team, Ronnie, by his side isn’t making things easy.

And that’s just what Ronnie is, for the most part — a good guy. No, he doesn’t have the leadership skills that Vic has nor the influence of Vic or Shane, but he’s always been dedicated to the job and has been a better friend to Vic and Shane than either of them have been to each other. To know that Dutch and Claudette have already filed paperwork with IAD to have him investigated is a pity, nevermind that he’s degraded to having to wear a monkey suit. In the end, I’d always hoped Ronnie would be the one who came out clean. Maybe it’s not too late for that.

What’s also sad about Ronnie is how much he trusts that Vic will make everything right, making sure they both get good jobs working together for the Feds. Ronnie probably had the best idea a couple of episodes ago when he suggested fleeing into Mexico.

Billings likes to step up for like-minded people. He likes to think he’s a player like Ronnie, but come on now. Who is he fooling?

A few other points:

  • Does Vic really not drink? He mentioned this to Beltran, but it could have just been a front for his faux character.
  • Claudette really wants Vic taken down BAD, and I think we all know she’s never liked him. I’m wondering if her unhealthy vendetta, combined with her failing health will compromise the investigation and possibly kill her.
  • Vic and Aceveda working together? I can’t wait to see how this is going to turn out.
  • What a scene for Shane’s son to see. Whatever happens, that poor kid is going to have one screwed up life growing up.
  • It almost seemed as though Corinne started to regret her decision to come down on Vic. Their daughter is going to either completely shut down to Corinne if she catches wind that she helped in getting Vic taken down, and/or suicidal at the revelation of what Vic’s done all these years.

“Buy in’s 200 large. I can wait if you need to head to the ATM.”

2 Responses to “The Shield – Petty Cash”

November 12, 2008 at 5:33 AM

Jeez, I don’t know how they’re going wrap all this up in two episodes, but I’ll be pretty surprised if any of the original strike team make it out alive.

I hate to say it, but I don’t feel any empathy for Ronnie. He’s crooked, he has too much blood on his hands not to go down. Lem was the only one of them worth a toot and he’s long dead.

Maybe that’s the problem with trajedies, at some point you just want them all to die already (or maybe I’m just channeling Anna Karenina). That being said, they’ve managed to pull out a pretty good story this season. I guess it helps to have an end in sight.

I had the same thought about Corinne and her daughter. She’d better be careful not to let her know of her involvement in Vic’s downfall, otherwise their relationship will be destoyed.

November 12, 2008 at 12:18 PM

I’m not sure I can agree, even in part, with characterizing Ronnie as a good guy. He’s a murderer, just like Vic and Shane and Lem. And he murdered a cop.

As for Vic and drinking, I’m not sure. I don’t remember seeing him drink or smoke at all in the 7 seasons, but at the same time, is that an activity that fits-in to the show’s milieu?

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