One of the best and most groundbreaking police dramas of all time is now on a free streamer, so it's time to binge-watch it! Take a look at where to stream The Shield.
There have been a number of TV shows that changed the game, both in storytelling and in presentation. NYPD Blue is a good example as in 1993, a network like ABC airing a show with such raucous language and sexuality was shocking.
Often overlooked in terms of these game-changing shows is The Shield. Its debut on FX in 2002 proved that basic cable could offer the same hard-hitting and adult drama as HBO or Showtime. It also paved the way for other shows with anti-hero characters that the audience had issues rooting for. Without The Shield, we may not have gotten Breaking Bad, Mad Men and more series.
For a long while, the only way to watch the show was on Hulu. Now, the free service Tubi has uploaded all seven seasons of The Shield and is giving audiences the chance to catch up on a modern TV classic!
What is The Shield about?
The pilot of The Shield is one of the most shocking in TV history. It's set in the fictional Farmington district of Los Angeles, the police station nicknamed "the Farm." It's home to the Strike Team, a top unit led by Detectives Vic Mackey (Michael Chiklis), Shane Vendrell (Walton Goggins), Curtis Lemansky (Kenny Johnson), and Ronnie Gardocki (David Rees Snell).
Also around is division head David Aceveda (Benito Martinez), who uses the Team's success to further his political career; captain Claudette Wyms (CCH Pounder); nerdy detective Dutch Wagenbach (Jay Kames) and patrol officers Sgt. Danielle "Danny" Sofer (Catherine Dent), Julien Lowe (Michael Jace), and Tina Hanlon (Paula Graces).
The pilot has Terry Crowley (Reed Diamond) put into the Strike Team to investigate Vic for possible corruption. The pilot shows Vic as the typical rule-bending maverick cop but likable with a family, and then, in the final moments, commits a cold-blooded murder that changes everything.
From there, each season of the show focuses on the Strike Team being as big a pack of crooks as the guys they go after. There are also various subplots of the lives of the other cops and some big-name guest stars for season-long arcs, from Glenn Close as a hard-nosed captain to Forest Whitaker as an Internal Affairs officer going after Vic.
It already sounds like a great show, but once you start watching it, you realize it is a TV classic.
Why The Shield is so incredible
From the last shot (literally) of the pilot, the series breaks all the rules of the cop drama. Vic is a fascinating contrast as he seems intent on punishing crooks even as he indulges in theft, brutality, and more, breaking every law he's sworn to uphold. One minute you're rooting for him, the other you're loathing him and how he skirts past punishment.
The other subplots are terrific, such as Danny becoming a mother, Claudette battling illness, Low balancing his sexuality and Christian beliefs, and some light-hearted stuff with Dutch bumbling as he tries to be a good detective. Each season also has some great set pieces, like the Strike Team pulling off a train robbery and their battles against various gangs.
Then there's the stellar cast. Chiklis deservedly won an Emmy for the show's first season and should have been in the running for the remaining six. It's because of his performance that Vic is so complex and hard to figure if you should cheer or jeer him. He gets better every year, culminating in the amazing series finale and setting the bar for every anti-hero TV character to follow.
The rest of the cast are no slouches, especially Goggins as Vic's best friend pushed to the edge. The big-name guest stars elevate the rest of the performances, as even brief guest stars can make a major impact. It's one of the finest ensembles of any TV series and still works well.
The series never shies from the dark aspects of cop life, from brutal crime scenes to social issues and the red tape involved. It's striking how Aceveda could care less what Vic does as long as he gets to be mayor, while Pounder can cut anyone down to size with a few words. It's a remarkable show for even non-cop series fans.
The Shield also has to be credited for the rare feat of a long-running show where the final season is the best. Unlike other series, fans are united in praising the finale, bringing the tale to a close and giving Vic a fitting fate. That alone makes this one of the best shows of its era.
Anyone who's watched The Shield already knows how great it is. Now, Tubi offers newbies to catch on to all seven seasons and 88 episodes to be enthralled at a police show like no other. Thus, if you haven't already, start on The Shield and marvel at a show that was the dawn of the current era of TV drama.
The Shield is now streaming on Tubi.