Not Chicago P. D., This 20-Year-Old Show With 96% Tomatometer Is Still the Best Police Drama Out There
You've never seen police work as realistic as in this project.
Police dramas are one of the most popular genres of television content, a source of stories, many of which may not be suitable for a full-length movie, but fit perfectly into a short episode format. Police series are not only exciting, shocking and entertaining stories, but also a unique opportunity to take a closer look at the life and work of law enforcement.
What show comes to mind when you think of police procedurals? It's probably Chicago P.D., The Wire or Line of Duty. At the same time, many viewers forget about one of the main gems of the genre – The Shield. More than 15 years after it ended, the show still has an excellent 90% rating from critics and a 96% rating from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes.
The Shield Is a Brutally Realistic Police Drama
Usually, police shows convince viewers that there are no more honest people than those in uniform. Usually – but not in The Shield, which was inspired by real events in the Los Angeles Police Department.
This crime drama shows the work of the police department in an unexpected way. The main characters investigate murders and protect civilians. At the same time, they cover up for drug dealers, falsify evidence, and cruelly beat testimony out of criminals.
The Shield is set in a world very similar to the real one, where morality is blurred and uncertain, and the line between good and evil is crossed every day. Here, violence, police corruption, drug dealers with whom the cops make deals, and other police routines of the big city have become a constant background for the study of the most intricate moral paradoxes.
The Shield Captivates with Its Moral Dilemmas And Spectacular Action
The series focuses on the confrontation between two groups – corrupt, often brutal, but effective police officers, led by Detective Vic Mackey and the team of a young captain pursuing a political career. The detective and his Strike Team are successful in catching criminals, but they do not pay attention to the rules, and Captain David Aceveda opposes them in every possible way.
Watching The Shield, it's hard to resist comparisons to another great cop show of the 2000s, The Wire. These two shows are not particularly similar, but at the same time they complement each other perfectly, putting pressure on different points. If The Wire captivates the viewer with its realism, meticulous attention to detail and dozens of characters, each of which deserves their own movie, The Shield hooks you with its crazy dynamism.
Filming on the real locations, with handheld cameras that "run" with the characters, gives the effect of presence and immersion in the city's most dangerous neighborhoods.
Where to Stream The Shield?
All seven seasons of The Shield are available to watch on Hulu, Prime Video and Apple TV.