In the middle of the season I thought this would be the best season yet, but honestly despite thinking Season 3 is mostly on the same level, and despite the overall improvements in this season, I do prefer the storyline for season 3 better, and it also helps that it had more episodes to be great. The thing is that after the season peaked in episode 10, it did feel like they brought it all together a bit too soon, and they started introducing some stuff that didn't work as well as it could've to finish off the season. For that reason this season oddly always felt shorter to me. Like with the slower beginning and the last few episodes, so perhaps it would've been better as a slightly shorter more concise season. Though honestly, perhaps I might like this season more on rewatch as I feel I didn't appreciate the beginning as much as I could've, and this season is seemingly a lot more dense with meaning in the dialogue and subtext, plus its more complex plot. Regardless this was still an outstanding season, and I'd say it's on the same level as Season 3 even if I prefer that season a bit more.
Unfortunately this finale continues the trend of it being slightly worse than last finale, but still amazing. A few things were underwhelming. The whole quinceñera subplot is a fine subplot for a normal episode but for a finale it did feel like they were just trying to add time. Plus Julien and Dani were underused as they were just dealing with her being shot, but other than that this was still an amazing finale as I said. Antwon and Rawling were really great additions to this show that completely elevated this season to another level. Antwon has definitely been the best villain of the show, and just an all around great villain. After the crazy development that Aceveda made a deal for Antwon, it's great to see Rawling and the Strike Team running against the clock to stop the deal and convict Antwon. This being the most neatly tied up finale of course they succeed and Antwon is arrested... but at what cost? In combination with this and the foster home case so close to Rawling's heart, it's Rawling's downfall. Admittedly expectedly since Glenn Close would only be on the show for a season. Vic warning "Or we can quit while we're ahead." to Rawling is very ironic. Pretty sad that they didn't fight for her. I like how well developed the political aspects were this season, it added more complexity to the show. Like how certain procedures target minority groups, the manipulation of crime statistics, more development to the gangs, especially with Antwon, which this show really needed. For a show so focused on the war on gangs, it often barely develops them, or why they do what they do. Obviously this isn't the point of the show, and it isn't like The Wire, but I do think the gangs could've used more humanization instead of often just being shown as all evil, and this season we get some of that. I wish we got to see more of Glenn Close after season 4, especially since she's living there, like not even a cameo? Disappointing, but her time in season 4 was amazing. Rawling crying in her empty house at the end of the episode is a pretty perfect scene, I love it. Glenn Close truly gives an astonishing performance.
The character work this season was done with more care and subtlety which I really appreciated. It really worked well creating so much tension with simple character interactions because of what they've gone through, and realistically dealing with these characters. The Strike Team truly feels like a real group for me, and it's some of the characters that have gotten me most invested in TV. The whole dynamic between them after everything that's happened between them I'm the last seasons, making the air uneasy between them and bringing tension is truly brilliant. This also makes the scenes where the characters are more or less back to normal and being the team just hitting even more. If they wouldn't have gone through all of this these scenes wouldn't be so satisfying.
Apart from the main plot this episode has some other great moments I wanted to mention. I love how the guys related to Gusano give the strike team fake information and realize that since they're cops Lem can't shoot them. So what do they do? They just run away! It's one of those funny things you usually don't see in cop shows or movies, but totally make sense. Really great and intense scene, one to remember in my opinion. Probably my favorite scene outside the main plot has to be the scene where Vic's daughter talks about how she likes this guy because he's cool like her father. It's a pretty heart breaking scene, and definitely one of my favorites of the finale. Vic realizing he kinda failed his daughter Cassidy is really great, and I love how it relates to Shane telling him this in the season 3 finale. Something I really have been noticing about this show is how many dialogue scenes like those at the end of season 3 really deeply examine the characters in a way that exposes what will likely happen to them in the future due to their flaws. Basically foreshadowing, but through the characters. Finally I like how Dutch's arc comes together at the end as he doesn't accept the captain job. I wonder who's gonna get it now. Claudette definitely deserves it. Dutch even got invited to the party at the end by Vic!
This was probably one of the happier finales in the show with the strike team finally being together, like the calm before the storm. I know a lot of people would like these characters to have a happy ending, but that isn't right for the show, character and themes, which is why I love how they don't make a big deal of the cliff hanger that Lem is being investigated to probably be arrested next season. It's like the team prematurely celebrating not realizing what's going to happen next. It also works the other way for the people rooting against the strike team, being disappointed that they've resolved their issue and continuing to get away, but hope given for their capture next season. Even such a happy scene is undermined by their actions of the past soon coming back to haunt them. I also love how they cut back to Rawling in her house alone in this scene as everyone parties. Though I did wish we got a little more of this scene and actually got to see what these characters enjoy. Like for example Ronnie is just kinda there in the background, and he still is barely developed. I feel like it could be intentional, which I hope it is, but it's definitely a bit annoying to have one of the main characters be so underdeveloped. Other than that though this scene and ending is just so fitting. Overall this was another masterful season of The Shield. While the storyline maybe wasn't as exiting and game changing as last season's, the overall quality of the show with its characters, writing, camera work, acting, etc. Still improving is obvious to me. This really excites me for Season 5, which many consider to be the best, especially since this show keeps improving. This show is on its way to be one of the best ever in my opinion, and I can even see myself appreciating this season more on rewatch, as well as Season 3. Another 9.5/10 for The Shield.
Unfortunately this finale continues the trend of it being slightly worse than last finale, but still amazing. A few things were underwhelming. The whole quinceñera subplot is a fine subplot for a normal episode but for a finale it did feel like they were just trying to add time. Plus Julien and Dani were underused as they were just dealing with her being shot, but other than that this was still an amazing finale as I said. Antwon and Rawling were really great additions to this show that completely elevated this season to another level. Antwon has definitely been the best villain of the show, and just an all around great villain. After the crazy development that Aceveda made a deal for Antwon, it's great to see Rawling and the Strike Team running against the clock to stop the deal and convict Antwon. This being the most neatly tied up finale of course they succeed and Antwon is arrested... but at what cost? In combination with this and the foster home case so close to Rawling's heart, it's Rawling's downfall. Admittedly expectedly since Glenn Close would only be on the show for a season. Vic warning "Or we can quit while we're ahead." to Rawling is very ironic. Pretty sad that they didn't fight for her. I like how well developed the political aspects were this season, it added more complexity to the show. Like how certain procedures target minority groups, the manipulation of crime statistics, more development to the gangs, especially with Antwon, which this show really needed. For a show so focused on the war on gangs, it often barely develops them, or why they do what they do. Obviously this isn't the point of the show, and it isn't like The Wire, but I do think the gangs could've used more humanization instead of often just being shown as all evil, and this season we get some of that. I wish we got to see more of Glenn Close after season 4, especially since she's living there, like not even a cameo? Disappointing, but her time in season 4 was amazing. Rawling crying in her empty house at the end of the episode is a pretty perfect scene, I love it. Glenn Close truly gives an astonishing performance.
The character work this season was done with more care and subtlety which I really appreciated. It really worked well creating so much tension with simple character interactions because of what they've gone through, and realistically dealing with these characters. The Strike Team truly feels like a real group for me, and it's some of the characters that have gotten me most invested in TV. The whole dynamic between them after everything that's happened between them I'm the last seasons, making the air uneasy between them and bringing tension is truly brilliant. This also makes the scenes where the characters are more or less back to normal and being the team just hitting even more. If they wouldn't have gone through all of this these scenes wouldn't be so satisfying.
Apart from the main plot this episode has some other great moments I wanted to mention. I love how the guys related to Gusano give the strike team fake information and realize that since they're cops Lem can't shoot them. So what do they do? They just run away! It's one of those funny things you usually don't see in cop shows or movies, but totally make sense. Really great and intense scene, one to remember in my opinion. Probably my favorite scene outside the main plot has to be the scene where Vic's daughter talks about how she likes this guy because he's cool like her father. It's a pretty heart breaking scene, and definitely one of my favorites of the finale. Vic realizing he kinda failed his daughter Cassidy is really great, and I love how it relates to Shane telling him this in the season 3 finale. Something I really have been noticing about this show is how many dialogue scenes like those at the end of season 3 really deeply examine the characters in a way that exposes what will likely happen to them in the future due to their flaws. Basically foreshadowing, but through the characters. Finally I like how Dutch's arc comes together at the end as he doesn't accept the captain job. I wonder who's gonna get it now. Claudette definitely deserves it. Dutch even got invited to the party at the end by Vic!
This was probably one of the happier finales in the show with the strike team finally being together, like the calm before the storm. I know a lot of people would like these characters to have a happy ending, but that isn't right for the show, character and themes, which is why I love how they don't make a big deal of the cliff hanger that Lem is being investigated to probably be arrested next season. It's like the team prematurely celebrating not realizing what's going to happen next. It also works the other way for the people rooting against the strike team, being disappointed that they've resolved their issue and continuing to get away, but hope given for their capture next season. Even such a happy scene is undermined by their actions of the past soon coming back to haunt them. I also love how they cut back to Rawling in her house alone in this scene as everyone parties. Though I did wish we got a little more of this scene and actually got to see what these characters enjoy. Like for example Ronnie is just kinda there in the background, and he still is barely developed. I feel like it could be intentional, which I hope it is, but it's definitely a bit annoying to have one of the main characters be so underdeveloped. Other than that though this scene and ending is just so fitting. Overall this was another masterful season of The Shield. While the storyline maybe wasn't as exiting and game changing as last season's, the overall quality of the show with its characters, writing, camera work, acting, etc. Still improving is obvious to me. This really excites me for Season 5, which many consider to be the best, especially since this show keeps improving. This show is on its way to be one of the best ever in my opinion, and I can even see myself appreciating this season more on rewatch, as well as Season 3. Another 9.5/10 for The Shield.
