While this is the weakest episode by far of the season, I do think it's once again underrated. All the other episodes of this season are all high 9s close to 10s or just 10s, while this one is more like a high 8, but that still makes it a really great episode. I think what makes this episode greater than it could've been had it been done normally is how it focuses on how all of these characters are hiding someone and putting on a performance. It makes you look at certain scenes in a different way that makes it more powerful than it could've been. With the Strike Team now knowing Lem has a wire they have to act as if they're clean to not expose themselves which brings for some great comedy. Shane has to drown out the team communicating on the computer with the Chi Chi joke which was great. I love how awkward the team is acting like "normal cops." They say things like "he wants a lawyer, he gets a lawyer" or "why don't we file for a warrant?" which is things we never expect them to say, but they must since they're wired. I didn't really enjoy this episode as much first until I saw the episode through that lens and it made so many things click into place and work far better. It was made evident to me in the scene when Shane makes love to his wife and she says "You were someone else." (Edit: I rewatched the scene and It seems like she might've actually said "somewhere else" so maybe I misunderstood the whole situation but regardless I still stand by what I said other than that). The Shield is an incredibly written show so you gotta keep an eye out for certain scenes that may initially seem pointless because there's likely a reason for it.
The case this episode is one of the most messed up cases with the child trafficking ring. As always The Shield never shies away from the darkness of our world. When Corrine tells Vic that she told one of the victims that didnt like cops that he was "one of the good guys" the shot lingers on Vic's face for a little too long probably showing how this is the performance Vic has been putting up for the longest. He further deceives Corrine as he tells her that everything is fine and there's just a rumor going around that they're going over the strike team for political reasons, but so he can let Corrine know she had spousal privilege so she doesn't have to say anything against Vic. I do have to say though despite some criminals clearly being very stupid I did find it a bit too convenient that one of the members of the ring left all that information in a clearly taped mattress. I do like how it brings them to some granny who was in on this all along, and it plays along with the fake appearances and performances put on. It also brought for some funny scenes like when Tina is translating for her as she throws insult after insult at Vic. Tina even gets her moment to shine in this episode as she shows off that despite her naiveness she has something to bring to the table to as she goes undercover, once again putting on a performance like many of the other characters. This scene was very intense as we know how she's not really ready for this job, but she holds herself well, I love how she improvises on the job. Little things like having a someone not moving their car when the strike team is following behind the undercover Tina always add onto the intensity The Shield so greatly builds. Overall a solid case, but it could've definitely been a bit better. It mostly works more because of how it brings the new characters into the plot like the new Lawyer Rebecca Doyle, and how it relates to the characters and themes of the episode.
The kid that Dutch put away in the premiere that he felt could be innocent is brought back again with another character, a micro expression analyst which frames the entire episode in a way. With this episode so focused on deception and performances this character, himself also putting on his own performance, puts the audience in an analytical mode while watching subsequent scenes as he explains the ways people show if they're telling the truth. It was also really funny how Dutch didn't realize the analysis was "checking out his package" as Claudette put it and trying to go out with him. We also see Dutch inch closer and closer to confronting Claudette about her sickness, but Claudette isn't ready to open up yet. I hope she's alright! This episode has a great scene in the middle with Kavanaugh and Aceveda, Aceveda confronts Kavanaugh about his investigation and there's some great dialogue as he explains his experiences with Vic. I love how Vic's manipulation is at a forefront this season. In the last seasons it wasn't as much of a focus and it happens more in the background, something I definitely want to look out for in rewatches. I love the dialogue here as Aceveda says "Then I realized he was creating his own luck. So, what you see as a simple microphone malfunction I see as calculated." Yeah, but also he's a little lucky too! And also "You never looked Mackey in the eye, had him lie straight to your face, and made you doubt yourself even though you know he was full of $#1t." This further directs the audience to focus on Vic's manipulation and analyze him. I also love how Kavanaugh understands that Vic isn't evil 100% of the times, he has to look for the 2% of the time where he's pushing it to stop him. Kavanaugh, who's revealed to be very clean and righteous, is shown isn't as adept as Mackey when it comes to manipulation as he starts to slip up with Corrine as he continues his deception of him having an autistic child too to get information from her. Corrine sees this and goes straight to Vic as she was told by him to do.
So the whole reason I've been focusing on how the episode is about the performances, deception, manipulation is because putting the episode in that lens makes certain scenes that much better, like when Vic tries to manipulate the lawyer lady, Rebecca, into helping him and she sees right through him. She even plays him on the case, However Vic doesn't stop, and we're given insight on how persistent he is with his manipulation and how easily he's able to do it, even under pressure after it did not working at first. With such a focus on micro expressions and the truth the scene when Vic tells Lem the fake story of how Terry died now the audience is put in Lem's shoes trying to analyze Vic and find the truth. And man does Michael Chiklis put an amazing performance as Vic hiding the truth. I mean honestly he could've fooled me, Vic's manipulation and lying are on a whole other level, and Lem seemingly buys it. I feel like Vic has recited that story so many times he almost believes it himself. Just all around a great scene that really elevated the episode. Without those scenes earlier these scenes would've still been good, but that set up and putting the audience in the right place make these scenes far more revealing and great now that the attention of the audience is directed in the right place. Despite it not being the most eventful, exciting and amazing episode of the show, it just shows the insane level of high quality writing on this show. It all culminates wonderfully with the ending of Vic meeting Kavanaugh, both played by 2 power house actors, both working on so many levels of performance, deception, and manipulation its insane. That scene is just so great, and it wouldn't have been as impactful if it wasn't for everything this episode built.
The case this episode is one of the most messed up cases with the child trafficking ring. As always The Shield never shies away from the darkness of our world. When Corrine tells Vic that she told one of the victims that didnt like cops that he was "one of the good guys" the shot lingers on Vic's face for a little too long probably showing how this is the performance Vic has been putting up for the longest. He further deceives Corrine as he tells her that everything is fine and there's just a rumor going around that they're going over the strike team for political reasons, but so he can let Corrine know she had spousal privilege so she doesn't have to say anything against Vic. I do have to say though despite some criminals clearly being very stupid I did find it a bit too convenient that one of the members of the ring left all that information in a clearly taped mattress. I do like how it brings them to some granny who was in on this all along, and it plays along with the fake appearances and performances put on. It also brought for some funny scenes like when Tina is translating for her as she throws insult after insult at Vic. Tina even gets her moment to shine in this episode as she shows off that despite her naiveness she has something to bring to the table to as she goes undercover, once again putting on a performance like many of the other characters. This scene was very intense as we know how she's not really ready for this job, but she holds herself well, I love how she improvises on the job. Little things like having a someone not moving their car when the strike team is following behind the undercover Tina always add onto the intensity The Shield so greatly builds. Overall a solid case, but it could've definitely been a bit better. It mostly works more because of how it brings the new characters into the plot like the new Lawyer Rebecca Doyle, and how it relates to the characters and themes of the episode.
The kid that Dutch put away in the premiere that he felt could be innocent is brought back again with another character, a micro expression analyst which frames the entire episode in a way. With this episode so focused on deception and performances this character, himself also putting on his own performance, puts the audience in an analytical mode while watching subsequent scenes as he explains the ways people show if they're telling the truth. It was also really funny how Dutch didn't realize the analysis was "checking out his package" as Claudette put it and trying to go out with him. We also see Dutch inch closer and closer to confronting Claudette about her sickness, but Claudette isn't ready to open up yet. I hope she's alright! This episode has a great scene in the middle with Kavanaugh and Aceveda, Aceveda confronts Kavanaugh about his investigation and there's some great dialogue as he explains his experiences with Vic. I love how Vic's manipulation is at a forefront this season. In the last seasons it wasn't as much of a focus and it happens more in the background, something I definitely want to look out for in rewatches. I love the dialogue here as Aceveda says "Then I realized he was creating his own luck. So, what you see as a simple microphone malfunction I see as calculated." Yeah, but also he's a little lucky too! And also "You never looked Mackey in the eye, had him lie straight to your face, and made you doubt yourself even though you know he was full of $#1t." This further directs the audience to focus on Vic's manipulation and analyze him. I also love how Kavanaugh understands that Vic isn't evil 100% of the times, he has to look for the 2% of the time where he's pushing it to stop him. Kavanaugh, who's revealed to be very clean and righteous, is shown isn't as adept as Mackey when it comes to manipulation as he starts to slip up with Corrine as he continues his deception of him having an autistic child too to get information from her. Corrine sees this and goes straight to Vic as she was told by him to do.
So the whole reason I've been focusing on how the episode is about the performances, deception, manipulation is because putting the episode in that lens makes certain scenes that much better, like when Vic tries to manipulate the lawyer lady, Rebecca, into helping him and she sees right through him. She even plays him on the case, However Vic doesn't stop, and we're given insight on how persistent he is with his manipulation and how easily he's able to do it, even under pressure after it did not working at first. With such a focus on micro expressions and the truth the scene when Vic tells Lem the fake story of how Terry died now the audience is put in Lem's shoes trying to analyze Vic and find the truth. And man does Michael Chiklis put an amazing performance as Vic hiding the truth. I mean honestly he could've fooled me, Vic's manipulation and lying are on a whole other level, and Lem seemingly buys it. I feel like Vic has recited that story so many times he almost believes it himself. Just all around a great scene that really elevated the episode. Without those scenes earlier these scenes would've still been good, but that set up and putting the audience in the right place make these scenes far more revealing and great now that the attention of the audience is directed in the right place. Despite it not being the most eventful, exciting and amazing episode of the show, it just shows the insane level of high quality writing on this show. It all culminates wonderfully with the ending of Vic meeting Kavanaugh, both played by 2 power house actors, both working on so many levels of performance, deception, and manipulation its insane. That scene is just so great, and it wouldn't have been as impactful if it wasn't for everything this episode built.
