The following contains spoilers for the final episodes of The Shield. They aired months ago, but are just now out on DVD, so anyone who's been waiting to watch may not want to read this.
Over the course of seven seasons of The Shield, Det. Vic Mackey murdered three people, planned and executed a multi-million dollar heist, and committed countless other crimes.
It was all done in the name of some greater good, whether it was -- in the case of the more serious acts -- providing for his family or simply being a more effective cop.
And in the end, Mackey (played by Michael Chiklis) got away with it all. Sort of. His family left him, he lost his badge, he betrayed his only friend. But in the eyes of the law, he got away clean, having wormed his way into a deal with the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency. But Mackey's job with ICE kept him off the street and trapped in a cubicle, where he was due to spend the next three years analyzing gang intelligence. Anyone who wanted Mackey brought to justice had to settle for the poetic variety.
Anyone hoping the Emmys would finally do the Shield justice for its excellent final season were even more disappointed this morning, when the series -- which established FX's reputation as a place for quality drama -- recieved zero nominations.
Nothing for Chiklis, who -- to be fair -- won an Emmy the first time out, but (like the show itself) only got better.
Nothing for CCH Pounder, who played Mackey's opposite number, Capt. Claudette Wyms, bringing a note of sanity and dignity to the horror Mackey caused. (Pounder is nominated in a different category for a guest role on The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency.)
Nothing for Walton Goggins, who played Mackey's protege-turned-nemesis, Shane Vendrell. Goggins had been giving one of the best performances on TV ever since Shane started to go off the rails in season four, and was just brilliant in portraying Shane's desperate, tragic, end.
Apparently there was no room for Goggins because Boston Legal took up two supporting actor spots. I swear that show just existed to piss of fans of better shows come Emmy time.
Oh, and nothing in the writing categories. As much as I love Mad Men, I think giving four nominations for writing was overkill, and meant that shows like The Shield, Battlestar Galactica, In Treatment and Breaking Bad were ignored. And where was Chuck? Or Burn Notice?
On the plus side, Breaking Bad scored five nominations, including ones for main players Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul. Mad Men's Elisabeth Moss was a best actress nominee. (But where were castmates January Jones and Christina Hendricks, who were just as good this year?)
The Emmys air in September. Whoever wins, I'm sure I'll gripe about that too.
Tom Coombe
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