[Morethings index for The Shield]
Season 2 finale, Episode 13 "Dominoes Falling"
Air date: 4-01-03

The end of the season upended the power balances in the show in numerous ways. Just working out the new equilibrium of these forces would be enough to run a whole season of new shows.

Captain Aceveda won his primary, which means he will be their for another six months in the Barn, and pretty much immune from control higher up. For he will then become a city councilman, as Vic put it "our bosses boss."

Yet Vic on the other end has something of a newly enhanced power base, to the tune of however many millions of dollars the team ripped off from the mob. Even without announcing it to anyone, which they obviously couldn't, the Strike Team has practically unlimited resources if they need them. The threat of losing their jobs or pensions won't be much of a threat. They can hire the top shysters in the business if they get into trouble.

All in all, power (Aceveda) vs money (Vic) vs conscience (Claudette) promise great things for season 3.