TV Review: The Shield – “Spanish Practices”

Though all in all I was somewhat disappointed in this season of The Shield, it definitely picked up speed in the end, and the season closer had promise that was somewhat fulfilled.

For this season’s final episode they chose to lead with their best plotline: Vic strong-arming Aceveda into helping him keep his job by threatening him with the photograph of his oral rape. “I’m surprised that whoever pasted this photo together didn’t give me tits!” Oh my, seems Aceveda’s internal struggles over the incident still hold much shame.

Aceveda’s legal counsel shows up at the barn threatening Vic with all kinds of lawsuits. Vic manages to get the originals and the story from Cruz and then tells Aceveda where he got it (and Aceveda seems really surprised at Cruz’s bad side… go figure). This gains Aceveda’s confidence and thus begins an unlikely alliance. They get the briefcase full o’ dinero back to Romero in the hopes of uncovering more about Cruz’s involvement and how high the corruption goes. Vic gives Aceveda all the copies of the photos and the memory stick to further gain his trust so they can work together to discover the deeper implications of Cruz’s skeletons.

Meanwhile, Diro’s father is getting sicker, and she is determined to retaliate against Vic for the money train robbery that Shane spilled the beans on. Shane makes a feeble attempt to convince her not to go after Vic, but it fails. He then visits the rival mob boss in prison to get information on the hit on Vic to try and protect him. Seems the Armenian mob goes after the wives and children first, and then kills the men involved. Once again Shane is in over his head. He puts an APB out on the mob member most likely to make the hit, but Diro is one step ahead of him and tells him to accept his associates’ death sentences. Ironically Shane ends up in the position of protecting Vic’s family, but in order to do so he has to kidnap Corinne and Cassidy. He then waits at Corinne’s house, and a shady guy shows up to “check the alarm system.” Yeah, right. They scuffle and Shane tells him that either he partners with the rival boss against Diro or he bleeds to death on the Mackies' hardwood floor. Which do you think he chooses?

Shane goes to the hospital to warn Diro about the impending hit on her and her father, and rather then let them kill dear old Dad, she pulls the plug on his life support and leaves. Her closing words to Shane are: “Your sentiment will destroy you.” Now if that isn’t a sign of plotlines to come, I don’t know what is.

In tracking down Cruz, Vic follows Romero and busts into a storefront business. There he bullies his way past the “secretary” (“So, he keeps his oral recreation in house”) and discovers a room full of weapons. She doesn’t know much, but at least he has confirmation that there is more than meets the eye. He’s certain Cruz is going to ask for a favor from Aceveda. Turns out he wants to create a grant for a local college to do demographic research: seems he wants to expand voting territories to increase his influence with the politicians who are “friendly” to his business efforts. Cruz is buying up Farmington to support his shady business connections in Mexico. Vic asks once again for Aceveda’s help with the hearing.

Article Author: Ann Hagman Cardinal

Ann Hagman Cardinal is a freelance writer as well as the Marketing Director for Vermont Collge of Fine Arts. Her first novel, Sister Chicas--co-authored with two other Latina writers—was released in 2006 by NAL/Penguin Books. …

Visit Ann Hagman Cardinal's author page — Ann Hagman Cardinal's Blog