The Shield “Party Line”
Original Air Date: Nov 4, 2008
Tom R - TwoCents Staff Writer
tom@thetwocents.com
This episode aired on Election Day 2008, during one of the most significant elections in the history of the country. It’s perfectly understandable, then, to think that a fictional show can be put into a lesser context by real life, real events. Well, it may be just a show, but it’s still a great show. They are developing a keen sense of menace just through phone calls.
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[photo: Prashant Gupta / FX]
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The Shield
ReplyDelete“Party Line”
Original Air Date: Nov 4, 2008
Tom R - TwoCents Staff Writer
tom@thetwocents.com
This episode aired on Election Day 2008, during one of the most significant elections in the history of the country. It’s perfectly understandable, then, to think that a fictional show can be put into a lesser context by real life, real events. Well, it may be just a show, but it’s still a great show. They are developing a keen sense of menace just through phone calls.
As Shane, Mara and Jackson settle into their new life as squatters, we see Shane cooking on the grill and reconnecting with childhood piano lessons as Mara and the now-healthier Jackson play hide and seek. But their joy is only temporary, as a realtor enters unexpectedly. Shane and Mara lok her in a closet, which eventually tips off their location. That night, they are cornered by a couple gang members, who recognize that there is a bounty for Shane. He offers to double the bounty if they will let him go, but when he tries to pay them, they take his entire stash of funds.
Corinne agrees to work with Dutch and Claudette to bring Shane and Vic to justice. She gives a signed testimony, but Claudette doubts she will repeat it in court. Vic comes to visit, waiting for a call from Shane. Corinne leaves the cordless phone on, letting Dutch and Claudette hear the conversation, but Vic does not tip his hand.
Aceveda squares off with Vic over the Beltran investigation. When Aceveda finally puts his foot down, it results in a fist fight between him and Pezuela. Vic worries that the link to Beltran may have been put in jeopardy. Vic meets directly with Beltran and paints Pezuela as a failure. To prove his loyalty, Beltran asks Vic to take out Pezuela. He and Olivia pick up Pezuela and try to get him to roll on Beltran. After planting a story of suicide, Vic earns Beltran’s trust. Beltran meets with Aceveda, promising a more “hands-off” approach, as long as Aceveda wins.
Hurting for money, Shane places another call to Vic. He demands $ 100,000.00 in one day, or he will send Claudette a letter confessing to the cover-up of Vic’s murder of Terry Crowley. He also wants Corinne to deliver the money. While this conversation is taking place, Claudette takes the phone from Corinne and reasons with Mara, trying to get her to bring in Shane. She uses Jackson as leverage. Mara seems like she is about to cooperate, but after both of them end their calls, she tells Shane that Corinne is working with the police.
So there’s my two cents…What do you think? Drop them in the comments or drop me a line at: tom@thetwocents.com .