MovieChat Forums > The Shield (2002) Discussion > Brand New Viewer-just watched the Pilot

Brand New Viewer-just watched the Pilot

posted 9 years ago by dosqueen67
23 replies | jump to latest

Wow. Just wow. I mean I knew after the first 5 minutes that I was watching quality television but the final moments of the pilot blew me away! I was completely shocked by what occurred.

For me though, as terrific as it was, it also put me in bit of a moral quandary. You see I was disgusted by the actions of the lead character-not just by what he did in the last minute of the episode but throughout the episode! How the heck am I supposed to root for someone so despicable? Please tell me that he becomes a little more sympathetic after this! I understand that TV needs to have well-written/acted anti-heroes, but this episode made me question whether I would be able to withstand a show that resolves around someone like this. If I compare it to other shows I love (Breaking Bad, the Sopranos) with questionable lead characters, I could say that at least with those shows I didn't necessarily hate the lead character right off the bat.

The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he did not exist.

[–] PreachCaleb 9 years ago

Yes, Vic does become a bit more sympathetic. But keep in mind: he is not the hero. He is not the shining knight. He is not the good guy.

If you do stick with the show, believe me, you are in for a heck of a ride.

Let's be bad guys.

[–] dosqueen67 9 years ago

Oh, I realized from ep 1 that Vic was certainly no hero, but I'm now at ep 5 and still find him utterly despicable. I'm not sure I'll be able to overcome my dislike since he is such a large focus on this show. I find myself rooting against him at every turn. I want the actual criminals to take him down-that's how much I dislike the guy right now.

I am rooting for the Captain, Dutch Guy, anyone but Mackey.

The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he did not exist.

[–] PreachCaleb 9 years ago

Then this might not be the show for you. He does a lot more dastardly things for the next six and a half seasons.

Let's be bad guys.

[–] dosqueen67 9 years ago

I hear you. Hmm....I will definitely watch at least until the end of Season 1. It's such a quality show and from what I've read here, it gets even better past this season. Do other people who love this show actually like Vic? Or is it more of a "love to hate" kind of thing? I loved to hate Walter White by the time S2 came around in Breaking Bad, but never stopped watching that show (because I loved Jesse & Hank).

Another thing that I'm struggling with is I can't figure out what the writers/show runners are trying to do with Vic. Do they want us to "like" him? Why else would they give him an autistic son or have him help the hooker out who shot her john and play blackjack with the deflowered South Korean young girl? I can't get a handle on what the writers are going for with him exactly. I can't help but feel that these situations where Vic is supposed to be sympathetic come across as too obvious to me. I don't know how many times I've watched a show where an unlikeable character was given a kid with some sort of health problem in order to wring sympathy out of the audience for example. But then on the other hand, they have him blackmail the closeted cop a heartbeat later so it's a constant step forward/step back with him. And you'll probably tell me that this is exactly the dance move the writers will foist upon us viewers over the next 6 seasons when it comes to him, yes? No?

The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he did not exist.

[–] PreachCaleb 9 years ago

Yes, there are plenty of fans who like Vic, and many who even root for him. I, myself love the character. He's a fascinating study. A corrupt cop who legitimately wants to put criminals off the streets. A hard man who has a soft spot for certain people. I can understand his actions, though I do not condone them, nor feel entirely sorry for him.

Do they want us to "like" him? Why else would they give him an autistic son or have him help the hooker out who shot her john and play blackjack with the deflowered South Korean young girl? I can't get a handle on what the writers are going for with him exactly.

Those moments are to show that Vic is not a completely evil monster. Though he is corrupt, he is still a cop and still believes in right and wrong in certain situations. They were writing a layered character, as are most of the main cast of the show. It really is up to the viewer whether they want to like Vic, hate him, love to hate him, or any thing else.

And you'll probably tell me that this is exactly the dance move the writers will foist upon us viewers over the next 6 seasons when it comes to him, yes? No?

Yes. Vic never falls 100% evil or 100% good.

But the show also never just remains all about him. The other members of the Strike Team do step forward more in the spotlight and get a chance to shine. Walton Goggins as Shane is particularly an exceptional stand out. His performance is one of the best on the show.

Let's be bad guys.

[–] quantumphyzx 9 years ago

I think Mackey is the best antihero that television has ever produced. He reminds me of a real-to-life criminal with good intentions, a sort of Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hide character.

[–] jd-267 9 years ago

There are still plenty of wins and losses for everyone; Dutch, Aceveda, and even Vic. Stay with it. While Vic DOES win a lot, don't expect him to win everytime.

And don't expect to hate him around every corner either. He does have a good side. But he SURELY is the villain of the show

[–] 9 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Klockard23 9 years ago

Hope you stick with it. It's an excellent show from beginning to end. Seasons 5 and 7 are especially something special.

[–] dosqueen67 9 years ago

I've stuck with it and am now on Season 6 (binge-watching it on Netflix). If anyone's interested, at this stage of the game I don't exactly hate Vic, but I certainly don't like him either. His sociopathic tendencies make me really uncomfortable at times. His ability to lie so convincingly (like to Terry's brother about his murder) is one thing. And what he did with Kavanaugh's ex-wife was gross. Speak of the devil, Kavanaugh has replaced Vic at the top of my "Hate List". I cannot wait for him to be written off the show. Everyone who raves about Season 5 - I actually disliked it somewhat because of Whitaker. But the final episode with Lem. Damn. I'd been spoiled about Lem's fate but not the specifics of it. I didn't know that Shane would be the one to kill him. When Vic finds out, boy oh boy!

I've stuck with the show because of the exceedingly high quality of the acting (Chiklis being at the top of that list) and writing. I haven't liked the portrayal of the women quite so much (too many women being sexually attracted to Vic has bugged me, especially the lawyer), but having CC Pounder and Glenn Close on the show makes up for that minor quibble.

Thanks for everybody's comments here! :)

The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he did not exist.

[–] centauri2014 9 years ago

That was one of my favorite scenes in the series, when Aceveda tells Kavanaugh how Mackey can lie to you with such conviction that he makes you question yourself, even when you know the truth.

Ladies and gentlemen...Mr.Conway Twitty

[–] hungriheart-724-232540 9 years ago

Can you give me the torrent link?

[–] jblain-23485 9 years ago

You gotta stick w/ it. You have only seen the tip of the iceberg. Avoid spoilers on this site at all costs. They are rampant. I can barely watch the last 5 eps or so because they're so heavy and emotionally draining. But also some of the best final ep's ANY show EVER had. S's 5-7 are when the show was shining at full brightness. It never had a bad season. S1 is often listed as the least favorite. If you're liking that, your mind will be blown by what lies ahead. Keep watching, don't let your Vic-hatred deprive you of a supreme viewing experience.

[–] jpercy-200-519474 9 years ago

Lucky you a new viewer to this great show hold on your in for a hell of a ride, i started another re-watch a few weeks ago and am now 4 episodes from the end

[–] jblain-23485 9 years ago

Those last few ep's I have to work up the courage to rewatch. I always put off finishing S5 for a week or so when I get near the end of the season. In S6 and LOVING IT! Walton Goggins really starts to turn the intensity up as Shane this season, other than Vic, my favorite character. This is the only show that reliably gets a few tears out of me. 3 eps in particular are impossible for me to get through with a dry eye. That's great writing/acting! I know these terrible things are going to happen...and it's still a fresh, horrible shock every time through!

[–] jon_lajoie 9 years ago

I'm actually watching the show hoping this piece of sh!t gets whats coming to him, regretfully others start to become less sympathetic as time goes by too. Dutch disgusted me in Season 3 killing the cat so callously killed his character Aside from all that, I love the camera work, the acting and the cases are a fascinating, brutal look at the depravity of people.

I...drink...your...MILKSHAKE!

I DRINK IT UP!!!

[–] centauri2014 9 years ago

What you observed in the pilot is essentially the crux of the entire show. Without giving anything away, I will say that, at least in my estimation, Vic was never the hero, the anti-hero or even the villain. He simply was who he was. He reminded me so much of the Cigarette Smoking Man on The X-files; he has his own agenda, and for better or worse, if you get in his way, you're done. As some others have pointed out in your thread, there are moments when he does some good, but none of those good deeds are ever really meant to offset the bad. They simply happen because HE wants them to happen.

Ladies and gentlemen...Mr.Conway Twitty

[–] churchr-1 8 years ago

This is a series about a guy who cannot be redeemed. And he knows it. I consider it fairly unique that way, but it's one of the best tv shows ever because of it. Every once in awhile Vic looks into a mirror and knows that he's looking at someone who has done things that can never ever be made right. He could save the planet from nuclear annihilation but he can never get past what he did in the pilot episode.

[–] centauri2014 8 years ago

He could save the planet from nuclear annihilation but he can never get past what he did in the pilot episode.

I'll never forget the first time I watched that. I thought to myself, "Holy s***, this is the FIRST episode? What's the rest of this show going to be like?"

Ladies and gentlemen...Mr.Conway Twitty