It sounds like you need to register for Professor Franco's next class: "Francophobe or Francophile: Advanced Studies in Meta-Narcissism"

@avclub-f6f154417c4665861583f9b9c4afafa2:disqus Amazing work here. Did Ryan explain why he added the final scene of Vic grabbing the gun? I would suggest that it's to reinforce the idea that Vic might have been beaten but he wasn't broken.

Billings also had to set-up the pederast to maintain his good relationship with his wife and daughter - another example of loyalty to family over loyalty to the law.

Billings made the transition when he tanked the car wash murder - Dutch and Claudette lost all respect for him at that point and he stopped trying. Later on he even gives Dutch a speech about motivating people through respect.

Absolutely necessary. It's the original sin. Not only does it power the plot for the whole run, but it prevents the viewers from fully embracing Vic as an anti-hero. Everything else the team does can be rationalized on some level - but not murdering another cop.

I think we can agree that one of the show's greatest strengths is in manipulating our feelings toward the characters so that we have mixed emotions about EVERYONE.

The Shield did a better job of successfully setting up Corrine as the voice of reason than Breaking Bad has done with Skyler. I'm not sure if it's the performances of the actors or the writing, but Skyler is a wholly unlikable character which weakens her role as Walt's/the viewer's conscience. Corrine pulls us away…

How is Mara more sympathetic than Corrine? Corrine is truly an innocent - her biggest "sins" were sleeping with Dutch, taking sleeping pills and finally turning on Vic in order to protect her kids. Mara almost killed Tayvon, killed two people while Shane was trying to roll them and caused the money train/sierra madre…

Pope Batusi the First.

Damn, those huge choppers are going to make Walton Goggins jealous.

No Steve Holt, no cash.

Franco American or Chef Boyardee?

Please don't tell us that Drake is Kevin Smith's codename.

He should take something for that cough.

you can't dust butts for prints.

U R rite!

3 measly likes after 5 hours for a perfect, seldom used Simpsons quote?

As a country-rock aficionado I should hate the Eagles for bastardizing and cashing in on the beautiful music made by Gram, the Burritos, Dillard & Clark, Manassas and Poco. But there first two albums are really good - except for the Glenn Frey rockers. Chug All Night might be the worst song ever. In summary:

We could also jump the back lawn wall when it was called Great Woods, but apparently the cable company insists on people "paying" for "tickets". Jerks!

I liked this guy better when he made speakers.