Well that's just playing the percentages.

Genevieve is ever so right on this. One thing that wasn't mentioned that I always love is the little bits of staging: Jake's car turning into Speed Racer, Daria moving stage front, split screens, and (favorite!) Quinn's face emerging from Helen's fax. Some really entertaining uses of a minimal animation style there.

Same. Also "would that be more man…ly?" ("Man…ly!")

Aceveda's little beat in that interrogation—"oh God"—is brilliant.  One of the great things about this show is just because you're not corrupt (or less corrupt), you're not stupid.

Vic Mackey and Agent Coulson will team up to take them down!  (Yes, I know Clark Gregg was on ______________ as ______________.)

Yes to this too.  It's what so constantly impressed me about the acting, how effective it was in even the smallest moments, how completely the actors inhabited their characters.  The big moments don't have nearly as much power—they really don't have any power—if the small moments aren't done right too.

@avclub-79f37254d46ff0eb4aef4db413a7aec6:disqus :  really well said, that.  What made The Shield so great is, again, holding to the first rule of drama—action have consequences—more than any other show.

CONTINUING THE SPOILERS

It shows the level of maturity of the writers that Shane is a racist, but that's not the total definition of his character.  (See also:  The Royal Tenenbaums)

Actually, I'll set this rule for myself:  from here on out, I won't post any spoilers in a thread unless a SPOILER is clearly marked in the first post.

Yeah, I'm going to do one, maybe two more massive, full-series posts and that's it; I recognize the issue which is why I'm making my non-spoiler post first.  Again, collapse the big posts on sight for now.  Part of the problem is that because The Shield is such a unified story, it really needs to be looked at as a…

SPOILERS CONTINUE

No they didn't.  You're lying.  (Sticks fingers in ears and goes BLABLABLABLAICAN'THEARYOU)

MAJOR SPOILERS

A lot of directors figured out that the stairs were perfect for a fast scene out of everyone's sight, and came up with cool ways to shoot that.

Yes, this.  Another thing that's great is the sense of having to make your decision immediately; this show made you feel the pressure of having to act without 24 hours to think about it.  The moment that jumps to mind is

They didn't, as far as I can tell.  (No, there is no episode called "Co-pilot," what are you talking about?)  No going back, no explaining, nothing but actions and having to deal with the consequences.

The Greatness of The Shield, part two:  style and performance

Watching these two episodes, you can see the style developing.  The camera perspective becomes more subjective and less cinematic, and faces and looks matter more.  In particular, watch the overhead shots of Danny and Julien at the apartment complex in “The Spread”; they could be from a resident looking down.  Or the…

Coleman's a guy now?