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The Shield

2002 – 2008Show7 seasons88 episodesTV-MA

CrimeDrama
89
ExcellentGoodWatch score
IMDb8.7Metacritic899.0Rotten Tomatoes90%96%

A nerve-racking, brutally violent crime series about everyday modern life and crime, with standout performances and direction.

Good for friends night · binge-friendly · thought-provoking

Skip it if you need an uplifting mood · you want to half-watch while scrolling · graphic violence bothers you · you want something quiet and calm

Where to watch

Fingerprint

Not for warmth, laughs or comfort.

Shows with

Episodes

7 seasons · 88 episodes · best: S7E13 "Family Meeting" 9.7

Episodes

8.2
8.2
8.2
7.9
8.6
8.3
8.7

Story

The law is just a suggestion.

The story of an inner-city Los Angeles police precinct where some of the cops aren't above breaking the rules or working against their associates to both keep the streets safe and their self-interests intact.

Feels like

  • Gritty Police Procedural
  • Moral Ambiguity
  • Corrupt Cop Drama
  • High-Stakes Tension
  • Realistic Violence
  • Complex Anti-Heroes
  • Institutional Decay
  • Street-Level Crime
  • Psychological Stress
  • Legacy of Corruption

Cast

24 of 715 · most episodes first

Crew

Directors
Guy Ferland, Scott Brazil, Clark Johnson
Written by
Kurt Sutter, Shawn Ryan, Glen Mazzara
Produced by
Michael Chiklis, Kurt Sutter, Adam Fierro

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

March 12, 2002 · November 25, 2008 · Ended

First aired
March 12, 2002
Last aired
November 25, 2008
Status
Ended
Length
7 seasons · 88 episodes
Age rating
TV-MA
Content
Violence, Strong Language, Drug Use, Sexual Content, Disturbing Imagery
Genres
Crime, Drama, Action & Adventure
Original language
English
Made in
United States
Available in
39 countries

Tropes

Despair Event Horizon, Morality Pet, Soul-Crushing Desk Job +9

  • Despair Event Horizon
  • Morality Pet
  • Soul-Crushing Desk Job
  • Early-Installment Weirdness
  • Removed from the Picture
  • Promiscuity After Rape
  • Establishing Character Moment
  • Ascended Extra
  • Framing the Guilty Party
  • National Stereotypes
  • False Roulette
  • Birth-Death Juxtaposition

12 of 180 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

6 questions, like "Where can I stream The Shield?"

Questions about The Shield

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream The Shield?

PrimeHulu

In the United States, The Shield streams on Prime and Hulu. You can rent or buy it from Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, and Fandango At Home. It also streams in 29 other countries.

Is The Shield worth watching?

89
ExcellentGoodWatch score

Yes, it's widely acclaimed, with a GoodWatch score of 89 (IMDb 8.7, Rotten Tomatoes 90%, and Metacritic 89).

Which season of The Shield is best?

Season 7, with an IMDb average of 8.7. Season 4 is the weakest at 7.9. The highest-rated episode is Family Meeting (season 7, episode 13) at 9.7, and the lowest is Co-Pilot (season 2, episode 9) at 7.3.

How long does it take to watch The Shield?

66 h

About 66 hours: 88 episodes in 7 seasons of about 45 minutes each, aired from 2002 to 2008.

Will I feel good after watching The Shield?

BleakHopeful

Probably not: the title analysis rates it 8 of 10 for bleakness and 5 for melancholy, against 2 for hopefulness.

What tropes does The Shield use?

Despair Event HorizonMorality PetSoul-Crushing Desk JobEarly-Installment WeirdnessRemoved from the PicturePromiscuity After RapeEstablishing Character MomentAscended ExtraFraming the Guilty PartyNational StereotypesFalse RouletteBirth-Death Juxtapositionand 168 more

TV Tropes lists 180 tropes for it, including Despair Event Horizon, Morality Pet, and Soul-Crushing Desk Job.