Last episode was one of the best in the entire show so far bringing so much tension between the characters, with Claudette, Vic and Aceveda, showing the power Armadillo has and pushing Vic to the extreme searing his face off because of the death of Tio. This episode deals with the consequences greatly and introduces even more storylines to this outstanding season.
Dutch is brought a severed arm, cut from a victim who is still alive, which leads him to this couple who supposedly witnessed something about it. This is a great storyline which greatly develops Dutch as a character. He's really trying hard to get these things right after his recent failures have lead to people getting hurt, so he makes up the profile for the person who would do such a thing, and is so caught up with it that he misses the fact that the couple were the ones who did it. He's trying so hard to read them and explain everything through psychology, and it's so painful to see how wrong he is even though he is a great profiler. I love the dramatic irony used revealing to the audience from the start that it's the couple so it's intense and excruciating to know Dutch is once again letting someone die. The scene where she's in the trunk and Dutch comes to get them is a great example of this, UGH come on Dutch you were so close! The way the girl in the couple manipulates Dutch how he thought he was manipulating her is so perfect, and messed up. The fact that he was confident enough to let the suspects go encapsulates Dutch's flaws, and sadly leads to another accidental death.
Vic finds his wife, and we get a pretty good scene where the feelings between them, and their kids. It feels pretty authentic, though honestly I don't love this storyline, Vic's wife could be better developed. Probably the main plot of this episode is Joe Clark coming back, who is Vic Mackey's old partner, and a mentor to him, showing how Vic got into his corruption because of him, and a possible future for Vic if he isn't careful. He got kicked out because he brutally beat a guy in public who "took a swing at his last partner." It fits in quite perfectly in the current situation Vic finds himself in. Carl Weather is great in this small role, and I wish we got a bit more of him, but at least he does come back in season 6. Michael Chiklis is once again continuing to flex his acting muscles with these scenes. We get a lot of insight into the past and their characters from this episode how they justify themselves with some great lines like: "Going too far will get you fired, not going far enough will get you killed." "We always did more good than bad right? That's the key."
Even Vic is kinda apprehensive to answer. Also nice use of symbolism placing this scene next to mirrors showing how the characters are reflecting on themselves, but also hiding a side of themselves which will or has reflected back on them. The scene further shows how Vic learned from him how to manipulate his partner as Joe gets Vic to do his revenge for him. Joe brings the worst in Vic, and continues to strain the relationship between the strike team and especially Shane. Kinda funny but messed up that Vic is petty enough to write on the Strike Team door room that Shane isn't part of the team anymore. Then Vic sees how Joe is living, broke, disgraced, without a family, without pension, and this really sets up his motivations for the rest of the season. Now Vic feels like he just needs to get enough money so he can retire and avoid the life of his mentor. This also shows how powerful Joe's manipulation is as Vic literally uses Joe's own words to justify him helping him through unlawful ways. Even Vic's family comes back home which gives Vic the dangerous confidence to keep this going. Vic literally gets shot for Joe, which perfectly shows what he's walking into continuing this life. Vic hiding the pain and the shot seeing his kids again for the second just to leave back as Aceveda calls him perfectly symbolizes how he treats the job and his family.
Vic now brings in the strike team to do the work Joe got Vic to do, which once again shows the relationships between the strike team. Shane being pushed by Vic once again reveals his worst self as he almost rapes a girl to get her to confess some information. The last scene with Shane and Vic in the hospital and ending montage is great and brings the episode of the character flaws together nicely. I think this episode is amazing because while it's more self contained it perfectly shows how the characters act because of each other and the worst elements of each character. There's some other stuff happening during this episode like Claudette continually looking for stuff on Vic Mackey. But I just wanted to mention the main things about this episode. Another amazing episode, and especially revelatory for the characters Vic, Dutch, and Shane, 3 of my favorites. This is a perfect example on how a "filler" episode (though I wouldn't consider it filler) can be used to develop the characters and their dynamics greatly.
Dutch is brought a severed arm, cut from a victim who is still alive, which leads him to this couple who supposedly witnessed something about it. This is a great storyline which greatly develops Dutch as a character. He's really trying hard to get these things right after his recent failures have lead to people getting hurt, so he makes up the profile for the person who would do such a thing, and is so caught up with it that he misses the fact that the couple were the ones who did it. He's trying so hard to read them and explain everything through psychology, and it's so painful to see how wrong he is even though he is a great profiler. I love the dramatic irony used revealing to the audience from the start that it's the couple so it's intense and excruciating to know Dutch is once again letting someone die. The scene where she's in the trunk and Dutch comes to get them is a great example of this, UGH come on Dutch you were so close! The way the girl in the couple manipulates Dutch how he thought he was manipulating her is so perfect, and messed up. The fact that he was confident enough to let the suspects go encapsulates Dutch's flaws, and sadly leads to another accidental death.
Vic finds his wife, and we get a pretty good scene where the feelings between them, and their kids. It feels pretty authentic, though honestly I don't love this storyline, Vic's wife could be better developed. Probably the main plot of this episode is Joe Clark coming back, who is Vic Mackey's old partner, and a mentor to him, showing how Vic got into his corruption because of him, and a possible future for Vic if he isn't careful. He got kicked out because he brutally beat a guy in public who "took a swing at his last partner." It fits in quite perfectly in the current situation Vic finds himself in. Carl Weather is great in this small role, and I wish we got a bit more of him, but at least he does come back in season 6. Michael Chiklis is once again continuing to flex his acting muscles with these scenes. We get a lot of insight into the past and their characters from this episode how they justify themselves with some great lines like: "Going too far will get you fired, not going far enough will get you killed." "We always did more good than bad right? That's the key."
Even Vic is kinda apprehensive to answer. Also nice use of symbolism placing this scene next to mirrors showing how the characters are reflecting on themselves, but also hiding a side of themselves which will or has reflected back on them. The scene further shows how Vic learned from him how to manipulate his partner as Joe gets Vic to do his revenge for him. Joe brings the worst in Vic, and continues to strain the relationship between the strike team and especially Shane. Kinda funny but messed up that Vic is petty enough to write on the Strike Team door room that Shane isn't part of the team anymore. Then Vic sees how Joe is living, broke, disgraced, without a family, without pension, and this really sets up his motivations for the rest of the season. Now Vic feels like he just needs to get enough money so he can retire and avoid the life of his mentor. This also shows how powerful Joe's manipulation is as Vic literally uses Joe's own words to justify him helping him through unlawful ways. Even Vic's family comes back home which gives Vic the dangerous confidence to keep this going. Vic literally gets shot for Joe, which perfectly shows what he's walking into continuing this life. Vic hiding the pain and the shot seeing his kids again for the second just to leave back as Aceveda calls him perfectly symbolizes how he treats the job and his family.
Vic now brings in the strike team to do the work Joe got Vic to do, which once again shows the relationships between the strike team. Shane being pushed by Vic once again reveals his worst self as he almost rapes a girl to get her to confess some information. The last scene with Shane and Vic in the hospital and ending montage is great and brings the episode of the character flaws together nicely. I think this episode is amazing because while it's more self contained it perfectly shows how the characters act because of each other and the worst elements of each character. There's some other stuff happening during this episode like Claudette continually looking for stuff on Vic Mackey. But I just wanted to mention the main things about this episode. Another amazing episode, and especially revelatory for the characters Vic, Dutch, and Shane, 3 of my favorites. This is a perfect example on how a "filler" episode (though I wouldn't consider it filler) can be used to develop the characters and their dynamics greatly.
