The Shield: Serial Offenders

So last week, I talked about how much I enjoyed the storyline with Dutch and potential serial-killer-in-training Lloyd. I also expressed my hopes that the storyline would be a one-episode ordeal because not knowing whether Dutch was right about Lloyd is a lot more chilling.

That being said, I wasn't completely disappointed with the return of the storyline last night (it's more interesting than another standard Dutch/Billings case) because the writers are having it play out in an interesting way. However, I did feel a little let down that the writers have all but confirmed that Lloyd is a sick puppy.

Wanabee profiler Dutch first sought counsel from an actual FBI profiler and, when that assessment proved inconclusive, he did what most of us do when we feel strongly about something — he asked someone else hoping they would agree with them.

That person was Kleavon Gardner, the convicted serial killer who also happens to be Claudette's nemesis (more on him in a bit). Kleavon told Dutch that Lloyd had the "look" of a killer and, when Dutch showed up at his house to confront the teen about the murder, we saw that "look" as Lloyd coolly lied to his mom and pretended everything was ok as he taunted Dutch. As I mentioned, I would've preferred not knowing about Lloyd for sure, but since this storyline is obviously not going away, I'm definitely interested to see how it ends.

When he wasn't consulting for Dutch, Kleavon — defending himself during a deposition — was being a general pain in the ass for Claudette (pictured, left). I thought guest star Ray Campbell had been excellent in his previous appearances as Kleavon, but last night, he may have topped himself. I mean, have we ever seen Claudette more flustered or intellectually overmatched than we did last night? (CCH Pounder played those emotions just as well as she plays Claudette when she's in control.) Maybe Claudette was just off her game due to the drugs she's been taking for lupus (and, according to Kleavon, make her paranoid and insane).

In the end, Claudette and the DA agreed to take the death sentence off the table in exchange for keeping Kleavon's testimony and Claudette's illness a secret. The bigger picture is the fact that Claudette may now be a bigger liability than asset. It was ugly to see such a competent, proud cop get taken apart bit by bit. Maybe, with Danny now by her side (another competent cop) and aware of her knowledge, Claudette can make it to the end of this series relatively unscathed.

The odds that Vic and his Strike Team make it to the end unscathed get worse and worse every week.

Last week, Vic and Aceveda found out Agt. Murray was in Cruz Pezuela's pocket, and this week was all about finding out how much information Murray had fed Pezuela about Vic's shenanigans and his inquiries into Pezuela associate Armando Rios.

When Murray showed up the next day with a high-difficulty job for the Strike Team — recovering a drug lord's kidnapped daughter and avoiding the drug lord's murderous henchmen without hinting at police involvement so the drug lord would walk into a federal sting operation — Shane suspected they were being set up for a fall by the fed.

The case DID involve a pretty kickass car chase and one of Vic's patented highly dangerous and highly ingenious plans. Vic arranged to make it look like a rival gang tried to rip off the gang that had the girl, while letting the captive girl escape in the confusion. And wouldn't you know it, it worked perfectly.

Earlier in the episode, Shane had suggested to Vic that he simply give the blackmail box to the Armenians (thereby repaying the money train debt and assuring his family's safety), so the Armenians could turn it over to the Mexicans and end the gang war (less dead bodies in Farmington). When Vic rejected Shane's idea, Shane tried to reason with Ronnie, who, despite hating Shane, sort of agreed with him.

After being confronted by Ronnie, Vic told him the real reason he didn't want to give the Armenians the blackmail box. Other than staying on the job to take down Pezuela and putting a "down payment on his soul"(which is probably how he feels, but may have just been a line he fed Shane), the more compelling reason for Vic not turning the box over is that he has no idea where it is — Aceveda has it.

In the end, Vic confronted Agt. Murray at her apartment and learned that she hadn't told Pezuela anything about his incriminating activities. I thought it would've been a little more interesting if Murray was actually a crooked agent, but the show (conveniently for Vic) made her sympathetic (she broke the law to keep her brother out of jail).

As if Vic didn't have enough to do, he had to dodge Danny trying to get him to sign a paternity waver AND deal with Cassidy, the budding ho/ecstasy dealer. I like the idea that Vic's professional life and choices are wreaking havoc on his personal life. Still, Cassidy's sudden prominence in the final season is a little suspect given how she was mostly a non-factor for the first six years. I can't help but wonder if it has to do with the fact that Autumn Chiklis (who plays Cassidy) is the daughter of the show's star, executive producer and occasional director (Chiklis DID do a terrific job with that car chase).

So what'd you think of this episode? How is the inevitable Dutch/Lloyd showdown going to end? Will Claudette make it to the end of the season? Finally, which semi-regular character were you happiest to see back? Kleavon or Dina, that sassy little car thief?