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When it comes to cop shows, there’s FX Television’s The Shield, and then there’s everyone else. Pitted against any other police procedural, like the crusty Law & Order or NYPD Blue, The Shield would win hands down. The entertainment value it offers, with a blistering pace and a raucous cast of characters, is second to none. The fifteen episodes comprising season three are among the best the series has ever produced.

At the conclusion of season two, the Strike Team had officially hit the jackpot. Vic Mackey and company hijacked the Armenian mob’s mysterious money train, landing them a sizeable contribution to their retirement funds. However, in the process, two Armenians were killed when they turned on each other before the hit, leading to an unwanted investigation into their deaths. As Vic’s old nemesis Claudette Wyms (CCH Pounder) looks into the circumstances surrounding the heist, she is angered when reigning police captain David Aceveda (Benito Martinez) informs her that he will not let her take command of the precinct until he graduates to City Council, in six months time. Meanwhile, Vic continues to battle family issues, while simultaneously trying to compete with the new Decoy Squad. In all, season three has no shortage of outstanding plot lines for it’s diverse group of characters.

One of the most intriguing elements of this season focuses on the stress and uneasiness of the four Strike Team members. After investigating several brutal slayings in Los Angeles’ fictional Farmington District, Vic and the team realize the Armenian mob will stop at nothing to find out who ripped them off. This creates undeniable tension as Lemonhead (Kenneth Johnson) begins to have serious doubts about keeping the money. The problem escalates when Shane Vendrell’s new girlfriend stumbles onto the team’s stashed cash, and steals seven thousand for her mother. If all that wasn’t enough, the team’s constant bickering climaxes with an all-out brawl between Vendrell and Tavon, leaving one of them seriously injured.

The interaction between the wide varieties of personalities is perhaps the show’s biggest strength. Vic clashes with virtually anyone who gets in his way, including Wyms, who is now over-seeing the Strike Team. When the gawky, loser detective Dutch Wagenbach begins prodding Mackey about his possible involvement in the money train incident, Vic lashes out against him and vows to make his life at the Barn a living hell. Dutch also gets one of the most gruesome storylines of the season, as he tries desperately to track down the vile ‘cuddler rapist’. There’s certainly plenty of drama to go around in season three.

Few shows in television’s existence have ever had such an incredible wealth of acting talent. The Shield ranks right up there with Oz and Millennium as having one of the most capable assembly of actors of any dramatic show on TV. Leading the way is the always-engaging Michael Chiklis, who plays one of the most lovable bad cops with a carnivorous ferocity. It’s natural to find yourself cheering for Mackey, even as he frequently crosses the line between right and wrong. Chiklis won an Emmy for his intense portrayal of Mackey in the first season, and I see no evidence of a decline in his performance. Walton Goggins, who plays the frustrating sidekick Vendrell, really shines this season. Goggins plays the hot-tempered Vendrell expertly, giving him a serious dose of credibility as he struggles to balance his friends on the Strike Team with the demands of his new girlfriend. The rest of the cast seems naturally at ease with their characters this year, further cementing The Shield as the foremost cop show on television.

As is the case with every TV show, there must inevitably be a few drawbacks. The first couple of episodes, while still the same great quality as ever, feel a bit slower in comparison with the rest of the season, which moves at a breakneck pace. Additionally, The Shield tends to conform to the expectations of who we think criminals are. For example, practically all the thugs that the Strike Team collars are either black or Hispanic. The ruthless serial rapist is an average white male, just like one would expect. Furthermore, are suspects too dumb to ask for an attorney? Every time you see an interrogation, there is never a lawyer present. This allows the detectives to hammer out a confession, which conveniently moves the plot along. At the end of the day, these are really just small quibbles. None of them critically detract from the viewing experience as a whole.

Given that this four-disc set comes to us from Fox, you can generally expect a high quality DVD production, and that’s exactly what we’ve been given. Excusing a little graininess in the video department (which is, in all likelihood, the quality of the film tape and not the DVD), the presentation is immaculate. The truckload of extras make shelling out that fifty dollars definitely seem justified. A whopping eight commentary tracks are included, featuring all of the principle actors and crew. It’s a pleasure to see that unlike so many television DVD sets, the actors on The Shield take the time to sit down and talk about the show. So many other snobby actors simply take a pass when offered the chance to do a commentary. Another big draw is the making-of documentary of the season finale, which clocks in at well over an hour. It details everything from the writing process to the filming on the set, and all the actors and crew are interviewed to shed some light on what goes on behind the scenes. All in all, a terrific set of first-rate extras that prove if there’s one thing Fox is good at, other than cancelling great shows, it’s producing DVD’s.

If you don’t already own this spectacular season 3 boxed set, may I ask, what are you waiting for? Television shows don’t get much more exciting than The Shield. Season three expands on the complex plot lines developed in the second year, and continues to flesh out the characters. The dynamic interactions between the members of the Strike Team are again the basis for some of the most thrilling episodes of the series thus far. Headed by Chiklis, the quality of the acting rises above and beyond the typical police show. Not to be outdone, the DVD extras offer unparalleled access to the making of the show, and serve as a great compliment to the fifteen superb episodes. From the brilliant acting to the edge-of-your-seat storylines, The Shield: Season 3 has even more reasons for you to slap down fifty bucks and pick up one of the most compelling cop shows ever created.

Recommended: Yes

Viewing Format: DVD