Entertainment Forum General Chat Thread • Page 324

Whoever on this website that got me to watch Justified deserves a pat on the back or a soda. It is so stupid and absurd but this is now the third time I am watching it in its entirety.

 

I doubt it was me but I’m still taking credit bc it’s my favorite
You’re welcome

 

It completely leans in to how Raylan does not fit into real life at all. It is so much more aware than so many other cop shows that try to frame constant standoffs and shootouts as being in any way realistic.

 

I’ve heard about this show so much but have never checked it out. I see it’s on Hulu, what shows would you compare it to?

 

The show is basically "what if we took an old movie cowboy (or a man who idolized old movie cowboys) and put them in the modern era?". It isn't a prestige drama like The Sopranos or The Wire. The first season is mostly villain of the week, but the later seasons are about the main character trying to take down various underworld figures.

It indulges in the tropes of the western hero while also showing how unrealistic it is. Raylan goes around doing what he wants on the edges of the law and mostly gets away with it, but he is shown to be mortal many times throughout the show. The supporting characters are mostly stereotypes but the cast and the writing are committing to hamming it up as much as possible.

 

Yr welcome

 

I’m sold. I’ll have to add that to my list. Thanks.

 

top tier show

 

You are the premiere authority of the "dudes rock" genre.

 

you put it great, I'm also watching it for the first time. it does certain things incredibly well, and other things completely ridiculously, but it knows exactly which are which and handles them appropriately

 

also I don't think Walton Goggins has ever been in a bad show. except maybe whatever shit he's got going on CBS or whatever nowadays. hope he's getting paid at least. one of my favorite actors after watching The Shield and this back to back and Gemstones and Vice Principals last summer

 

The Shield is one of the greatest underrated shows.

So many shows try to do the anti-hero route, but the problem they almost always run into is that the antagonists are worse people. The Shield makes it very clear that Mackey is a true villain in the way he exploits criminals and his own police power.

You just have to forgive the Kid Rock song in the first episode. The Shield gets better as it goes along.

 

I've never watched The Shield

 

i doubt i watch the shield at this point but it’s the only one of his main canonical shows i haven’t seen. one of my favorite dudes

 

It is rough around the edges, especially in the first few seasons, but it builds a tremendous amount of suspense. The show's conclusion revolves around central characters that have been building toward their conflict throughout the course of the show, which so many shows fail to do because of shifting casts and character deaths.

The first time I watched it I could not sleep with a few episodes left and ended up pulling an all nighter on a weekday. It is one of the best endings to any show.

 

totally agree, it's really really incredible. one thing I've thought a lot about since finishing is it how well it built tension on a show-length scale. with the exception of Julian's gay storyline no thread gets abandoned, everything single thing pays off at the end. especially interpersonal issues, none of that shit you see on most procedurals where somebody pisses somebody else off and then it's forgiven and forgotten after 3 episodes at most

 

The Shield is also extremely relevant in today's political climate, as the title refers to how the police get away with heinous actions because of the shield of law enforcement. The show portrays the ways that the police encourage and exacerbate violence in their communities.

 

it also definitely could not be made today because people would not be able to understand that depiction is not endorsement

 

I loved The Shield when I watched it but honestly don't remember too much about it anymore. Looks like it's all on Hulu if anyone wants to watch it.

 

it's also newly in upscaled fake HD/widescreen. up until last year I think you could only get it in square resolution lol

 

Thoughts on Sons of Anarchy? I watched all of it because I hadn't seen anything better at the time.

 

RDR + GTA?

 

The Shield and Justified both coming up at once makes me want to talk about my undying love for FX again.

 

I honestly thought people were talking about Agents of Shield when they mention The Shield, so I never had any interest in it haha.