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The Shield Season 5 Episode 5

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9.6

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AIRED: 2/7/06

Via a bug planted in the clubhouse, Kavanaugh monitors the Strike Team as they investigate an illegal prescription drug ring that is proving to be deadly for the people of Farmington. While working on a missing person’s case, Dutch attempts find out what Claudette is hiding.

Fan Episode Reviews (11)

best ever episode

10

By DileepChakrav, Sep 22, 2012

This by far is the best episode of the Shield. There were good episodes earlier but nothing like this

Whole episode is so intense and I knew something was going to happen and Vic is not going to be arrested and I half suspected that the killing is fake one. I paused for a while to relax when it turned out to be true. Forest Whitaker was amazing till now in the show. He showed a new angle in this show - till now he played strictly professional but it seems Vic hit him hard where it hurts. I was never so hooked up to this show as I am now.

Hope the pace continues. This season is lot better than previous seasons...moreless
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Vic Mackey: The cleverest SOB on the planet... or just the luckiest? The Shield: The best effin' cop show on the planet... or just the best show ever, period? You decide- I bet you can guess what my vote is.moreless

9.5

By rockin01, Sep 21, 2007

What a show! In a matter of weeks I've gone from someone who had never seen an episode to burning through 4 and a half seasons on DVD. My only two regrets: That I didn't find this show sooner, and that Season 6 is not out on DVD yet. What in the hell am I going to do with myself when I get through the rest of S5?

Anyway, this is another episode that reminds me why I am so addicted to this show. The Shield excels at bringing me to the edge of my seat, even when I know what they're up to. I knew Vic couldn't be so stupid as to walk into Kavanaugh's trap. I knew the Strike Team wasn't going to jail at this early point in the season. But that's not the point- even knowing all this, I watched just to see HOW they pulled it off. And, sure enough, The Shield never disappoints.

A couple of musings: Does anyone else notice how much Aceveda seems to be leaning towards Vic's side. How much do you wanna bet he's going to end up helping him out at some point? And is Danny the hottest pregnant chick you ever saw or what?moreless
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This episode shows what a presence Forest Whitaker is. Great acting by Forest Whitaker as Kavanaugh; the character that everyone hates although he should be the hero of the show this season for taking down Vic.moreless

10

By hurleyjunx666, Apr 30, 2007

This show is awesome and this episode clearly defines that. Kavanaugh is doing everything he can to take down Mackey and for the first time he takes action and he fails. After failing, he goes into uncontrollable rage which is completely out of his character(element of surprise). That's what makes this show unpredictable and exciting: it keeps you guessing.

Throughout this whole episode, Kavanaugh starts to get excited and giddy about thinking he's going to finally bust Mackey and the strike team. Unfortunetly for him, Mackey has the last laugh (as always) leaving Kavanaugh making a 180 degree turn in attitudes and throwing a complete tense fit which is a perfect way to close the episode. Forest Whitaker does this with perfection. He stays very quiet after realizing Mackey got away and keeps his character in check. After sending his colleague home, he has a small moment of silence before suddenly screaming at himself and trashing the room in rage and anger. I didn't expect the rage to happen so that caught me and probably everyone else watching off guard which makes this show addicting and intense.

Kavanaugh is so determined, tormented and obsessed about getting Mackey that his rage came from the realization of failure which probably did not happen to him in previous investigations. Vic stays one step ahead of him and fools him. It doesn't matter what anyone does or attempts on Vic; he'll find some way to manuever around the scenario. Kavanaugh though is the biggest threat to him.

I love this episode due to the element of surprise and the acting of forest whitaker. Although I hate Kavanaugh so much (I kinda hate Vic for Terry's death but Kavanaugh is worse), it's nice to have someone to root against.

Just out of randomness, what was that song that played in the room when the strike team is loading blanks into their guns (when they're setting up the sting)? If anyone reads this and knows, pass the info to me.moreless
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Eat that, Kavanaugh!

9.3

By _seVen_, Jan 18, 2007

BRILLIANT episode. The strike team is in trouble, AGAIN!

But this time, they use their brains instead of their guns.

They are able to set up a fake deal with a drug dealer, lead IAD and Kavanaugh believe that they caught Vic. It all plays off... really well. One of the first times the viewers were unaware of Vic's and his team's plan.

The ending was the most amazing thing ,though. The always calm Kavanaugh sending his college out of the room, so he can show his anger by destroying the whole equipment? Priceless.

The Dutch / Claudette substory wasn't as great as usual, but they got less screentime too.moreless
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For my money, 'Trophy' was one of the best episodes we've yet seen on The Shield, and that's saying something.

10

By briantw, Feb 15, 2006

I loved 'Trophy.' Everything about it was almost perfect. Everything happening so far came to a point here, particularly with regards to Kavanaugh's storyline.

First off, we find out what Claudette was hiding. Sure, lupus wasn't as bad as it could have been, but it is a nice weakness to give a formerly strong character. I liked how her relationship with Dutch shifted back and forth up until the reveal. They have good chemistry. Their murder investigation was also interesting, although very predictable. As soon as I saw the woman who actually committed the murder, I called it and was correct. Still, it wasn't really the focus of the episode and did a good job of holding my interest. I'm also interested to see if the relationship between Dutch and Tina will be going anywhere, as I'm sure many viewers are.

The Kavanaugh storyline was pure brilliance. It also represented one of the few times in the show's history that we didn't know everything Vic knew. The whole drug deal set-up was another plot point that was easily predictable(I mean, Vic can't go to jail a quarter of the way through the season for murder), but it was so well done and thought out that I couldn't help but sit there enthralled. I loved Kavanaugh's reaction when he found out the whole bust was a set-up. It was priceless. The whole episode also made me wonder whose side Acevada was on. Sure, he hated Vic, but could they be working together to bring down IAD?

Finally, the end of the episode was the most satisfying thing I've seen on television for a long time. Seeing Kavanaugh go berserk after hearing Vic's comment about beating IAD was perfect and it made me feel good to see a character I didn't like get so thoroughly embarassed like that.

All in all, this episode was a classic and a perfect example of why this show rocks so hard. Watch it.moreless
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Cast & Crew: STARS

EDIT

Benito Martinez	Councilman David Aceveda
Catherine Dent	Officer Danielle "Danny" Sofer
Cathy Cahlin Ryan	Corrine Mackey - (Season 4, Recurring Previously)
CCH Pounder	Detective Claudette Wyms
David Rees Snell	Detective Ronnie Gardocki - (Season 4, Recurring Previously)
Jay Karnes	Detective Holland "Dutch" Wagenbach

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Cast & Crew: RECURRING AND GUESTS

EDIT

Matthew Solomon	Delivery Guy	Guest Star
Matthew C. Drake	Paramedic	Guest Star
Leonard Kelly-Young	Buzz	Guest Star
Autumn Chiklis	Cassidy Mackey	Recurring Role
Laura Harring	Becca Doyle	Recurring Role
Onahoua Rodriguez	Emolia Melendez	Recurring Role

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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TRIVIA (1)
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- We find out in this episode that Claudette has Lupus, and has had the disease for 15 years. The recent use of medication is because the disease is now flaring up.
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QUOTES (7)
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- Corinne: Be gentle, his sister just died.
  Vic: I'm oozing gentle.
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- Popovich: Who says there is never police around when we need them, hmm?
  (Everyone starts laughing)
  Vic: Who says that?
  Kavanaugh: (After listening via planted bug) Yeah, who says?
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- Vic: There's someone I want you to meet.
  Shane: Who? (Turns around and sees Becca talking on her phone) She's that lawyer chick right?
  Vic: Yeah.
  Shane: You hitting that?
  Vic: No, I hired that.
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- Cop: It's just a vending machine!
  Billings: It's a gourmet quick-mealer, a**hole!
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- Billings: Uncuff my men. You idiots did enough damage for one night.
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- Vic: We'll just beat IAD again next year.
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- Dutch: It's okay. Dutch-Man has a plan.
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NOTES (2)
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- International Airdates:
  Australia: January 7, 2008 on Network 10
  The Netherlands: January 9, 2008 on Veronica
  Finland: July 14, 2008 on Nelonen
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- Music featured:
  
  "Devil In Me" by 22-20s.
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ALLUSIONS (1)
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- Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai
  
  As Mikula Popovich is about to be propositioned by the Strike Team in the "clubhouse," Kavanaugh is practicing maneuvers with his pen similar to the sword techniques practiced by "Ghost Dog" also played by Forest Whitaker in the 1999 film, Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai.
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