What began as a controversial police drama television series on March 12, 2002 ended today, still controversial but with a legion of fans hailing it as one of the best police dramas of its time. Loosely based on the Rampart Division police scandal of the 1990s, The Shield earned critical
acclaim for its realism, particularly in its portrayal of gang violence in the city of Los Angeles and the show's depiction of police corruption.

As the series finale approached, speculations were rife on what would happen to Vic Mackey. Would it be death or imprisonment for our anti-hero? Either of the two wouldn't even be sufficient to pay for all the illegal and unethical methods his unit committed, the illegal protection schemes and robbery, the frame ups and coercion, not to mention the death and suffering he was responsible for. In the end he got neither. However, what he got was something worse than death and imprisonment.

After all the betrayal that he thought would keep him free, keep his family together, and allow him to continue to do what he loved, he ended up with nothing. He lost his family, after his wife and children were sequestered for the witness protection program Corinne applied for; he lost his best friend and partner, after Shane murdered his pregnant wife and son then committed suicide when the prospect of life behind bars became too much for him; and he lost the job he loved, relegated to to the 9 to 5 position of 'analyst' in a small cubicle, away from the streets he called home. Moreover, the guilt of his betrayal and the blood on his hands from the death of Shane and his family would haunt him forever. Isn't all this worse than imprisonment, worse than death?

The Shield Finale/Final Episode: Family Meeting

In the finalé, Vic's ex wife asks to be put into the witness protection program while Vic and Ronnie successfully take down the Mexican cartel leader. Shane decides to kill his pregnant wife and child, then commit suicide leaving an unfinished suicide note after being told that Vic has already made an immunity deal. Vic is then brought into the barn one last time to witness the crime scene photos of Shane's suicide and murdered wife. Afterwards, Ronnie is arrested in front of and allowed to confront Vic verbally while being walked into the cage. Later when Vic returns to the ICE headquarters, he learns he was being placed behind a desk for the three years required service or he will be prosecuted for everything he had confessed to. As the lights turn off automatically at 6pm, he retrieves his gun from the desk drawer and places it behind his back. He leaves and his fate is left unknown.

The video of the final episode is not available yet. For the meantime, let us watch the second to the last episode of the series below. The season finale video (Family Meeting, s07e13)will be posted here once it becomes available so do check back regularly. (Update: The finale/finale episode now available below)