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The Best Episodes of The Shield

Every episode of The Shield ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of The Shield!

The Best Episodes of The Shield

The story of an inner-city Los Angeles police precinct where some of the cops aren't above breaking the rules or working against their associates to...

Seasons7

  1. Background image for Possible Kill Screen
    9.6/10(10 votes)

    #1 - Possible Kill Screen

    S7:E12

    Olivia joins forces with the Strike Team to catch a Mexican drug king and his shipment. Meanwhile, Dutch cleans up Billings' mess, and the death of a woman associated with the Strike Team prompts an investigation by Claudette.

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  2. Background image for Postpartum
    9.5/10(10 votes)

    #2 - Postpartum

    S5:E11

    As Vic prepares to help Lem get out of the country to begin a new life in Mexico; Kavanaugh and Aceveda attempt to capitalize on the situation by using this as means to try to take down the leader of the Strike Team. Dutch decides to file for a transfer. Meanwhile, Shane tries to cut off the investigation by taking extreme measures and Danny finally confronts the father of her child.

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  3. Background image for Family Meeting
    9.5/10(10 votes)

    #3 - Family Meeting

    S7:E13

    Officers in the Barn investigate a woman's disappearance and the arrival of a large drug shipment; lives change forever.

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    Director:Clark Johnson
    Writer:Shawn Ryan
  4. Background image for Kavanaugh
    9.3/10(9 votes)

    #4 - Kavanaugh

    S5:E8

    Kavanaugh seeks the help of Antwon Mitchell in his ongoing quest to take down the Strike Team. In the midst of this, Kavanaugh has a lot on his mind as his ex-wife reenters the picture, and he reluctantly agrees to let Vic send Emolia undercover to infiltrate a Salvadoran gang that is stockpiling grenades.

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  5. Background image for Chasing Ghosts
    9.3/10(10 votes)

    #5 - Chasing Ghosts

    S6:E6

    Vic redirects his attention to finding out who really killed Lem after he learns for certain that Guardo wasn't involved. The Strike Team investigates the murder of a politician's daughter. Later, Cassidy confronts her father about his unethical past.

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  6. Background image for Extraction
    9.1/10(9 votes)

    #6 - Extraction

    S5:E1

    As racial tension in the area escalates, the Strike Team attempts to end a race war, while Claudette and Dutch investigate a riot at a high school. Meanwhile, an Internal Affairs officer begins his investigation of Vic and the Strike Team by first zeroing in on Lem. A pregnant Danny refuses to reveal the identity of the father, and Julien begins training a rookie cop named Tina Hanlon.

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    Director:D.J. Caruso
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  8. Background image for Moving Day
    9.1/10(9 votes)

    #7 - Moving Day

    S7:E9

    Vic closes in on Shane, Mara and their sick young son; Claudette dismantles the Strike Team; Pezuela offers Acevada "assistance" for his mayoral campaign; Rita Denton (Frances Fisher) comes on to Dutch; and Billings' ex-wife and daughter are fearful when a registered sex offender moves into their neighborhood.

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  9. Background image for Party Line
    9.1/10(9 votes)

    #8 - Party Line

    S7:E10

    While Shane remains holed up in L.A. with Mara and Jackson, Corinne decides to cooperate with Dutch and Claudette, who's now spearheading the LAPD effort to bring down Vic. Meanwhile, Vic plays Aceveda, Pezuela, Beltran and ICE against each other. But Ronnie's tempted to simply give up and run to Mexico. "And you should run too man" he tells Vic.

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  10. Background image for On Tilt
    9.0/10(2.6k votes)

    #9 - On Tilt

    S3:E15

    When Aceveda confirms that the Strike Team is the target of an Armenian mob hit, Mackey must take matters into his own hands. Meanwhile, Whym's career is on the line when she disobeys Aceveda's orders to put a case to rest that may prove the innocence of convicted felons.

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  11. Background image for Trophy
    9.0/10(9 votes)

    #10 - Trophy

    S5:E5

    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.

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  12. Background image for Rap Payback
    9.0/10(9 votes)

    #11 - Rap Payback

    S5:E6

    As the Strike Team is preoccupied with gang violence, Kavanaugh decides to make the Barn his base of operations. An evasive serial killer from Dutch and Claudette’s past reenters their life. Meanwhile, additional strain is placed on their working relationship when Tina learns something personal about Julien.

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  13. Background image for Man Inside
    9.0/10(9 votes)

    #12 - Man Inside

    S5:E7

    Claudette further aggravates her illness as she continues to aggressively interrogate Kleavon Gardner. The Strike Team works with the Chief of a citywide task force to investigate the murder of a drug dealer’s girlfriend and her daughter. Meanwhile, Kavanaugh attempts to discover how Vic acquired the $65,000 that was given to Corrine, and Ronnie is up next for questioning in the IAD investigation.

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  14. Background image for Of Mice and Lem
    9.0/10(9 votes)

    #13 - Of Mice and Lem

    S5:E10

    To the dismay of his friends, a weary Lem is thinking about accepting a deal from the D.A. where he has to plead guilty to the heroin charges. With no other choice, Vic reluctantly meets with Antwon in order to ensure Lem’s safety in prison. Meanwhile, unforeseen circumstances that are beyond Claudette and Dutch’s control might cause irrevocable damage to their friendship.

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  15. Background image for On the Jones
    9.0/10(8 votes)

    #14 - On the Jones

    S6:E1

    With the Barn grieving over the loss of one of their own, Vic's out to avenge his friend's murder, but finds himself in the crosshairs of Kavanaugh. Claudette assigns the Strike Team to investigate the torching of a methadone clinic. Meanwhile, Julien and Tina look into a robbery/assault at a porno shop, and Dutch makes a horrifying discovery in San Marcos.

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  16. Background image for Baptism by Fire
    9.0/10(7 votes)

    #15 - Baptism by Fire

    S6:E2

    Kavanaugh acquires what he needs in order to apprehend Vic who is preoccupied with getting revenge on Guardo. Claudette finds herself under the political microscope as a result of the San Marcos incident, and Danny receives some news about her future at the Barn.

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  17. Background image for The New Guy
    9.0/10(8 votes)

    #16 - The New Guy

    S6:E4

    Claudette gives Vic a chance to save his job if he agrees to train his potential replacement. An unsolved rape case from the past that Dutch and Claudette were working on resurfaces. Meanwhile, Aceveda meets someone that can help him further his political career.

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    Director:Clark Johnson
    Writer:Sarah Fain
  18. Background image for Exiled
    9.0/10(8 votes)

    #17 - Exiled

    S6:E7

    After Vic disowns him, Shane turns to the Armenian mob for help. Vic gets more involved with the San Marcos investigation, while Dutch and Billings are able to track down someone who survived the massacre.

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  19. Background image for Spanish Practices
    9.0/10(8 votes)

    #18 - Spanish Practices

    S6:E10

    Claudette notices Hiatt's mistake when he makes an arrest, and Billings delivers shocking news to the department. Vic forms an alliance with Aceveda, while he waits for his review board hearing. Meanwhile, Shane's life keeps spiraling out of control.

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  20. Background image for Animal Control
    9.0/10(9 votes)

    #19 - Animal Control

    S7:E6

    Vic sets into motion plans to end the gang threat as his relationship with Cassidy deteriorates; Dutch and Billings investigate a possible sleepwalking murderer.

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  21. Background image for Parricide
    9.0/10(9 votes)

    #20 - Parricide

    S7:E8

    A local priest may be protecting drug dealers; Dutch and Billings close in on attempted cop killers; Corrine learns uncomfortable truths about Vic.

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  22. Background image for Circles (2)
    8.9/10(17 votes)

    #21 - Circles (2)

    S1:E13

    In the aftermath of a riot, cops are being lured into ambush shootings by a rash of bogus 911 calls. Vic and Aceveda are forced to work together to stop the attacks and solve the problems in the Grove, while Gilroy attempts to pit the two against each other in an effort to save his own job.

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    Director:Scott Brazil
    Writer:Shawn Ryan
  23. Background image for Tapa Boca
    8.9/10(9 votes)

    #22 - Tapa Boca

    S5:E4

    With the IAD investigation in full force, Vic seeks legal representation from Becca Doyle for the Strike Team. Also, a suspicious Vic decides to confront Emolia after he begins to doubt her loyalty to him. Meanwhile, Dutch and Claudette investigate the ghastly murder of a pregnant woman. Tina continues to make mistakes while on duty.

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    Director:Guy Ferland
    Writer:Sarah Fain
  24. Background image for Smoked
    8.9/10(9 votes)

    #23 - Smoked

    S5:E9

    The Strike Team attempts to make bail for Lem who is now in jail, but they discover that Kavanaugh has frozen their accounts. Claudette returns to work to help Dutch investigate the murder of a man who’s body was found in the dumpster. Meanwhile, Tina jeopardizes her future at the Barn after she endangers the life of an undercover detective. Corrine confronts Danny about Vic’s unfaithfulness and the identity of the baby’s father.

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  25. Background image for Recoil
    8.9/10(8 votes)

    #24 - Recoil

    S6:E9

    As progress is being made in the San Marcos investigation, Vic receives bad news about his career. Meanwhile, Shane and Diro become business partners as she prepares to take over the Armenian mob.

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  26. Background image for Dead Soldiers
    8.8/10(16 votes)

    #25 - Dead Soldiers

    S2:E2

    As Vic gets closer to finding his family, the Strike Team focus their attention to Armadillo after he burns down Tio's business, an act that threatens to expose Vic's protection racket. As Claudette gets closer to the truth about Vic's connection to Tio, Dutch is accompanied by the civilian auditor to solve the murder of a meter maid, while Danny and Julien intervene between two feuding neighbors.

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    Director:John Badham

Best Episodes Summary

"Possible Kill Screen" is the best rated episode of "The Shield". It scored 9.6/10 based on 10 votes. Directed by Billy Gierhart and written by Adam Fierro, Evan Bleiweiss, it aired on 11/18/2008. This episode scored 0.1 points higher than the second highest rated, "Postpartum".