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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 Family Meeting
    9.7/10(4.4k votes)

    #1 - 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
  2. Background image for Possible Kill Screen
    9.4/10(3.0k votes)

    #2 - 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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  3. Background image for Post Partum
    9.3/10(3.3k votes)

    #3 - Post Partum

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

    #4 - 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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  5. Background image for Parricide
    9.1/10(2.7k votes)

    #5 - 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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  6. Background image for On Tilt
    9.0/10(2.6k votes)

    #6 - 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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  8. Background image for Judas Priest
    9.0/10(8 votes)

    #7 - Judas Priest

    S4:E12

    Vic and his crew track down the Russian who was involved with the cop murders, but they lose control during his interrogation and the hit man dies in an explosion before they can get any answers. Meanwhile, Aceveda is blackmailed by the man who assaulted him. Plus, Rawling's seizure is on the verge of being shelved.

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

    #8 - 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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  10. Background image for Baptism by Fire
    9.0/10(7 votes)

    #9 - 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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  11. Background image for The New Guy
    9.0/10(8 votes)

    #10 - 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
  12. Background image for Exiled
    9.0/10(8 votes)

    #11 - 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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  13. Background image for Spanish Practices
    9.0/10(8 votes)

    #12 - 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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  14. Background image for Circles (2)
    8.9/10(2.8k votes)

    #13 - 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
  15. Background image for Recoil
    8.9/10(8 votes)

    #14 - 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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  16. Background image for All In
    8.8/10(2.4k votes)

    #15 - All In

    S3:E14

    With an Armenian hit-man hot on their trail, the Strike team sweeps the streets of the Armenian community to find him before he finds them. After catching a break, Aceveda's suspicions grow about the Strike Team's involvement with the Money Train robbery. Meanwhile, Dutch and Claudette investigate a case that could repeal hundreds of convictions, which leaves Claudette having to choose between her conscience and her career.

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  17. Background image for Tar Baby
    8.8/10(8 votes)

    #16 - Tar Baby

    S4:E5

    A tip from Lemonhead's juvie would leads Vic and Monica to take down a major heroin operation with connections to Antwon Mitchell. Monica continues to battle Aceveda as she tries to sell her new policies to the community, and Julien begins to doubt her methods. Claudette loses trust in Dutch when she suspects he made a backroom deal with the D.A. And Shane and Army find themselves over their heads with Antwon when he blames them for Vic's heroin bust.

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  18. Background image for A Thousand Deaths
    8.8/10(8 votes)

    #17 - A Thousand Deaths

    S4:E11

    Vic and the Strike Team use their leverage on the One-Niners to track down anyone involved with the cop killings. Their hunt leads them down an unexpected path with the Russian mob. Monica puts pressure on the team to come clean about any of their dealings with Antwon. Dutch and Claudette investigate a gang shooting and soon realize their key witness is close to the Barn, and has something to hide.

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    Director:Stephen Kay
  19. Background image for Kavanaugh
    8.8/10(2.7k votes)

    #18 - 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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  20. Background image for Haunts
    8.8/10(8 votes)

    #19 - Haunts

    S6:E5

    After being badly beaten, Shane's life spirals even more out of control as his guilt continues to eat away at him and his marriage begins to fall apart. Vic and Ronnie try to learn who was responsible for Shane's attack. Meanwhile, under the new leadership of Kevin Hiatt, Claudette assigns the Strike Team to investigate the San Marcos murders. Dutch and Billings make progress in a serial rapist case.

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  21. Background image for Dead Soldiers
    8.7/10(2.6k votes)

    #20 - 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
  22. Background image for Dominoes Falling
    8.7/10(2.6k votes)

    #21 - Dominoes Falling

    S2:E13

    When a gang execution hits close to home for Claudette, Vic, Tavon, and Dutch work together to find the culprit before anyone else gets hurt. Shane, Lem, and Ronnie are forced to choose between hitting the money train without Vic or letting it go. As Aceveda prepares for the city council election, Danny receives some life-changing news, and the harassment inflicted upon Julien reaches a whole new level.

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    Director:Scott Brazil
    Writer:Shawn Ryan
  23. Background image for Back in the Hole
    8.7/10(9 votes)

    #22 - Back in the Hole

    S4:E10

    Vic and Monica go head to head with Antwon, and do everything in their power to get him to admit to being involved with the cop killings. Monica is shocked when Vic and Shane confront her with the information they've been hiding regarding Antwon and Angie's body. Shane and Army wonder if they'll be able to pass the lie detector test Monica is forcing them to take. Meanwhile, after another young black woman is murdered, Dutch and Claudette hope to prove their suspicions correct with their recently relocated Texan.

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    Director:Scott Brazil
    Writer:Sarah Fain
  24. Background image for Trophy
    8.7/10(2.5k votes)

    #23 - 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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  25. Background image for Of Mice and Lem
    8.7/10(2.5k votes)

    #24 - 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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  26. Background image for Animal Control
    8.7/10(2.3k votes)

    #25 - 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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Best Episodes Summary

"Family Meeting" is the best rated episode of "The Shield". It scored 9.7/10 based on 4438 votes. Directed by Clark Johnson and written by Shawn Ryan, it aired on 11/25/2008. This episode scored 0.3 points higher than the second highest rated, "Possible Kill Screen".