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The Worst Episodes of The Shield

Every episode of The Shield ranked from worst to best. Explore the Worst Episodes of The Shield!

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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 both keep the streets safe and their self-interests intact.

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Worst Episode
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    The Shield Season 2 Episode 9 - Co-Pilot
    7.4/10(2520 votes)

    #1 - Co-Pilot

    S2:E9

    Flashback to the first day of the Barn. Under pressure to get results, Vic and the newly-formed Strike Team make an impression on the streets. Dutch and Claudette realize they make a good team, and Aceveda discovers he doesn't have as much power as he thought he would.

    Director:Peter Horton
    Writers:Glen Mazzara, Shawn Ryan

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  2. The Shield Season 4 Episode 2 - Grave
    7.4/10(2317 votes)

    #2 - Grave

    S4:E2

    Mackey tries to help an old acquaintance find a wayward teenager, but the search quickly turns ugly when the missing teen appears to have been involved in a shoot-out. Meanwhile, Shane heads out into the field with his new partner Army, teaching him shady police tactics and seeing how far he'll go to be partnered up. Plus, Aceveda spends his last day trying to bury Vic for good, which makes things difficult for Rawling trying to take his place.

    Director:Paris Barclay
    Writer:Kurt Sutter

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  3. The Shield Season 4 Episode 3 - Bang
    7.5/10(2335 votes)

    #3 - Bang

    S4:E3

    With Farmington on the brink of a gang war, Monica and Vic race to find the catalyst and stop the bloodshed, enlisting Antwon's help along the way. Still in the doghouse, Dutch decides to take action in thawing the relationship between Claudette and the D.A. Danny and Julien get up close and personal with the Farmington 1-Niners, while Monica looks to Vic for support when the implementation of her property seizure policy challenges her morality.

    Director:Guy Ferland
    Writer:Scott Rosenbaum

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  4. The Shield Season 1 Episode 3 - The Spread
    7.6/10(2996 votes)

    #4 - The Spread

    S1:E3

    In a routine sweep, the Barn's detectives divvy up warrants. But when they cast their nets, they bring up far bigger fish than expected. While Vic holds a basketball star hostage to influence the outcome of an upcoming game, Dutch and Claudette nab an egotistical rapist out to impregnate as many women as possible.

    Director:Clark Johnson
    Writer:Glen Mazzara

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  5. The Shield Season 4 Episode 1 - The Cure
    7.6/10(2382 votes)

    #5 - The Cure

    S4:E1

    Vic is no longer the cop he used to be, acting adrift after his past actions have caught up to him. The strike team has been dissolved, leaving Mackey to menial busts that keep him off the streets. When Aceveda moves on to his new City Council position, Captain Monica Rawling takes over the Barn and empowers Vic to implement her controversial anti-gang policies.

    Director:Scott Brazil
    Writer:Glen Mazzara

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  6. The Shield Season 4 Episode 4 - Doghouse
    7.6/10(2328 votes)

    #6 - Doghouse

    S4:E4

    When Monica puts Vic on the trail of an escaped fugitive in Farmington, he must continue to prove his worth while playing it straight. Claudette gets suspicious of the D.A's motives when she and Dutch are assigned to investigate a major drug dealer who ends up being a minor offender. David seeks an illicit outlet for the troubling feelings caused by his rape. Vic decides to bring Shane closer as his fears about Shane's connection to Antwon Mitchell rise.

    Director:Dean White
    Writer:Adam Fierro

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  7. The Shield Season 1 Episode 4 - Dawg Days
    7.7/10(2883 votes)

    #7 - Dawg Days

    S1:E4

    Vic attempts to broker a peace agreement between two rival rappers after a dispute over an up-and-coming singer's success erupts in a gang war. Danny is attacked after identifying a shooter, Julien helps a woman whose son's body has been stolen, and Dutch and Claudette search for a missing migrant worker.

    Director:Stephen Gyllenhaal
    Writer:Kevin Arkadie

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  8. The Shield Season 1 Episode 9 - Throwaway
    7.7/10(2669 votes)

    #8 - Throwaway

    S1:E9

    A planted gun in a truck-jacking case causes complications for the Strike Team, and Lem attempts to set things right. Meanwhile, the rift between Danny and Julien deepens, causing Aceveda to intervene, and Claudette deals with the mess of her family during a visit from her father and daughter.

    Director:Leslie Libman
    Writer:Kevin Arkadie

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  9. The Shield Season 3 Episode 3 - Bottom Bitch
    7.7/10(2432 votes)

    #9 - Bottom Bitch

    S3:E3

    A prostitute and friend to the late Connie named Farrah seeks the help of Vic in an effort to bring down her pimp. After failing to convince Vic to help her, Farrah goes to Claudette, who assigns Vic to the case against his wishes. Meanwhile, Dutch investigates the rape of an elderly woman.

    Director:Scott Brazil
    Writers:Scott Rosenbaum, Adam Fierro

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  10. The Shield Season 6 Episode 8 - The Math of the Wrath
    7.7/10(2252 votes)

    #10 - The Math of the Wrath

    S6:E8

    Vic learns about his true status at the Barn from Hiatt. Shane gets involved with the daughter of an Armenian mob boss. Claudette begins to question Hiatt's loyalty.

    Director:Rohn Schmidt
    Writer:Charles H. Eglee

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  11. The Shield Season 1 Episode 2 - Our Gang
    7.8/10(3117 votes)

    #11 - Our Gang

    S1:E2

    Following the murder of Terry, the Internal Affairs Division begins an investigation into his death, while Aceveda begins his own. Meanwhile, Dutch and Claudette investigate the shooting of a churro vendor that ends in the Barn's detectives busting up a gang initiation.

    Director:Gary Fleder
    Writer:Shawn Ryan

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  12. The Shield Season 3 Episode 2 - Blood and Water
    7.8/10(2389 votes)

    #12 - Blood and Water

    S3:E2

    Vic decides to use some of the money train robbery cash during a gun-running sting operation, but after it goes awry, tension within the Strike Team begins to mount as its members attempt to rectify Vic's mistake. Meanwhile, Dutch and Claudette seek the help of a college student named Esteban who was the only survivor in the murder of two Latino gang members.

    Director:Clark Johnson
    Writers:Charles H. Eglee, Kim Clements

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  13. The Shield Season 3 Episode 6 - Posse Up
    7.8/10(2363 votes)

    #13 - Posse Up

    S3:E6

    When the ex-wife and child of Julien's former partner, Tommy, are murdered, Tommy becomes a suspect, prompting Julien to team up with Mackey to conduct their own investigation. Elsewhere, Shane goes undercover to catch a group attacking gay prostitutes, and Claudette and Dutch investigate a rape case against Aceveda's orders.

    Director:Félix Alcalá
    Writers:Charles H. Eglee, Kim Clements

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  14. The Shield Season 3 Episode 12 - Riceburner
    7.8/10(2272 votes)

    #14 - Riceburner

    S3:E12

    When Aceveda assigns The Strike Team to serve a high risk warrant against a mob killer to service his political agenda, they find themselves embroiled in a hostile struggle with the Korean community. Now the Team must find out how to put an end to the situation before they end up casualties of a racial fued. Meanwhile, one of Vic's informants works with Danny on finding stolen chairs, while having eyes for her.

    Director:Scott Brazil
    Writers:Scott Rosenbaum, Adam Fierro

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  15. The Shield Season 4 Episode 6 - Insurgents
    7.8/10(2267 votes)

    #15 - Insurgents

    S4:E6

    Vic and Monica stake a deal with the DEA to shut down Mitchell's tar heroin operation. When the bust comes up empty, Vic's suspicions of Shane grow, until Shane proves himself by coming up with a key piece of evidence that reveals a large stash of tar being stored at a local church. Meanwhile, Dutch and Claudette's friendship continues to feel strain as they try to tie a young woman's murder to a suspected serial killer. Plus, Julien takes a stand against Monica's policy, then goes to David for support when she suggests he consider transferring out of Farmington.

    Director:Vondie Curtis-Hall
    Writers:Sarah Fain, Elizabeth Craft

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  16. The Shield Season 4 Episode 7 - Hurt
    7.8/10(2346 votes)

    #16 - Hurt

    S4:E7

    Just as Monica and Vic get close to a big break in the Garage Sting, Chief Phillips unexpectedly hands over the bust to the Organized Crime Unit. He blames the decision on an emerging PR scandal involving a videotape of Vic at the church bust that was leaked to the Assistant Chief through Aceveda's office. Vic uses his leverage with the Byz Lats to find a Russian mob leader before the mobster flees the country. Monica threatens two foster care social workers with jail after a young girl is found close to death in her foster home, then tells Julien if he doesn't put in for a transfer, she'll request one for him herself.

    Director:Nick Gomez
    Writer:Scott Rosenbaum

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  17. The Shield Season 4 Episode 11 - A Thousand Deaths
    7.8/10(2317 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.

    Director:Stephen Kay
    Writer:Adam Fierro

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  18. The Shield Season 7 Episode 2 - Snitch
    7.8/10(2200 votes)

    #18 - Snitch

    S7:E2

    As a local gang war heats up, Vic positions himself as a valuable commodity to the warring parties; Corrine and Cassidy confront Vic.

    Director:Gwyneth Horder-Payton
    Writer:Gary Lennon

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  19. The Shield Season 1 Episode 7 - Pay in Pain
    7.9/10(2724 votes)

    #19 - Pay in Pain

    S1:E7

    Vic's relationship with Shane becomes even more complicated when the pair team up with a detective from another precinct to investigate the murder of several gang member. Meanwhile, Dutch and Claudette bring in a psychic on a complaint from the son of one of her clients.

    Director:D.J. Caruso
    Writer:Shawn Ryan

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  20. The Shield Season 1 Episode 11 - Carnivores
    7.9/10(2634 votes)

    #20 - Carnivores

    S1:E11

    Vic and the Strike Team mediate a dispute between Rondell Robinson and the Nation of Islam, while Dutch and Claudette investigate a brutal home invasion in the district's Korean community.

    Director:Scott Brazil
    Writers:Glen Mazzara, Kevin Arkadie

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  21. The Shield Season 3 Episode 7 - Safe
    7.9/10(2372 votes)

    #21 - Safe

    S3:E7

    Vic and the Strike Team decide to take risky measures to protect themselves from being linked to the Money Train heist. Unfortunately, their plan is interrupted when one of Vic's open cases is suddenly linked to a Narco Corrido song.

    Director:Peter Horton
    Writer:Adam Fierro

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  22. The Shield Season 4 Episode 9 - String Theory
    7.9/10(2344 votes)

    #22 - String Theory

    S4:E9

    Monica orders her units to turn the streets of Farmington inside-out when two officers mysteriously disappear after answering a 911 call. Shane tries to make amends with his old crew after Vic agrees to help him get out from under Antwon, but things don't work out as planned. Dutch and Claudette convince Monica to let them take active roles in the case of the missing officers, but soon find themselves at a dead end with the only witness being clinically insane.

    Director:Philip G. Atwell
    Writers:Shawn Ryan, Charles H. Eglee

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  23. The Shield Season 5 Episode 3 - Jailbait
    7.9/10(2357 votes)

    #23 - Jailbait

    S5:E3

    The Strike Team tries to develop a strategy to deflect the Internal Affairs investigation as Vic finally comes face to face with Kavanaugh. Meanwhile, Tina goes undercover to help take down a sex-trafficking ring; and friction between Claudette and Dutch deepens when she reopens one of their past cases.

    Director:Stephen Kay
    Writers:Glen Mazzara, Scott Rosenbaum

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  24. The Shield Season 6 Episode 7 - Exiled
    7.9/10(2135 votes)

    #24 - 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.

    Director:Dean White
    Writers:Scott Rosenbaum, Kurt Sutter

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  25. The Shield Season 7 Episode 3 - Money Shot
    7.9/10(2211 votes)

    #25 - Money Shot

    S7:E3

    Vic works an angle to make himself valuable to the Armenian mob; Corrine finds herself in a surprising legal jam; Tina targets a producer of adult entertainment.

    Director:Terrence O'Hara
    Writer:Adam Fierro

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Worst Episodes Summary

"Co-Pilot" is the worst rated episode of "The Shield". It scored 7.4/10 based on 2520 votes. Directed by Peter Horton and written by Glen Mazzara, Shawn Ryan, it aired on 3/4/2003. This episode scored 0.0 points lower than the second lowest rated, "Grave".