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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 1 Episode 5 - Blowback
    7.3/10(19 votes)

    #1 - Blowback

    S1:E5

    After a bust on an Armenian gang's drug delivery, Julien sees the Strike Team take a portion of the drugs for themselves. Subsequently, the vehicle holding the drugs is stolen on Shane's watch, forcing Vic to track them down before Aceveda is able to pin the theft on him.

    Director:Clark Johnson
    Writer:Kurt Sutter

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  2. The Shield Season 1 Episode 3 - The Spread
    7.4/10(20 votes)

    #2 - 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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  3. The Shield Season 1 Episode 9 - Throwaway
    7.6/10(19 votes)

    #3 - 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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  4. The Shield Season 5 Episode 3 - Jailbait
    7.6/10(16 votes)

    #4 - 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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  5. The Shield Season 3 Episode 4 - Streaks and Tips
    7.7/10(18 votes)

    #5 - Streaks and Tips

    S3:E4

    The newly arrived Decoy Squad and the Strike Team go head to head in the investigation to solve a car-jacking case. Dutch gets in over his head on an attempted murder case.

    Director:Scott Brazil
    Writer:Glen Mazzara

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  6. The Shield Season 4 Episode 1 - The Cure
    7.7/10(13 votes)

    #6 - 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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  7. The Shield Season 1 Episode 4 - Dawg Days
    7.8/10(19 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 7 - Pay in Pain
    7.8/10(20 votes)

    #8 - 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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  9. The Shield Season 2 Episode 9 - Co-Pilot
    7.8/10(16 votes)

    #9 - 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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  10. The Shield Season 4 Episode 2 - Grave
    7.8/10(12 votes)

    #10 - 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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  11. The Shield Season 3 Episode 2 - Blood and Water
    7.9/10(14 votes)

    #11 - 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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  12. The Shield Season 3 Episode 6 - Posse Up
    7.9/10(15 votes)

    #12 - 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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  13. The Shield Season 1 Episode 2 - Our Gang
    8.0/10(20 votes)

    #13 - 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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  14. The Shield Season 1 Episode 8 - Cupid & Psycho
    8.0/10(20 votes)

    #14 - Cupid & Psycho

    S1:E8

    Allegations against the Strike Team are front-page news, and the team is reassigned pending the investigation. Vic and Claudette find themselves following the trail of a deadly meth batch, while Shane and Dutch team up to investigate the unsolved murder of a widow's husband.

    Director:Guy Ferland
    Writer:Glen Mazzara

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  15. The Shield Season 3 Episode 7 - Safe
    8.0/10(15 votes)

    #15 - 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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  16. The Shield Season 1 Episode 11 - Carnivores
    8.1/10(18 votes)

    #16 - 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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  17. The Shield Season 3 Episode 3 - Bottom Bitch
    8.1/10(15 votes)

    #17 - 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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  18. The Shield Season 3 Episode 9 - Slipknot
    8.1/10(14 votes)

    #18 - Slipknot

    S3:E9

    When two high profile murders are linked to each other, Aceveda orders Wyms to get the entire Barn involved before gang and racial violence breaks out. Mackey uses the case to leverage himself and the Strike Team back into the streets of Farmington.

    Director:Michael Chiklis
    Writer:Kurt Sutter

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  19. The Shield Season 2 Episode 1 - The Quick Fix
    8.2/10(16 votes)

    #19 - The Quick Fix

    S2:E1

    While Vic continues his search for Corrine and their children, the Strike Team allow more drugs into Farmington through a corrupt connection. But when their latest shipment turns bad, they head to Tijuana to uncover the culprit behind the poisoned cocaine. Meanwhile, Dutch and Claudette try to track down the man responsible for "fire-necklacing" the leaders of two separate gangs.

    Director:Scott Brazil
    Writers:Glen Mazzara, Shawn Ryan

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  20. The Shield Season 2 Episode 4 - Carte Blanche
    8.2/10(16 votes)

    #20 - Carte Blanche

    S2:E4

    Now that Vic is back to work, he and Shane go undercover as dirty cops to find the man behind a robbery and murder. Dutch and Claudette track down an old rival of Claudette's after a turned-in gun is found connected to an unsolved case, while Aceveda assigns Julien and Danny to watch over a Korean parish in an attempt to secure the Asian vote in the election.

    Director:Peter Horton
    Writer:Reed Steiner

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  21. The Shield Season 4 Episode 3 - Bang
    8.2/10(12 votes)

    #21 - 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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  22. The Shield Season 1 Episode 6 - Cherrypoppers
    8.3/10(19 votes)

    #22 - Cherrypoppers

    S1:E6

    When the body of a young hooker is found in the district, Dutch's theory about a serial killer preying on prostitutes proves true. Aceveda launches an all-out effort to find the killer before he strikes again, giving Dutch and Claudette the full resources of the Barn for 24 hours and the help of the FBI.

    Director:D.J. Caruso
    Writer:Scott Rosenbaum

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  23. The Shield Season 1 Episode 12 - Two Days of Blood (1)
    8.3/10(19 votes)

    #23 - Two Days of Blood (1)

    S1:E12

    Aceveda turns to Claudette after a double homicide raises ire and fear within an ignored community. Vic is forced to help Gilroy avoid being implicated in a hit-and-run, while Shane and Lem follow the trail of a gunrunner with a penchant for cockfights.

    Director:Guy Ferland
    Writers:Scott Rosenbaum, Kurt Sutter

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  24. The Shield Season 2 Episode 11 - Inferno
    8.3/10(16 votes)

    #24 - Inferno

    S2:E11

    With Ronnie's face healed, he comes up with an improved plan to take down the Money Train, and the Strike Team is all in. Unfortunately, a federal criminal comes back to Farmington, and the Team has to use every connection and resource to bring him in before Lanie submits her final report. Meanwhile, Dutch and Claudette investigate the rape of a young girl, and an old friend from the past reappears to make Julien's life hell.

    Director:Brad Anderson
    Writer:Kim Clements

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  25. The Shield Season 2 Episode 12 - Breakpoint
    8.3/10(16 votes)

    #25 - Breakpoint

    S2:E12

    While the Strike Team puts the finishing touches on the money train takedown, Vic works with Dutch and Claudette to find a missing child, while David gets an unwanted visit from the Chief and Julien is harassed by some of the other officers after Tomas outs him in front of them.

    Director:Félix Alcalá
    Writer:Glen Mazzara

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Worst Episodes Summary

"Blowback" is the worst rated episode of "The Shield". It scored 7.3/10 based on 19 votes. Directed by Clark Johnson and written by Kurt Sutter, it aired on 4/9/2002. This episode scored 0.1 points lower than the second lowest rated, "The Spread".