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Season 3 – The Shield

Play trailer Poster for Season 3 – The Shield 2004 Crime Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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Reviews 97% Popcornmeter 50+ Ratings
Vic Mackey is a rogue cop in an experimental division of the Los Angeles Police Department, willing to sink to the criminals' level in order to take them on -- but his misdeeds eventually come home to roost. He breaks the law to, in his mind, bring some semblance of order to a chaotic world.
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The Shield — Season 3

The Shield — Season 3

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Critics Consensus

The Shield offers viewers no buffer between themselves and the corruption of Vic Mackey's crew -- and the series remains all the more compelling for it, compounding each of its vividly-drawn characters' complicity and compromise to harrowing effect in an explosive third season.

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Critics Reviews

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Hal Boedeker Orlando Sentinel In any discussion of TV's best series, The Shield deserves to be ranked with The Sopranos. Vic Mackey and Tony Soprano are the poster boys for great drama. Oct 25, 2019 Full Review Melanie McFarland Seattle Post-Intelligencer The fact is "The Shield"...hit lower lows each season. That we still feel empathy for their characters is a testament to the kind of brilliant storytelling each trades in. Mar 29, 2019 Full Review Mike McDaniel Houston Chronicle Season 3 of The Shield has been what good television drama is all about -- an interesting, breathing mix of story, characters and actors, hitting on all cylinders. Jan 30, 2019 Full Review Jason Zingale Bullz-Eye.com The third season of "The Shield" may not be as visually entertaining as its previous seasons, but the drama and political tension of the major plot lines skyrocket behind the creative team of writers and the amazing ensemble cast. Rated: 4/5 Oct 28, 2019 Full Review TV Guide Staff TV Guide This third-season finale certainly didn't disappoint. Mar 29, 2019 Full Review Cynthia Fuchs PopMatters The Shield's moral center perpetually shifts, as the Team members struggle to maintain their sense of balance, caught between the outright villains and their own dishonesty. Jan 30, 2019 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (7) audience reviews
M B The Shield is the best of the best! Amazingly gripping and entertaining! The adrenaline rush that will take over your life! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 04/22/25 Full Review Audience Member Breathtaking! 10/10. A must see. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 04/08/25 Full Review Bruno V violent, dysfunctional, barbaric and high-level information exchange. These are some essential elements of the series "the shield". Perfect. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/11/25 Full Review Travis B Amazing show this season the paranoia is the real star Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 10/24/24 Full Review S R The Shield keeps on trucking with season 3 just as gritty and amazing as the first 2 seasons. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/16/24 Full Review Cody B The Shield is right up there with the likes of The Sopranos and Breaking Bad! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 12/28/23 Full Review Read all reviews
The Shield — Season 3

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Cast & Crew

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Michael Chiklis

Det. Vic Mackey

Catherine Dent

Officer Danielle "Danny" Sofer

Walton Goggins

Det. Shane Vendrell

Michael Jace

Officer Julien Lowe

Kenny Johnson

Curtis Lemansky

Jay Karnes

Det. Holland " Dutch" Wagenbach

Episodes

Episode 1 Aired Mar 9, 2004 Playing Tight The team's attempt to play by the book comes to an abrupt end when a new gang in town starts acquiring MP5s; the Treasury Department reveals a surprise. Details Episode 2 Aired Mar 16, 2004 Blood & Water The Strike Team tries to fix a mistake Vic makes during a gun-running sting; Dutch and Claudette's case is linked to Vic's gun-running case. Details Episode 3 Aired Mar 23, 2004 Bottom Bitch A prostitute is determined to bring down her pimp at any cost; Dutch uncovers a disturbing trend of rapes; a politician is arrested for solicitation. Details Episode 4 Aired Mar 30, 2004 Streaks and Tips The newly installed Decoy Squad and the Strike Team compete to solve a car-jacking case; Dutch gets in over his head on an attempted murder case. Details Episode 5 Aired Apr 6, 2004 Mum Vic struggles with Claudette's new supervision of the Strike Team; David is close to finding out the truth behind the Money Train heist. Details Episode 6 Aired Apr 13, 2004 Posse Up Vic rallies everyone around a fellow officer after a gruesome double murder; Claudette and Dutch investigate a rape case against Aceveda's orders. Details Episode 7 Aired Apr 20, 2004 Safe Vic and the Strike Team protect themselves from being linked to the Money Train heist. Details Episode 8 Aired Apr 27, 2004 Cracking Ice An oversight by Claudette puts Walon and Trish in danger during an undercover investigation; Tommy makes a drastic decision. Details Episode 9 Aired May 4, 2004 Slipknot David orders Claudette to investigate two racially motivated murders before a gang war breaks out; Danny and Julien find Corrine's assailant. Details Episode 10 Aired May 11, 2004 What Power Is Chief Aceveda finds himself in a near-fatal confrontation; Claudette and Dutch receive a tip in a rape case. Details Episode 11 Aired May 18, 2004 Strays Vic and his team discover a money-laundering ring during a routine arrest; Dutch comes face to face with the cuddler rapist. Details Episode 12 Aired May 25, 2004 Riceburners Vic and his team become embroiled in a hostile struggle while serving a high-risk warrant. Details Episode 13 Aired Jun 1, 2004 Fire in the Hole A mole discovered in the Treasury Department jeopardizes Vic and the team's cover; Claudette attempts to make amends with the decoy squad. Details Episode 14 Aired Jun 8, 2004 All In An Armenian hit man aims to take down the strike team; David gets a lead from the Treasury Department mole; Claudette must choose between her conscience or her career. Details Episode 15 Aired Jun 15, 2004 On Tilt The Strike Team tries to take down the Armenians and find Margos before he can find them; Claudette puts her career on the line. Details

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The Shield — Season 3

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Season Info

Executive Producer
Shawn Ryan, Scott Brazil
Network
FX
Rating
TV-MA
Genre
Crime, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date
Mar 9, 2004