First episode: March 12th, 2002 Final episode: November 25th, 2008 It shouldnt work. Everything about it screams trash and schlock. For Gods sake, Kid Rocks Bawitdaba plays during the pilot's climax. But holy God, does Shawn Ryan's extreme cop drama work. Perhaps it is the tremendous acting. Or maybe its the way the ridiculous hyper-comic-book-reality is so well realized. My moneys on the writing, thanks to a pre-Walking Dead Glen Mazzara and pre-Sons of Anarchy Kurt Sutter. If you havent watched the show, do so. The first three seasons can be a little tedious at times, but once Glenn Close shows up in season four, the true genius begins. And it all ends with the greatest TV finale of all time. Theres no denouement or scrambling to wrap up loose ends. Every single second is sheer agony. Be warned, the HOLY GOD! moments might dislocate your jaw. What really makes the finale so effective is this: everything that happens in the last episode is a direct consequence of what Vic Mackey does at the start of the series. Hows that for structure? So far, Breaking Bad has been superior to The Shield. But if Vince Gilligan hopes to fully triumph over Shawn Ryan, then like Kirsten Dunst and Eliza Dusku, he is going to have to bring it on.