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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!

Binge this in 2d 21h•Peaking at 9.7/10

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 Fan Favorite
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    The Shield Season 7 Episode 13 - Family Meeting
    9.7/10(4775 votes)

    #1 - Family Meeting

    S7:E13

    The final act of Vic Mackey and his Strike Team.

    Director:Clark Johnson
    Writer:Shawn Ryan

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  2. The Shield Season 5 Episode 11 - Postpartum
    9.4/10(3515 votes)

    #2 - Postpartum

    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.

    Director:Stephen Kay
    Writers:Shawn Ryan, Adam Fierro

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  3. The Shield Season 7 Episode 12 - Possible Kill Screen
    9.4/10(3164 votes)

    #3 - 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.

    Director:Billy Gierhart
    Writers:Adam Fierro, Evan Bleiweiss

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  4. The Shield Season 7 Episode 8 - Parricide
    9.1/10(2805 votes)

    #4 - 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.

    Director:Guy Ferland
    Writers:Kurt Sutter, Gary Lennon

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  5. The Shield Season 3 Episode 15 - On Tilt
    9.0/10(2727 votes)

    #5 - 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.

    Director:Scott Brazil
    Writers:Glen Mazzara, Shawn Ryan

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  6. The Shield Season 1 Episode 13 - Circles (2)
    8.9/10(2979 votes)

    #6 - 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.

    Director:Scott Brazil
    Writer:Shawn Ryan

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    The 20 WORST Episodes of The Shield

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  7. The Shield Season 5 Episode 8 - Kavanaugh
    8.9/10(2827 votes)

    #7 - 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.

    Director:D.J. Caruso
    Writers:Scott Rosenbaum, Shawn Ryan

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  8. The Shield Season 3 Episode 14 - All In
    8.8/10(2569 votes)

    #8 - 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.

    Director:Stephen Kay
    Writer:Scott Rosenbaum

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  9. The Shield Season 5 Episode 5 - Trophy
    8.8/10(2655 votes)

    #9 - 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.

    Director:Philip G. Atwell
    Writers:Kurt Sutter, Renee Palyo, Tony Soltis

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  10. The Shield Season 5 Episode 10 - Of Mice and Lem
    8.8/10(2634 votes)

    #10 - 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.

    Director:Gwyneth Horder-Payton
    Writers:Kurt Sutter, Charles H. Eglee

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  11. The Shield Season 6 Episode 6 - Chasing Ghosts
    8.8/10(2667 votes)

    #11 - 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.

    Director:Frank Darabont
    Writers:Shawn Ryan, Adam Fierro

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  12. The Shield Season 1 Episode 10 - Dragonchasers
    8.7/10(2931 votes)

    #12 - Dragonchasers

    S1:E10

    As Dutch uncovers a lead to the serial killer, a reporter's questions force Aceveda to explain problems he thought were buried fair in the past, while Vic assists Connie as she tries to quit crack cold-turkey in a desperate attempt to keep her son, leaving the other Strike Team members to investigate a strip-club mugging ring on their own.

    Director:Nick Gomez
    Writers:Scott Rosenbaum, Kurt Sutter

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  13. The Shield Season 2 Episode 2 - Dead Soldiers
    8.7/10(2750 votes)

    #13 - 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.

    Director:John Badham
    Writer:Kurt Sutter

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  14. The Shield Season 2 Episode 13 - Dominoes Falling
    8.7/10(2688 votes)

    #14 - 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.

    Director:Scott Brazil
    Writer:Shawn Ryan

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  15. The Shield Season 6 Episode 10 - Spanish Practices
    8.7/10(2346 votes)

    #15 - 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.

    Director:Paris Barclay
    Writers:Scott Rosenbaum, Shawn Ryan

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  16. The Shield Season 7 Episode 6 - Animal Control
    8.7/10(2395 votes)

    #16 - 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.

    Director:Gwyneth Horder-Payton
    Writers:Angela Russo-Otstot, John Hlavin

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  17. The Shield Season 1 Episode 1 - Pilot
    8.6/10(4011 votes)

    #17 - Pilot

    S1:E1

    Politically ambitious new LAPD captain David Aceveda tries to crack corruption in Los Angeles' Farmington District by recruiting detective Terry Crowley to help him take down fellow detective Vic Mackey, leader of the Farmington precinct's Strike Team. As Vic and the Strike Team prepare for a dangerous night mission, detectives Holland "Dutch" Wagenbach and Claudette Wyms investigate a woman's murder, only to discover that her missing daughter has been sold off by the daughter's drug-addicted father to a child molester.

    Director:Clark Johnson
    Writer:Shawn Ryan

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  18. The Shield Season 6 Episode 2 - Baptism by Fire
    8.6/10(2355 votes)

    #18 - 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.

    Director:Guy Ferland
    Writer:Scott Rosenbaum

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  19. The Shield Season 7 Episode 10 - Party Line
    8.6/10(2325 votes)

    #19 - Party Line

    S7:E10

    While Shane remains holed up in L.A. with Mara and Jackson, Corinne decides to cooperate with Dutch and Claudette, who's now spearheading the LAPD effort to bring down Vic. Meanwhile, Vic plays Aceveda, Pezuela, Beltran and ICE against each other. But Ronnie's tempted to simply give up and run to Mexico. "And you should run too man" he tells Vic.

    Director:Gwyneth Horder-Payton
    Writers:Angela Russo-Otstot, John Hlavin

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  20. The Shield Season 6 Episode 1 - On the Jones
    8.5/10(2424 votes)

    #20 - 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.

    Director:Michael Fields
    Writer:Kurt Sutter

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  21. The Shield Season 7 Episode 1 - Coefficient of Drag
    8.5/10(2384 votes)

    #21 - Coefficient of Drag

    S7:E1

    Vic challenges Shane and deals with threats to his family; a federal agent arrives in Farmington to investigate a recent wave of violence.

    Director:Guy Ferland
    Writer:Kurt Sutter

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  22. The Shield Season 3 Episode 4 - Streaks and Tips
    8.4/10(2525 votes)

    #22 - 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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  23. The Shield Season 3 Episode 5 - Mum
    8.4/10(2486 votes)

    #23 - Mum

    S3:E5

    Vic struggles with Claudette's new supervision of the Strike Team. Marked bills lead Aceveda and a federal agent closer to the truth about the Armenian money-train heist in an episode with a recurring motif of people not reporting crimes against them.

    Director:Nick Gomez
    Writers:Shawn Ryan, Kurt Sutter

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  24. The Shield Season 3 Episode 11 - Strays
    8.4/10(2405 votes)

    #24 - Strays

    S3:E11

    During a routine bust on bangers, Vic and the Team discover a money laundering ring that reaches far and wide in the crime community. Meanwhile, Dutch takes the chilling confession of the man who was arrested in the serial-rape case, and Danny goes undercover.

    Director:David Mamet
    Writer:Glen Mazzara

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  25. The Shield Season 3 Episode 13 - Fire in the Hole
    8.4/10(2344 votes)

    #25 - Fire in the Hole

    S3:E13

    When a mole in the treasury department is discovered and the framed suspect in the Armenian money train robbery turns up missing, the Strike team race to find the suspect before their cover is blown. Meanwhile, Claudette attempts to make amends with the Decoy Squad by going undercover to help them on a case.

    Director:Guy Ferland
    Writers:Kurt Sutter, Charles H. Eglee

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Best Episodes Summary

"Family Meeting" is the best rated episode of "The Shield". It scored 9.7/10 based on 4775 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, "Postpartum".