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The Best Episodes of The Shield Season 3

Every episode of The Shield Season 3 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of The Shield Season 3!

Binge this in 11h 37m•Peaking at 8.9/10

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
    The Shield Season 3 Episode 1 - Playing Tight
    8.4/10(2592 votes)

    #1 - Playing Tight

    S3:E1

    The Strike Team's attempt to play by the book comes to an abrupt end when they discover that the Byz Latz and the One-Niners are attempting to alter the balance of power by acquiring MP5s. Meanwhile, Claudette and Dutch investigate the murders and foot severance of Armenian men by the Armenian mob, a case that draws them closer to the truth behind the money train robbery.

    Director:Clark Johnson
    Writers:Shawn Ryan, Kurt Sutter

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  2. The Shield Season 3 Episode 2 - Blood and Water
    7.9/10(2493 votes)

    #2 - 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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  3. The Shield Season 3 Episode 3 - Bottom Bitch
    8.1/10(2537 votes)

    #3 - 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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  4. The Shield Season 3 Episode 4 - Streaks and Tips
    7.7/10(2635 votes)

    #4 - 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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  5. The Shield Season 3 Episode 5 - Mum
    8.8/10(2592 votes)

    #5 - 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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  6. The Shield Season 3 Episode 6 - Posse Up
    7.9/10(2463 votes)

    #6 - 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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  7. The Shield Season 3 Episode 7 - Safe
    8.0/10(2474 votes)

    #7 - 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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  8. The Shield Season 3 Episode 8 - Cracking Ice
    8.3/10(2479 votes)

    #8 - Cracking Ice

    S3:E8

    An oversight puts Waylon and Trish in serious danger during an undercover job and Claudette is to blame. Meanwhile, Tommy makes a drastic decision when he realizes nobody in the Barn can help him get back on the job.

    Director:Guy Ferland
    Writers:Charles H. Eglee, Diego Gutierrez

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  9. The Shield Season 3 Episode 9 - Slipknot
    8.1/10(2458 votes)

    #9 - 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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  10. The Shield Season 3 Episode 10 - What Power Is...
    8.6/10(2510 votes)

    #10 - What Power Is...

    S3:E10

    Aceveda finds himself in a near fatal confrontation, and enlists Vic to help him take down the suspects in order to help service his own personal agenda. Meanwhile after losing her position of power, Claudette rejoins Dutch on the search for the cuddler rapist as they get a stunning break in the case.

    Director:Dean White
    Writer:Kim Clements

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  11. The Shield Season 3 Episode 11 - Strays
    8.5/10(2507 votes)

    #11 - 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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  12. The Shield Season 3 Episode 12 - Riceburner
    8.3/10(2365 votes)

    #12 - 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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  13. The Shield Season 3 Episode 13 - Fire in the Hole
    8.5/10(2442 votes)

    #13 - 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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  14. The Shield Season 3 Episode 14 - All In
    8.9/10(2702 votes)

    #14 - 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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  15. The Shield Season 3 Episode 15 - On Tilt
    8.9/10(2875 votes)

    #15 - 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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Season 3 Ratings Summary

"Playing Tight" is the best rated episode of "The Shield" season 3. It scored 8.4/10 based on 2592 votes. Directed by Clark Johnson and written by Shawn Ryan, Kurt Sutter, it aired on 3/9/2004. This episode is rated 0.5 points higher than the second-best, "Blood and Water".