7.12 Possible Kill Screen
The penultimate episode in which we find out confession is good for the soul.
Remember this will be a SPOILER review. Click read more for the review.
OH MY F**KING GOD.
I’m trying to come up with ways to review this episode but I’m struggling. Trying to fashion sentences after watching that would be a hard job for any fan of the show. I love being at a loss for words and The Shield does that like no other show. We’re at the end of what has been seven years of greatness. We’re sailing into the finale and this episode what a brilliant build up to a finale so unpredictable that I have stopped trying to predict.
Firstly to start of, I’m going to mention the title of the episode, called Possible Kill Screen. Some of you might know that the title of the episode is a phrase, coined from the documentary film, King of Kong: A Fistfull of Quarters. The film’s about a guy who is trying to beat the high score of Donkey Kong. It’s an amazing film and if you haven’t watched it, go see it. Well in the movie a man named Brian Kuh goes round telling people that a possible kill screen is about to appear on Donkey Kong. Wikipedia’s definition of a kill screen is below,
“A kill screen is a stage or level in a video game (often an arcade game) that stops the player’s progress due to a programming error or design oversight. Rather than “ending” in a traditional sense, the game will crash, freeze, or behave so erratically that further play is impossible.”
This is the penultimate episode of the show, we’re gathered around waiting for the finale. We’re all Brian Kuh’s, gathering people around telling them that the finale of The Shield is approaching. The title of the episode might also give us a glimpse into the final episode. The kill screen doesn’t given any resolve. Are we going to see an ending where stories are not tied up?
Vic or Victor Samuel Mackey. Was quite cool to find out he had a middle name. Though Victor, you sold out your only friend. It was a shock to see that he went to sign the paper but honestly as I think about it, it’s not that surprising. Vic wanted to take care of his family, he was blinded by Corrine. He would never ever suspect she would be working with the cops. He was smart to notice the police watching her but he isn’t smart enough to realise his ex wife’s betrayal. That betrayal has now marked the end for Ronnie.
I feel so sorry for Ronnie, he’s a character who has come into his own through this season. This season has been extraordinary because of the way that character has developed. For years I wanted to see him brought into the main focus. Now it seems his conclusion is written in stone. Vic cannot warn him or his agreement would void and he’ll be sent to prison. It’s either send Ronnie to jail or Vic and Ronnie run together. I’m hoping it’s the latter. Ronnie doesn’t deserve what is coming to him, it was Vic’s doing.
The confession scene was one of the finest moments of the show. Michael Chiklis deserves an award for that scene. He confesses all of his sins, all the things he’s done for the past seven seasons. Right from the murder of Terry Crowley to the Money Train to what we’re seeing now. Every crime he has ever committed has been documented and is now on file with the federal government. Olivia’s reaction to his confession was priceless too. Her realising that the man she probably cared for was, in her terms, “a sick and twisted man,” was great to see.
Shane’s time is slowly running out. Resorting to any means to get some money and then it all goes to hell. Mara kills a woman and gets injured and now she wants it all to end. She wants to go home and that was a smart move before but now she’s killed someone. The end doesn’t look good for her either.
It was great to see Danny back even though she didn’t get much to do, except fake arrest Corrine and take care of her children.
The Lloyd story seems to come about how I expected. I fear the worse for Dutch.
Seeing Claudette watch Vic confess and find out he has full immunity and the following scene was superb. This show has been special because we root for the anti-hero. We should be rooting for Claudette, the one who wants to take down the corrupt cop but we don’t. I had to laugh when the guy told her Vic gets immunity, you just know how she would feel in that precise moment. No one ever likes to lose.
So one weeks time I will have seen the finale and will try my best to make it my best review as possible. Though I expect it to be full of swear words because this show is not going to go out lightly.
Quote of the episode: Vic “How much memory does that thing got?”
Favourite Scene: Vic’s confession.
November 19, 2008 at 5:57 pm |
OMFG I think is what we all said as watching this episode. Every episode i sit with my mouth open with a slight smile and some laughter with the repeated words “I can’t believe that just happened!” And you are right, its always completely unpredictable, but can Mackey do it? Can he hold up his end with the feds and remain with his immunity or will he end up dead or in jail? I hope the writers realize everyone loves vic, no matter how “sick and twisted” he may be and I think a big part of us will love for him to get away with it all. Possible prediction- Ronnie kills Shane and Vic and runs away… i think that would suck but its possible. I also think Dutch might get killed by the child serial killer or that kid will kill his mom…Or it definitely could be the title preludes to that we should expect not much resolution in any character, maybe thoughts for a movie in mind? Who knows, in six more days we will all know
November 19, 2008 at 6:01 pm |
Also the other great quote besides, “How much memory does that thing have” was his response to Olivia saying “i cant believe you did this to me” “Ive done worse” and his look- Chiklis is truly talented as this character and i really believe his character, truly great work and the best series on television. I am very sad to see it go. FX tried to produce other top shows but this is the best!
November 19, 2008 at 8:29 pm |
Cheers to one of the greatest tv shows of all time. Thank you for giving us 7 years of nothing but greatness. This whole season is testament to the body of work that these guys have created. Just when I thought that the episode where they realize shane tried to kill ronnie and vic would be a tough great episode to beat, I see last nights show and just like everybody else I’m at a loss for words. Of course my favorite scene was when vic confesses his sins. What really set of that bench mark scene was before when he starts to confess. That look on his face! You could feel the anguish and pain of finding the words to tell of all his crooked deeds under the badge. That silence before he dropped the bomb. It was priceless. He deserves an emmy for that scene. In my mind I was thinking he was gonna go back and sign that deal, but in my heart I just new he wouldn’t do it and sell his one true live friend down the river like he did. I still get chills thinking about it. And after all that, I still wanna see vic get through this, but man ronnie! I truly have no Idea how this is gonna play out in the very last episode. I had some ideas but it’s all thrown out the window after this episode. I don’t know how there gonna pull of one hell of a great ending after such a great episode. But after so many oh *&@! moments, I’m sadly looking forward to seeing what they come up with. I say sadly because this is the end of it all. Thanks again to The Shield. You broke the mold on this one folks. There will never ever be another show like this. Ever.