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{{short description|American drama television series}}
{{About|the television series|the video game based on the series|The Shield (video game)|the professional wrestling group|The Shield (professional wrestling)|other uses|Shield (disambiguation)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2022}}
{{Infobox television
| image              = TheShieldTitle.JPG
| genre              = {{Plainlist|
*[[Crime drama]]
*[[Action genre|Action]]
*[[Police procedural]]
*[[Tragedy]]<ref name="OralHistory">{{cite magazine |last=Lawrence |first=Derek |title='People were repulsed and fascinated': An oral history of The Shield |url=https://ew.com/tv/the-shield-oral-history/ |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=February 22, 2022 |access-date=August 19, 2022}}</ref>
}}
| creator            = [[Shawn Ryan]]
| showrunner         = Shawn Ryan
| starring           = {{Plainlist|
* [[Michael Chiklis]]
* [[Catherine Dent]]
* [[Reed Diamond]]
* [[Walton Goggins]]
* [[Michael Jace]]
* [[Kenny Johnson]]
* [[Jay Karnes]]
* [[Benito Martinez (actor)|Benito Martinez]]
* [[CCH Pounder]]
* [[Glenn Close]]
* [[Cathy Cahlin Ryan]]
* [[David Rees Snell]]
* [[Paula Garcés]]
* [[David Marciano]]
}}
| opentheme          = "Just Another Day"<br />by Vivian Romero<br />Ernesto Bautista<br />[[Rodney Alejandro]]
| country            = United States
| language           = English
| num_seasons        = 7
| num_episodes       = 88
| list_episodes      = List of The Shield episodes
| executive_producer = {{Plainlist|
*Shawn Ryan
*[[Scott Brazil]]
*[[Glen Mazzara]]
*[[Charles H. Eglee]]
*[[Kurt Sutter]]
*[[Scott Rosenbaum]]
*[[Adam Fierro]]
}}
| company            = {{Plainlist|
* The Barn Productions
* MiddKid Productions
* {{nowrap|[[Sony Pictures Television]]}}{{efn|Known as [[Columbia TriStar Domestic Television]] for the first season.}}
* [[Fox Television Studios]]
}}
| producer           = Michael Chiklis
| location           = [[Los Angeles]], [[California]]
| cinematography     = [[Rohn Schmidt]]
| runtime            = 41–75 minutes
| channel            = [[FX (TV channel)|FX]]
| first_aired        = {{Start date|2002|3|12}}
| last_aired         = {{End date|2008|11|25}}
}}

'''''The Shield''''' is an American crime drama television series created by [[Shawn Ryan]] and starring [[Michael Chiklis]] that aired on [[FX (TV channel)|FX]] from March 12, 2002, to November 25, 2008, for seven seasons. The show is known for its portrayal of corrupt police officers and was originally advertised as ''Rampart'' in reference to the real-life [[Rampart scandal|Rampart Division police scandal]], on which the show's Strike Team was loosely based.

Several notable actors took extended roles on the show, including [[Glenn Close]], who was the female lead during the fourth season; [[Michael Peña]] in season 4; [[Anthony Anderson]] in seasons 4, 5, and 6; [[Forest Whitaker]], who guest-starred in seasons 5 and 6; [[Laura Harring]] in season 5; [[Franka Potente]] in season 6; and [[Laurie Holden]] in season 7.

The series has received critical acclaim and is widely regarded as one of the greatest television series of all time.<ref>
*{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/tvandradioblog/2010/jan/12/guardian-50-television-dramas |title=The Guardian's top 50 television dramas of all time |website=The Guardian |first=Tim |last=Lusher |date=January 12, 2010 |access-date=August 20, 2022}}
*{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2019/apr/30/all-hail-the-shield-the-scuzzy-forgotten-classic-of-tvs-golden-age |title=All hail The Shield – the scuzzy forgotten classic of TV's golden age |website=The Guardian |first=James |last=Donaghy |date=April 30, 2019 |access-date=August 20, 2022}}
*{{cite web |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/tv-critics-call-here-are_b_391101 |title=TV Critic's Call: Here Are The Decade's 10 Best Series |website=HuffPost |first=Bill |last=Mann |date=March 18, 2010 |access-date=August 20, 2022}}
*{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-lists/100-greatest-tv-shows-of-all-time-105998/the-shield-111122/ |title=100 Greatest TV Shows of All Time |magazine=Rolling Stone |first=Rob |last=Sheffield |date=September 21, 2016 |access-date=August 20, 2022}}
*{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/lists/top-100-tv-shows/74 |title=Top 100 TV Shows of All Time |website=IGN |access-date=August 20, 2022}}
*{{cite web |url=https://www.empireonline.com/tv/features/best-tv-shows-ever-2/ |title=The 100 Best TV Shows Of All Time |website=Empire |date=October 7, 2021 |access-date=August 20, 2022}}
*{{cite web |title=TV Guide Magazine's 60 Best Series of All Time |url=http://www.tvguide.com/news/tv-guide-magazine-60-best-series-1074962/ |work=[[TV Guide]] |first1=Bruce |last1=Fretts |first2=Matt |last2=Roush |access-date=October 22, 2015 |date=December 23, 2013 |archive-date=November 19, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171119171109/http://www.tvguide.com/news/tv-guide-magazine-60-best-series-1074962/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Premise==
''The Shield'' follows the activities of an experimental division of the [[Los Angeles Police Department]] set up in the fictional Farmington district ("the Farm") of [[Los Angeles]], a district rife with gang-related violence, drug trafficking, and prostitution. Operating out of a converted church ("the Barn"), they work to maintain the peace in the district and reduce crime.

At the center of the division is the Strike Team, led by Detectives [[Vic Mackey]], [[Shane Vendrell]], [[Curtis Lemansky]], and [[Ronnie Gardocki]]. Mackey and the Strike Team use criminal methods to coerce information and stage arrests and take a share of various drug busts. Although the Strike Team's questionably high success rate leaves the division's head, Captain [[David Aceveda]], suspicious of their methods, he values their success as they help his political efforts to become mayor of Los Angeles.

Attempts to place a fifth member on the Strike Team not in Mackey's circle go astray. The pilot episode concludes with Mackey, suspicious of the loyalty of the latest Strike Team recruit, Terry Crowley, fatally shooting him during an arrest and framing their suspect. This sets in motion events that loom over the Strike Team and continue throughout the series.

The show has an [[ensemble cast]] featuring the other officers in the Farmington district. This includes detectives [[Holland "Dutch" Wagenbach]], [[List of The Shield characters#Steve Billings|Steve Billings]] and [[Claudette Wyms]], uniformed officers Sgt. [[Danielle "Danny" Sofer]], [[Julien Lowe]], and [[List of The Shield characters#Tina Hanlon|Tina Hanlon]]. The series has a variety of subplots, notably Aceveda's political aspirations and his suffering a sexual assault; Mackey's struggle to cope with a failing marriage, two autistic children, and rebellious eldest daughter; Danny becoming a mother; Vendrell's rocky, new marriage; Lemansky's growing fear for the safety of the Strike Team; Claudette's battle with illness and Lowe's internal conflicts between his [[Christianity|Christian beliefs]] and his [[homosexuality]].

''The Shield'' and the Strike Team were inspired by the [[LAPD Rampart Division|Rampart Division]] [[Community Resources Against Street Hoodlums]] (CRASH) unit within the Los Angeles Police Department.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/life_and_art/2004/06/cops_robbers.html |title=Cops & Robbers |first=Lucas |last=Miller |date=June 15, 2004 |access-date=July 19, 2018 |work=[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]] |archive-date=July 20, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180720023443/http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/life_and_art/2004/06/cops_robbers.html |url-status=live }}</ref> ''Rampart'' was seriously considered as the series' name and was even used in some early promotional ads for the series.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://cap-press.com/sites/pj/shield_grant.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180720022501/https://cap-press.com/sites/pj/shield_grant.htm|archive-date=July 20, 2018 |title=The Shield |first=Judith |last=Grant |date=May 22, 2002 |access-date=February 24, 2007 |publisher=Picturing Justice, the On-Line Journal of Law and Popular Culture}}</ref><ref name="nytimes">{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/04/03/arts/police-show-has-humans-not-heroes-in-fx-s-hit-the-shield-means-justify-ends.html |title=Police Show Has Humans, Not Heroes; In FX's Hit 'The Shield,' Means Justify Ends |first=Bernard |last=Weinraub |date=April 3, 2002 |access-date=July 19, 2018 |work=[[The New York Times]] |archive-date=July 20, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180720022801/https://www.nytimes.com/2002/04/03/arts/police-show-has-humans-not-heroes-in-fx-s-hit-the-shield-means-justify-ends.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Characters are portrayed with vices and virtues; Vic's loving relationship with his children contrasts with his thuggish approach to police work. Two of the many examples of Mackey's criminal and sociopathic behavior include an attempt to rob the "Armenian Money Train", a money laundering operation of the [[Armenian Power|Armenian Mafia]] in season 2 and having a police dog maul a rape suspect.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.film.com/tv/judgment-day-for-the-shields-vic-mackey |title=Judgment Day for The Shield's Vic Mackey |publisher=Film.com |first=Susan |last=Young |date=September 2, 2008 |access-date=September 17, 2015 |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304093715/http://www.film.com/tv/judgment-day-for-the-shields-vic-mackey |url-status=live }}</ref>

The timeline of the seven seasons of the show covers approximately three years.<ref name="ew-finale">{{cite magazine |date=August 4, 2020 |first=Michael |last=Ausiello |title=Spoiler Alert: 'Shield' Boss Answers Burning Finale Qs |url=https://ew.com/article/2008/11/26/shield-boss-ans/ |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |access-date=March 31, 2021}}</ref>

==Series overview==
{{main|List of The Shield episodes{{!}}List of ''The Shield'' episodes}}
{{:List of The Shield episodes}}

===Season 1===
Season 1 premiered on March 12, 2002, and concluded on June 4, 2002, consisting of 13 episodes. The season deals with Mackey and Vendrell covering up their shooting of Terry Crowley, a plant on the Strike Team placed by David Aceveda and the Department of Justice, who have been suspicious of the Strike Team's activities. Dutch believes a serial killer is targeting prostitutes. Lowe struggles with his sexual orientation and his Christian morals, making him a target for blackmail. Sofer, who is having an affair with Mackey, finds herself both concerned and frustrated while training Lowe.

===Season 2===
Season 2 premiered on January 7, 2003, and concluded on April 1, 2003, consisting of 13 episodes. The first half of the season deals with a new drug threat from Armadillo, a highly intelligent immigrant who has coerced the black and Hispanic gangs to work together, making it difficult for the Strike Team to charge him. The second half of the season deals with the Strike Team's discovery of the Armenian "money train" used to ship laundered money out of the United States. Mackey and the Strike Team successfully hijack the shipment, ending up with millions of dollars for themselves. Aceveda makes an agreement with Mackey to protect each other while Aceveda runs for city council. Claudette, whose own investigation into Armadillo is hampered by Mackey and Aceveda, is forced out of her passive role and prepares to take an active role as a moral leader. Dutch makes a major mistake in an investigation and begins second guessing himself. Lowe gets married but nearly gets outed to the department by a former lover. Sofer finds herself becoming a pawn in Barn politics and begins to question the Strike Team's ethics.

===Season 3===
Season 3 premiered on March 9, 2004, and concluded on June 15, 2004, consisting of 15 episodes.<ref>{{cite news |title=The Shield Season 3 Premiere |first=Cynthia |last=Fuchs |publisher=PopMatters |date=March 9, 2004 |url=http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/shield-2004 |access-date=March 16, 2010 |archive-date=June 5, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605015800/http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/shield-2004 |url-status=live }}</ref> The season deals with fallout from the money train robbery. Mackey learns that a portion of the money was marked by the Treasury Department, and the Strike Team figures out ways of diverting any federal attention to their activities. However, the tension of having the money gets to Lemansky, and in an off-the-cuff decision, burns most of the money before the others can stop him. This leads to the dissolution of the Strike Team. Dutch struggles to find balance while looking into both the money train robbery and a serial rapist. Claudette begins administrative duties in preparation to take over as captain but her qualms over a potentially incompetent defense attorney put her career in jeopardy. After the fallout of nearly being outed in the previous season, Lowe starts taking on a tougher demeanor, making Claudette question his future.

===Season 4===
Season 4 premiered on March 15, 2005, and concluded on June 14, 2005, consisting of 13 episodes. During this season, the members of the Strike Team become involved with the affairs of [[Antwon Mitchell]], a highly respected drug lord who ends up blackmailing Vendrell to coerce his help. Mackey, with the help of the new Barn Captain, [[Monica Rawling]], manages to help Vendrell out of his situation, reunites the Strike Team, and eventually ends up with sufficient evidence to send Mitchell to jail. However, Rawling finds herself dismissed as captain due to her approach of seizing any assets tied to drug money. Claudette and Dutch continue to be shut out of meaningful cases by the DA's office, forcing Dutch to make a backroom deal to save his and Claudette's careers. A rift forms between Lowe and Sofer over the seizures policy. Aceveda uses the seizures policy to get more power on the city council and ultimately push his own agenda.

===Season 5===
Season 5 premiered on January 10, 2006, and concluded on March 21, 2006, consisting of 11 episodes. The LAPD's [[Internal affairs (law enforcement)|Internal Affairs Division]] opens an investigation led by Lt. [[Jon Kavanaugh]] against Lemansky, purportedly for not reporting a stash of drugs he had taken, but in actuality to find evidence of the Strike Team's misdeeds. Mackey learns of Kavanaugh's true intent, and tries to humiliate Kavanaugh to show the investigation is personal. Enraged, Kavanaugh puts on more pressure and charges Lemansky. The Strike Team attempts to smuggle Lemansky out of the country, but Vendrell, fearing Lemansky will talk, kills him with a grenade, ending the investigation.<ref>{{cite news |title=The Shield: The Detective & the Lieutenant |first=Quentin B. |last=Huff |publisher=PopMatters |date=May 9, 2007 |url=http://www.popmatters.com/pm/feature/the-shield-the-detective-the-lieutenant/ |access-date=March 16, 2010 |archive-date=April 1, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100401073119/http://www.popmatters.com/pm/feature/the-shield-the-detective-the-lieutenant |url-status=live }}</ref> Lowe trains Tina Hanlon but quickly believes she may not be cut out for the job. Dutch and Claudette focus on the serial killer they have no evidence against while it becomes clear Claudette's health is deteriorating. Billings' weak management, coupled with Kavanaugh's strong-arm tactics, forces the LAPD chief to name a stronger and more independent captain to the Barn, Claudette.

===="Wins and Losses"====
The producers of ''The Shield'' produced a 15-minute "promosode", which premiered on [[Google Video]] on February 15, 2007, to bridge the gap between seasons 5 and 6. The episode focuses on the aftermath of Lemanksky's death, including his funeral and flashbacks as co-workers reflect upon his life.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Shield Set to Return |publisher=IGN |date=January 22, 2007 |url=http://tv.ign.com/articles/757/757217p1.html |access-date=August 9, 2011 |archive-date=August 9, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110809035705/http://tv.ign.com/articles/757/757217p1.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The episode was said to have cost between $500,000 and $1 million to produce. It was on [[bud.tv]] for four weeks and later released to [[AOL]] and other media outlets.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.aoltv.com/2007/01/30/fx-to-debut-mini-episode-of-the-shield-online/ |title=FX to debut mini-episode of The Shield online |publisher=[[AOL TV]] |first=Jonathan |last=Toomey |date=January 30, 2007 |access-date=February 25, 2007 |archive-date=March 25, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120325122849/http://www.aoltv.com/2007/01/30/fx-to-debut-mini-episode-of-the-shield-online/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The "promosode" is also one of the special features included on the season 5 DVD set.

===Season 6===
Season 6 premiered on April 3, 2007, and concluded on June 5, 2007, consisting of 10 episodes. The Strike Team struggles with Lemansky's death, and suspect one of the gangs committed it, while Vendrell remains quiet regarding his role. Kavanaugh continues his investigation outside of Internal Affairs, but is eventually forced to admit to planting evidence and is arrested. Mackey learns he is being forced into early retirement and tries to fight back by proving his value. Tensions on the Strike Team led Vendrell to admit to killing Lemansky, and knowing that Mackey will likely kill him, he turns to the Armenian mob for protection, only to expose the team's role in the money-train heist, putting their families at risk. Vendrell writes up all their crimes and mails duplicates to use as blackmail against Mackey.<ref>{{cite news |title=The Detective & His Reflections: The Shield: Sixth Season |first=Quentin B. |last=Huff |publisher=PopMatters |date=September 26, 2008 |url=http://www.popmatters.com/pm/feature/the-detective-his-reflections-the-shield-sixth-season/ |access-date=March 16, 2010 |archive-date=January 7, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100107041530/http://www.popmatters.com/pm/feature/the-detective-his-reflections-the-shield-sixth-season |url-status=live }}</ref> Claudette fights to keep the Barn from being shut down. Dutch tries to adjust to his new partnership with Billings and his crush on Hanlon. Sofer, recently promoted to sergeant, tries to find balance being a working single mother. Lowe joins the Strike Team, now under the command of Kevin Hiatt. Aceveda finds a strong financial backer who may be too good to be true.

Season 6 was originally intended to be aired as the second half of season 5, but FX decided to refer to these 10 episodes as season 6 instead.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news/2006/06/05/final-runs-set-for-hbos-deadwood-fxs-the-shield-21500/7170/ |title=Final Runs Set for HBO's 'Deadwood,' FX's 'The Shield' |website=The Futon Critic |first=Brian Ford |last=Sullivan |date=June 5, 2006 |access-date=August 27, 2018}}</ref>

===Season 7===
Season 7 premiered on September 2, 2008, and concluded on November 25, 2008, consisting of 13 episodes. Mackey and Aceveda discover the Mexican cartel is looking to influence Farmington, and work with [[U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement|ICE]] to take them down. Mackey also uses the opportunity to secure a position at ICE in exchange for immunity for his crimes on the Strike Team. The Barn gains significant evidence to arrest the Strike Team. Vendrell attempts to kill Mackey, but it goes awry, making him and his family fugitives. With no hold over Mackey, he kills himself and his family. Mackey successfully busts the cartel for ICE, but betrays Gardocki, who is arrested for the Strike Team's crimes. Dutch focuses on a kid he is certain will become a serial killer. Sofer attempts to keep Mackey out of their son's life. Corrine, scared when she finally realizes everything Vic is, takes her children into federal witness protection. Claudette and Dutch make one final attempt to get evidence to arrest Mackey, but he is shielded by his deal with ICE; however, Vic then learns that he will be required to work as a desk analyst at ICE, with no official power or responsibilities. The series ends as Mackey, hearing sirens in the distance, holsters his gun (which he was supposed to surrender as a condition of his deal) and walks out, his destination unknown.

==Cast and characters==
{{main|List of The Shield characters{{!}}List of ''The Shield'' characters}}
{| class="wikitable collapsible"
|-
! rowspan="2"|Character
! rowspan="2"|Portrayed by
! colspan="7"|Seasons
|-
! style="width:10%;"|1
! style="width:10%;"|2
! style="width:10%;"|3
! style="width:10%;"|4
! style="width:10%;"|5
! style="width:10%;"|6
! style="width:10%;"|7
|-
| [[Vic Mackey]]
| [[Michael Chiklis]]
| colspan="7" {{CMain}}
|-
| [[Danielle "Danny" Sofer]]
| [[Catherine Dent]]
| colspan="7" {{CMain}}
|-
| [[List of The Shield characters#Terry Crowley|Terry Crowley]]
| [[Reed Diamond]]
| {{CMain}}{{efn|name=diamond}}
| {{CGuest}}
| colspan="5" {{CNone}}
|-
| [[Shane Vendrell]]
| [[Walton Goggins]]
| colspan="7" {{CMain}}
|-
| [[Julien Lowe]]
| [[Michael Jace]]
| colspan="7" {{CMain}}
|-
| [[Curtis Lemansky|Curtis "Lem" Lemansky]]
| [[Kenny Johnson]]
| colspan="5" {{CMain}}
| colspan="2" {{CNone}}
|-
| [[Holland "Dutch" Wagenbach]]
| [[Jay Karnes]]
| colspan="7" {{CMain}}
|-
| [[David Aceveda]]
| [[Benito Martinez (actor)|Benito Martinez]]
| colspan="7" {{CMain}}
|-
| [[Claudette Wyms]]
| [[CCH Pounder]]
| colspan="7" {{CMain}}
|-
| [[Monica Rawling]]
| [[Glenn Close]] 
| colspan="3" {{CNone}}
| {{CMain}}
| colspan="3" {{CNone}}
|-
| [[List of The Shield characters#Corrine Mackey|Corrine Mackey]]
| [[Cathy Cahlin Ryan]]
| colspan="3" {{CRecurring}}
| colspan="1" {{CAlso starring|Starring}}
| colspan="3" {{CMain}}
|-
| [[Ronnie Gardocki]]
| [[David Rees Snell]]
| colspan="3" {{CRecurring}}
| colspan="1" {{CAlso starring|Starring}}
| colspan="3" {{CMain}}
|-
| [[List of The Shield characters#Tina Hanlon|Tina Hanlon]]
| [[Paula Garcés]]
| colspan="4" {{CNone}}
| colspan="2" {{CRecurring}}
| {{CMain}}
|-
| [[List of The Shield characters#Steve Billings|Steve Billings]]
| [[David Marciano]]
| colspan="3" {{CNone}}
| colspan="3" {{CRecurring}}
| {{CMain}}
|}

* [[Michael Chiklis]] as [[Vic Mackey]]
* [[Catherine Dent]] as [[Danielle "Danny" Sofer]]
* [[Reed Diamond]] as [[List of characters from The Shield#Terry Crowley|Terry Crowley]] (season 1; guest: season 2)
* [[Walton Goggins]] as [[Shane Vendrell]]
* [[Michael Jace]] as [[Julien Lowe]]
* [[Kenny Johnson]] as [[Curtis Lemansky]] (seasons 1–5)
* [[Jay Karnes]] as [[Holland "Dutch" Wagenbach]]<ref>{{cite news |title=Dutch treat for fans of 'The Shield' |url=http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/entertainment_tv/2007/04/dutch_treat_on_.html |first=Maureen |last=Ryan |work=Chicago Tribune |date=April 23, 2007 |access-date=September 20, 2011 |archive-date=September 28, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928100233/http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/entertainment_tv/2007/04/dutch_treat_on_.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[Benito Martinez (actor)|Benito Martinez]] as [[David Aceveda]]
* [[CCH Pounder]] as [[Claudette Wyms]]
* [[Cathy Cahlin Ryan]] as [[List of The Shield characters#Corrine Mackey|Corrine Mackey]] (main: seasons 5–7; recurring: seasons 1–3; also starring: season 4)
* [[David Rees Snell]] as [[Ronnie Gardocki]] (main: seasons 5–7; recurring: seasons 1–3; also starring: season 4)
* [[Glenn Close]] as [[Monica Rawling]] (season 4)
* [[David Marciano]] as [[List of The Shield characters#Steve Billings|Steve Billings]] (main: season 7; recurring: seasons 4–6)
* [[Paula Garcés]] as [[List of The Shield characters#Tina Hanlon|Tina Hanlon]] (main: season 7; recurring: seasons 5–6)
===Notes===
{{reflist|group=lower-alpha|refs={{efn|name=diamond|Diamond is only credited as a series regular in the pilot episode and is credited as a guest star in episode 2.}}
}}

==Development==
The series was created by [[Shawn Ryan]]. Ryan served as an executive producer for all seven seasons and was the series head writer and [[showrunner]] throughout its run. Prior to creating the series Ryan had been working as a producer and writer for the supernatural detective series ''[[Angel (1999 TV series)|Angel]]''. He began his television career as a writer for the crime drama ''[[Nash Bridges]]''. ''Nash Bridges'' was a more up-beat show, and Ryan was required to write scripts that showed the hero succeeding in a positive way, and Ryan sought to write something far different to get that out of his system.<ref name="ew 2017">{{cite magazine |url=http://ew.com/tv/2017/03/14/the-shield-shawn-ryan-15th-anniversary/ |title=The Shield: Creator Shawn Ryan on the possibility of a revival |first=Derek |last=Lawrence |date=March 14, 2017 |access-date=July 19, 2018 |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |archive-date=July 20, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180720022447/http://ew.com/tv/2017/03/14/the-shield-shawn-ryan-15th-anniversary/ |url-status=live }}</ref> He had considered what a cop drama would be like on a premium cable network like [[HBO]] and [[Showtime (TV network)|Showtime]], taking into account the edge that shows like ''[[Homicide: Life on the Street]]'' and ''[[NYPD Blue]]'' had brought to the genre. While trying to decide a direction, the [[Rampart scandal]] within the LAPD was exposed, and Ryan took inspiration from those events to craft out a pilot script.<ref name="nytimes"/> He also recently became a father, and wrote into the script his concerns about raising a child in a crime-ridden world.<ref name="ew 2017"/> The pilot script had ended with Mackey shooting Crowley; Ryan had the idea of an alternate ending to ''[[Donnie Brasco (film)|Donnie Brasco]]'', of where [[Al Pacino]]'s mobster character would have shot [[Johnny Depp]]'s undercover FBI character, revealing that the mobster had known his identity all along. He used this ending idea in the pilot for ''The Shield'', not expecting to have to worry about any consequences as he was not sure the script would be picked up.<ref name="ew 2017"/> Ryan later commented in 2017 that if he had known how long ''The Shield'' would have run for, he would have had a few more episodes to help establish Crowley's character before having Mackey kill him off.<ref name="ew 2017"/>

Around 2000, the [[FX (TV channel)|FX network]] was looking to find what would be the network's first drama series to help set the tone for their network, given the ongoing success of ''[[The Sopranos]]'' on rival network HBO. FX's [[Kevin Reilly (executive)|Kevin Reilly]] wanted a show about an [[antihero]] but believed that the cop genre had become tired. However, Reilly was amazed by Ryan's script, and greenlit the show in mid-2001.<ref name="nytimes"/> Reilly worked with Ryan to help determine how much violence and nudity could be used within the show, as unlike HBO, FX was an ad-sponsored cable channel and beholden to certain content considerations.<ref name="nytimes"/> As they were working towards this, the [[September 11 attacks]] occurred, and in their aftermath, Fox was concerned if the show would be appropriate at this time, believing that audiences would not be receptive to seeing police officers portrayed in a negative light.<ref name="nytimes"/> The situation changed following the theatrical release of ''[[Training Day]]'' in October 2001, a film centered around corrupt cops that was a financial success. Fox was assured by ''Training Day''{{'}}s reception from audiences that ''The Shield'' was allowed to continue, with the pilot first broadcast in March 2002.<ref name="nytimes"/>

Ryan had written the part of Mackey for someone with a young [[Harrison Ford]] personality.<ref name="ew 2017"/> Due to the complexities of the character, he was uncertain they would have found a suitable actor for the role, and cast his own doubt on his writing.<ref name="ew feb2017"/> During casting, Ryan had been surprised with [[Michael Chiklis]]'s audition. Chiklis had gained a soft reputation within Hollywood based on his roles from ''[[The Commish]]'' and ''[[Daddio]]'', and felt that he needed to have a change of pace in future roles, as he was finding himself cast for older, overweight parts.<ref name="nytimes"/> Chiklis spent six months away from acting and losing a significant amount of weight, and for his audition on ''The Shield'', had shaved his head.<ref name="nytimes"/> Ryan was taken by this new appearance feeling it was not appropriate, but found that Chiklis had a certain charisma in his delivery that worked well into the Mackey character. This allowed Ryan to write Mackey as a compassionate figure, able to get away with certain improper actions through his charisma, which served to draw fans to sympathize with Mackey throughout the series.<ref name="ew 2017"/> Ryan recognized that with Chiklis as his star, it validated his success as a writer.<ref name="ew feb2017">{{cite magazine |url=https://ew.com/article/2016/06/11/the-shield-atx/ |title=The Shield creator on where Vic Mackey is today |first=Nick |last=Maslow |date=February 9, 2017 |access-date=August 30, 2018 |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |archive-date=August 31, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180831002434/https://ew.com/article/2016/06/11/the-shield-atx/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[Scott Brazil]] was a co-executive producer for the first season. He became an executive producer for the second season. He was a regular director for the series until his death during production of the sixth season. Brazil and Ryan had worked together on ''Nash Bridges''.

Several of the series more junior writers became executive producers during its run. [[Glen Mazzara]] was an executive story editor for the first season and became an executive producer from the fifth season onwards. Mazzara had also worked with Ryan on ''Nash Bridges''. [[Kurt Sutter]] and [[Scott Rosenbaum]] were staff writers for the first season and became executive producers for the sixth season onwards. [[Adam E. Fierro]] joined the crew as a co-producer and writer for the third season and was promoted to executive producer for the seventh season. Veteran television writer [[Charles H. Eglee]] joined the crew as a consulting producer for the third season and was promoted to executive producer from the fifth season onwards.

[[James Manos Jr.]] served as a consulting producer and writer for the first two seasons. He left the show to develop the [[Showtime (TV network)|Showtime]] serial killer drama ''[[Dexter (TV series)|Dexter]]''. ''NYPD Blue'' veteran writer Kevin Arkadie was a co-executive producer for the first season only. ''Nash Bridges'' writer and producer Reed Steiner replaced Arkadie as co-executive producer for the second season only. Kevin G. Cremin was the series unit production manager throughout its run and became a co-executive producer from the sixth season onwards.

''Angel'' writing team [[Elizabeth Craft and Sarah Fain]] joined the crew as co-producers for the third season and became supervising producers before leaving at the close of the sixth season. [[Dean White (director)|Dean White]] was a producer and regular director throughout the series run. Chiklis became a producer from the second season onward and also regularly directed episodes. Post-production supervisor Craig Yahata joined the crew in the third season and eventually became a producer for the seventh season.

The series pilot and finale were directed by [[Clark Johnson]]; Johnson had previously starred in ''[[Homicide: Life on the Street]]'' and made his directing debut on that series. [[Guy Ferland]] directed episodes for all seven seasons of ''The Shield''. [[Rohn Schmidt]] was a cinematographer for all seven seasons and made his television directing debut on the show. [[Stephen Kay]] was a frequent director for the series. [[Gwyneth Horder-Payton]] was an assistant director for the show's early seasons and made her television directing debut in the fourth season, she continued to regularly direct episodes thereafter.

Film director [[Frank Darabont]] directed an episode for the series. Darabont later reunited with several writers from ''The Shield'' for his [[The Walking Dead (TV series)|television adaptation]] of [[The Walking Dead (comic book)|''The Walking Dead'' comics]], including Charles H. Eglee, Glen Mazzara and Adam Fierro. Acclaimed playwright and film writer and director [[David Mamet]] directed an episode of the series. Mamet and Ryan collaborated as executive producers on military thriller ''[[The Unit]]''. Screenwriter [[Ted Griffin]] wrote a single episode of the show. Griffin later created ''[[Terriers (TV series)|Terriers]]'' and was reunited with Shawn Ryan as a fellow executive producer.

==Reception==
{{Television critical response
| rotten_tomatoes1 = 95% (22 reviews)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/the_shield/s01 |title=The Shield: Season 1 |website=Rotten Tomatoes |access-date=October 31, 2025}}</ref>
| metacritic1      = 92 (28 reviews)<ref name="MetacriticS1">{{cite web |url=http://www.metacritic.com/tv/the-shield/season-1 |title=The Shield: Season 1 |website=Metacritic |access-date=October 31, 2025 |archive-date=April 21, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120421042304/http://www.metacritic.com/tv/the-shield/season-1 |url-status=live }}</ref>

| rotten_tomatoes2 = 92% (12 reviews)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/the_shield/s02 |title=The Shield: Season 2 |website=Rotten Tomatoes |access-date=October 31, 2025}}</ref>

| rotten_tomatoes3 = 93% (14 reviews)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/the_shield/s03 |title=The Shield: Season 3 |website=Rotten Tomatoes |access-date=October 31, 2025}}</ref>

| rotten_tomatoes4 = 82% (11 reviews)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/the_shield/s04 |title=The Shield: Season 4 |website=Rotten Tomatoes |access-date=October 31, 2025}}</ref>

| rotten_tomatoes5 = 100% (12 reviews)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/the_shield/s05 |title=The Shield: Season 5 |website=Rotten Tomatoes |access-date=October 31, 2025}}</ref>

| rotten_tomatoes6 = 76% (17 reviews)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/the_shield/s06 |title=The Shield: Season 6 |website=Rotten Tomatoes |access-date=October 31, 2025}}</ref>

| rotten_tomatoes7 = 97% (33 reviews)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/the_shield/s07 |title=The Shield: Season 7 |website=Rotten Tomatoes |access-date=October 31, 2025}}</ref>
| metacritic7      = 85 (14 reviews)<ref name="MetacriticS2">{{cite web |url=http://www.metacritic.com/tv/the-shield/season-7 |title=The Shield: Season 7 |website=Metacritic |access-date=October 31, 2025 |archive-date=October 2, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111002215705/http://www.metacritic.com/tv/the-shield/season-7 |url-status=live }}</ref>
}}

''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' magazine's [[James Poniewozik]] ranked ''The Shield'' #8 in his list of the Top 10 Returning Series of 2007<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/article/0,28804,1686204_1686244_1691409,00.html |last=Poniewozik |first=James |title=Top 10 Returning TV Series |magazine=TIME |date=December 9, 2007 |access-date=September 20, 2011 |archive-date=October 3, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111003160637/http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/article/0,28804,1686204_1686244_1691409,00.html }}</ref> and later included it in his list of the top 100 greatest TV shows of all time.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://entertainment.time.com/2007/09/06/the-100-best-tv-shows-of-all-time/slide/the-shield/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111022130223/http://entertainment.time.com/2007/09/06/the-100-best-tv-shows-of-all-time/slide/the-shield/ |archive-date=October 22, 2011 |last=Poniewozik |first=James |title=All-Time 100 TV Shows |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |date=September 6, 2007 |access-date=March 9, 2013}}</ref> ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' named it the 8th-best TV show of the 2000s, saying, "Det. Vic Mackey didn't just clean up the streets—he cleaned up on the streets. Would he pay for those sins? This gutsy TV drama kept us guessing."<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.ew.com/ew/gallery/0,,20321301_20324062_20711138,00.html |title=10 Best TV Shows of the Decade |author=EW Staff |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=December 17, 2009 |access-date=September 20, 2011 |archive-date=June 23, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120623042516/http://www.ew.com/ew/gallery/0,,20321301_20324062_20711138,00.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> On the [[review aggregator]] website [[Metacritic]], season 1 received high acclaim from critics, with a score of 92 out of 100, based on 28 reviews.<ref name="MetacriticS1"/> Season 7 also received high acclaim from critics, with a score of 85 out of 100, based on 14 reviews.<ref name="MetacriticS2"/> In September 2019, ''[[The Guardian]]'' ranked the show 77th on its list of the 100 best TV shows of the 21st century, stating that "a key part...of the golden age of antihero drama, this thriller about likable – and utterly corrupt – cops broke new ground for bold, risk-taking television".<ref>{{cite web |title=The 100 best TV shows of the 21st century |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2019/sep/16/100-best-tv-shows-of-the-21st-century |work=The Guardian |date=September 16, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191101054025/https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2019/sep/16/100-best-tv-shows-of-the-21st-century |access-date=November 3, 2019 |archive-date=November 1, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

The premiere episode of ''The Shield'' had a 4.1 rating, at the time a record for a dramatic program on basic cable. However, ''The Shield'' lost advertising from [[Burger King]], [[New Balance]], [[Office Depot]], and [[Yum! Brands|Tricon Global Restaurants]], in part due to complaints from the [[Parents Television Council]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eonline.com/News/Items/0%2C1%2C9786%2C00.html|title="The Shield" Loses Advertisers|last=Armstrong|first=Mark|website=E! News|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20020610065926/http://www.eonline.com/News/Items/0,1,9786,00.html|date=April 10, 2002|archivedate=June 10, 2002|access-date=March 22, 2024|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Awards and nominations==
[[File:Shawn Ryan with cast members from The Shield at the 65th Annual Peabody Awards.jpg|thumb|right|Shawn Ryan with cast members at the 65th Annual Peabody Awards]]
The series received six [[Primetime Emmy Awards]] nominations during its series run. For the first season, [[Michael Chiklis]] won for [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series|Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series]], and the pilot episode received nominations for [[Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series]] and [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series|Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series]], for [[Clark Johnson]] and [[Shawn Ryan]] respectively. Chiklis received a consecutive nomination Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for the second season. For the fourth season, [[Glenn Close]] was nominated for [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series|Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series]] and [[CCH Pounder]] was nominated for [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series|Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.emmys.com/shows/shield |title=The Shield |website=[[Emmy Awards]] |access-date=October 25, 2017 |archive-date=October 26, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171026003525/https://www.emmys.com/shows/shield |url-status=live }}</ref>

For the [[Golden Globe Award]]s, the series received five nominations, with Chiklis receiving three consecutive nominations for [[Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Drama|Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Drama]], and winning the award for the first season. The first season also earned the series the award for [[Golden Globe Award for Best Television Series – Drama|Best Television Series – Drama]]. Glenn Close was also nominated for [[Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Drama|Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series – Drama]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.goldenglobes.com/tv-show/shield |title=The Shield |website=[[Golden Globe Awards]] |access-date=October 25, 2017 |archive-date=October 26, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171026002212/http://www.goldenglobes.com/tv-show/shield |url-status=live }}</ref>

For the [[Satellite Awards]], the series received seven nominations. CCH Pounder won two consecutive times for [[Satellite Award for Best Actress – Television Series Drama|Best Actress in a Series, Drama]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/author/cch-pounder |title=CCH Pounder |work=[[HuffPost]] |access-date=October 25, 2017}}</ref> Chiklis received two nominations with one win for [[Satellite Award for Best Actor – Television Series Drama|Best Actor in a Series, Drama]], and [[Forest Whitaker]] was nominated for [[Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film|Best Supporting Actor in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2006/digital/awards/satellite-awards-nominations-announced-1117954889/ |title=Satellite Awards nominations announced |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=December 1, 2006 |access-date=October 25, 2017 |archive-date=August 1, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150801165234/http://variety.com/2006/digital/awards/satellite-awards-nominations-announced-1117954889/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The series won the award for [[Satellite Award for Best Television Series – Drama|Best Television Series, Drama]] and received a nomination for that category the following year.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tvtango.com/desc/shield/awards/sort/awardName |title=The Shield – Series – Awards |work=TV Tango |access-date=October 25, 2017 |archive-date=October 26, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171026001846/http://www.tvtango.com/desc/shield/awards/sort/awardName |url-status=live }}</ref>

For the [[TCA Awards]], the first season received nominations for [[TCA Award for Program of the Year|Program of the Year]], [[TCA Award for Outstanding New Program|Outstanding New Program]], [[TCA Award for Outstanding Achievement in Drama|Outstanding Achievement in Drama]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2002/tv/news/freshmen-lead-class-for-tca-noms-1117867925// |title=Freshmen lead class for TCA noms |date=June 3, 2002 |work=Variety |first=Jill |last=Feiwell |access-date=October 25, 2017 |archive-date=October 26, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171026054001/http://variety.com/2002/tv/news/freshmen-lead-class-for-tca-noms-1117867925/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and Chiklis won for [[TCA Award for Individual Achievement in Drama|Individual Achievement in Drama]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://tvcritics.org/2002-tca-awards-winners/ |title=2002 TCA Awards winners |date=July 20, 2002 |website=[[Television Critics Association]] |access-date=October 25, 2017 |archive-date=September 6, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170906134814/http://tvcritics.org/2002-tca-awards-winners/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The series received nominations again for Outstanding Achievement in Drama for the next two seasons.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://tvcritics.org/2003-tca-awards-nominees/ |title=Television Critics Association Announces 2003 Award Nominees |date=June 4, 2003 |website=Television Critics Association |access-date=October 25, 2017 |archive-date=September 9, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170909094958/http://tvcritics.org/2003-tca-awards-nominees/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://tvcritics.org/2004-tca-awards-nominees/ |title=Television Critics Association Announces 2004 Award Nominees |date=June 3, 2004 |website=Television Critics Association |access-date=October 25, 2017 |archive-date=October 26, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171026001915/http://tvcritics.org/2004-tca-awards-nominees/ |url-status=live }}</ref> For the final season, it was nominated for Program of the Year and Outstanding Achievement in Drama, as well as receiving the [[TCA Heritage Award|Heritage Award]]. Also, [[Walton Goggins]] was nominated for Individual Achievement in Drama.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://tvcritics.org/television-critics-association-announces-2009-award-nominees/ |title=Television Critics Association Announces 2009 Award Nominees |date=June 3, 2009 |website=Television Critics Association |access-date=October 25, 2017 |archive-date=December 23, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161223131758/http://tvcritics.org/television-critics-association-announces-2009-award-nominees/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Association
! Year{{efn|The listed year refers to the date of the ceremony, not necessarily the year in which the corresponding season or episode aired}}
! Category
! Nominee(s)
! Result
! Ref.
|-
| [[ADG Excellence in Production Design Awards]]
| align="center" | 2003
| [[Art Directors Guild Award for Excellence in Production Design for a One-Hour Contemporary Single-Camera Series|Excellence in Production Design for Television, Single-Camera Series]]
| James Newport, William J. Durrell Jr. (for "[[Pilot (The Shield)|Pilot]]")
| {{nom}}
| align="center" | <ref>{{cite web |url=https://adg.org/awards/adg/winners/2003/ |title=Winners & Nominees |website=[[Art Directors Guild]]}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="2" | [[American Film Institute Awards|AFI Awards]]
| align="center" | [[American Film Institute Awards#2004|2005]]
| Program of the Year
| ''The Shield''
| {{won}}
| align="center" | <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.afi.com/award/afi-awards-2004/ |title=AFI AWARDS 2004 |website=[[American Film Institute]]}}</ref>
|-
| align="center" | [[American Film Institute Awards#2008|2009]]
| Program of the Year
| ''The Shield''
| {{won}}
| align="center" | <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.afi.com/award/afi-awards-2008/ |title=AFI AWARDS 2008 |website=American Film Institute}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="7" | [[ALMA Award]]s
| align="center" | [[8th ALMA Awards|2006]]
| Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Television Series, Mini-Series or Television Movie
| [[Benito Martinez (actor)|Benito Martinez]]
| {{nom}}
| align="center" | <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0286486/awards/#ev0000016 |title=Awards |website=[[IMDb]]}}</ref>
|-
| align="center" rowspan="2" | [[9th ALMA Awards|2007]]
| Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Television Series, Mini-Series or Television Movie
| Benito Martinez
| {{won}}
| align="center" rowspan="2" | <ref>{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2007/film/awards/alma-award-nominees-1117966011/ |title=Alma Award Nominees |date=May 30, 2007 |work=Variety}}</ref>
|-
| Outstanding Writing in a Television Series, Mini-Series or Television Movie
| [[Charles H. Eglee]], [[Adam E. Fierro]] (for "Enemy of Good")
| {{nom}}
|-
| align="center" rowspan="2" | 2008
| Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Television Series
| Benito Martinez
| {{nom}}
| align="center" rowspan="2" | <ref>{{cite web |last=Robertson |first=Willa |url=https://variety.com/2009/film/news/alma-awards-announce-nominations-1118007694/ |title=Alma Awards announce nominations |date=August 25, 2009 |work=Variety}}</ref>
|-
| Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Television Series
| [[Paula Garcés]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| align="center" rowspan="2" | [[11th ALMA Awards|2009]]
| Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series
| Benito Martinez
| {{nom}}
| align="center" rowspan="2" | <ref>{{cite web |last=Robertson |first=Willa |url=https://variety.com/2009/film/news/alma-awards-announce-nominations-1118007694/ |title=Alma Awards announce nominations |date=August 25, 2009 |work=Variety}}</ref>
|-
| Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series
| Paula Garcés
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[GLAAD Media Award]]s
| align="center" | [[14th GLAAD Media Awards|2003]]
| [[GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Drama Series|Outstanding Drama Series]]
| ''The Shield''
| {{nom}}
| align="center" | <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.advocate.com/news/2002/12/13/glaad-announces-14th-annual-media-awards-nominees-7196 |title=GLAAD announces 14th annual Media Awards nominees |date=December 13, 2002 |work=[[The Advocate (magazine)|The Advocate]]}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="5" | [[Golden Globe Awards]]
| align="center" rowspan="2" | [[61st Golden Globe Awards|2003]]
| [[Golden Globe Award for Best Television Series – Drama|Best Television Series – Drama]]
| ''The Shield''
| {{won}}
| align="center" rowspan="5" | <ref>{{cite web |url=https://goldenglobes.com/tv-show/shield-the/ |title=The Shield |website=Golden Globe Awards}}</ref>
|-
| [[Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Drama|Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Drama]]
| [[Michael Chiklis]]
| {{won}}
|-
| align="center" | [[62nd Golden Globe Awards|2004]]
| Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Drama
| Michael Chiklis
| {{nom}}
|-
| align="center" | [[63rd Golden Globe Awards|2005]]
| Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Drama
| Michael Chiklis
| {{nom}}
|-
| align="center" | [[64th Golden Globe Awards|2006]]
| [[Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Drama|Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series – Drama]]
| [[Glenn Close]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="2" | [[Imagen Awards]]
| align="center" | 2006
| Best Supporting Actor – Television
| Benito Martinez
| {{nom}}
| align="center" | <ref>{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2006/film/awards/imagen-award-nominees-1200341809/ |title=Imagen Award nominees |date=August 17, 2006 |website=Variety}}</ref>
|-
| align="center" | 2007
| Best Supporting Actor – Television
| Benito Martinez
| {{nom}}
| align="center" | <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0286486/awards/#ev0000346 |title=Awards |website=IMDb}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="7" | [[NAACP Image Awards]]
| align="center" | [[34th NAACP Image Awards|2003]]
| [[NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series|Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series]]
| [[CCH Pounder]]
| {{nom}}
| align="center" | <ref>{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2002/film/awards/brown-barbershop-bag-most-image-noms-1117877035/ |title='Brown,' 'Barbershop' bag most Image noms |date=December 5, 2002 |work=Variety}}</ref>
|-
| align="center" | [[35th NAACP Image Awards|2004]]
| Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series
| CCH Pounder
| {{nom}}
| align="center" | <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.naacpimageawards.net/media/35thnominees.html |title=Official List Of 35th NAACP Image Awards Nominations |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040312072443/http://www.naacpimageawards.net/media/35thnominees.html |archive-date=March 12, 2004 |website=[[NAACP Image Awards]]}}</ref>
|-
| align="center" rowspan="2" | [[37th NAACP Image Awards|2006]]
| Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series
| CCH Pounder
| {{nom}}
| align="center" rowspan="2" | <ref>{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2006/biz/awards/37th-annual-image-awards-nominations-1117938771/ |title=37th Annual Image Awards nominations |date=February 23, 2006 |work=Variety}}</ref>
|-
| [[NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series|Outstanding Directing in a Dramatic Series]]
| [[Phillip G. Atwell]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| align="center" | [[38th NAACP Image Awards|2007]]
| Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series
| CCH Pounder
| {{nom}}
| align="center" | <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.naacpimageawards.net/38thImageAwards/nominees.html |title=THE 38th NAACP IMAGE AWARDS NOMINATION RESULTS |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070714000648/http://www.naacpimageawards.net/38thImageAwards/nominees.html |archive-date=July 14, 2007 |website=NAACP Image Awards}}</ref>
|-
| align="center" | [[39th NAACP Image Awards|2008]]
| Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series
| CCH Pounder
| {{nom}}
| align="center" | <ref>{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2008/biz/awards/the-39th-naacp-image-award-nominations-1117978663/ |title=The 39th NAACP Image Award Nominations |date=January 8, 2008 |work=Variety}}</ref>
|-
| align="center" | [[40th NAACP Image Awards|2009]]
| Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series
| CCH Pounder
| {{nom}}
| align="center" | <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.naacpimageawards.net/40/win_tv.php |title=The 40th NAACP Image Awards |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100701041017/http://www.naacpimageawards.net/40/win_tv.php |archive-date=July 1, 2010 |website=NAACP Image Awards}}</ref>
|-
| [[Peabody Awards]]
| align="center" | [[List of Peabody Award winners (2000–2009)#2005|2006]]
| align="center" colspan="2" | Honoree{{efn|Presented to [[Fox Television Studios]] in association with [[Sony Pictures Television]]}}
| {{honored}}
| align="center" | <ref>{{cite web |url=https://peabodyawards.com/award-profile/the-shield/ |title=The Shield |website=[[Peabody Awards]]}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="6" | [[Primetime Emmy Awards]]
| align="center" rowspan="3" | [[54th Primetime Emmy Awards|2002]]
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series|Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series]]
| Michael Chiklis (for "Pilot")
| {{won}}
| align="center" rowspan="6" | <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.emmys.com/shows/shield |title=The Shield |website=Emmy Awards}}</ref>
|-
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series|Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series]]
| [[Clark Johnson]] (for "Pilot")
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series|Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series]]
| [[Shawn Ryan]] (for "Pilot")
| {{nom}}
|-
| align="center" | [[55th Primetime Emmy Awards|2003]]
| Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
| Michael Chiklis (for "Dominoes Falling")
| {{nom}}
|-
| align="center" rowspan="2" | [[57th Primetime Emmy Awards|2005]]
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series|Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series]]
| Glenn Close (for "Hurt")
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series|Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series]]
| CCH Pounder (for "Doghouse" and "Tar Baby")
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="7" | [[Satellite Awards]]
| align="center" rowspan="2" | [[7th Golden Satellite Awards|2003]]
| [[Satellite Award for Best Actor – Television Series Drama|Best Actor in a Series, Drama]]
| Michael Chiklis
| {{nom}}
| align="center" rowspan="2" | <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pressacademy.com/satawards/awards2003.shtml |title=2003 7th Annual SATELLITE™ Awards |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111111083010/http://www.pressacademy.com/satawards/awards2003.shtml |archive-date=November 11, 2011 |website=[[International Press Academy]]}}</ref>
|-
| [[Satellite Award for Best Actress – Television Series Drama|Best Actress in a Series, Drama]]
| CCH Pounder
| {{won}}
|-
| align="center" rowspan="3" | [[8th Golden Satellite Awards|2004]]
| [[Satellite Award for Best Television Series – Drama|Best Television Series, Drama]]
| ''The Shield''
| {{won}}
| align="center" rowspan="3" | <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pressacademy.com/satawards/awards2004.shtml |title=2004 8th Annual SATELLITE™ Awards |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111111084747/http://www.pressacademy.com/satawards/awards2004.shtml |archive-date=November 11, 2011 |website=International Press Academy}}</ref>
|-
| Best Actor in a Series, Drama
| Michael Chiklis
| {{won}}
|-
| Best Actress in a Series, Drama
| CCH Pounder
| {{won}}
|-
| align="center" | [[9th Golden Satellite Awards|2005]]
| Best Television Series, Drama
| ''The Shield''
| {{nom}}
| align="center"| <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pressacademy.com/satawards/awards2005a.shtml |title=2005 9th Annual SATELLITE™ Awards |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111111090844/http://www.pressacademy.com/satawards/awards2005a.shtml |archive-date=November 11, 2011 |website=International Press Academy}}</ref>
|-
| align="center" | [[11th Satellite Awards|2006]]
| [[Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film|Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television]]
| [[Forest Whitaker]]
| {{nom}}
| align="center"| <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pressacademy.com/satawards/awards2006.shtml |title=2006 11th Annual SATELLITE™ Awards |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111111083910/http://www.pressacademy.com/satawards/awards2006.shtml |archive-date=November 11, 2011 |website=International Press Academy}}</ref>
|-
| [[Screen Actors Guild Awards]]
| align="center" | [[9th Screen Actors Guild Awards|2003]]
| [[Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series|Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series]]
| Michael Chiklis
| {{nom}}
| align="center" | <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sagawards.org/awards/nominees-and-recipients/9th-annual-screen-actors-guild-awards?field_taxonomy_vocabulary_2_target_id=5 |title=The 9th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards |website=[[Screen Actors Guild Awards]]}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="11" | [[TCA Awards]]
| align="center" rowspan="4" | [[18th TCA Awards|2002]]
| [[TCA Award for Program of the Year|Program of the Year]]
| ''The Shield''
| {{nom}}
| align="center" rowspan="11" | <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.tvcritics.org/tca-awards |title=TCA Awards |website=Television Critics Association}}</ref>
|-
| [[TCA Award for Outstanding New Program|Outstanding New Program]]
| ''The Shield''
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[TCA Award for Outstanding Achievement in Drama|Outstanding Achievement in Drama]]
| ''The Shield''
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[TCA Award for Individual Achievement in Drama|Individual Achievement in Drama]]
| Michael Chiklis
| {{won}}
|-
| align="center" | [[19th TCA Awards|2003]]
| Outstanding Achievement in Drama
| ''The Shield''
| {{nom}}
|-
| align="center" | [[20th TCA Awards|2004]]
| Outstanding Achievement in Drama
| ''The Shield''
| {{nom}}
|-
| align="center" rowspan="4" | [[25th TCA Awards|2009]]
| Program of the Year
| ''The Shield''
| {{nom}}
|-
| Outstanding Achievement in Drama
| ''The Shield''
| {{nom}}
|-
| Individual Achievement in Drama
| [[Walton Goggins]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| align="center" colspan="2" | [[TCA Heritage Award|Heritage Award]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| align="center" | [[31st TCA Awards|2015]]
| align="center" colspan="2" | Heritage Award
| {{nom}}
|}

==Other media==

===Comic===
In 2004, [[IDW Publishing]] released a five-issue [[comic book]] [[Limited series (comics)|limited series]] written by [[Jeff Mariotte]] and illustrated by Jean Diaz titled ''The Shield: Spotlight''.<ref>{{cite web |last=Weiland |first=Jonah |date=August 22, 2003 |title=To Protect and to Serve: Jeff Mariotte on 'The Shield' |work=Comic Book Resources |url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=2624 |access-date=September 20, 2011 |archive-date=October 10, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121010125558/http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=2624 |url-status=live }}</ref> A controversial journalist is murdered and the Barn is under intense media scrutiny. Vic and the Strike Team find the murderer but uncover a bigger conspiracy which has Dutch enthralled. All the while, Shane is trying to keep his face out of the media when he accidentally sets up a chance to earn the team much money recovering stolen art, and Julien and Danny struggle to realize when is the right time to go "by the book" and when is not. When uniformed officers spot the Strike Team with the stolen art, they have no choice but to do things the right way. Aceveda is warned to drop the journalists investigation or risk losing political backing. He drops the case which leaves Dutch feeling disheartened.

===Home media===
The first five seasons were originally distributed by [[20th Century Fox Home Entertainment]] for region 1. However, in 2008, [[Sony Pictures Home Entertainment]] became the rights holders for the [[DVD-Video|DVDs]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Shield-Season-6-to-Sony/8703 |title=The Shield – Season 6 moves from Fox to Sony |publisher=TVShowsOnDVD |first=Gord |last=Lacey |date=December 28, 2007 |access-date=September 20, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111125105834/http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Shield-Season-6-to-Sony/8703 |archive-date=November 25, 2011 }}</ref> They released season 6 and re-released seasons 1–5 in slimmer packaging in 2008, and released season 7 in 2009. International releases have always been distributed by Sony, who have only ever presented the show in 16:9 (widescreen) format, as opposed to the Fox releases, which presented the show in 4:3. All the re-releases by Sony along with seasons 6 and 7, and the complete series box set are presented in widescreen.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/39281/shield-the-complete-series-the/ |title=The Shield: Complete Series |publisher=DVD Talk |first=Michael |last=Zupan |date=October 27, 2009 |access-date=September 20, 2011 |archive-date=September 18, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110918044501/http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/39281/shield-the-complete-series-the/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The Sony region 2 release of season 5 has a shortened version of the season finale—48 minutes, as opposed to the regular 67-minute version.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dvdcompare.net/comparisons/film.php?fid=12457 |title=Shield (The): Season 5 (TV) (2006) |publisher=DVD Compare |access-date=January 19, 2012 |archive-date=November 26, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111126180517/http://dvdcompare.net/comparisons/film.php?fid=12457 |url-status=live }}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
!rowspan="2" |DVD title
!colspan="4" |Release dates
|-
![[DVD region code|Region]] 1 (Fox)
!|Region 1 (Sony Pictures)
!Region 2
!Region 4
|-
|The Complete First Season
|January 7, 2003
|March 25, 2008
|July 21, 2003
|February 11, 2004
|-
|The Complete Second Season
|January 6, 2004
|March 25, 2008
|August 9, 2004
|April 5, 2005
|-
|The Complete Third Season
|February 22, 2005
|March 25, 2008
|May 28, 2007
|May 11, 2007
|-
|The Complete Fourth Season
|December 26, 2005
|March 25, 2008
|July 2, 2007
|November 15, 2007
|-
|The Complete Fifth Season
|March 27, 2007
|March 25, 2008
|January 28, 2008
|March 10, 2009
|-
|The Complete Sixth Season
|{{n/a}}
|August 26, 2008
|March 24, 2008
|August 18, 2009
|-
|The Complete Seventh Season
|{{n/a}}
|June 9, 2009
|June 8, 2009
|November 24, 2010
|-
|The Complete Series
|{{n/a}}
|November 3, 2009
|June 8, 2009
|November 23, 2010
|}

{{Anchor|Digital release}}
In November 2012, all seven seasons were made available for purchase on [[iTunes]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://itunes.apple.com/tv-season/the-shield-season-1/id569214148 |title=The Shield, Season 1 |date=March 12, 2002 |publisher=iTunes |access-date=November 25, 2012 |archive-date=June 26, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130626121831/https://itunes.apple.com/tv-season/the-shield-season-1/id569214148 |url-status=live }}</ref> On February 26, 2013, [[Amazon.com]] announced the addition of the series to its Prime service, but the series is now only available for purchase.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=176060&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1789322&highlight= |title=Amazon's Prime Instant Video Named the Exclusive Online Subscription Home of FX Series Justified |publisher=Amazon.com |access-date=February 27, 2013}}</ref> The series is available for streaming on Hulu as part of FX's catalog. All seven seasons are available on [[Netflix]] throughout Latin America.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://domsguide.com/the-shield-tv-series-netflix/ |title=The Shield: Complete Series on Netflix |publisher=Dom's Guide |access-date=January 17, 2013 |archive-date=January 20, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130120205912/http://domsguide.com/the-shield-tv-series-netflix/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

{{Anchor|Blu-ray|4k}}
On August 28, 2015, Shawn Ryan announced that he was revisiting the series for a [[4K resolution|4K]] conversion.<ref>{{cite tweet |user=ShawnRyanTV |number=637365716325302272 |last=Ryan |first=Shawn |date=August 28, 2015 |title=1. Thrilled to announce that after months of talking/tests that Sony and Fox are moving forward with a 4K conversion of The Shield. |access-date=August 11, 2017}}</ref> In August 2017, Ryan announced the release had been delayed until 2018.<ref>{{cite tweet |user=ShawnRyanTV |number=898659843057135616 |last=Ryan |first=Shawn |date=August 18, 2017 |title=1. Update on #TheShield 4K conversion: Deep into Season 4 right now. Done early 2018. When finished @Sony will arrange for DVD/Streaming. |access-date=August 25, 2017}}</ref> In July 2018, Mill Creek Entertainment announced it would be releasing the complete series of ''The Shield'' on [[Blu-ray]] and that it would include all the extras from the previous DVD sets and includes new, exclusive featurettes.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thedigitalbits.com/columns/my-two-cents/072718-1400 |title=Mill Creek sets The Shield: The Complete Series for Blu-ray release in November, plus more news |website=The Digital Bits |first=Bill |last=Hunt |date=July 27, 2018 |access-date=July 28, 2018 |archive-date=July 28, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180728190914/http://www.thedigitalbits.com/columns/my-two-cents/072718-1400 |url-status=live }}</ref> It was released on December 18, 2018.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.millcreekent.com/shield-the-the-complete-series-blu-ray.html |title=The Shield: The Complete Series – Blu-ray |publisher=Mill Creek Entertainment |access-date=October 12, 2018 |archive-date=November 22, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181122175019/https://www.millcreekent.com/shield-the-the-complete-series-blu-ray.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Soundtrack===
{{See also|Music on The Shield{{!}}Music on ''The Shield''}}
On September 5, 2005, ''[[The Shield: Music from the Streets]]'' was released by [[Lakeshore Entertainment]]. The soundtrack features 19 tracks, including two versions of the theme song and tracks ranging from artists such as [[Black Label Society]] to [[Kelis]].

===Video game===
After a rocky development cycle, ''[[The Shield (video game)|The Shield]]'', the [[video game]], was released for the [[PlayStation 2]] on January 9, 2007, and for the PC on January 22, 2007. It is a [[third-person shooter]] that bridges the gap between the third and fourth seasons by exploring the gang war between the Byz-Lats and the One-Niners. It received generally negative reviews.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamerankings.com/ps2/919960-the-shield-the-game/index.html |title=The Shield for PlayStation 2 |publisher=GameRankings |access-date=September 20, 2011 |archive-date=November 25, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111125041525/http://www.gamerankings.com/ps2/919960-the-shield-the-game/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{wikiquote}}
* {{Official website}}
* {{IMDb title|0286486}}

{{The Shield}}
{{Navboxes
| title = Awards for ''The Shield''
| list =
{{GoldenGlobeTVDrama 1990–2009}}
{{Satellite Award Best Drama Television Series}}
}}
{{FX network programming}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Shield}}
[[Category:The Shield| ]]
[[Category:2002 American television series debuts]]
[[Category:2008 American television series endings]]
[[Category:2000s American crime drama television series]]
[[Category:2000s American police procedural television series]]
[[Category:Best Drama Series Golden Globe winners]]
[[Category:American English-language television shows]]
[[Category:FX Networks original programming]]
[[Category:Gangs in fiction]]
[[Category:Peabody Award–winning television programs]]
[[Category:Primetime Emmy Award–winning television series]]
[[Category:Serial drama television series]]
[[Category:American thriller television series]]
[[Category:Television series by Sony Pictures Television]]
[[Category:Television series by 20th Century Fox Television]]
[[Category:Television shows set in Los Angeles]]
[[Category:Fictional portrayals of the Los Angeles Police Department]]
[[Category:American detective television series]]
[[Category:Neo-noir television series]]
[[Category:Works about gangs]]
[[Category:Works about Mexican drug cartels]]