Monday, June 4, 2007

The Dumbest TV Cop In History

As longtime viewers of “The Shield” viewers are aware, Strike Team Detective Shane Vendrell has a vexing habit of thinking he’s way, way smarter than he truly is, and as a result, often ends up dragging down others when the consequences of his actions arrive.

Over the history of the show, examples of Shane’s hit parade of short-sightedness abounds: Shane tries to one-up crime boss Antwon Mitchell only to become his personal bitch; Shane murders fellow cop Curtis Lemansky and blackmails Vic Mackey into keeping quiet, and; in the latest example of Shane’s brilliance: he confesses the Strike Team’s involvement in Season Two’s heist of the Armenian mob’s money train (to the current leader of the mob, no less).

(Of course, Shane was also in on the robbery, but he neglected to mention that.)

Now, “The Shield’s” latest season finale (airing tomorrow night on FX) has Shane—as a flunky of the Armenians—scrambling to protect Vic's wife and kids, albeit by placing them in the back of a truck at gunpoint.

As Shane, Walton Goggins is a solid actor, but it’s long since time for his character to pay the piper and eat a bullet for his record of stupidity.

If this indeed happens, no doubt the words: “I Never Meant For Things To Get This Bad” will be etched on Shane’s headstone.

“Oh, please please please pull the trigger!”

7 comments:

Unknown said...

Shane is not ordered to kidnap Vic's wife and kid. He's trying to protect them from the Armenians killing them. By the way, he is not dumb, he is easily influenced!

Christopher Hugh Varney (CHV) said...

>>Shane is not ordered to kidnap Vic's wife and kid. He's trying to protect them from the Armenians killing them.

You're right, Kristen. I jumped the gun.

>>>By the way, he is not dumb, he is easily influenced!

Sorry, no can agree. Shane is an imbecile.

Unknown said...

Shane isn't dumb. You may hate him, but he's not dumb. He is what Vic made him! In case you haven't noticed, I'm a Shane fan. Walton Goggins deserves the Emmy this year.

Christopher Hugh Varney (CHV) said...

Agreed that Walt Goggins is a very good actor, Kristen, but how can you say Shane isn't dumb as a post for spilling to the head of the Armenian mob about the Money Train heist?

Now, as usual, Shane has to scramble to cover for his latest dunderheaded move.

Shane never thinks before he acts. Ergo, IMO, he's a world-class moron.

Christopher Hugh Varney (CHV) said...

It's gonna suck having to wait so long (again) for another season of "The Shield" after only 10 new episodes. Same goes for "Lost" and "Galactica."

I like the idea of stacking up episodes, and airing them in sequence without reruns, but it makes the time in-between seasons long indeed.

Unknown said...

He wasn't thinking. I think he so desperately wants Vic's approval, and was surprised when Vic's didn't support his decision to "off" Lem. He is defininately scrambling, but dumb, NO! Have you seen the finale yet? Maybe you will have a little more sympathy for him then. He is really in a pickle!

Yes, it sucks to wait so long, and it even sucks more that next year is the last year! At least there are a full 13 episodes. I have kind of lost my excitement over Lost and don't watch Galacta. I am super excited about Rescue me though. It's a definite second to The Shield. I think that FX is right on the money with their year round programming. Have you seen a sneak peek at Glenn Close's new show?

Christopher Hugh Varney (CHV) said...

>>>[Shane] wasn't thinking.

Precisely my point, Kristen. Shane almost never thinks; instead, he simply reacts regardless of the consequences.

>>>Have you seen a sneak peek at Glenn Close's new show?

A little.

I'm more interested in "Nip/Tuck" getting started again, although I think moving the setting from Miami to L.A. is a mistake. Also confusing is why after Sean worked so hard to divorce himself from Christian he just fell back into his arms after his ex-partner suddenly showed up in L.A.

Never seen "Rescue Me," but I understand it is good.