I just got done watching Season 1. Wow. For once, the hype is for a reason. I loved watching Assistant Chief Gilroy turn from corrupt cop to off-balance wacko.

Without spoiling S2 for me, can you tell me how it stacks up against the first season? Should I rush out and grab S2 on DVD when it shows up in October, or should I just TiVo it when it re-runs?

Overall, the quality is just as high. There are a couple mediocre episodes near the middle and an inexplicable "gimmick" episode that I didn't care for, but the other episodes are top-notch.

If you enjoyed Season 1, you should also enjoy Season 2.

I thought the show was more consistant than the first season. I almost stopped watching after the basketball player episode during the first season.

Excellent show, both seasons are top notch.

I also thought the basketball player episode was one of the weaker eps of S1. Thankfully, it was just a momentary lapse, rather than the beginning of a downhill slide.

IMO, Season 2 was much better. The last scene of the last episode was amazing.

• Quoth Static Cling •<HR SIZE=1>For once, the hype is for a reason.<HR SIZE=1>

For once? When have I ever steered you wrong?

Yes, the second season is as good as, if not better than, the first. Easily one of the top two or three series this past season. Buy it as soon as you can.

das

Refresh my memory -- what was the "gimmick" ep. in season 2?

• Quoth Tuan Jim •<HR SIZE=1>Refresh my memory -- what was the "gimmick" ep. in season 2? <HR SIZE=1>

I assume he means

das

Das is correct.

Yeah, that episode woulda been a lot better if the time hadn't been so damn ambiguous.

The Shield is one of my favorite shows...ever (along with 24) and I feel the second season is superior...

It's probably just me, but I thought every show I watch was worse this past season than it was the previous season with the exception of Curb Your Enthusiasm and Six Feet Under. I seem to have a dislike for second seasons of shows even when everybody else seems to love them. For instance I seriously disliked season 2 of Buffy, Six Feet Under, Farscape, 24, Once and Again, Alias, Smallville and Aqua Teen Hunger Force. All these shows had something good enough to keep me coming back, but their overall quality dropped so much from their first seasons. Given that with all these shows I either loved the third season or the third season is coming up soon, I can't wait for the upcoming season.

To get back on topic, I will say that I liked season 2 of The Shield probably better than the second season of any of the other shows I mentioned. They do some pretty impressive things in season 2, but it never gets as good as the amazing 2 part season 1 finale. One of my biggest problems with season 2 was the music. There wasn't a single song all season that I really liked. In season 1, they not only played my favorite unknown band, Mogwai, more than once, they even played almost a whole Mogwai song.

Another off-topic note, I just found out last week that my local library carries the Shield season 1 dvd set. I'm on a waiting list to get it and I can't wait to see if it's actually as good as I remember it.

I just have to say if it wasn't for you I probably would have never watched this series due to the many ads FX ran for it during Buffy reruns before the premeire. This quickly became one of my favorite shows on TV once I started watching.