Michael Corvin

lol. Last summer I bought both 24 and the shield season 1 sets. The SAME week. 7 days later, I had finished the entire 24 episode run of 24. 3 months later, I had only been able to get through about 6 episodes of the shield. Sold it on ebay.

The shield just seemed too contrived to me. It just felt that they took the idea of NYPD:Blue's first few years of shocking the audience and just turned it up a notch for todays(Soprano's loving) tv audience. Nothing really new. Just shock value for shock values sake.

But that is just my opinion. Flame on.

Groucho

I agree with the first statement, but not the second. "The Shield" faltered a bit in the middle of last season...particularly "Co-Pilot."

djones6746

The Shield is a much better show. IMO

BlackCapTen

They both seem to be different types of shows (style-wise). I prefer 24 because I enjoy the humor. I don't care much about how well acted it is, or how amazing the story is. As long as it entertains me in some wacked out way.

I only watched 2 episodes of the Shield and was bored. However, I do plan to rent the DVDs this summer and give it a fair chance because so many people recommend it.

Groucho

There's humor in 24? Unintentional maybe.

BlackCapTen

Exactly why I love it. Chloe rules.

Boot

The Shield. Absolutely no question.

Tommy Ceez

Although I love the shield, 'The origion of the Strike Team' and the NBA player episode were garbage

Shannon Nutt

THE SHIELD is more realistic - but 24 is just pure fun to watch.

Boot

While those episodes might have been weaker than the rest, I would hardly call them "garbage." Who Wants to Have Sex with My Dog or whatever is the latest dating program to hit the airwaves is what I would call garbage, not The Shield.

tasha99

Not a flame, but I disagree. 24 (after the first 12 or so perfect episodes of the series) seems much more contrived to me. Amnesia? President Palmer keeping his wife in the picture? Kim working at CTU? So much stuff happening at the same time to the same people (especially in season 2, where Kim's storyline was imo, way out of control realism-wise).

tasha

joltaddict

Spongebob Squarepants is more realistic than 24.

slop101

Shield may be somewhat contrived (what TVshow/movie isn't?) – though it’s characters and situations progress and develop quite naturally. 24, however, is the very definition of contrivance.

BT

Definitely the Shield for me.

Never got into 24 in the first place, don't think I'm missing out on much.

Tommy Ceez

Anyone who says that the Shield is realistic needs to get out of thier house...BUT it is more realistic that 24.

This thread has got my mind revlving, how about a 24/Shield crossover episode...set to air on the same night, where Jack has to follow a case into Farmington...the strike team is seen in the episode of 24 briefly getting instructions to conduct a gang related investigation and in the end, turning the perp over to Jack. Then when the Shield airs, Jack makes an appearence and we get a 'behind the scenes of the Strike team making the bust 'in thier own style'.... Fing brilliant!!!

johnglass

24 is like a comic book, where the Shield is like a good novel. I enjoy them both, but prefer the Shield.

mikewendt

The Shield is by far the best show on TV now and probably the past 3 years...

moocher

My vote goes to Spongebob as well (why wasn't it in the poll ?!) but 24 is a close 2nd.

What is this "shield" you speak of?

Holly Martins

I'm addicted to both of 'em, but the Shield is hands down the best 60 minutes on tv.

Michael Corvin

That is why it seems so contrived. They take themselves too seriously. It is supposed to be realistic but is quite over the top.

24 is over the top, but I don't think it has ever really tried to be grounded in reality. The first year maybe, because time flowed normally. The whole essence (time) of the show has fallen by the wayside. And they never seem to take themselves too seriously. I mean, if this was supposed to be real would they write a character as dumb as Chloe or Kim?

Neeb

>>I agree, 24 would probably be better if it was "12". Not the same ring to it though...

PalmerJoss

The Shield is the better show IMO. You'll never see Vic and the strike team being menaced by cougars, or a stupid romantic subplot coming up right in the middle of a crisis.