My wife and I finished all 7 seasons of The Shield over the course of about four months. I only wish I knew about this show earlier. The Shield was raw, hard-hitting, and gritty. It was a rock epic to The Wire’s symphony. The show benefited from a strong cast — especially with Michael Chiklis in his Emmy award-winning role.

This show is not for kids or the squeamish. It’s interesting to note that since the show was on basic cable (FX Networks), hard language and nudity is not allowed. Yet somehow the show manages to push the limit (most of the time with some graphic crime scenes) — so much so it made The Wire seem tame in comparison.