The TV Zone

Thanks, I suppose, to "The Sopranos," we in the press ranks have all larded our expectations about how classic series -- particularly violent ones with morally conflicted characters -- should end. OK, at least I have. It's this sense that the end will fully and completely capture the preceding, or maybe justify it, or resolve a character or explain his/her motivation, or SOMETHING. That's why CCH Pounder's comment during "The Sheild" sesh today was so intriguing. (CCH? You know - Claudette Wyms...)

"The finale," she said, "is what Vic Mackey deserves."

The words fall flat on the screen. There was some venom mixed with glee in her voice. ("...what he deSERVES.") Frobisher (see below) got what he deserved, but what exactly does Mackey deserve? The same? Maybe, or maybe not. All of the show's 13 final episodes were wrapped months ago, in the middle of the strike, because Shawn Ryan and writing team had finished the scripts well before the strike began early November. So everyone up there on stage knew exactly the fate of one of the most famous / infamous cops in modern TV history (and who earned Michael Chiklis a best drama actor Emmy, a first in all TV history for a cable show.)

Someone asked about a possible "Shield" movie -- a clever but alas obvious gambit to determine whether Mackey survives. No go: Chiklis, whom co-star Cathy Cahlin Ryan referred to as Chicky at one point, didn't take the bait. If I told you, he said, you'd know whether I live or die...

Does Mackey get what he deserves? Said Chicky, "that's in the eye of the beholder. Shawn Ryan [creator, husband of Cathy, who played wife of Vic -- what a world!] did a tremendous job in writing this finale ... feel like [the series] is the longest movie ever made ... but [in the finale] writers came up with twists and turns and when you watch them, they are so stunning, but when you look back on them they make perfect sense ... with the finale, you won't see this coming but you'll also look and say, 'yeah that makes perfect sense.'"

No fade to black? No onion rings?

Said Shawn: "Show [finales] that stay true to themselves ... those are the ones that are most successful. This one will feel completely appropriate."

The final season begins Sept. 2, which means we'll have to wait to late fall or early winter to find out what just fate awaits Vic.

(Above: Fabulous and kinda scary pix of Chicky, courtesy FX)