Television Review: Inferno (The Shield, S2X11, 2003)

Inferno (S02E11)

Airdate: March 18th 2003

Written by: Kim Clements
Directed by: Brad Anderson

Running Time: 45 minutes

In the sprawling, morally complex landscape of The Shield, a series renowned for its intricate storytelling and character development across seven seasons, it is inevitable that certain episodes would appear less consequential than others. Much like any long-form narrative, there are moments that serve primarily as connective tissue rather than pivotal turning points. Inferno, the eleventh episode of Season Two, exemplifies precisely this phenomenon. While competently crafted and maintaining the show's characteristic grit, it functions largely as filler—a necessary pause between more explosive narrative beats, yet lacking the visceral impact or thematic depth that defines the series at its finest.

For Vic Mackey, the episode opens with a sense of hard-won stability. The ghosts that haunted him earlier—Armadillo Quintero's violent reign and Ben Gilroy's threat of betrayal—have been permanently silenced, leaving the Strike Team leader in an unusually secure position. The only remaining thorn in his side is Lanie Kellis, the Los Angeles civil auditor whose departure seems imminent yet who continues to exert her authority over the Farmington Precinct with dogged determination. However, it is Captain David Aceveda who finds himself in the most precarious position. Having positioned himself as a rising political star vying for a City Council seat, his campaign suffers a devastating blow when the Los Angeles Times endorses his rival, Karen Mitchell, effectively erasing his polling advantage overnight. With Lanie's impending report threatening further professional damage, Aceveda becomes desperate for a major public relations victory—a high-profile arrest that could salvage his political ambitions and restore his tarnished image.

Fortune appears to smile upon Aceveda when intelligence surfaces that Dante Fell (Rosero), the notorious founder of the Compton Crowns street gang, has returned to Los Angeles after years spent establishing gang affiliates in San Antonio and other cities. As a fugitive wanted by both the FBI and DEA, Fell's capture would represent precisely the kind of career-defining moment Aceveda craves. Vic and the Strike Team spring into action, leveraging their network of street informants to track him down. They enlist the services of Little Kern, a music producer with past connections to Fell who now seeks to expand his operations into major drug dealing. Kern offers valuable information about Freddie "Frogger" Germaine (Reggie Curreley), Fell's adoptive brother, in exchange for the same protection arrangement Vic previously extended to Rondell Robinson and T.O. The raid on Frogger's residence, however, nearly descends into chaos when Lanie Kellis, either through incompetence or deliberate sabotage, alerts the FBI and inadvertently sparks a minor riot in the neighbourhood. Despite this interference, Frogger is apprehended and, under interrogation, breaks down and reveals Dante's whereabouts at a local hospital where his girlfriend is about to give birth. The Strike Team executes a flawless arrest, securing Aceveda's much-needed victory. Yet, in a moment that epitomises Vic's ruthless pragmatism, he coldly informs Kern that their deal is void—advising him instead to abandon the drug trade entirely, regardless of the financial consequences.

Vic's reluctance to entangle himself with another street-level dealer like Kern stems from hard-earned wisdom. His previous arrangements nearly cost him his career, his freedom, and ultimately his soul. Moreover, with Lanie's investigation casting a long shadow and Claudette Wyms maintaining her watchful scrutiny, Vic cannot afford another scandal. Crucially, however, his eyes are already fixed on a far more lucrative opportunity: the Armenian mob's "money train" heist. This audacious plan promises to solve the Strike Team's financial problems permanently. The episode marks Ronnie Gardocki's return to active duty following his recovery from severe facial injuries—a development that injects renewed energy into the heist preparations. Ronnie even contributes a crucial tactical enhancement by suggesting the use of a garbage truck. With the heist scheduled in just two weeks, Vic's focus has already shifted beyond temporary street deals towards what he believes will be his ultimate score.

While the Strike Team pursues their objectives, Claudette and Dutch work the morally ambiguous case involving Mrs. Montano (Diane Ayala Goldner), who brings her sixteen-year-old daughter Evette (Ashley Bashiou) to report a rape by her employer, Bruce Rosen (Jeff Kober). Forensic evidence quickly complicates the narrative when it reveals that Evette had engaged in consensual sexual activity after the alleged assault. Further investigation uncovers Mrs. Montano's elaborate scheme to extort money from Rosen, who ultimately admits to a consensual affair but avoids prison time. The case concludes with Rosen losing his furious wife Wendy (Elsa Fisher). This storyline serves as a microcosm of The Shield's central theme: the blurry line between justice and opportunism, where moral certainties dissolve in the harsh light of human frailty.

Meanwhile, the episode touches upon Julien Lowe's ongoing struggle with his identity. Tomas Motyashik returns to the Barn seeking assistance, forcing Julien—now married and determined to suppress his homosexual past—to confront uncomfortable memories. Though visibly distressed, Julien reluctantly agrees to lend Tomas his credit card to secure temporary accommodation, a small act of kindness that highlights the internal conflict between his public persona and private history.

Ultimately, Vic's professional triumphs are overshadowed by catastrophic personal failure. In a devastating sequence, Gordie Liman manipulates Vic into believing Corinne intends to file for divorce, convincing him that his only defence is to file first. When Corinne arrives at Vic's room demanding answers, she vehemently denies any intention of divorce—only to discover Emma Price's clothing scattered about. Her fury transforms what might have been a salvageable marriage into an irreparable chasm. This personal implosion serves as the episode's emotional climax, though it feels somewhat predictable following Corinne's abrupt disappearance in the Season One finale.

Written by Kim Clements and directed by Brad Anderson—a filmmaker known for his genre versatility—Inferno is undeniably competent television. Anderson's direction maintains the series' visual intensity, particularly during the hospital raid and interrogation sequences. Yet, for all its technical proficiency, the episode lacks narrative urgency. Apart from the finality of Vic's marital collapse, little occurs that significantly alters the series' trajectory. The episode does afford some development to Tavon Garris, the newest Strike Team member, who gradually earns Vic's grudging respect while secretly rejecting Lanie's offer to become her informant—a decision that demonstrates his loyalty while highlighting Lanie's diminishing influence. Indeed, Claudette's swift rejection of Lanie's suggestion that she replace Aceveda and "clean up" the Barn underscores the auditor's waning power.

Inferno ultimately functions as narrative maintenance—a necessary but unremarkable episode that keeps the machinery of The Shield turning while the audience awaits more substantial developments.

RATING: 6/10 (++)

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