I was watching some of S5 yesterday, when Kav first told Lem that they had swapped out the heroin from his car, and something occurred to me, something that could have changed the course of the whole season:

Lem had a pretty reasonable explanation for the heroin. Allow me to expound...

In S4, Vic told Rawling that he and the boys were working behind her back for two days trying "to figure out how to get Shane out from under Antwon without losing his careeeeeeer." Basically, she knew they were looking for Angie's body to help Shane.

Surely the LAPD brass -- or at the very least, a jury -- would understand them trying to clear a fellow officer who was set up to be framed, even if it did involve an unorthodox step or two (i.e. taking the junk as collateral).

Emolia even heard Lem say that it was about "the dead girl's body," so her testimony, which was supposed to seal his fate, could have maybe even worked FOR him.

Although he still didn't log it into evidence, so he could have still been on the hook for that.

All I'm saying is that they had a plausible -- well, not just plausible, TRUTHFUL -- explanation that would have, at the very least, kept the intent to distribute charge from sticking, and take away quite a bit of Kav's leverage on Lem.

However, let's be honest. This is an entertainment show, not real life, and for it to have played out that way would have been very boring compared to how it DID play out; but one thing "Shield" writers seem to pride themselves on is realism, and it seems like the boys should have at least considered this as an option at some point. It's REALLY hard to believe that Becca didn't suggest that he just come clean.

Just a thought...

…and here’s some more:

“So you’ll screw some other guy’s kid but not my Cassidy? What’s up with that, man? I’d like to get a look at this girl… see what she’s got that my Cassidy doesn’t. I’m sure you could arrange that.” – Vic, to a child molester

“Oh, this is gonna be the one, I can feel it… I better get my raincoat.” – Vic, to Tavon as he plays a phony game of Russian roulette to get info from a suspect

“Gee, only six months into our unflinching moral stand, and already the results are devastatingly effective.” – Dutch, to Claudette

“Whatever makes Slap happy.” – Vic

“…besides, we’re still gonna need someone to mow our lawns when this here race war’s over.” – Shane, posing as a neo-Nazi

“You showed a 70-year-old woman a penis line-up?” – Claudette

“Just attack it Dutch… like you’re hungry… like the wolf…” – Vic

“Why don’t you suck my DICK… again?” – Juan Lazano

“I want every inch of Koreatown smothered” – Aceveda / “Like white on rice.” – Vic

“Looks like you’re going to die a bad speller.” – Vic

“I got greedy. I lost it all. There’s a lesson there, Vic.” – Asst. Chief Ben Gilroy

“Ooh, crushing crime, one blunt at a time.” – Claudette

“Hey, look got promoted to bathroom monitor!” – Vic, re: Dutch waiting for Capt. Rawling to finish using the ladies’ room

“Blessed is he who delivers this asshole unto me.” – Vic

“This guy is a real flower delivery man, and he’s Asian, so feel free to assume he’s not our escaped Hispanic rapist, asshole!” – Vic

“Gee, that’s funny.” – Waitress whose registration was just stolen by the above-named Hispanic rapist / “…not really.” – Vic

“Big Chief Vic needum new wheels so he can catchum bad guy.” – Vic, making ‘smoke signals’ with his broken-down police beater

A quick collection of some of my favorite one-liners from “The Shield” over the years (I’m feeling nostalgic, what can I say?):

“Hey asshole, I got a beautiful woman at home who’s pregnant with my child… you’re the one who actually knows the names of dick parts.” – Shane

“Wait, wait… you’re Caesar in this story?” – Dutch, to Billings

“Either someone’s into dry pussy, or she’s helpin’ smuggle these girls in.” – Vic

“There’s some chicken pot pies in the quick-mealer.” – Billings, in response to Vic asking if there was something (a case) he could “sink his teeth into”

“Why don’t you chill out, Teeth?” – Kern Little, to Shane

“[Tina’s] female AND a latino; there’s like three hoops to jump through before I can [fire] her.” – Billings, re: Ofc. Hanlon’s screw-ups

“Money and pussy make men do evil shit.” – Vic, to Shane

“Looks like you wandered into the wrong prayer group, Frosty.” – Shane, to a white Nation of Islam member

“What’s up with that, Javier? Lines too long at the DMV?” – Shane, in response to a banger with an expired license

More to come…

Sooooo well, I dunno, I don’t want to put Lem’s death back onto Mackey, especially with all of the delving into Shane’s Vic-Envy, but then again, I just remembered another entry where I briefly talked about Mackey’s near-unconscious manipulation of other people. I think I mentioned something about him not necessarily manipulating people outright, but somehow being able to bend people to his will almost unconsciously.

Take the whole Lem situation: After the whole “the truth is, this could be goodbye” scene when I re-watched “Postpartum,” it doesn’t flash to Shane looking doubtful, or casting a second glance at Mackey, as I’d previously written. But then, out of Ronnie’s earshot, Vic brings up the fact that “Lem must’ve said something to Becca about Terry, too.” Then he launches into the whole “it’s all on me, I know that” speech.

I think it may be here that Shane decides he’s takin’ Lem out if he won’t go to Mexico.

Even if Vic doesn’t realize it, he’s goading Shane toward action. Remember, at that point in S5, Mackey doesn’t really have much of a family anymore. Sure, he’s still committed to his kids, but let’s say Lem really HAD turned on them and ratted; Vic going to jail wouldn’t destroy his family the way it would destroy Shane’s. Mara would be a complete train wreck without him, and, as we later found out, she was pregnant AGAIN.

Do I think Vic WANTED Shane to off Lem? I still want to say no, but it’s hard to tell. The look he gives Shane after he arrives? On repeat viewings, it’s difficult to tell if that look says, ‘Why the hell do I smell grenade smoke on you,’ or ‘We did what had to be done.’

Then he gives Shane another look when they find Lem’s body. Shane’s eyes well up a little and then he turns away.

I think it’s telling that Vic delivered S5’s last line to Ronnie rather than Shane. I mean, he’s looking straight ahead, but if he’s talking TO anyone, it’s Ronnie. Maybe he’s realizing that his mention of the Terry situation to Shane perhaps spurred him into the murder of a team member.

WHEN DOES THE NEW RUN OF EPISODES START?!?!?!?!