The women are not innocent. Corinne wanted Vic's kids to get special tutoring, etc. for their autism and she didn't ask or care where the money came from. Now she's got a convenient attack of conscience? And Mara was a manipulator from the start: She instinctively understood Shane's weaknesses and worked 'em. She had no problem with the Big Bux he was haulin'. Her mother, too--what a grifter.
I'm not saying she deserves to be killed, but being pregnant doesn't make her an angel. It's the children who are the real innocents.

Glad to hear someone besides me who thought this episode was just a little bit boring with regard to the Strike Team storyline.

Mara? That dumb b&$#@ GOTS to go. She was the Strike Team's Yoko Ono in the first place, after she stole money from Shane and drove a wedge between him and Vic. And she willingly participated in the plot to kill Mackey and Ronnie. Pregnant or not, she's just as involved as Shane. No one would feel bad if Shane caught few hot ones, right? Vic's supposed to let her live and ruin his and Ronnie's lives? HELL naw.

logically the right thing to do is to get rid of mara as well. it was her choice to read the file with all the shit they've done, protect shane knowing he's a killer and threat corrine.

if i were vic i'd kill her "right under their noses and with a goddamn smile"

Vic has always been a bad Mother F#$@er. If you watch the show, then you know who he is and what he is about. Last night I think they officially made him a Monster. He was going to kill a pregnant woman? That's just too far. I wish they hadn't done that, but they did. And now, in my opinion, Vic cannot make it past the end of the series.

"Toomey is an idiot if he can't see that what Dutch is doing is no where near what Vic and Billings do."

Was it really necessary to insult him because he has a different opinion than yours? Maybe he didn't think things through or maybe he did- either way you don't have to call him an idiot.

Anyway, the episode was great as always. I didn't know that there were people out there that really and truly hate Vic. He's always been corrupt, but through the seasons we've seen the compassionate side to him, and understand some of the reasons why he does what he does. To me that's always been the best part of the show. You know Vic is a bad person, but you don't necessarily want something bad to happen to him. I will be very upset if he ends up in jail at the end. I need a little more than that to happen.

Can I just say that I HATE Mara? I almost want her to be out of the picture. And unless I missed it- has there been any mention of Dani? I know she packed up and left, but she also told Vic there was a hearing about their son. I don't remember hearing anything else after that unless I'm mistaken...

I wish there was some way to keep this show going. First they ended OZ, then The Wire and now The Shield. Three class act shows. Watching last night, I could see several ways the show could keep going. But, I am sure the actors are getting tired of it and are anxious to branch out.

I wish they would give Mackey his own show!!! If ICE gives him a job, that would be a whole new gig for him.

Speaking of Dutch, he had a rather big part on Sons Of Anarchy, another excellent program on FX. However, he was killed last week, so unless they rerun you won't be able to see him. I think the season for Sons is drawing to a close, but if it is renewed you should try to catch it.

Another show they cancelled that I thought was extremely well done was Cane with Jimmy Smits. The writers strike ended it, and it was not renewed.

Anymore, I am so reluctant to get caught up in shows b/c it seems the ones I like the most get cancelled!!! They should have a separate channel for those shows, so the people who like them could continue watching!!!

The difference b/w what Dutch did and what Billingsley did, is Billingsley committed A CRIME...Was Dutch un-ethical in regards to his actions with the woman of the would be serial killer? maybe, maybe not. Cops lie/mislead suspects and family members of suspects ALL the time, in fact they are allowed to and its permissible. It would have been un equivocably un-ethical if he had slept with her, but HE didnt'. So you can't compare Dutch's actions to Billingsley in any way shape or form. Billingsley just wanted to look like a hero to his ex-wife and daughter instead of a Douchebag.

Vic is becoming more and more isolated...Ronnie came "clean" to the Claudette(who I don't think bought his act of contrition), Corrine FINALLY no longer trusts Vic, there's no way ICE is going to put him on the payroll as an agent, I think Olivia will string him along though.

Toomey is an idiot if he can't see that what Dutch is doing is no where near what Vic and Billings do. Vic kills innocent people and destroys lives. Billings just sent a innocent man to jail. That is nothing at all like what Dutch is doing, basically undercover work, to stop a killer from killing again.

As for Vic, I'm confident he would kill anyone to save his ass from going to prison. I think Ronnie is seeing what Shane was talking about now. The dark side of Vic, the side that would do anything to save himself, even killing a pregnant woman.

I'm glad Corrine is cutting Vic off, he has abused her for far too long. I hope next week's previews plays off and Claudette and Dutch nail Mackey. The series should end with Vic in a cell with Antwan Mitchell.

"For him to say no to Steve and chastise him for setting up that sex offender is completely ridiculous and I'm so glad Billings called him out on it."

I can't disagree more. You can't equate the two. Dutch didn't falsely send someone to jail just to satisfy himself.

Corrine has been so pathetic this past season or two. It was a relief to see her finally do something strong.

What are you talking about? A lot happened in this episode regarding the Strike Team, especially as it related to characters: Shane and Mara are closer together than ever before at the same time Corrin finally turns definitely against Vic (when she said "They don't trust you anymore", she was really saying "I don't trust you anymore"). Ronnie has finally begun coming clean to Claudette, even if it was padded with a ton of lies. Ronnie is also beginning to realize that Vic is dangerously desperate. Vic is quickly seeing he has no power without his shield. Julian is beginning to remember that Vic, Ronnie and Shane are the same guys he nearly ratted out for stealing drugs in season one, and is pissed at them for getting him kicked back down to uni duty. Maybe not all of these character moments will play out, but a lot of them will.

I think when the season is over, you'll probably see that this was every bit as pivotal an episode as the one before it, only in a much more subtle way. If these characters are like pieces on a chess board, the state of their relationships is like how they're positioned. The last episode was a sacrifice play that completely disrupted the board. Tonight they started the endgame.

To me, tonight also really clarified what this season's theme would be, which I think is: Truth is a weapon.