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Not as good as previous seasons, but still excellent As season three of FX's controversial cop drama The Sheild opens, Vic Mackey (Michael Chiklis, soon starring as the Thing in the Fantastic Four movie) and his Strike Team have scored all the money they could have ever dreamed of after their hit on the money train. Now, Vic and co. have to keep their actions on the downlow, as they get a new member and Acevedo (Benito Martinez) struggles to maintain control over the precinct as Claudette (CCH Pounder) prepares for her new role. The precinct also tracks down a sexual predator for a majority of the season, which at times seems contrived and written to fill in time at some spots. With that fact in tow, it's practically unanimous among fans of the show that the thrid season of the Shield is a step down from the excellent and groundbreaking previous two seasons, but this is still the best drama on basic cable. By the time that someone's conscience catches up with them by the last couple episodes, the events that unfold in the season finale find Vic and co. sitting on a powder keg that will leave you salivating for the upcoming fourth season. All in all, the third season of the Shield may not be the best the series has offered thus far, but the show is still the best drama on basic cable TV today.