Television Review: Barnstormers (The Shield, S2X07, 2003)

Barnstormers (S02E07)

Airdate: February 18th 2003

Written by: Scott Rosenbaum
Directed by: Scott Vinant

Running Time: 45 minutes

The Shield, throughout its groundbreaking run, appeared to adhere to a familiar formula: weaving extended multi-episode arcs with standalone subplots that superficially resembled conventional police procedurals. Yet the series consistently distinguished itself by abandoning the comforting illusion that criminal cases—and the profound emotional baggage they generate—could be neatly resolved within forty-five minutes of screen time. Instead, The Shield embraced the messy reality that seemingly closed cases often return to haunt its characters like spectral reminders of past failures and moral compromises. Barnstormers, a Season 2 episode, exemplifies this sophisticated approach to narrative continuity, demonstrating how the show's commitment to psychological realism elevates it far beyond standard genre fare.

The episode deceptively commences as a continuation of the Strike Team's principal storyline. Vic Mackey and his cohorts attempt to resolve their persistent financial troubles through an audacious raid on the Armenian mafia's "money train." With Lem now fully integrated into the plan, Vic has devised an ingenious strategy to deflect blame from themselves: they will frame his arch-nemesis Armadillo Quintero for the heist, thereby eliminating two adversaries with a single stroke. Furthermore, the team plans to launder their ill-gotten gains through property investments, engaging the services of Leith (Marcos Ferraez), a realtor specialising in transforming drug money into legitimate assets. This intricate scheme exemplifies the Strike Team's increasingly complex criminal enterprise operating under the guise of law enforcement.

Meanwhile, Detective Dutch Wagenbach grapples with a profound crisis of confidence following the Lindhoffs' tragic fiasco—the harrowing realisation that a woman died while he had her killers in custody. His professional vulnerability is compounded when he receives the humiliating assignment of personally interviewing Marcy Lindhoff as part of her plea deal against her husband Bob. Captain Aceveda compounds Dutch's distress by informing him that LAPD higher-ups are scrutinising his performance closely; to salvage his career trajectory, Dutch must begin closing cases with tangible results.

Dutch's first opportunity proves far more challenging than anticipated. An obese woman is discovered half-naked and strangled in a park, with initial evidence pointing towards Stu Kleinsausser (aMike Bruner), a morbidly obese man who had recently been on a blind date with the victim. Dutch recognises Stu as fitting the perpetrator profile perfectly—possessing motive, history, and opportunity—yet the suspect maintains stubborn denails, leaving Dutch without concrete evidence. In a moment of desperation, Dutch seeks Vic's counsel, who cynically suggests planting evidence. Though Dutch initially follows this corrupt advice, his moral compass ultimately prevails; he removes the fabricated evidence at the last moment. Instead, he adopts a more psychologically manipulative approach during interrogation, deliberately provoking Stu by cruelly mocking his weight. This tactic succeeds spectacularly when Stu loses control, physically assaults Dutch, and inadvertently confesses to the murder. Dutch emerges from the interrogation room triumphant, declaring his return to form.

Shane Vendrell's subplot reintroduces Tulips, a stripper who previously manipulated him through sexual favours to escape prosecution for robberies. She approaches Shane with a scheme to entrap Herk (Jason Padgett), a minor drug dealer and former boyfriend whom she caught cheating. Initially resistant to engaging with the woman who humiliated him, Shane eventually succumbs to the appeal of an "easy win" for the Strike Team. The plan succeeds, granting Tulips her revenge while Shane receives another round of her carnal services—this time, supposedly without strings attached.

Vic himself appears poised for romantic success stemming from a past case, albeit through convoluted circumstances. Doug (Mahriyah Shain), the manager of Vic's seedy hotel accommodation, complains about constant domestic violence emanating from one room, prompting Vic to intervene using his police authority. He discovers an African American woman (Karen Malina White) trapped in an abusive relationship and arranges her transfer to the Barn, connecting her with social worker Emma Price. Her boyfriend Dez (Keith Diamond) reacts violently to this intervention, resulting in a physical altercation with Emma that leaves him injured. Though Emma faces arrest for assault, Vic bails her out and invites her to his hotel room, clearly intending to capitalise on the situation. However, Vic's personal plans are dramatically interrupted when he detects a strange odour in his room and discovers Ronnie Gardocki—brutally beaten, tortured, and bearing the same distinctive burn marks on his cheek that Vic himself had inflicted on Armadillo Quintero.

Written by Scott Rosenbaum and directed by television veteran Scott Winant, Barnstormers stands as a high-quality episode that continues seemingly resolved storylines with naturalistic realism, avoiding excessive melodrama. The final cliffhanger, while undeniably effective, feels slightly too convenient—a rare narrative misstep in an otherwise impeccably constructed hour of television.

Of the three interwoven storylines, Dutch's arc proves most compelling. It not only reveals his profound vulnerability but also marks the first instance where he genuinely succumbs to Vic's corrupting influence, briefly crossing ethical boundaries before retreating. This nuanced portrayal of moral compromise demonstrates The Shield's commitment to complex character development over simple hero-villain dichotomies.

Conversely, Tulips' reappearance functions as both fan service for the predominantly male audience and provides a rare moment of apparently happy resolution in a series increasingly dominated by grim narratives. While Dutch's storyline explores the corrosive nature of police work, and Vic's arc culminates in devastating personal consequences, Shane's subplot offers a comparatively lighthearted conclusion—a necessary tonal counterpoint that prevents the series from descending into unrelenting bleakness. Barnstormers ultimately succeeds as exemplary television drama precisely because it refuses to provide neat resolutions, instead embracing the uncomfortable truth that in both policing and life, consequences rarely remain buried—they inevitably resurface, demanding to be confronted.

RATING: 7/10 (+++)

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