I was home sick yesterday and found this show on SpikeTV. What's different is that it is now TV-14 rated on that channel. Why? Because the station edited the show down. Words like s--t, p---y, c--k, f--k, and g--damn that the characters use so frequently out of anger are dubbed out. Also, the violence is toned down a lot along with sex and nudity. Actually, sometimes the sex and nudity are cut completely from the episode. Reviewing for the SpikeTV cut only, I give this show a TV-14 rating.
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The Shield
(Rated TV-MA, Drama, Starring Michael Chiklis, CCH Pounder, Benito Martinez, Where to watch: FX, DVD, Download)
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Is it age appropriate?
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Not age appropriate for kids under 16, age appropriate for kids over 99; suggested age 16. -
Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
Thoughtful, mature cop show...with lots of blood.
updated 07.04.08
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 16–18
What to watch out for
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Violence:
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Sex:
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Language:
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What Parents Need to Know
About The Shield
Parents need to know that this gritty crime drama makes little effort to sugarcoat its depiction of life on the mean inner city streets of Los Angeles. The criminals may be dangerous, but the cops are almost even more violent, and they aren't afraid to bend a few rules when it comes to extracting a confession from a suspect or forcing someone to rat out an accomplice. There are guns, drugs, sex, and plenty of swearing. It's realistic and well-done, but definitely not for kids.
Read our full review by Will Wade
Families Can Talk About
- Families can talk about whether the characters' efforts to get dangerous criminals off the street give them the right to break the law. These rough-and-tumble cops epitomize the "ends justify the means" debate, and one of the recurring plot lines centers on whether Mackey will be brought down by his flagrant violation of suspects' constitutional rights. Is he corrupt? How far is too far when it comes to getting information that will help crack a case?
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Our Members Say
See all 5 member reviews
Most Recent Reviews
Lives in LouisianaI rate this title iffy for age 13 and give itSpikeTV edition
- Lives in LouisianaI rate this title iffy for age 17 and give it
Awesome program with lots of HBO-level mateiral
This is probably the best cop show to ever grace the small-screen of basic cabel television. I love it. I buy the DVDs the second they come out like a child does with toys. The warning before each episode says it all. Language includes all bad words such as Goddamn, shit, f--k, bitch, son of a bitch, piss, c--k, p---y, and so much more. Violence is pretty extreme. Drugs are involved with crimes a whole lot. Sex is related to almost every story and include nudity. This is a show only ment for viewers over the age of 17.
- Lives in LouisianaI rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it
Eh ... not for kids at all
I started watching this because I am huge fan of cop shows and action shows. Remember before watching this: This IS NOT a show for kids. I am a kid and I watch it, but it doesn't make it right. If my parents knew what content was in this show, they would not be proud of my liking this program. Sex is the biggest issue. This show has to have sex in every episode. It will either be in dialogue or in activity. Nudity is included in this program as well. Sex ranges from normal to disturbing. There is a story arc in the later half of season 3 and the begining of season 4 where a character has a fetish of violent sexual acts with hookers and recreates his own rape with them and more. Violence is also very strong and goes from shooting to torture. Language includes all words. They do say "s--t" and "f--k" uncensored. But, I will admitt, the uses of "f--k" are only on DVD and dubbed out of the TV versions.
- Lives in CaliforniaI rate this title iffy for age 13 and give it
- Lives in CaliforniaI rate this title off for age 17 and give it
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