The Shield- which version to get?

[LeSamourai.]

Hello,

I've never watched The Shield. I'd like to get the whole series but have read about various scenes being cut throughout the series, including 20 minutes from an episode (Postpartum, I think it was called). I cannot get the UK set for this reason.

I've also read that the US blu-ray is cut and that the aspect ratio is incorrect. Are the US DVDs uncut and in the correct aspect ratio?

I'm not fussed about HD vs SD; the priority for me is to watch the uncensored/uncut episode in their correct aspect ratios. Which is best for this?

Thank you.

[drush9999]

Originally Posted by LeSamourai.

Hello,

I've never watched The Shield. I'd like to get the whole series but have read about various scenes being cut throughout the series, including 20 minutes from an episode (Postpartum, I think it was called). I cannot get the UK set for this reason.

I've also read that the US blu-ray is cut and that the aspect ratio is incorrect. Are the US DVDs uncut and in the correct aspect ratio?

I'm not fussed about HD vs SD; the priority for me is to watch the uncensored/uncut episode in their correct aspect ratios. Which is best for this?

Thank you.

The US Fox DVDs are 1.33:1 and the US Sony DVDs are 1.78:1, they are all uncut and the only way to get that season 3 episode uncut.
If you don't mind the 1.78:1 ratio, you can go with the Blu-ray and just buy a Season 3 DVD set for the uncut episode.

[LeSamourai.]

Originally Posted by drush9999

The US Fox DVDs are 1.33:1 and the US Sony DVDs are 1.78:1, they are all uncut and the only way to get that season 3 episode uncut.
If you don't mind the 1.78:1 ratio, you can go with the Blu-ray and just buy a Season 3 DVD set for the uncut episode.

1) So, there is only one cut episode in the entire blu-ray set? Is that the scene that references male-rape?

2) Also, which aspect-ratio do you prefer? Does the 1.78:1 sour things for you?

I ask because I can only find separate releases for the Fox DVDs, which would be fine if I could find season 6 and 7 by Fox- only the Sony ones are available for these.

[JohnCarpenterLives]

Originally Posted by drush9999

The US Fox DVDs are 1.33:1 and the US Sony DVDs are 1.78:1

Which edition is Fox/ Sony? The ones listed here on the site are all Sony except the Mill Creek....which is just labeled Mill Creek. The season 1 set is 20th Century Fox, but the full series sets are Sony. I BELIEVE the first season dvds included with the Sony Series sets are full frame. I recall the first season was always 4:3.....but all subsequent seasons were filmed widescreen for the growth in hd widescreen tv sales despite being framed/edited for 4:3.

[revgen]

The Shield episodes were originally shot to be 16:9 safe. The means the blu-rays show information on the sides that aren't on the original DVD's, but without any top or bottom cropping.

The Season 3 episode "Mum" is cut on the blu-ray due to an error by Sony. The episode has since been corrected on the Hulu streaming service, but Mill Creek hasn't issued a replacement disc yet.

The US DVD's may fit what you're looking for.

[LeSamourai.]

Originally Posted by revgen

The Shield episodes were originally shot to be 16:9 safe. The means the blu-rays show information on the sides that aren't on the original DVD's, but without any top or bottom cropping.

The Season 3 episode "Mum" is cut on the blu-ray due to an error by Sony. The episode has since been corrected on the Hulu streaming service, but Mill Creek hasn't issued a replacement disc yet.

The US DVD's may fit what you're looking for.

Good to know! Do you prefer 1.78:1 or 1.33:1 for this series?

[drush9999]

Originally Posted by LeSamourai.

Good to know! Do you prefer 1.78:1 or 1.33:1 for this series?

I have the uncut 1.78:1 set, and didn't see any issues.

[revgen]

Originally Posted by LeSamourai.

Good to know! Do you prefer 1.78:1 or 1.33:1 for this series?

I have no aspect ratio preference. The show looks good in either ratio.

[MrRonald2796]

Originally Posted by revgen

The Season 3 episode "Mum" is cut on the blu-ray due to an error by Sony. The episode has since been corrected on the Hulu streaming service, but Mill Creek hasn't issued a replacement disc yet.

Was it ever corrected on Hulu?
I never saw that being reported here or in the show's subreddit (on which Shawn Ryan actually acknowledged the issue).

[LeSamourai.]

Originally Posted by Blu Lemmy

No preference, I'm not a purist when it comes to aspect ratio.

I have the original UK release DVD's still...and recently re-watched it on Amazon prime

Originally Posted by drush9999

I have the uncut 1.78:1 set, and didn't see any issues.

Originally Posted by revgen

I have no aspect ratio preference. The show looks good in either ratio.

Thank you for your help, everyone.

[Jay H.]

Originally Posted by revgen

The Shield episodes were originally shot to be 16:9 safe. The means the blu-rays show information on the sides that aren't on the original DVD's, but without any top or bottom cropping.

The problem I have is, there are several instances where the 16X9 versions reveal things that aren't supposed to be seen. Lighting stands. Camera operators. Actors waiting off to the side before they enter a scene. It happens a lot.

I have the complete series on DVD that was released by Sony about 13 years ago. The book packaging is beautiful, but I truly wish it had the 4x3 versions. The 16x9 versions show more than they should. I'm assuming the Blu-ray set is the same way...?

[LeSamourai.]

Originally Posted by Jay H.

The problem I have is, there are several instances where the 16X9 versions reveal things that aren't supposed to be seen. Lighting stands. Camera operators. Actors waiting off to the side before they enter a scene. It happens a lot.

Darn. I was about to buy the complete series box-set DVD in 16:9 but you've made me pause.

I'm really torn and can't make up my mind!

The problem is that only season 1-5 are available in 4:3; 6 and 7 are in 16:9. Do the issues you mentioned occur in 6 and 7?

[Jay H.]

Originally Posted by LeSamourai.

Darn. I was about to buy the complete series box-set DVD in 16:9 but you've made me pause.

I'm really torn and can't make up my mind!

The problem is that only season 1-5 are available in 4:3; 6 and 7 are in 16:9. Do the issues you mentioned occur in 6 and 7?

I'm very sorry; it's been a couple of years since I watched the series so I can't recall when the instances occurred.

[LeSamourai.]

Originally Posted by Jay H.

I'm very sorry; it's been a couple of years since I watched the series so I can't recall when the instances occurred.

That's alright. Thank you, though.

I found this:

https://theshield.fandom.com/wiki/Vi...duction_errors

A list of scenes when crew/equipment are visible on-screen; most are in the earlier seasons, it seems. I'm not sure if this has all the errors, though.

[BerryTheMusicMan]

Originally Posted by LeSamourai.

Darn. I was about to buy the complete series box-set DVD in 16:9 but you've made me pause.

I'm really torn and can't make up my mind!

The problem is that only season 1-5 are available in 4:3; 6 and 7 are in 16:9. Do the issues you mentioned occur in 6 and 7?

I watched the show from day one till the end .
Bought all the original DVD seasons , beside one scene missing that I can live with not seeing again I personally recommend the BluRay set .

[Blu Lemmy]

Let's take a moment and feel envy and jealousy that this guy gets to experience it for the first time

[LeSamourai.]

Originally Posted by Blu Lemmy

Let's take a moment and feel envy and jealousy that this guy gets to experience it for the first time

Do you have a preference re: aspect ratio?

[DVD Josh]

Originally Posted by Blu Lemmy

Let's take a moment and feel envy and jealousy that this guy gets to experience it for the first time

LOL. I will say when I saw that scene on the original broadcast it was pretty damn shocking even for that series and even for basic cable at the time. Now it's probably shown at 8pm on a Thursday on network TV.

I have the original DVDs, and I prefer them both visually and audio. It's how they were broadcast which is what I like. I also think that 4:3 fits the show better. I'm sure Zach Snyder agrees!

[JohnCarpenterLives]

Originally Posted by DVD Josh

LOL. I will say when I saw that scene on the original broadcast it was pretty damn shocking even for that series and even for basic cable at the time. Now it's probably shown at 8pm on a Thursday on network TV.

I have the original DVDs, and I prefer them both visually and audio. It's how they were broadcast which is what I like. I also think that 4:3 fits the show better. I'm sure Zach Snyder agrees!

Which set do you have where the 4:3 aspect is available for all seasons?
Sidenote....This was a show I watched with my dad. That scene was awkward.

[LeSamourai.]

I finished watching The Shield in August. I burned through the whole series in a couple of months- that's how gripping it was. Thank you all for helping me come to the decision to buy the blu-ray set.

Initially, I thought I'd made a mistake in buying this set. I normally like characters whose actions I can mostly forgive. Throughout the pilot, I was rooting for Vic. My feelings were along the lines of, "Yeah, he's unorthodox. Yeah, I know what he's doing is wrong but come on, he's helping innocent people", etc. However, the last 5 minutes ruined all that and I immediately hated him. I thought to myself "How am I gonna spend 7 seasons with this guy?"

I love how the show made me like Vic, too. Often, I'd find myself getting too comfortable with his character and rooting for him too much, and I kept having to remind myself of what he did at the end of the pilot.

[Show spoiler] I also love that I hated Shane for a lot of the time but by the last couple of episodes, I felt sorry for him.

Another thing I liked was how even the most "clean" characters had some negative traits (e.g., the cat scene). This includes my favourite characters such as Dutch and Claudette; I'd occasionally become annoyed/angry at them, too.

The Shield is truly one of the best series I've ever seen! I now know what you meant at the time, Blu Lemmy.

Originally Posted by Blu Lemmy

Let's take a moment and feel envy and jealousy that this guy gets to experience it for the first time