The Shield Finale

Prashant Gupta / FX /

"The Shield"

Destined to be compared to HBO's "The Sopranos" in the annals of TV history, FX's harrowing cop drama "The Shield" also wound down its run without a word. But while Tony Soprano's life was cut with a literal blackout, Vic Mackey's (Michael Chiklis) mask finally comes off for four lonesome minutes of guilt self-realization setting in. Mackey is alone in the world. But then, in the show's final moment, the office lights go down on his cubicle and the mask goes back up. A career-defining episode for series creator Shawn Ryan and star Chiklis.