[Cathan]

The first episode of the shield you sure as fuck didn't like Vic or anyone on the strike team except for maybe Lem. They killed another cop, how could you like them if you have decent morals?

Thief seemed like it tried to start out the same way to me. They're doin bad stuff and they have real life shit going on that motivates them. Personally I think they are dead to rights within 2 episodes if this is real life. They broke like 75 of their own rules to keep them safe and out of jail in the first episode. First Izzy fucked up during the heist. Then they got all personal arguin and shit. They went back to the same place after the flights and were at Andre Braugher's shop. Then they were at his house and still more arguing until Izzy finally gets killed. The shit goes on and on. Imo, 2 episodes and any good csi/detective team would have their ass with all those fuckups.

Aside from that... I did like the show. The only characters I didn't like were Izzy and the 2nd black guy, forget his name. Sucked the wife died like that. At least she won't be dead weight for the show aka Andre will be able to move around and do whatever he wants with only a kid asking questions instead of having to hide it all from the wife...

For all the hype I thought it was a great first episode. I knew a lot of what was going to happen but watching it unfold was still interesting. I'll stick with it a few more episodes at least before I decide if I like it or not. Fx makes some good shows though. I think this one will join the ranks of the successful ones.

As for the witty dialogue lacking I thought the dialogue was ok, nothing real special. This episode seemed more visual and emotional so the dialogue wasn't needed as much, especially when half or more of the episode was given away in the previews. Personally I think that's a perfect spin on an episode where you know most of what's going to happen. I like good dialogue as well but I can't stand if it gets to the point of NYPD Blue. I could understand what was going on but it was just irritating. Mad TV did a spoof on NYPD Blue's mystery dialogue, "you know the thing you did when you did the other thing..." kind of bullshit.