I have noticed in my analysis of
The Shield
that the season finales directly contradict the previous finale in one way or another, especially with regards to the "central story" of Vic.
Season 1 finale: Vic loses his family, breaks down, seems somewhat broken
Season 2 finale: Vic gets a ton of money with his fellow Strike Team members... too good to be true? (Yes.)
Season 3 finale: Vic and his Strike Team lose the money, lose their friendships and lose the team
Season 4 finale: Back on top, in action, having fun but Lem seems to be in IAD's crosshairs, doesn't he?
Season 5 finale: Lem is murdered by the guy he was playing around with in the Season 4 finale, Shane. Vic vows vengeance. Bleak as hell.
Season 6 finale: Vic saves himself from professional execution, so it seems. Has a trunkload of goodies he can use for his advantage. Seems poised to take down a huge chunk of the Mexican Mafia and Cruz Pezuela. Determined to crush Shane.
Hmm, judging by this, I'd say Season 7's finale will be, yes, rather bleak and sad and ugly for Vic. Death? Forced out of the LAPD? Arrested? Forced into exile? (I think he'll have to try to leave the country and be a fugitive like his dramatic antecedent, Gilroy.)
I'm sure this has all been covered before a billion times but I'm bored, I can't get to sleep and I just figured this board could use a new topic.