The Shield Episode Ratings Heatmap
2002 · 5 Seasons · 65 Episodes · Overall Score: 8.0/10 (13 rated)
Season 1 holds the highest collective average score across the series.
Season 1 Details →Lowest score variance (σ = 0.45), maintaining an average of 8.0.
Complete Episode Rating Matrix
Interactive score chart by season and episode number. Darker green indicates higher ratings; amber and red denote lower reception.
| Episode | Season 1 | Season 2 | Season 3 | Season 4 | Season 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ep 1 | 8.4 | – | – | – | – |
| Ep 2 | 8.0 | – | – | – | – |
| Ep 3 | 7.4 | – | – | – | – |
| Ep 4 | 7.8 | – | – | – | – |
| Ep 5 | 7.3 | – | – | – | – |
| Ep 6 | 8.3 | – | – | – | – |
| Ep 7 | 7.8 | – | – | – | – |
| Ep 8 | 8.0 | – | – | – | – |
| Ep 9 | 7.6 | – | – | – | – |
| Ep 10 | 8.6 | – | – | – | – |
| Ep 11 | 8.1 | – | – | – | – |
| Ep 12 | 8.3 | – | – | – | – |
| Ep 13 | 8.8 | – | – | – | – |
| Ep 14 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Ep 15 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Season Avg | 8.0 | – | – | – | – |
Ratings Analysis & Trajectory
Across 5 seasons and 65 episodes, The Shield has earned an overall series rating of 8.0 out of 10. The series displays remarkable consistency across its narrative arc, maintaining reliable ratings from premiere to conclusion.
The single highest-rated hour of television in the series is Season 1, Episode 13 ("Circles (2)"), rated at an extraordinary 8.8/10 with 18 ratings. Conversely, the lowest-rated installment is Season 1, Episode 5 ("Blowback"), landing at 7.3/10.
The most precipitous single-episode shift occurred in Season 1 between Episode 2 ("Our Gang", 8) and Episode 3 ("The Spread", 7.4), a swing of 0.6 points.
Top 10 Highest Rated Episodes of The Shield
| Rank | Episode | Title | Score | Votes | Air Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Season 1, Ep 13 | Circles (2) | 8.8 | 18 | Jun 4, 2002 |
| #2 | Season 1, Ep 10 | Dragonchasers | 8.6 | 18 | May 14, 2002 |
| #3 | Season 1, Ep 1 | Pilot | 8.4 | 25 | Mar 12, 2002 |
| #4 | Season 1, Ep 6 | Cherrypoppers | 8.3 | 19 | Apr 16, 2002 |
| #5 | Season 1, Ep 12 | Two Days of Blood (1) | 8.3 | 19 | May 28, 2002 |
| #6 | Season 1, Ep 11 | Carnivores | 8.1 | 18 | May 21, 2002 |
| #7 | Season 1, Ep 2 | Our Gang | 8.0 | 20 | Mar 19, 2002 |
| #8 | Season 1, Ep 8 | Cupid & Psycho | 8.0 | 20 | Apr 30, 2002 |
| #9 | Season 1, Ep 7 | Pay in Pain | 7.8 | 20 | Apr 23, 2002 |
| #10 | Season 1, Ep 4 | Dawg Days | 7.8 | 19 | Apr 2, 2002 |