The Shield - is Dutch a pedophile?

Cafe Society
1

In the last episode, there was a subplot involving Dutch losing a department loaned laptop. He seemed quite flustered about its recovery, as he had filled it with kiddie porn (all the while claiming a Townshend defense).

It seemed clear that he was lying, while he recived a lighthearted ribbing from co-workers as a pervert. I missed most of season 1, so maybe this is explained elsewhere - but if not, it would make for an interesting turn of events if Dutch really was sexually attracted to children.

Anyone know?

2

I didn’t see season one either, but I am inclined to think that Dutch really was using it for work. He was naturally nervous because of the possibility IAB might find it first and open an kiddie-porn investigation on him.

It doesn’t appear that he took it off the premises, which is probably a good sign.

3

I just recently got into the show, so I don’t know if there’s a history either.

I will say his excuse is shoddy. Investigating such things without the approval or knowledge of a superior seems like a bad idea to me. What if you were caught by a legitimate investigation?

On the other hand, if he was actually doing it for reasons other than investigation you’d think he’d have been more careful with the laptop. Actually, you’d think he’d have been more careful with it in either case.

An interesting side-plot, to be sure.

4

Funny, I missed that episode, but I’m a huge fan of The Shield. I’ll try to catch it on Sunday night and speak more intelligently about it afterward, but I can offer this thought now…

Dutch has worked a couple high-profile rape and child molestation cases, one most notably in the first season. Dutch helped recover a little girl that was sold to a pedophile doctor by her crackhead dad.

While it’s not beyond Shawn Ryan and Co. to throw good characters in bad situations, I really don’t see them heading down this road with Dutch. We’ll see.

5

Okay, so I just caught this episode last night.

Dutch seemed a little shifty, but not in a way that suggested to me that he had anything to hide. In fact, someone who was worried that he might be “found out” would likely have protested even more.

While I wouldn’t put it past the writers to do something like that, I think two reasons make it unlikely:

  1. Dutch is something of the “moral compass” of the show. He’s the idealist. Of all the cops in the Farmington district, he’s the only one that consistently does the good, right thing. Without that moral terpitude, it’s hard to distinguish good actions from bad in The Barn. After awhile, you’d start to hope the entire precinct burns to the ground.

  2. Once you reveal Dutch to be a pedophile, he can never, ever be a good character again. People simply won’t accept it. Dutch is such a great character, and it simply won’t play. He’d have to be arrested or written off the show entirely.
    If it was a lesser character, I could see it parlaying into something like that.

I think the great thing about “The Shield” is the same thing that’s great about “The Sopranos”: That there’s no doubt in your mind that things will one day end very, very badly for the protagonist. The Strike Team will one day be taken down.

And while some people might think Wyms or Aceveda are going to be the ones to do it, I see them both gradually walking down the path of corruption very soon. Dutch is going to be the one to take down Vic Mackey. Mark my words.

6

I don’t think Dutch is actually a pedophile. I think he really was working on cracking some kiddie-porn ring. If he’d actually had a guilty conscience, he would have been more concerned right from the start about the missing laptop. As it was, he didn’t get nervous until later on, when he remembered what he’d been using it for.

And working up a case all on his own strikes me as a very Dutch thing to do. He’d love it if he built and cracked a whole pedo ring all by himself. It’d be a major feather in his cap.

But if he was a sicko… man the show is heavy into deviant sex this season. Gay rape, elderly rape and kiddie porn. “Hey mom! Let’s watch TV!”

thwartme

7

I don’t buy it. In TV dramas like this, Occam’s Razor doesn’t always apply.

What I mean is, why even put this scene into the show, unless they’re setting something up down the line? It’s got some dire implications for Dutch if they don’t find the laptop, but they do. The whole subplot is resolved in one episode.

The laptop comes up missing. Dutch, when confronted, doesn’t seem to remember even signing it out. He’s shown his signature on a requisition form, and is told that Internal Affairs will have to investigate (since it’s worth more than $500). Then, Dutch ‘remembers’ signing the laptop out, and also ‘remembers’ what’s on it (kiddie porn), and goes on to tell Julian and Dani A) what’s on it, and B) that he had a good reason for it being on there.

After that, the laptop ‘turns up’ and everything’s ok. Dutch is relieved, and even takes some good-natured ribbing from Julian and Dani. Everyone’s happy.

My question is, again, why even insert this into the episode? Filler? A red herring? I don’t think so. I don’t have anything against Dutch, it’s just that I don’t see why the writers even put this subplot in, unless the situation is gonna bite someone somewhere down the line.

Maybe it’s the conspiracy theorist in me, but I think Dutch WILL turn up to have been compiling kiddie porn for purely prurient reasons. I FURTHER think that he’ll get found out, admit his problem, maybe seek help, and end up as a sympathetic character on the show. Kind of a tortured soul, unable to deal with his urges, but trying to do good in the world at the same time. Why? Good drama. Plus, his whole attitude while he was telling Julian and Dani about the kiddie porn seemed a little like he was trying to establish an alibi before things got out of control (Vic does this ALL THE TIME on the show. Heck, it’s almost the theme).

All IMO, of course.

8

You could very well be right. However…

There’s been a history of using Dutch’s earnestness as comic relief, particularly to break up tense sections of the show. He’s portrayed as the cop who means well, but takes on more than he can handle. This is also characterized later in this episode, when he’s confronting Wyms in exasperation about “dropping everything” to help with her case, instead of continuing on the cases he’s got.

I think, if nothing else, we may see Dutch heading towards burnout. He’s obviously got a full case-load, and it’s not uncommon for officers in his position to experience it. This would also add a nuance to his character, without turning him into a complete sh*tbag. I find this far more likely.

It’s entirely possible that they’re setting up something with the kiddie porn down the road, but I really doubt it. Like I said before, once you pass down that road, you can never redeem the character. Dutch is too important to the dynamic of the show to lose.

9

Well he’s definitely going down some path. Yikes. I was really hoping he’d write the rapist off as just another psychopath.

10

Well after tonights episode one thing is clear. Dutch doesn’t like pussy. :eek:

11

What astro said. Jesus tapdancing Christ! :eek: :eek: :eek:

Now I hate that guy

12

Dutch did the unthinkable tonight. I’d feel better about his character now if he was into the porn for himself, or even if he killed some people!

13

well what did he do don’t leave us hanging

14

I only started watching it with the episode with the missing laptop.

It immediately read to me as “That cops a pedophile.” Which has skewed how I see anything that character does. He just reads as creepy.

Now that he has strangled a cat seemingly to see that look of death and have something bigger on his kill count… how can I like that character at all?

Oh and since I have jsut started watching the show… Have they done any plots with the other two members of the strike force? Right now they just seem like two dudes.

15

I still like Dutch. I worry for him and I fear for him, but whatever line fictional characters have to cross for me to give up on them—well, he hasn’t crossed it yet. I mean, we’re talking about the show that the lead character kill somebody in cold blood in the very first goddamned episode. Shooting a man in the face in point blank range without warning or provocation (yeah, he was a snitch…I don’t think thta deserved the death sentence) is a bit worse than strangling a tomcat…YMMV.

This is definitely not a show for the weak stomached or for people who are afraid to go to the scary places with the characters. They’ve had people dancing on the edge before and seemed to have pulled them back…Shawn Ryan hasn’t abused my trust yet.

16

Odd that you would use that expression.

It kinda-sorta starts with the post-confession interrogation of a captured serial killers called “The Cuddler Rapist”. The CR is quite intelligent and matter of factly confesses ot the crimes. His main stated motivation (seemingly sincere) in talking to Dutch is for the CR to try to get a grasp on the motivations and reasons he wants to rape and kill the old ladies.

In the interview Dutch is trying to wrap his head around what motivates the CR and starts to irritate him by first trying to “profile” him into a textbook “type” and then playing twenty questions as to what motivates him. The CR describes strangling a puppy as a child, and describes a transcendent “look” in their eyes at the moment of death. After Dutch proves he is clueless about what is going on in the killer’s head, the killer summarily ends the interview and dismisses Dutch as incompetent to help him wrap his head around the look and the feelings surrounding it.

The last scene is Dutch going out on this doorstep in his pajamas before going to bed and putting food out for a friendly neighborhood cat. Dutch picks up the cat and after petting it a few times begins strangling it while looking directly at it’s face. The cat is fighting and scratching. The cat falls limp (obviously dead) out of Dutch’s grasp and his chest is bloody with scratches. Fade to credits.

17

To be fair, the cat wasn’t exactly friendly. It was in heat, meowling late at night, and keeping him up after a very long day. Still, I’m a cat person, and that scene caught me totally off guard. Sucked. I can’t believe the road they’ve taken Dutch down. I guess the point of this show is that any job with power will inevitably corrupt you to some degree. Even Dutch’s partner (I can never remember her name) is getting a bit of a power trip attitude going.

Anyway, I used to really like Dutch, and now I hate him. I’ve always hated Vic Mackey (and the other guys for following his evil ass), but Dutch was always a beacon of honesty and integrity, even if he was a bit of a wuss.

Damn. This show can be hard to watch . . .

DaLovin’ Dj

18

I knew what was going to happen the second he started whistling and calling for the stray. Don’t get me wrong, as one of the few bastions of good in the show, I haven’t completely given up on the guy. He’s definitely going down the wrong path right now though. He needs to turn it around.

19

I realized it immediately upon hearing the meow as well. Remember, the CR talked about petting the puppy before killing it, and I realized Dutch would try it.

What I didn’t realize was that the show’s writers would have him follow through. I expected Dutch to let the cat go at the last instant, realizing he didn’t have it in him, or didn’t see “the look” that the CR talked about. But that’s typical Hollywood - kudos to the writers for not doing that.

I’m a cat owner. That was really hard to watch. Brutal show the Shield is. But it’s the only show I schedule my time for.

20

I swear that the “thud” I heard when Dutch dropped the cat was the sound of my jaw hitting the floor.