Ep 12. Riceburner

The Shield season 3 episode 12, "Riceburner," opens with the Strike Team raiding a warehouse where they believe drugs are being trafficked. They find several Asians working on modifying cars, including a man who appears to be the ringleader. But as they investigate further, they discover that the operation is actually a front for an illegal race circuit, where the cars are raced for large sums of money.

Meanwhile, Detective Dutch and Officer Danny investigate a murder case involving a young woman whose body was found in a dumpster. They track down a potential suspect, a man named Eddie, who lives in the same complex as the victim. Eddie initially denies any involvement, but Dutch notices a sketchbook in his apartment full of violent drawings and suspects that Eddie may have been responsible for the murder.

Back on the street, Detective Wagenbach and Officer Lowe work on a case involving a high-school student named Angie, who is selling drugs out of her locker. Wagenbach sees a chance to potentially get to the bigger fish involved in the drug trade, but Angie's mother is hesitant to let them investigate further, fearing that her daughter will be unfairly targeted.

As the episode progresses, the different storylines intersect and complications arise. The Strike Team attempts to take down the illegal race circuit, but they are hindered by a corrupt cop who is on the payroll of the ring. Dutch and Danny struggle to gather evidence against Eddie, while Wagenbach and Lowe face opposition from the school administration in their efforts to stop the drug trade.

Overall, "Riceburner" is a tense and action-packed episode that showcases the various complexities and challenges faced by the different characters in their respective roles. The plot moves quickly and keeps the audience engaged, while the performances of the cast members - particularly Michael Chiklis as Detective Vic Mackey - add depth and nuance to their characters. This episode is a strong addition to The Shield's already impressive third season.