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T10 WHATS UP! June 17 - 23, 2018 jail time, while simultaneously knowing that even the smallest misstep could spell tragedy for her and her child. Season 2 of "Shades of Blue" saw Harlee's loyalties increas- ingly torn. She had suspected that Wozniak would be through with her, having learned of her informant ways, but he revealed some truths of his own and decided to take ad- vantage of his new-found knowledge. He enlisted Harlee as a double agent of sorts, feed- ing misinformation to Stahl as a means to continue helping the crew. As the season intensi- fied, fans were constantly im- mersed in the tension, with a finale that left the fates of both Harlee and Wozniak in peril- ous uncertainty. Thankfully, early trailers for the new sea- son indicate that Harlee will be able to testify in court, hinting that all of the betrayal and lies of seasons past will come to light, putting corruption from all sides on public display. Beyond a compelling plot and intense screenwriting, the show's popularity owes a great deal to its phenomenal casting. Since the early 2000s, there has been an increasing shift from the big screen to television for many of Hollywood's A and B list actors. Claire Danes has shone on the small screen in "Homeland." Colin Farrell and Matthew McConaughey made waves with "True Detective," a show that's boasted more than its fair share of big-screen tal- ent in regular and recurring roles. It's no wonder, then, that when NBC decided to option "Shades of Blue," it wasn't such a difficult sell, with stars Lopez and Liotta eager to get involved in the burgeoning quality TV market. In an interview for BUILD Series, Lopez and Liotta ex- pressed their excitement and passion for the series. Lopez didn't shy away from address- ing the shift for many actors from the big screen to the small screen, noting that "six, seven years ago ... it just seemed like the movie business was not do- ing as well if you didn't have a big blockbuster." As more niche or unique stories became diffi- cult to pitch to cinematic stu- dios, Lopez believes that "great writers" made the move to tele- vision because they'd be able "to do the stories they wanted to do," with the financial free- dom and stability to do so. For Lopez — and Liotta, who nod- ded in approval — "the best movies right now are on TV." Creative freedom aside, the challenge of television's de- manding schedules brings more depth to "Shades of Blue," or so Lopez and Liotta believe. "[The show] is emo- tionally taxing. It seems, to me, like in every scene, it's life or death ... to keep at that level, for five and a half, six months straight, every day for 12 hours a day ... it's a tough, grueling process," Lopez states. Nei- ther believes they're holding back for network program- ming, with both admitting to the difficulties of shaking Har- lee and Wozniak after a long day of shooting. Sadly, this is the final season of the series, but perhaps it's fitting, given that "Shades of Blue" will conclude on its own terms and be able to maintain the tension that has made it so successful throughout its run. Catch up if you can, get to know the crew and what's at stake, and prepare for the final 10 epi- sodes of NBC's gritty crime drama. The season premiere of "Shades of Blue" airs Sunday, June 17, on NBC. Drea de Matteo as seen in "Shades of Blue" continued from page T2 Guts and grit: Harlee reveals all in crime drama's final season TV FEATURE