And the best part - they didn't ever drag a scene even if its the most dramatic scene of the episode. Life keeps moving on - I don't need 5 minute close-ups of everyone in the scene.
Except the final scene... I mean it in the best way possible though, it is superb. (Edit: The damn spoiler tag doesn't work!)
The Shield's season 5 is phenomenal, one of the best seasons of TV this side of The Wire. It goes downhill from there unfortunately, though picks up for the last couple of episodes, which are fitting.