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Herc’s Seen Tonight’s Ginchy Return of Walton Goggins To JUSTIFIED, Scripted By Series Mastermind Graham Yost!!
SPOILER ALERT !!
I am – Hercules!!
Some notes cribbed from Mirror Herc’s Twitter feed regarding tonight’s terrific installment of “Justified,” titled “The Collection”:
* "Previously" package features Ava Crowder and Arlo Givens. First shot of the episode proper follows Boyd Crowder (Walton Goggins) on the move. We've not seen Boyd, I believe, since his cameo in the episode-two teaser.
* Robert Picardo (“Star Trek: Voyager”) plays a Cincinnati art dealer surprised to learn the U.S. Marshals Service still exists.
* Other guest stars this week include Tony Hale (“Arrested Development,” “Andy Barker, P.I.”) and Brett Cullen (“The West Wing,” “Lost”).
* Rick Gomez joins the cast this week as U.S. attorney David Vasquez. I like him a lot better here than in “What About Brian?” or “Cupid.”
* First line of the episode: "Why, hello there, Raylan."
* Act One Scene One: Raylan passes along to Ava Johnny Crowder's episode-five heads up about vengeful Bo Crowder.
* Raylan's hat does not appear until six minutes and forty seconds into the episode.
* I love the restraint Raylan's boss demonstrates before he finally breaks down and asks a perfectly inevitable question about some paintings.
* "I think people are entitled to their hobbies," remarks Raylan.
* Another funny line from Raylan's boss: "Well, that may solve a few problems."
* We learn this week what happened with Raylan and his gorgeous ex Winona. (Winona is played by Natalie Zea, who was the best thing about "Dirty Sexy Money." I am in love with Natalie Zea, and with Winona Hawkins.
* Wow! Tremendous cliffhanger of a final scene, again involving Boyd.
* How does it end, spoiler-boy? "What would you say then?"
Next week’s episode, in which many things hit many fans, is another strong and continuity-rich installment. Another “Lost” vet, M.C. Gainey, joins the cast.
I say again: Season’s best new series.
What the critics say about "Justified" generally:
Time Magazine says:
… terrific new drama … Dark streaks aside, Justified is also, as you'd expect from Leonard (and writer Graham Yost, formerly of Boomtown), a funny show, with taut dialogue and a distinct sense of place. Its supporting characters are a riot of wiseass agents, sardonic thieves and big- and small-time hustlers. …
Entertainment Weekly says:
… I knew from this moment on that I'd kinda fallen in love with a new TV show. … in the end, it comes down to hard stares and that combination of drawled amusement and sudden violence that make him so cool yet exciting. As Boyd says to our hero, ''I know you like to shoot bad people.'' And damned if you don't want to watch Raylan do that.
TV Guide says:
… a fantastically entertaining instant classic. … This is the best new series, network or cable, of the midseason. An immediately addictive brew of action, suspense and wry humor, the show is grounded in Olyphant’s low-key but high-impact star-making performance, the work of a confident and cunning leading man who’s always good company. Edgy and adult, yet considerably less dark (as in gloomy) and twisted than many of FX’s breakout shows, Justified could be the network’s most broadly accessible entertainment yet. Having seen three of the first four episodes, I am hooked on this must-see series. There’s no justification for missing it.
The New York Times says:
… The dialogue sometimes has a snap that’s rare, or let’s just say nonexistent, in prime time. … the funny parts are worth waiting for, like the guest appearance by Clarence Williams III — who played a bad guy in one of the better Leonard adaptations, “52 Pick-Up” — as an ornery Vietnam vet who delivers a wickedly offensive tirade to two young male cops. …
The Los Angeles Times says:
… as played by Timothy Olyphant, Givens is a charmer, no doubt about that. And if the damaged antihero is beginning to wear out his welcome, Olyphant makes "Justified," which premieres Tuesday, a fine and upstanding addition to FX's gallery of mangled mavericks. …
The Chicago Tribune says:
… This deeply enjoyable show arrives fully formed and well aware of where its many strengths lie. The shaggily delightful dialogue, the deft pacing, the authentic sense of place, the rock-solid supporting cast and the feeling that you are in the hands of writers, actors and directors who really know what they're doing -- all of these are worthy reasons to watch "Justified," which I suppose is a drama, but it seems wrong to hang that weighty word on this wry, supple show. …
The Washington Post says:
… Givens does look darn good in his jeans and his spotless, cocky cowboy hat. He walks the walk, all right, but he talks way too much of the talk, as do most of the other characters in the mannered and self-conscious series premiere. Although the marshal is a crack shot, he seems more interested in talking varmints to death than in fillin' 'em full of lead. …
The San Francisco Chronicle says:
… "Justified" as a whole really delivers, from the explosive pilot to a couple of other, less adrenaline-filled but no less superb episodes that add humor and nuanced storytelling to the mix. … Olyphant's iconic look and portrayal of Raylan Givens recalls every badass good guy in Western lore, and you find yourself liking him more every time he pulls the trigger. That alone would be enough to make "Justified" appointment television, but it's clear there's a lot more depth yet to be mined as Yost and his writers (who had bracelets made that say WWED - "What would Elmore do?") reinvent the modern-day lawman.
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette says:
… the best new series premiere so far in 2010. … Attention to character, particularly among the criminals of the week, exemplify what's unique about "Justified." On most shows, these guest characters have pretty generic traits that amount to "bad" or "crazy." On "Justified," the antagonists are colorful and rooted in specificity. Next week, Givens tracks a folksy prison escapee who previously robbed a bank and was jailed when another robber died during the robbery under "foreseeable circumstances." … Violence erupts unexpectedly but so do comic moments. …
The Newark Star Ledger says:
… It’s in that clash between Givens’ need for simple justice and the modern world’s more complicated rules that "Justified" finds much of its tension, and comedy. Givens is a character who originally appeared in several books by legendary crime author Elmore Leonard ("Out of Sight," "Get Shorty"), and "Justified" has the kind of muscular confidence and style that makes it both a worthy Leonard adaptation and a good match for FX …
The Boston Globe says:
… Raylan is a full-on cowboy, despite the fact that it’s 2010, and he is the mesmerizing hero of FX’s terrific new series, “Justified.’’…
The Hollywood Reporter says:
… Credit some clever dialogue by Graham Yost and the riveting acting of guest star Walton Goggins as Boyd Crowder, the ultra-nationalist leader (and former best friend of Raylan) for keeping this from becoming a two-dimensional morality play. …
Variety says:
… a wonderfully old-fashioned drama … Olyphant delivers an unabashed star turn in this one. … distinguished by a wry sense of humor -- characteristic of Leonard's work -- that permeates the three episodes made available. …
Oh, I'm also looking forward to tonight's "Parenthood." Judging from the clips featuring Craig T. Nelson, it looks like Raylan isn't the only one laying down the law tonight.
"Justified": 10 p.m. Tuesday. FX.
"Parenthood": 10 p.m. Tuesday. NBC.
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Several times. I have the first 4 episodes on DVR, and I've tried watching the pilot maybe 5 times now. It's virtually impossible to get more than 20 minutes in to it. Tim Oly-Phan-Tastic is just so fucking dull and uncharismatic, they should bottle it and sell it to methodone clinics.
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Herc's right - best new show of the season, hands down.
Olyphant nails it. -
No way dude, Olyphant owns this shit. It's not flashy, look-at-me acting, but he nails the perfect amount of low key attitude and charm.
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Found it a bit plodding, although I liked Olyphant. I certainly couldn't call it a bad show (the dialogue is actually well written). It just didn't impress me in any way.
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His movie performances haven't been top notch, for whatever reason. But in his (and Deadwood) he simply shines. He plays these characters totally pitch perfect. A shame if you can't see it!
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if it doesn't get canned at 10 episodes...Really likin' it so far.
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And that's two more than most shows that don't immediately grab me get. This is just dull, dull, dull. There are no characters worth caring about, nothing even remotely interesting or exciting happens...jesus, didn't Herc once say that this was the best show currently airing except for Mad Men? Maybe I imagined that, and I hope so, because that would make Herc some kind of half a retard at least.
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wtf attracted Tim Olyphant and Walt Goggins to this project? Did they sign contracts without reading a script? If these two guys can't save a show from mediocrity, then no one can.
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When you're in the mood for it. Even my wife is a fan. Last week, we met Raylan's father and step-mom/aunt, and I swear those two were based on a couple I know!
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And Olyphant owns as Raylan. Dull and uncharismatic he ain't. I know, I know, shows that tell linear narratives about rich characters with tangled histories aren't for the 10-20 set, but for everyone who enjoys that sort of thing, the show is tits.
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I've seen every episode so far. The show has no hook. I'll give it a couple of more episodes, but the show doesn't have enough interesting characters to care about. I'll give it a couple more before I take it off my dvr. Hopefully Herc doesn't countdown to this show in the Lost thread again.
Seriously? A countdown to this show?! I don't think it's awful or anything.....but DAMN, it's not even close to great. -
I've enjoyed every episode immensely.
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"Parenthood" is fucking horrible.
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I know, to each his own, but come on this show is great. I have yet to be bored, in fact the hour blows by so fast that I can't wait for the next episode. Tonight we get the return of Shane (I know wrong show, but he will always be Shane in my book) this show just keeps getting better with each episode. I highly recommend you people whio were not impressed the first time around to give it another shot.
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I compare this show to White Collar or Burn Notice...both of which I find highly superior to Justified. I even like Olyphant but, in my opinion, he isn't given enough to do. I'm not trying to troll...I'm just wondering why everyone finds this show so spectacular while I find it mediocre, plodding, slow and without an edge....
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Sons Of Anarchy. When the hell does that show come back on?
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but I always forget to watch it (dadgumit)
Thankfully they usually air it a couple more times during the week -
likely returns early September.
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Would make a great Doctor Who
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Apr 20, 2010 7:36:45 AM CDT
Does he have to shoot a guy every week?
by guy who got a headache and accidentally
I thought they were going for some kind of semi-realism. He got sent to kentucky for legally shooting one guy in miami. And everyone in kentucky knows him as the guy who shot a guy in kentucky. But know that he's in kentucky he shoots somebody new every week and nobody pays it much attention other than acting all "that darn raylan!"
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everyone in kentucky knows him as the guy who shot a guy in miami.
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Apr 20, 2010 7:41:50 AM CDT
Does this show remind anyone else of "My Name is Earl"?
by professorjack
Not saying that as a negative...just the quirkiness and the character actor guest star every week in a redneck type town. I like the show but I do think of "My Name is Earl" alot
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and he's a US Marshal. There is going to be some gun play. That's like complaining that someone gets murdered every week on Law & Order. It's part of the show.
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It's no 'Shield', but it has lots of potential. Last week's episode was uninspired, but it did tell us a bit more of Raylan's past with his daddy. The next two weeks sound good. Time will tell. Plus I have a man-crush on Timothy Olyphant, so I'll keep watching.
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We live in a post-The Wire world now man. I expect more than cliched law and order formula horseshit.
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I guess they could take a more realistic if you prefer. He could go to arrest a suspect, the suspect gives himself up without a fight and we can spend the last 45 minutes of the show watching Olyphant filling out paper work. I am not sure that would go over very well, but if that's what you prefer.
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Olyphant is channeling a young Clint Eastwood from Coogan's Bluff.
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but I love it, personally. You thought "nothing happened" in the episode where the local strongarm hoodlum was going to have a draw contest with Raylan? Or the pilot, nothing happened in the pilot?!?! I realize this show's laid back tone isnt something that will appeal to everyone, but Raylan rules. He also doesnt shoot someone in every episode, it just SEEMS like he does. He didnt shoot anyone last week, for example.
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Is there another show on right now, currently, where the cop-authority figure strolls in and says to the criminal "If you dont GTFO of Dodge, I'm going to shoot you".......and then does it, remorselessly? No tortured flashbacks or PTSD, just simply shoots the dude and casually goes and gets a taco afterwards? What show is that, exactly? CSI? L+O? If anything, its a flashback to a much less angry Dirty Harry. You can tell Elmore Leonard wrote this character, it has a very 70's feel to it, which I mean as a compliment.
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I loved Olyphant in Deadwood, but he was surrounded by a superb cast and given the best writing on TV.
I like Justified but I just haven't found it particularly compelling or memorable. -
Although Treme is in contention, and Lost doesn't really count because you are either in or out with that show at this point. The thing that makes Justified really stand out for me is that it does a great job of portraying a specific region, Kentucky, without resorting to caricature. Which is why it is NOT like My Name is Earl. The natives on this show are exactly as hick-ish as many real Kentuckians, without being ratcheted up about 5 notches as they would be in an inferior show. Also the performances range from solid to fantastic, and it contains the best dialogue to be found on TV right now.
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Something about the way he walks just doesn't seem normal. I wonder if he had a back injury.
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I live in Kentucky, in Lexington to be precise, where alot of the scenes take place. I notice that in the show Raylen just ferries back and forth to Harlan County like it's a hop skip and a jump away from Lexington. Harlan County is about a 5 hour drive from Fayette County where Lexington is located, it's quite a trip. That kinda bugs me.
Also to the people that are complaining that the show is boring I can kind of understand that. The dialouge, characters, tone, and even the accents are spot on. The problem is that the show doesn't seem to have any direction. It's not really reached out and grabbed me with it's overall plot yet other than Raylan being kicked out of Miami. I keep hoping each week that something will HAPPEN, but sounds like things could really pick up this week.
I haven't written the show off at all yet, I just want it to reach out and grab my interest.
I would have to disagree that this is the best new show of the season though, that title goes to Spartacus, that show is the shit. -
For anyone doubting his acting range, check him out in "The Apostle," playing a backwoods simpleton. His reaction to Robert Duvall getting arrested at the end is priceless.
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Don't get me wrong, I love the guy, and I'm a HUGE arrested development fan...but the guy is constantly playing mild variations of Buster on every show I watch...and its getting fucking old. He was on Chuck and Community, playing the same character, within like 3 weeks of eachother. The guy either has very little range or no director will let him do anything besides Buster Bluth. I feel bad for Tony Hale on one elvel, cause he is clearly getting screwed over somewhere, but on another level...I just want him to disappear a little bit. It's getting really tiresome. Buster was really, really funny. These characters...are not. At all.
Oh, and it is just you tritium, cause Olyphant walks like a fucking badass. His walk in Deadwood was even better. With the fire in his eye. Super-Badass. I'm pretty sure that isn't his normal walk in real life. It's his iconic cowboy walk...and I LOVE it -
Season finale was awesome....this third season was almost as good as the first. Why no love on this site?
That said, Im liking Justified so far...and Natalie Zea.....*slurp* -
Great characters and writing. It actually captures the tone of Elmore Leonards writing quite well.
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With Herc. Justified is an awesome show.
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Olyphant seems to be doing a Billy Bob Thorton impersonation vocally. Kind of distracting but I'm getting used to it.
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I would LOVE it if it was less procedural and more of a serial. I think the "case of the week" format is holding it back. Could have been so much more compelling if it was Raylan vs. Goggins' sect of White Supremacists the whole way through.
After all the classic TV we have gotten in the 2000's, I no longer have any patience for procedurals with little carry-over from episode to episode. -
an opposite opinion- some carry over is good...to much is a pain in the ass...keep ther threads of continuity running thru the season, but a serial losses its ability to cacth an episode on the fly....gave up on lost and 24 after missing a few eps.....thankfully Dexter and Sons of Anarchy air multiple times a week-not to mention are short mini/maxi series.....
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His cameo was priceless. BTW, I didn't watch the Damages finale because I didn't follow the season, but saw Mr. Olyphant show up. Geez, I guess once FX gots their mitts on you...
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I am in the exact same boat, if I want to see formulaic tv, there is plenty on for that already.
Have some great actors, good writing, needs to really make its mark. Was hoping for lots more Goggins, maybe we will get some more.
In summary not in the same league as the Shield, Deadwood etc...yet -
Feels a bit formulaic at times. Rather retro, in fact, and similar in form to many '70s cop shows.
"Best new show of the year" is more telling of the overall quality of the new shows this year than how successful this show is. -
to compare with Justified? Justified is like sitting back, slowly sipping on a Jack Daniels on the rocks, savoring each sip. The tone is entirely different from those afore mentioned series.
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It's probably my favorite right now, and I look forward to it every week. It just seems very different than anything that's currently on. There are no cardboard cutout villians, the dialogue is well written. Raylan is a bit of a loose cannon, but he's talented and likable so his bosses tend to give him more slack. It's not a show for everyone, in fact, I don't think a show exists, past or present, that's ever been able to entertain everyone.
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Apr 20, 2010 12:17:50 PM CDT
It's a little overrated...but still better than most shit on tv.
by hobocode
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The comparison is due to the fact that Goggins has a major role in the series, his first after The Shield. I have no idea why you would compare it to The Wire. This show has more in common with T.J. Hooker than The Wire.
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to keep watching there needs to be more continuity and more Goggins! Self-contained stories are fine but a show has to feel like it's going somewhere!
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But this whole business with Givens racking up a body count every week is horseshit. My old man is a retired US Marshal, worked pretty much every job in the Marshal Service repertoire for 30 years, and never shot a single person. I know it's television, but Givens would've been benched and assigned paperwork pending investigation.
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It's true the premise is getting mighty ridiculous--I mean the guy was ostensibly exiled to Kentucky because of his trigger-happy ways and what does he go and do: shoot another person just about every week.
Realistically this fellow would be put on administrative desk leave and probably relieved of his sidearm until all of the shooting incidents made their way through the system. But that would be a very boring show. -
This, Breaking Bad , Supernatural and Fringe are my must watch TV shows right now.
Maybe I shouldn't mention Supernatural. -
(along with Spartacus). Olyphant as Raylan is a great character with some depth to him. He's not a one dimensional character like Jack Bauer.
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I also like the quality casting of character actors in supporting roles.
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I'm really loving Justified so far. The show isn't EXTREMELY continuity heavy, but it is there. Heck, last week the main case took a huge back-seat to Raylan's family issues. And no one was shot either. Those of you having a hard time watching the show, watch through to episode four. If episode four doesn't hook you, nothing will. It's the best episode yet (tonight is episode six). As far as Damages goes, the season finale was incredible. I didn't think it would be possible for them to tie up all the plot threads, but they did it. I'm also really glad that Olyphant found the time to come back for the last episode even though he has undoubtedly been busy with Justified for the last year or so. It's a shame Herc didn't give us a TB for the finale, though it is nice to actually see him doing something approaching an actual review in this article, rather than another Amazon referrer link-laden article! I mean, holy shit, how often does Herc actually produce original content for the site? Once a month? If that?
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Rylan got sent to KY for killing the mafia guy in FL not shooting him.Some of the complaints you guys have, the laid back nature, the gun happyness of Rylan, come straight from Leonard's pages. Olyphant and Yost have Rylan exactly as Leonard wrote himDid I just read someone above prefers White Collar to Justified, there was a show I tried giving a shot too and just haven't been able to get into. Of the USA shows, I prefer Psych, Burn Notice, and Royal Pains over White Collar
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I kept waiting on his dad to say that. Walk Hard was just on FX (i'm sure it wasn't an accident) then they reveal Raylan's dad is played by Dewey's dad. Classic. I love Justified, but I do miss SOA. Can't wait to see where they are going with the whole IRA kidnapper thing.
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watch Raymond J Barry, even in an older movie without thinking of that line. Of course he only said it about 17 times thoughout the movie...but, he played Raylans dad, an ornery, but playful ol cuss real well.
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I hope it gets canceled soon before someone fucks it up.
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I forgot all about walk Hard, now that's all I can think of as well. Now they need to cast John C. Reilly as Olyphant's brother.
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Both series heavily lean on their respective locales (the regional cultures, people, accents). I like both, and find that the best way to watch them is to just ease back both your mind and body, and simply "absorb" yourselves into their world, setting, vibe. I also watch LOST and Breaking Bad, and with LOST, it's like a brain teaser where you keep your mind and observational skills acute. With Breaking Bad, there's a palpable tension in most of the episodes, so I watch it feeling girded, antsy about the crazy shit that's about to go down. With Justified and Treme, both have their tense, dramatic moments, but they're best watched if you watch them with a chill mood.
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Or is the fake-looking scenery seen outside the car windows meant to be an homage to the old cop shows?Right now, I would give this show a slight notch above the pure formula USA shows, based just on the characterizations and dialogue alone. But for an FX show, expectations are higher, and it's missing a little something.
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Right now I think I'd slot it in behind episode four as the second best of the series so far. Loved Robert Picardo's role. Oh, and again, Raylan managed to go an entire episode without shooting someone. Oh, and for those who complain about all the shootings and there being no consequences, well, besides being exiled to Kentucky (I've lived there, it's hell, I know why he wanted to get the fuck out), he now has an Assistant US Attorney looking into him. Played by the guy who played George Luz on BoB.
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"The Collection" was Awesome. This show is my new tv crush, and last night's episode didn't disappoint. I have to wonder, even while knowing Arlo beat Raylan as a child in Arlo's fits of bipolar disorder, just how badly Raylan wants to put him behind bars. Pun intended, is it justified? This show demonstrated how revenge against a parent can be a frightening, twisted end.
Excellent performances all around, wonderful eye candy with Raylan shirtless in his jeans (can they get ANY tighter? LOL!). Now I'm curious what sh*t Winona's new husband is into that Raylan uncovered at Winona's request, but didn't disclose to Winona.
I thought the show was just going to be a standard Rich widow/murderess and lover story, but I didn't expect a scene like Raylan had with the lover, "If you do that, where's it going to end?" I played that scene back several times, that was very fun to watch. And the warming blanket trick was creepy. -
Is not a five hour trip. From Harlan, you get to 25 West over to I-75 and you're in Lexington in 2½ hours, tops.
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Apr 21, 2010 11:42:17 AM CDT
Ha,ha, ha, Raylan DID go an entire episode without shooting some
by cathy904
I hadn't really thought about it, but I'd heard some flak about Raylan shooting someone every show.
Not only that, the scene with the lover in the barn (sorry, don't know the actor's name except he played Godwin in "Lost"), Raylan pointed out the dangers of taking that step to kill someone. "Where does it end?" For a show that could easily glorify guns and shooting people, I think they've taken care not to have a Gunfight of the Week. I think I agree with Rhuragh, this is the best episode after the dentist episode. When I'm bored, though, I'll find reasons to watch particular scenes from each episode. -
... For me, anyway. And in a good way. Largely episodic, very genre-convention-oriented yet still off-kilter and original. It has personality, I guess is what I'm saying, and that goes a long way.
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hope it doesn't die because people find it "boring"
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I don't watch Treme but everything else is the same for me ...
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