Justified 3.1 FAQ
What’s it called?
“The Gunfighter.”
Who’s responsible?
Teleplay is credited to series mastermind Graham Yost & Fred Golan (“Bulletville,” “Bloody Harlan”).
What says FX?
“The arrival of a dangerous new player in Lexington puts Raylan on a collision course with a sadistic Dixie Mafia hitman.”
Is Raylan “The Gunfighter”?
I’d wager the episode title refers to the Dixie Mafia hitman, one Fletcher “The Icepick” Nicks, a creepy minion of returning bad men Emmitt Arnett and Wynn Duffy.
How does it start?
The third season picks up minutes after the bloody showdown with the Bennetts. By the episode’s third minute, we leap three weeks into the future.
Who is the “dangerous new player”?
The big newcomer this week is “Captain America” component Neal McDonough (“Boomtown”). He plays Robert Quarles, a fixer from the Detroit mob keen to see Eastern Kentucky realize more of its organized crime potential. He’s an entertaining swine.
Is Natalie Zea still in this? Didn’t Winona and Raylan break up at the end of last season?
Natalie Zea remains a major player.
Does “Karen Sisco” star Carla Gugino play an assistant director of the U.S. Marshals Service in the season opener?
She does not.
What’s doing with the Crowders?
The “previously” package at the top of the episode reminds us that limpy Dickie Bennett put a bullet in Ava.
Is Boyd bent on vengeance?
Dickie was the last Bennett standing last season and “Lost” icon Jeremy Davies remains a regular this season.
Does Loretta McCready turn up?
Not this week.
What’s good?
First and foremost, new Big Bad Quarles, an engaging fellow who’s more Nucky Thompson or Arnold Rothstein than Tony Soprano (Quarles has a dusting of Dale Cooper in him too). The garbage bags. The saucy new secretary Arnett is boning. The grim Mr. Nicks, who’s entirely too fond of trouble. A substantial marijuana broker named Dunham, who knows his business. Duffy’s excuse for cutting short a conversation. Ava Crowder’s management acumen. “Sorry about your tablecloth.” “You let go of the rope.” “Are you gonna eat that pizza?”
What’s not so good?
No Carla Gugino as Karen.
How does it end, spoiler boy?
“What the hell’s he doing here?”
10 p.m. Tuesday. FX.
