"Alive Day" - Justified - 6-06

"They know killing, but they don't know crime."

Just as Quarles, Miami thugs, Nicky Augustine, and the Crowes found out before them, the Tigerhawk team discoveres things aren't as easy as they expect.  After all, if it was so easy, wouldn't Harlan have already been taken over by someone else by now?  It is the Afghanistan of America.  No one can get in or out.  It's difficult to take over and impossible to hold.  One may have thought these guys from the sandbox may have learned that lesson.

More callbacks to the pilot with Boyd and Raylan reminiscing about the last time they were all there for Ava's chicken.  They both posit that it would end differently, Raylan no doubt referring to killing, rather than wounding, Boyd.  And Boyd thinking he'll get the drop on Raylan this time.  Between that, Art's warning, and Boyd's callback to knowing that Raylan's on his way to Florida make us sit uneasily. 

The thing is, the Boyd-Raylan high noon showdown is completely expected at this point. And the thing Justified does best is subvert expectations.  Something needs to happen like where Quarles got his arm hacked off.  A good example in "Alive Day" was where, oh of course Choo Choo (chooooo chooooo!) is going to get smushed by the train.  It plays with our expectations when the train stops short.  Then again when Choo Choo does not get arrested but dies of his wounds.

Speaking of his wounds, the mercs are probably the best matchup Tim and Raylan have had when the numbers are close to even.  A lot of missed shots, which was not expected, but the marshals did take down a red shirt and, eventually, Choo Choo.

• Alive Day was the name of James Gandolfini's HBO special where he interviewed troops wou'd been wounded.  It refers to the day they sustained their near death injuries
• Eva and Katniss.  Neither their dads came back fromt he mine
• Raylan's asking about Dewey.  What episode does he see Dewey's necklace at Boyd's?  I'll say nine.
• Caprice, in this scenario, is a prettier, smarter Ellen May
• Carl's in the house.  Not sure how this is going to end.
• According to Rachel, the Hale case was made on the wire.  Are Katherine and Avery chasing each other when in fact it's neither of them?
• I'm reading Riding the Rap and it's clear they based the episode "Fixer" (1-03) on it, so I rewatched it.  Much more in season one was pulled from the source material in the one-off episodes.  It was far from a 1:1 remake though, moreso inspiration that was repurposed into completely new scenarios for the show. 
• Side note.  Raylan is probably the least fleshed out character of the main cast in the books.  It seems most of the time is spent with the criminals.  I mention it because this episode had a huge stretch with no Raylan.  It's an observation, not a criticism.

Today's drink: Black Saddle Bourbon Whiskey

"Sounding" - Justified - 6-05

"I got balls like Death Stars"

In some ways Raylan is a great marshal, and in some ways he is a terrible marshal.  He's an excellent marksman and quick on the draw (Do we need to explain?).  He has natural investigative abilities (Drew Thompson).  And he's able to talk to most anyone, fromt he worst crook (bail jumper) to white collar protectees (Coal Company Lady).  On the flip side, he antagonizes and escalates situations (Tommy Bucks).  He literally lost a prisoner he was transporting.  He inserts himself where he need not be and jeopardizes cases (Ava shooting Boyd).  Raylan walks and crosses a fine line between legal and extralegal, from drinking on duty, smacking around undesirables, working off the clock and under the table (bounty hunting) to straight out setting up a hit (Nicky Augustine).

So while he's not the best marshal in the world, the show has made a point to make Raylan an excellent lawman.  No coincidence that was the original title of the show.  I think the difference is that at the end of the day, Raylan stands clearly on the side of the good and the side of law and order.  He has a palpable disgust for career criminals, both the masterminds and the two bit hustlers which no doubt is born from his hatred toward Arlo.  The deputy marshal sometimes uses questionable means to justify an end.  Tommy Bucks was a bad guy.  Nicky Augustine was a bad guy.  In no scenario is the world worse without them.  On the other hand, Raylan keeps running into these situations and as Justified once said "if you keep running into assholes all day, you're the asshole."

Another important note, besides Raylan clearly picking his side, is that he does not do the things he does for personal gain or advancement.  The closest he comes to that is working side jobs for the specific goal of saving for the baby.  If he were really trying to cash in, he'd probably live somewhere besides a (possible free?) room in a bar.  He tries to set a counterfeit bill back into evidence to cover for Winona, not himself.  His set up of Augustine is in direct response to serious, immediate threats on his family where he has no other practical options.  But it is not unreasonable to say that Raylan is possibly the last person in the world who would take a bribe.

Possibly Raylan's best asset that allows him so much success in the areas he does excel at is his ability to not take things personally, and his empathy for those who did not get to go the path he did.  Criminals commit crimes.  That's what they do.  Lawmen catch criminals.  That's what they do.  If the Flintstone whistle went off in these professions, I think Raylan could have a drink with anyone on either side.  Growing up as Arlo's son, in poverty, and digging coal for a bit gives him a perspective on where these people come from.  He doesn't sympathize (he got out, after all), but he does empathize (understand and can talk to these idiots). 

Raylan somehow manages to understand that each time these crooks break the law, it is not a personal affront to him.  The relationship between him and the criminal can change as he encounters them, gets to know them, runs into them time and again because then a face is put on the law breaking/criminal catching transaction.  Most likely, Raylan states matter of factly to the criminal that they are breaking teh law or that he is going to put them away for breaking the law, and the criminal gets worked up and upset at Raylan.  Raylan stays calm and is able to separate his role as law enforcer/obstacle to the criminal from his life as Raylan Givens. 

The Episode

• Jeff Fahey, another Lost alumn, whose character doesn't strike me as someone who has a bank account
• Lost people, blowing up hatches.  Hmmm.
• Parading out the old gang who are still surviving, we get Limehouse (and Errol for that matter) and Constable Bob, and none of it feels forced
• Mike's hardward has been featured a lot in the past, from Johnny threatening Ava to Raylan trying to catch the kids who took the bag from Arlo's
• Albert Fekus is a perfect name for a little shit.  But as Tim said, he did take his medicine standing up, figuratively
• RIP Buddy Garrity
• Markham does not want your input
• Special circumstances here, but my fear of exploding manhole covers still is agitated here
• As indicated above, Raylan doesn't take things personally.  His investigative mind helps him find Ava quickly and bring the matter to a close, rather than escalate it, land her back in prison and blow their case against Boyd.
• Scrabble on both The Americans and Justified
• Bob's piece of paper is brilliant.  it says "feed hanna" which I assume is a rodent or a reptile and not a cat or dog
• Again, just like in the premiere and other spots this year, we are circling back to the pilot.  Mentions of Beaumon, Ava's cooking and "what you and me started" between Raylan and Ava
• Is there any other ending than a standoff between Boyd and Raylan?  Maybe even back at the dinner table?

This weeks drink: Bacon Bourbon, straight.  It is "homemade" meaning I bought bourbon and added the bacon aspect of it.  Starting with Jim Beam and adding a whole bunch of bacon fat.  The letting it sit in cold and room temperature areas before straining it through cheese cloth a whole bunch of times to make sure there's no solid fat floating around.  It leaves a bacon-y taste.  Stored in this jar and drank out of the mason jar in honor of the Loretta and Mags last week.

Behind that is a just finished copy of Road Dogs by Elmore Leonard

"The Trash and the Snake" - Justified - 6-04

The Homestead Act
The modern day Western is in full effect this season, much like it was in Season Four.  Taking the concept of homesteaders being run off their land and updating it for the 21st century is a perfect way to end the show.  Meanwhile, the "Black Hat" going after the homesteaders is about to get it from the law, ambitious but lower ranked criminals, and the woman he's sleeping with. It's also a good way to get Boyd and Raylan on the same side, not necessarily by having the same goal but by having a common enemy.

Avery Markum
Markum may or may not be aware of Katherine Hale's angle.  He's shown a deep understanding of the landscape in Harlan despite his hiatus to Denver.  He's familiar enough with Mags to make Loretta test the apple pie, not to mention he knows the connection between Mags and Loretta.  He's probably informed Walker of this before he goes to Loretta's house, as he doesn't drink the apple pie.  Markum also intimates unsubtly he's familiar with Raylan's shoot on sight exercise with Tommy Bucks, even after he plays a bit like he doesn't know the Givens name.  Which may of course mean he's playing Katherine Hale as well in a labyrinth of mirrors.

Come Back Shane
Oh, the places you'll go...with Wikipedia. 

Trying to recall a movie, and I know there are several, where homesteaders are intimidated off their land brings me to Shane.  Which brings me to Pale Rider, which borrows from Shane.  Which brings me to Revelations, where the Pale Horse is ridden by Death, which brings to mind the Pale Mare, or the plague in A Dance of Dragons....which brings Death!  Jeez.

Lawman
We already know Raylan will take any excuse to avoid Florida.  There will always be something going on for the marshals.  He is infinitely more lawman than family man.  And if he can use Markum, thorugh pretty solid reasoning, as a way to dig around Kentucky some more, he will absolutely use it.  His rationale is similar to Tom Hanks in Saving Private Ryan when he has his squad assault the German machine guns, rather than go around them.  The argument is they can still locate Ryan without the risk of taking on the guns, but Hanks refuses to leave them for the next guys.

Ditch Story
Katherine Hale tells Ava about the Clintons seeing a gas station attendant in Arkansas.  Jed Bartlet tells a similar story in "Dead Irish Writers" when he's contemplating a toast for Abby's birthday.

Hollers and Hills

• Always good to see Dickie Bennet.  Specifically, him and Raylan spitting hate at each other
• More colorful tertiary characters, RIP Wiz Fieri
• Duffy's from Hawaii?  Explains the tanning bed?
• I appreciate the girl's snake so much more because it went completley unremarked upon.
• Boyd changes his mind again about leaving Harlan.  Ava is struggling being away for one day.  Granted, she has extenuating circumstances, but still.
• After Luther takes the fall for his son, we see Raylan giving fatherly advice to Loretta.  Even though he didn't know her father, which she points out.  But Raylan is speaking as a father, taking an educated guess as to what another father might think.  Despite Raylan stomping on copperheads, he does have a pull to Florida still.
• Many simiilarities between Walker here and Wolcott in Deadwood.  Number twos, advance men for the big boss, acquiring land for the big man's purpose, whether it be gold or weed.

Next week: Constable Bob!

This week's drink: Buffalo Trace Bourbon, in honor of Walker's preference at Boyd's bar

"Noblesse Oblige" - Justified - 6-03

"I'm gonna shoot your dick off."

Season Five saw a lot of death.  Mostly anyone who wasn't Boyd or Raylan bit it and bit it hard.  From Sammy to Johnny to Picker, it was like they were clearing brush to give enough room to the two leads for their final showdown.  But the person stealing the spotlight this season is Ava who is living in limbo between Boyd and Raylan, jail and freedom, Harlan and getting out alive.  All that and she manages to bring the funny in her still drunk/badly hungover state with the marshals and AUSA Vasquez.

This week's episode was a master class in folksy, flowery, roundabout dialouge.  It could have easily been penned by David Milch.  When someone states their business is "none more lofty than to apprise you of the situation you find yourself" as a way of getting straight to business, you have to appreciate their loquaciousness.  The scene in the bar, a bar Boyd and Co badly need to remember to lock the front door to, is the early frontrunner in 2015 for best scene.  Boyd's exasperation at being bothered while the day is so early and while he is so hungover is examplified only in his tone but not his word choice or count.  Walker responds in kind, and suddently Boyd is transported to 1870s Deadwood.

Justified is the funniest drama on television.  Breaking Bad and Mad Men both punctuated their shows with occasional hilarity, but Justified brings it at a high level every week.  This was one of the best, as Boyd's crew retorts to the Buffalo Trace drinking Walker, "You best get walking...Mr.....Walker.  You and your beard."  The delivery, the dialouge and the overall low IQ of Boyd's henchmen all play into the hilarity here, as does Walker's reaction.

Another of the series' strenghts is the ability to play with your expectations.  When the two masked geniuses are going to rob their dynamite depot, it looks like it's going to end it tragedy for a decent guy.  Our expectations of the criminals being stupid and of what television tells us is supposed to happen make us brace for the nice man's unfortunate death.  It takes an immediate left turn when Raylan and Rachel are there waiting for these idiots.  It's hilarious because of course it makes sense. 

This week's drink: Wigle Rye Whiskey from Pittsburgh.  Named for one of the fomentors of the Whiskey Rebellion.  I feel like Boyd would like this.

 

 

"Cash Game" - Justified - 6-02

Boyd is robbing banks at the behest of Katharine Hale.  While I thought the ledgers were actually the draw at the deposit box, it turns out everyone is upset to have that rather than cash, about $3 million.  Katharine does raise a good point that there's little to keep Boyd from holding out on her, especially if he's looking to get out of Harlan.    

The target, Calhoun, is being approached from all angles.  There's the Tigerhawk team trying to buy up land (for whoever they report to) and the attempted robbery by Hale/Boyd/Avery/Duffy.  Meanwhile, Raylan is investigating the guy because he didn't seem too interested in the fact that he was robbed.  Poor guy, there's no way he makes it out of the season alive.

The pizza vault, and Eva's role in it, show us that Eva's not quite as under the thumb of Raylan and the marshals as we may have suspected.  I suppose the deed was being held by Calhoun on behalf of Ty, though it now belongs to Boyd.  The vault can't actually have anything it though at this point, can it? 

Curious to see how this band of thieves makes out from their pizza vault.  You have Rocky and Mugsy (Choo Choo and Seabass) doing most of the heavy lifting it seems.  Choo Choo is another great tertiary character we get to laugh at.  The entire exchange with Raylan "I'm not following you" and then his rationale for not killing the marshal are going to rank right up there with the rest of the dumb criminal exchanges from the series. 

• Raylan sharing his Florida plans with Boyd is unsettling
• Yes, go to Iceland
• Eva got some swagger back.
• Expect Dewey's necklace to come back into play, maybe as a clue to Raylan as to how to ultimately get Boyd
• Tigerhawk strikes me as both extralegal and extremely profitable
• People trying to buy land like that makes me think there's gas under there.
• Walker seemed disproportinally upset at the obstacles he encountered

Tonight's Bourbon: Bullet Bourbon, again.  1 Giant Cube.