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.
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