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
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