"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