78 replies to this topic

[Rich Kennedy]

My sense yet again is that this show is deceptively short. I swear that it feels almost like a hald hour show by the way it crams so much into a broadcast hour.

[John Drew]

So we got a little bit of a hint as to some of the past history between Raylen (or maybe the Givens' in general) and the Bennettes, when Mags in a roundabout way blames Raylen for Dickie Bennette's limp (there goes my bear trap theory... maybe).

Rich, I agree that they seem to pack quite a bit into a one hour show. Perhaps almost too much this season. Not that I'm really complaining, but this last episode seemed to really get the "single episode story line" out of the way as quickly as possible, while giving more time to the build up of some of the "season story lines" involving the Bennettes and Boyd Crowder (who really is the most fascinating character I've seen in a long time). Last year it seemed that there would be a "one-off" episode, followed by a "season arc" episode. I'm just hoping that they don't spread any of the stories too thin by trying to cram as much as possible into each episode.

Nice to see John "Red Rock West" Dahl in the directors chair for this last episode.

Edited by Baal_T'shuvah, 05 March 2011 - 01:46 PM.

[Rich Kennedy]

Baal_T, on 04 March 2011 - 11:09 PM, said:

So we got a little bit of a hint as to some of the past history between Raylen (or maybe the Givens' in general) and the Bennettes, when Mags in a roundabout way blames Raylen for Dickie Bennette's limp (there goes my bear trap theory... maybe).

I hadn't seen the episode when you mentioned your theory, so when I saw the episode, I picked up on your theory right away. Mags' complaint struck me. They say that journalists write in such a way now, so as to tease high Google search rates. I don't know if there is a term for the sort of plot writing we are discussing here, but I've always enjoyed this sort of writing that both drives the immediate plot right along as well as prompting questions about backstory without making backstory a tangent, or distraction. Once again, Elmore Leonard is a master of this sort of thing. It often rubs off on his stories presented in other media.

Edited by Rich Kennedy, 05 March 2011 - 07:59 AM.

[John Drew]

Already renewed for a third season!

[wmadjones]

Justified picked up a well-deserved Peabody this week! It's citation:

Quote

Justified (FX)
FX Productions and Sony Pictures Television
Part morality play, part character study, this engrossing modern-day Western drama sets
its showdowns in the wild, wild east of Appalachian Kentucky.

Some other interesting choices this year, as well. I would be interested to see the documentary, The Lord is Not On Trial Here Today, on the court case establishing the separation of church and state.

Full list of Peabodies.

[Rich Kennedy]

So, last night's episode seems to explain the limp. Good story about that confrontation too.

[Christian]

I checked, and the library now has Season 1. I'm in the Holds queue.

Is this show now in its second season, or has it been on longer than that?

[winter shaker]

I actually just watched the premiere episode last night...to be far, I only watched half of it closely, but I'm not sure if I'll continue on with the series.

[John Drew]

Christian, on 31 March 2011 - 06:51 PM, said:

I checked, and the library now has Season 1. I'm in the Holds queue.

Is this show now in its second season, or has it been on longer than that?

It's now about half way through season 2.

Last nights episode was terrific. Nice to get back to some drama after two weeks of fluffier material. I like the fact that Raylan is not an indestructible hero... he took a pretty good beating.

[Rich Kennedy]

Baal_T, on 31 March 2011 - 11:38 PM, said:

Last nights episode was terrific. Nice to get back to some drama after two weeks of fluffier material. I like the fact that Raylan is not an indestructible hero... he took a pretty good beating.

Yes. I love the relationship he has with his Dad's wife, heh. As to the beating, he seems to be 0 for 2 hand to hand for the series, but Wednesday's beating was by a guy with a cast on his hand. I'm impressed that Raylan was still conscious.

[M. Leary]

Baal_T, on 31 March 2011 - 11:38 PM, said:

Last nights episode was terrific. Nice to get back to some drama after two weeks of fluffier material. I like the fact that Raylan is not an indestructible hero... he took a pretty good beating.

Yes on both counts. I was getting a bit nervous to see the show veering off into filler. The real genius of the first season is its lack of any embellishments beyond that main storyline, which is a pretty Leonard ethos. I hope they stick with that.

[John Drew]

One more thing to add, Mags Bennette is getting to be nearly as interesting a character as Boyd Crowder. I think the coming episodes in which these two start going head to head may turn out to be something spectacular.

Edited by Baal_T'shuvah, 01 April 2011 - 10:12 PM.

[John Drew]

Season finale is tonight. One of the things I thought this season's storyline might have been building up to now doesn't appear likely to happen. I tried to rationalize some of the Winona story arcs as a build up to her character being killed off tonight but, unless Timothy Olyphant is a shrewder card player than I give him credit for, his interview today on Elvis Mitchell's The Treatment squashes that notion.

That interview can be heard here, if anyone is interested.

[M. Leary]

Hm. Ambivalent about this ending. My wish for the entire series is that it ends in true Leonard fashion with the hero taking the firearms instruction gig because his wife is worth it.

[John Drew]

I agree with what you say about the ultimate finale of the entire series - Olyphant himself said much the same thing in his interview on The Treatment.

I was very pleased with last nights finale. Especially how...

Spoiler

Raylan's call for assistance did not go to Art, but rather to Boyd. Pretty much reverses the position the two were in at the end of last season when Boyd remarked to Raylan, "I'm gonna bet my life on you being the only friend I have left in this world."

This is such a great, complicated relationship. I can't wait to see what they do with it next season.

Edited by Baal_T'shuvah, 05 May 2011 - 11:06 PM.

[John Drew]

I watched the season finale again over the weekend, and liked it even more. Had a couple of thoughts and questions. This season could have been called Hillbilly King Lear.

Spoiler

One, I really liked the interaction in the scene between Raylan, Mags, and Loretta. It's a wonderfully written scene, where protagonist and antagonist share a common goal to save this young girl from suffering an even more devastating pain that could come from her own hand. The most powerful lines of the episode came during this scene.... Raylan: "Ask yourself what your daddy would want you to do.” Loretta: “I want him to be here to tell me." Just gut wrenching.

When Mags was trying to talk Loretta out of shooting her, she said she had had pistols pointed at her before and that she had even held a few. I assumed she meant that she had held pistols at other people before but, thinking on it some more, it seemed like she may also have been saying she had held a gun to her own head a time or two. Got me thinking, and then she actually goes and kills herself.

Anyone else think that Winona fessed up to Art about the stolen cash, to get him to help Raylan? Her "I might not be there when you get back" could possibly have meant that she might be in jail.

Edited by Baal_T'shuvah, 10 May 2011 - 09:20 AM.

[Rich Kennedy]

Ooh, I like the Hillbilly King Lear thing. Excellent. I'm going to be suspicious and also hedge on your last point about Winona. I'd say Art knows and won't be able to prove anything, so keep it for later. Nevertheless, you could be right.

Spoiler

So, for 20 years, Dickie's holding a grudge about the cost of a fight that he started with the head hunting pitch AND the spikes almost to the face. Is this the essence of a "seventy year feud" or what. Speaking of which, any bets that the bullet that ultimately saves Raylin's life comes from the ex sniper? I like the possibilities for their relationship as well. As to Boyd and Raylin, I believe that the first season stressed over and over the bond between men who've dug coal together.

Edited by Rich Kennedy, 12 May 2011 - 04:50 PM.

[John Drew]

Just a reminder that Season 3 starts next Tuesday, Jan. 17th. Get those DVR's set!

[John Drew]

Good start. I like seeing Neal McDunough brought in. More later.

[Jason Panella]

Just watched the pilot. I am hooked.