Justified S5E5
WARNING: This review contains spoilers.
Holy cowboy hats! That was an excellent episode of Justified!
After a couple of slower-paced episodes, Justified roars into the Season Five plotline with blood, violence, and supreme badassery. This is Art Mullen's time to shine, and our favorite Chief Marshal notches a few accomplishments on his gunbelt as he prepares for his impending retirement.
Raylan is busy running around and trying to cover his own ass. First, he jogs down to the Social Services office, just in time to see Wendy Crowe picking up the younger Crowe and chiding Raylan for his harassment of her family. And his new girlfriend piles on as well. But scolding is the least of Raylan's worries; there is a certain Mr. Picker who is talking with Art about the night that Nicky Augustine was killed. Raylan somehow gets a few minutes alone with Picker and threatens the career criminal. Which is not an easy feat, considering that the only reason Picker is talking to the Feds is so he can get some protection from Theo Tonin's hitman, Marcos.
Speaking of Marcos, an encounter with Art leads to the best scene of the episode. Marcos, after executing one of the Canadian drug runners, goes to Kentucky to hunt down Picker, who is having breakfast with Wynn Duffy and Mike. Only Art is there, too, and confronts Marcos. Marcos wisely decides that Art will likely shoot him if he continues his mission against Picker, and backs down. Only to reappear later at a warehouse when Art and Raylan go looking for Marcos and Tonin. Marcos takes a few shots at the Marshals with an automatic shotgun (yep, even Art is impressed with this weapon!) before succumbing to a Raylan bullet. But a search of the warehouse yields a sickly Theo Tonin, and Art arrests one of the nation's most notorious fugitives. So Art is having a good day.
Meanwhile, Boyd is out killing people, making deals, and righting his own ship as he tries to spring Ava from jail. And his plan is working, as he eliminates Paxton, Mrs. Paxton, Mooney, and even makes a deal with Hot Rod Dunham to get access to Johnny AND a supply of heroin. A good day at the Crowder household. Except that short prison guard has not gotten over his humiliation, and decides to fake an attack on himself and blame Ava. So Ava is not coming home any time soon.
Cousin Johnny is showing off his own smarts, too. While Hot Rod was out negotiating with Boyd, Johnny has been busy paying off the Harris brothers, who decide to turn on Hot Rod and back Johnny. So Hot Rod may not be long for this world.
And over at the Crowe's, Dewey is exploring existentialism with a couple of his employees, while Darryl Jr. is out threatening Boyd. As expected, neither Crowe is successful in his endeavors. And we get to know more about the psychopathic Danny Crowe, who shoots Jean-Baptiste after a slight regarding Danny's work ethic.
Finally, Vasquez informs Art and Raylan that Picker fingered missing (and deceased) FBI Agent Barkely for the Nicky Augustine killing. But Raylan suddenly develops a conscience and confesses (well, sort of) to involvement in the Augustine killing.
Whew! An action-packed episode of Justified, and likely one of the best of the entire series. I can't wait to see how Art processes this new information regarding Raylan.
Random Thoughts:
- A brief Tim/Rachael sighting at the end of the episode.
- I can't decide where we are going with the Big Bad this season. Is it Darryl, Jr.? Danny? Or Cousin Johnny?
- I have concerns whenever a supporting cast member gets an episode to shine. That usually means that character is short for this world. Please, writers, don't be predictable!
What did you think?
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