Justified - Season 4 - Page 2

Wynn Duffy's missing mustache is really fucking with my head ...

THUD REVIEW: JUSTIFIED EP 4.02 -- "WHERE'S WALDO?"

I'm choosing to think of Randall as Philo.  I'm excited for the introduction of the orangutan.

You're right that it was mostly an information dump, but they're smart enough to know that this show can coast on character moments during info dumps.  Everything about the stakeout was amazing, including Mama Truth's "Perverts?  They don't look like perverts.  Well, maybe that one."

Also the scene with Boyd and Wynn was pure gold.  Was also nice to see Boyd underestimate somebody and be caught by surprise by them.

"If that had worked out, I think we probably would've heard something by now."

Wynn Duffy, don't you ever change.

Well, I definitely didn't expect to see a rattlesnake shot in half with a shotgun while attached to someone's face.

A LOT happened in tonight's episode. I did my best to sift through it all.

THUD REVIEW: JUSTIFIED 4.03 -- "TRUTH AND CONSEQUENCES"

I'm pretty sure Cassie knew what was coming after rejecting Boyd's bribe and set the snakes out in the tent intentionally to get the muscle that Boyd would send.

I thought that was a given.

I like that Theo Tonin is behind everything, makes perfect sense after last season.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fafhrd 

I'm pretty sure Cassie knew what was coming after rejecting Boyd's bribe and set the snakes out in the tent intentionally to get the muscle that Boyd would send.

Okay ... that makes sense. But it's a fucking tent. It sure would suck if all the snakes you took the time to drain the venom from decided they'd be better off just ... you know ... leaving.

The sister did comment about how the snakes prefer it in the preacher's area because it's warmer, so she could've been moderately confident that most of them would stick around.  And it's not like the brother was there anyway if the snakes proved ineffective security.

One more thing with the sister who took the precaution to milk ALL those snakes (I didn't realize they had so many of them I guess).  Why wouldn't she have antivenom on hand?  I mean, if you're so careful to watch over your brother that you'll milk a few dozen snakes wouldn't it make sense to have a loaded antivenom syringe in the fridge?

I just kind of assumed with Wynn taking on more responsibility he wouldn't be working out of the motorhome any more.  Nice to see some things don't change.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Schwartz 

The sister did comment about how the snakes prefer it in the preacher's area because it's warmer, so she could've been moderately confident that most of them would stick around.  And it's not like the brother was there anyway if the snakes proved ineffective security.

True. And I know it actually worked, but is "let's relocate Billy and fill the preacher's tent with snakes" really the best plan? It just seems so preposterous and fiction-y to me, and it's part of the reason I'm not yet buying Cassie and Billy as any kind of real threat to Boyd. Maybe we're not supposed to. We'll see what happens next week and what kind of shape Billy's in.

Quote:

Originally Posted by zak chase 

 

True. And I know it actually worked, but is "let's relocate Billy and fill the preacher's tent with snakes" really the best plan? It just seems so preposterous and fiction-y to me, and it's part of the reason I'm not yet buying Cassie and Billy as any kind of real threat to Boyd. Maybe we're not supposed to. We'll see what happens next week and what kind of shape Billy's in.

I think you're correct in that Billy and Cassie aren't a direct threat to Boyd. I'm guessing that Boyd will eventually talk to Arlo and get in on the Drew Thompson sweepstakes, and that Billy and Cassie are somehow indirectly connected to it somehow. It just makes sense that Boyd's arc will start to collapse and intersect with Raylan's as the season goes on.

Quote:

Originally Posted by VTRan 

 

DUDE!!!!

I'm usually not one to bitch about stuff like this but if that isn't a SPOILER!!, I don't know what is.

Yeah, I read the Yost thing at EW but knew better than to post that here.

Quote:

Originally Posted by zak chase 

 

True. And I know it actually worked, but is "let's relocate Billy and fill the preacher's tent with snakes" really the best plan? It just seems so preposterous and fiction-y to me, and it's part of the reason I'm not yet buying Cassie and Billy as any kind of real threat to Boyd. Maybe we're not supposed to. We'll see what happens next week and what kind of shape Billy's in.

Oh, I don't think it's a foolproof plan, but they're snake-handling Southern preachers after all - it's seems in line with their MO to go theatrical and paint it as divine protection/retribution rather than take more pragmatic, earthly measures like calling the cops or hiring their own gunthugs.

Quote:

Originally Posted by A-Pathetic 

One more thing with the sister who took the precaution to milk ALL those snakes (I didn't realize they had so many of them I guess).  Why wouldn't she have antivenom on hand?  I mean, if you're so careful to watch over your brother that you'll milk a few dozen snakes wouldn't it make sense to have a loaded antivenom syringe in the fridge?

 

Now there's a good point that didn't even occur to me.

Re: the spoiler - that is surprising, but it doesn't strike me as something a creator would let slip by accident if it was supposed to be a point of suspense.  Seems much more like something you clarify when it was less obvious than you intended.  I'm reminded of moments on both Breaking Bad and The Sopranos where an artful camera move set fans furiously speculating about possible soap opera twists and the creators wound up just telling interviewers "No, that person's definitely dead."

Yeah normally the snakes would bother me but I love the show too much. This season feels very different, im wondering where it will go. 

Well it's been four seasons, it's about time they develop the other Marshalls a bit (criminally underused characters).

Quote:

Originally Posted by VTRan 

 

love the Raylan, Art, Tim banter (I'd watch an hour of those guys just BS'ing in a car)

I wish the gawdawful sitcoms my wife watches had writing this snappy. 

"I'll do my level best'"

"There's money in fighting chickens, Raylan, I think---"

BANG.

Laughed so loud I may have woken up my wife. 

EDIT: As an aside, I think this season has been excellent so far, even if the master plot still hasn't really come into focus (which I'm fine with, since it seems to be something of a mystery). 

I miss the days when there'd be a dozens of us in here (in any given Big Show Thread) discussing the night's events, in real time.

Justified is especially suited because there are so many little pleasures in the lines and/or actions of the characters that are almost as fun to repeat as to hear for the first time. 

"How much money was it?"

"A goodly amount."

Quote:

Originally Posted by Parker 

"There's money in fighting chickens, Raylan, I think---"

BANG.

Laughed so loud I may have woken up my wife. 

EDIT: As an aside, I think this season has been excellent so far, even if the master plot still hasn't really come into focus (which I'm fine with, since it seems to be something of a mystery). 

Me, too, man.  Just the off-hand, Blackthorne-esque shotgun blast was awesome.

And the fact that he was clutching his thigh which genuinely looked like where Raylan was firing (if not aiming).

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jacob Singer 

I miss the days when there'd be a dozens of us in here (in any given Big Show Thread) discussing the night's events, in real time.

It hasn't really been the same since the site changed to the new look.

I'd love to chat about a show as I watched it if I didn't have a wife that would hate me for that.  It doesn't help that the show is on past my bedtime.  Being a grown-up blows.

  Yeah, I missed the first episode on the evening of it's initial broadcast, but figured Comcast's OnDemand option would help me out the next day. Nope. Had to wait til the following week, the day after ep. 2, to be able to watch ep. 1. What kind of sense does that make? Not to mention that FX repeats each week's new episode and then gives you the previous week's ep. at fuckin' midnight, well past this working man's bedtime. I just got caught up this morning because I happen to have the day off. Maybe it's just my cable system, but. grrrrr.

Good point, I think more and more people aren't watching shows when they air. Come to think of it, I haven't really done that regularly since Lost

Justified is much more episodic than Breaking Bad, Sons of Anarchy, or even Deadwood.

I didn't love last night's episode, mainly because I really liked how they had portrayed Lindsay as a grown up, healthy romantic partner without making her boring.  Now that she's a grifter, she seems like every other person in Harlan who is trying to scam Raylan someway or another. 

THUD REVIEW: JUSTIFIED 4.04 -- "THE BIRD HAS FLOWN"

I hope no one mistakes these reviews to mean I have some huge problem with the show this year. I don't. It's still great, as always. I just find it more interesting to write about the things that don't totally work for me, rather than the stuff that does. (For example: Olyphant is great every single week, so there's no sense in me repeating it over and over.)

It's interesting watching the vast gulf between Raylan and Boyd's storylines. I'm wondering how they'll converge, if at all. I've also enjoyed Boyd's new muscle character, who seems to have grown a conscience this episode.

Also, more Erica Tazel please.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deanburger 

I've also enjoyed Boyd's new muscle character, who seems to have grown a conscience this episode.

Actually, he had a conscience at the beginning of the season premiere, when he seemed concerned over whether he'd have to kill anyone while working with Boyd's crew. But then it wasn't an issue at all less than 60 minutes later when he blows that guy away over the "take care of him" misunderstanding. Now apparently he's conflicted about killing again. Or maybe it's just because it was a harmless girl. Regardless, not the most consistently written character so far, although Ron Eldard was excellent in the scene with Ellen May in the truck.

I think his inconsistency is explained away when you juxtapose his monologue about soldiers doing heroin with the scene of him doing heroin himself. He can spot an addict because he is one.

I will be really upset if Art gets killed off.

I will be really REALLY upset if Art gets killed off.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dontEATnachos 

Come on, he's *this* close to retirement. In any other series, what would that tell you?

I'm plugging my ears. LA-LA-LA-LA.

Speaking of Art, he likes to attack triple amputees in his spare time.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dontEATnachos 

 

In any other series, what would that tell you?

The key phrase.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dontEATnachos 

Yeah, I thought about going back and editing that to say 'in any fairly serious crime drama' but then someone had already responded so I didn't bother.

The truth is, I think killing off Art would be totally within the realm of what this show does. I think it'd have a significant impact on Raylan and the other marshallsl. The show has gone out of the way to show how necessary he's been to keeping their office afloat, foreshadowing it even more. Adding the fact that Art is "more out in the field" with the investigation of the Drew Thompson case, it just seems like a way the show might go. I think it would be an interesting development for the characters as well. It would also be a way to put a real cost on Raylan of all of the screw-ups he's caused (except that what gets Art killed will probably be something Arlo does ...).

Don't forget, we got a glimpse into Art's background and his willingness to operate outside the law to accomplish his goals (basically how Raylan-esque he was as a Marshall).  So if Art ultimately gets punished for his earlier sins it's something additional Raylan will have to deal with.

I have a feeling someone is gonna die over this Drew Peterson case.  Art, Sheriff Shelby(He was looking up Drew on the computer), and Arlo are top suspects to bite it.  I almost think someone has to die to show how ruthless Theo Tonin is.

I believe Shelby, Arlo, and a few other old timers in Harlen know who and where Drew is hiding.  He may even be Shelby.