Despite a large fan base and acclaimed success, the FX series Justified may quite possibly be the most underrated program airing on television today.
Based on Elmore Leonard’s novels “Pronto” and “Riding The Gap” and the short story “Fire in the Hole”, Justified is about the adventures of “19th century-style lawman” U.S. Deputy Marshal Raylan Givens played to perfection by Timothy Olyphant (Deadwood, Hitman). After a mandatory relocation from Miami to his home state of Kentucky, Raylan is charged with suppressing the gorging sinkhole of local crime. With a monumental supporting cast and seductive storytelling, the intriguing crime drama has matured and improved with each passing seasons.
A small rural town fueled by crime safeguarded by a “gun-slinging” lawman rings like a Clint Eastwood screenplay. But this is Justified, not ‘The Good The Bad and The Ugly’! The series takes place in the here and now and dispenses subject matter such as drug dealings, hate crimes, and child molestation. The writers infuse these modern issues with legendary elements from the most classic westerns.
The mid-western aesthetic and stereotyping creates a setting for these characters that appears both seasoned and distinct. Producer Graham Yost has successfully created a genuine hybrid genre that plays tribute to westerns whilst reintroducing them to a new generation.
Cable television shows today are usually based around one or more central characters and then feature a vast supporting cast. Some of these shows such as Breaking Bad rely on just the main characters to drive the show. Shows such as Breaking Bad have great characters such as Walt and Jesse but other secondary characters are terribly one-dimensional and lack any essential importance. Justified succeeds in creating great supporting characters who aren’t just there to fill in the required episodic screen time.
Originally intended to be “killed off” at the end of season one, Justified’s first villain, Boyd Crowder, has evolved into one of the shows most important and popular characters. Boyd began his turn as a bomb mad preaching white supremacist, but over the last four seasons has become a much-loved player with a crucial, beefed-up role. Walton Goggins has virtually achieved the impossible and taken a largely unlikable villain and made him one of the most fascinating characters on the small screen today. Boyd has transformed over the past 4 seasons from a small time country hick crook into a potent and respected advisory to the U.S. Marshalls.
The enthralling chemistry between Boyd and Givens is perhaps the most compelling facet of the series. Both Goggins and Olyphant have mastered the personalities of their characters and have created a unique and fun rivalry that is constantly evolving. With all that these two characters have experienced together, it remains refreshing that their relationship continues to become more complex and interesting with every episode. Despite the fact that Raylan encounters a new villain each season, Boyd remains the constant antagonist for the Deputy U.S. Marshall. Boyd’s intentions have changed with each passing series, but Goggins outstanding performance, as the articulate Harlan County criminal, has remained ever dependable.
Most television dramas start off with high concept plots then slowly shrivel into programs that we simply watch each week. One of the reasons why Justified is so compelling is because it is constantly evolving and changing its format each season. Season one had Raylan move back to Kentucky with instructions to take down boyhood friend Boyd Crowder. The season changes when they inadvertently team up to move on Boyd’s father. In Season two the change-up comes with the introduction of new villain, Mags Bennett (Margo Martindale) and her family early in the season. The third season introduced a psychotic, carpet bagging nut-job named Robert Quarles (Neal McDonough) who tries to annex the illegal “Oxy” trade in Kentucky. The most current season has Raylan chasing down a thirty year-old unsolved mystery. By keeping the basic framework and constantly changing the format, Justified remains both fresh and highly entertaining.
It’s rare to find a series on TV that offers so much inside of such a simple formula. It is regularly among the top viewing choices on critics lists. Clever plots, characters and production along with witty scripts and quality acting make Justified one of the best shows currently available to television viewers around the globe. With season five a certainty, we can now only wait patiently for the next entertaining installment. If you haven’t experienced a ‘hit’ of Justified yet I can definitely recommend you spend some quality time catching up on the first four seasons.
