Well, I guess that settles that. Let’s get right to it (after the jump, obviously, because spoilersspoilersspoilers).
First and foremost, here’s showrunner Graham Yost discussing the Drew Thompson reveal in his weekly postmortem at EW:
We didn’t know until we were finishing up breaking episode 405. We had played with various other possibilities. Initially, we were thinking Drew would be a Clover Hill person. And then we thought, “Eh, we don’t really know them. We’re not invested.” And then we thought maybe Josiah [guest star Gerald McRaney], who got his foot chopped off. “Yeah, but we were thinking we wanted Drew to go on the run, and that wouldn’t work.” And then I got a call that Ben Cavell in the writers room had hit on an idea. It might have come up before that, and we all just kind of pooh-poohed it. But in that context, he said, “What if Shelby’s Drew?” And we put [story editor] VJ [Boyd] [Ed. note - SHOUTOUT TO VJ BOYD] on it — we jokingly call him Storytron 6000 — and he’s brilliant at tracking everything back and saying, “Okay, in season 2, this is what we knew about Shelby…” So he tracked it back and found that it could fit with a few little nudges. Tim’s response immediately to it was ours: We liked the idea of a guy who was on the run from the law working as a sheriff’s deputy for years and then becoming the sheriff. That was partly suggested by something that [EP Fred Golan] had read about, a guy was running for Congress and then it was found out he was living under a stolen identity. Then it became a balancing act: We wanted to support the answer, but we didn’t want to give it away. The thing is, in this modern world, people really pay such close attention to everything in a show, and because of the various forums and blogs and feeding off each other, it’s harder to really pull it off as a complete surprise.
And I guess that’s the thing, isn’t it? That the moment of truth wasn’t a complete surprise for a lot of viewers? I mean, of course Shelby was Drew. He had to be. The crumbs that were laid out over the last few weeks clearly pointed us in that direction, so when Hunter did the whole “So what now, Drew?” thing in the back of the squad car, it was more about confirmation than a dramatic reveal. But here’s the real question, and I’m not sure I have a definitive answer: Does it matter that we kind of knew?
Like, sure, they could have made Drew one of the rich old coot Harlan Illuminati guys, but that would have required a lot of backstory being thrown together for people we haven’t particularly cared about to this point. Or they could have made it a total stranger, but that brings up the same problems as the last option, with the added “What the hell? Who is this guy?” issues that arise with bringing in an important new character with a handful of episodes left in the season. Or, I suppose, they could have had a spaceship land right on top of the marshal’s office and had a green, twelve-headed alien saunter into Art’s office and announce “Hello, I am Drew Thompson” through its human voice modulator, moments before Will Smith walked in and punched it in five or six of its heads. All options that were on the table.
All in all, I think I like that Shelby turned out to be Drew, for a couple reasons. First of all, it sets up a close to the season that will feature a bunch of characters we know and love (Raylan, Boyd, Wynn Duffy [once he finds out, which he will]) hunting down another character we’ve come to know and love, with very different intentions. And second, it feels a little silly to punish a show for not fooling us when the process of not fooling us has been so damn fun.
And now, the highlights:
- I could watch Art rampage forever. Grumpy Art is nice, Sarcastic Art is fine, and Excited “Marshal Stiffy” Art is just a dang good time. But Angry Art? The one who storms around the office yelling “GODDAMMIT” at any poor soul who had the temerity to show up to work that day? That’s my dude.
- A couple really great scenes this week: 1) Boyd and Colt in the office getting to the bottom of the Ellen May business. Boyd is great when he’s calmly quoting classic literature in tense criminal situations, but he can also be downright menacing sometimes. 2) Hunter and Raylan at the end of the episode. Raylan’s Hallmarked-up version of his last moments with Arlo cracked me up, given that we all know the old man’s last words to his son were “Kiss my ass.” The real killer there, though, was Hunter’s line to Raylan: “I think we both know whose voice it is makes you do what you do.” Hoo boy. Like a scalpel.
- Speaking of Colt, he is not long for this world. Can’t be. I thought for sure he was a goner last night, and now he’s on borrowed time. Time that’s been borrowed from Tim. Apricot? Apricot.
- Funniest moments of the night: 1) Art dropping a “Don’t be a smartass!” on Tim, which, let’s be honest here, as much as I love Tim’s perma-sass, was a long time coming. 2) Constable Bob’s l’esprit de l’escalie moment walking away from Lee Paxton (“You go play ASSHOLE in the mirror, Lee!”), which, obviously, led to a shootout involving automatic weapons and handles of bourbon. Kentucky, y’all.
- The worst part about Boyd getting arrested and Ava going into hiding is that we probably won’t get to see them shop for houses with a suitcase full of money for a while. I wanted that to be next week’s entire B-plot.
- “I’m supposed to be back here sh-tttin’ myself?” “Lord, I hope not.”
- Raylan Givens, on Wynn Duffy: “Eh, Dixie Mafia such-and-such. Tools around in a motor coach. Don’t matter.” Accurate, I guess. But he probably should have mentioned the eyebrows. (Oh, also, how cool was that tiny, eensie-weensie moment of compassion Wynn showed after finding out Arlo died? It’s the little things with this show. It’s mostly the big things like an incompetent constable with a Napoleon complex spraying a house with bullets, but it’s definitely the little things, too.)
- No Jackie Nevada again this week. My guess? She got held up in Atlantic City after some seedy low-lifes caught her cleaning up in late-night, big-money card games. Don’t worry, she’ll figure a way out of it. After all, this is Jack Nevada we’re talking about.
- I still wish, after we found out Shelby was Drew, “he” pulled off a wax mask, Mission: Impossible-style, to reveal that he WAS MAGS THE WHOLE TIME! BUT HOW?! IT CAN’T BE?! I THOUGHT SHE WAS DEAD?!
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I had a Yorkie, growing up.
So I guess Ellen May is on the run with Drew?
what’s up with Tim’s pal headshot/chestshots mix-up?
honest mistake?
Yeah, how did he text after being shot in the head? Unless he texted when he was hiding in the kitchen
I thought about that, but he was in tighty whities and didn’t have the phone in his hands when he raised them.
also, the phone had blood on it, so the text must have been after the shots, as stated.
1. Angry Art does, in fact, rule.
2. Agreed on wynn’s moment of compassion being oddly touching.
3. Was not a big fan of how the Colt/Tim/Boyd thing played out in the tent. Tim doesn’t strike me as the type of Marshal who will bow down to Boyd and walk away from a drugged up con with a gun who was just strangling a woman and who probably killed Tim’s friend. I know it sets up something awesome, but that seemed pretty bitchy of our Tim.
I was hoping that there was no Drew Thompson–that is was code for something.
I’d rather the reveal make sense than be a nonsensical surprise. I’m glad it was Shelby.
Okie, I’m going to have to watch it from the beginning to see who might be beloved. The only one I can think of would be a women from season 2. The mine lawyer? Or it’s dickee
YOU DO NOT FUCK WITH CONSTABLE BOB. Very much a takeaway not mentioned here.
I love Pissed Art too. The thing is that we wouldn’t have this much fun watching Pissed Art if it was a constant thing…it’d get a little old fast and we’d all be saying it’s “played out.” In the context we got Pissed Art this episode, it fit perfectly.
I was a little surprised at Shelby being Drew Thompson. Guess I’m not that good at looking into things on this show. Oh well.
And Colt dies in the next episode. Predicting this now. Will not be surprised if he eats a bullet. I’m seeing Tim with a sniper rifle somewhere…
That would be too easy. Colts going down. But some deal has to go down between Tim , Raylan and Boyd and Ava
PATTON OSWALT going all Scarface mixed with The Govenor from walking dead. i love it.
Patton Oswalt made an otherwise slow episode fairly exciting.
Great episode. I’m thinking dickee. Although I’m not sure beloved would be my first choice of words
Awww man, just when I thought Ava had a heart…at the start of last night’s epi., showing the flashback of Ava telling Boyd how she still sees Elly May’s face at night and it’s got her twisted up in knots…then last night saying “I shoulda killed her myself” All in all, I still love her..great ass too, please don’t kill her off !!
There needs to be a notation of the fake cough on that gif of Colton walking by Tim, that was gold.
Also, if someone blindfolded me and said they had a surprise, and the surprise turned out to be Boyd, I’d be delighted.
That last shot with Raylan and Tim walking on a mission was awesome. People are gonna get messed up.
And this episode was a great eulogy for Arlo, good and bad of him.
Every episode of House Hunters better end with a hillbilly with a suitcase full of cash telling the Realtor to kiss his ass
That would make House Hunters the best reality show on television.
I hope that Ava doesn’t die. I’ve had this sick feeling since early this season that she might take another bullet.
AAAAAAAAAAHHHH!! Don’t even talk like that!
#teamava4lyfe
Yeah Ava and Boyd are not getting out of this unscathed.
I think Ava will take the legal hit from her murder. Thus setting Boyd and Raylan against one another into the future of the series like never before.
Ava has got to suffer something serious after all this. But I can’t see her dying, the world needs her.
I thinkk her dying is a distinct possibility…her and Boyd are falling deeper in love, becoming too happy….Boyd will be crushed by her passing thus giving us all sympathy for the devil. Ultimately though, he will blame himself for getting her involved in a life of crime. He is smart enough to realize that, still though, he’ll look revenge anyway.
Ava’s a scrapper, a survivor, she’s not going to die
i think i’m the only one who doesn’t like ava around here. her accent sounds fake.
I don’t see her dying, but there is no way in hell she and Boyd are ending up in a house in Clover Hill, moving up the social ladder. Something, or someone, is going to violently yank them back down, and soon.
@WRS, ah know wut yewwww mean about Ahyvahhh. With the aksceyhnt n’ all thahhht?
@zygo…Arlo was a scrapper too and he’s dead…..just sayin’
Hunter’s parting shot at Raylan just reinforces my feeling that Raylan will die at the end of the series’ run. Raylan may wear the white hat, but he doesn’t get a happy ending. After all “You’ll never leave Harlan alive.”
i dont know about that, i think it’s just re-inforcing the light/dark battle that constantly goes on inside of Raylan, it’s almost like a Green Goblin thing with Arlo’s voice in Raylan’s head, and the light and dark is represented by his mother and father. I suppose Raylan dying is a possibility, but that question of whether he deserves to live or die really isn’t the crux of his character the way it was with say a Vic Mackey or a Dexter Morgan.
For Raylan I think the ultimately crux for his character at the end of series run will be more about his choice between good and evil, and what kind of father he will be. That is the main theme above all else in Justified – father and son, family, lineage….
I said it before in a previous episode discussion, but there’s a certain path the show is following – the series starts out with Raylan/Boyd and dealing with their fathers and each family’s pasts, now we’re at the midpoint of the series and both their dads are dead, and they are both more concerned with their family’s futures.
I don’t think the writers would kill off an Elmore Leonard character that Leonard never killed off himself. Besides, Raylan has already left Harlan alive and he doesn’t live there now.
I don’t know that Raylan’s struggle is as much good/evil as it is good cop/good unethical cop. I’d say Raylan holds justice pretty high on his list of priorities.
@Captain-Darryl
i agree, to clarify I dont think Raylan would ever choose outright evil or consider going bad guy, it’s more does he allow the evil in him from Arlo to mess up his life aka being unethical and crossing the line too much/too many times or is he able to keep that part of his persona at bay, that’s what the show was making a statement on with Hunter’s line at the end of the episode, at least that’s what i took from it.
the shootout with constable bob had me laughing out loud. patton is the perfect fit for that character. solid episode. it has amazed me how in depth each season is in terms of the sheer amount of story being told.
That was a great scene – those humorous moments help make this show so good.
How does your heart beat not rev up when they just showed the motor home? It’s like opening the fridge and seeing an ice cold beer.
Not sure if this can be considered a spoiler (or a spoiler of a spoiler) and I don’t know if this was already discussed below, but in that interview Yost mentions “episode 10 will have the surprise return of a beloved character, and that’s all I’ll say.”…. Anybody have any guesses?
crossing my fingers for Dickie but I don’t see how.
My guess would be Limehouse
Dewey?
Winona
After reading the EW article I may change my vote to Limehouse.
I’m hoping for Quarles with a robot arm cannon, much like Mega Man!
I’m hoping it’s Limehouse.
My vote is also for Quarles.
I’m perfectly fine with Shelby being Drew. It gives us character we’re invested in, and he can still redeem himself (rat out Tonin, save Ellen Mae).
Truth is, I would of liked to watch Shelby play cat and mouse with Raylan and Boyd for an episode or two.
I agree. Shelby’s identity was only part of the story anyway. Now the fun part starts as a bunch of very violent and angry people are on the hunt for him.
+2
That was probably one of my favorite episodes so far. I think that having the viewers do a little detective work themselves makes it just as satisfying as any shock or twist. It makes the reveal rewarding.
Looks like the Go Bag is now a Gone Bag..
Why the hell has Wynn Duffy not been watching any women’s tennis this season? The next time we have someone from the show on here thay had better have a damn good explanation.
I literally yelled out “Go Bag!” at the screen when he pulled it out. That entire scene was glorious.
1) Holy crap Timmy O. He better get an Emmy or I swear to god I will cut someone. GREAT acting over the past few episodes, his subtle facial expressions and just general delivery are amazing.
2) I hope Tim gets to kill Colt. Also, I’ve been under the impression that Tim was gay this whole time so I was flummoxed during the scene with the preacher’s sister.
3) The thing I’ve always loved about Justified is how they give minor characters such life in very limited screentime, and leave us wanting more, they’re the only show I know that does such a good job of it.
I don’t think the show will go there with Tim but it’s not an unreasonable assumption that he might be gay. It’s not like he had any reaction towards Cassie beyond laughing at her suggestion he was showing empathy for Colt. Gay or straight, someone as awesome as Tim can do better.
I totally agree with you @SuperNintendoChalmers!
Tim has developed so well with such limited screen time. The paraphrase line was my favorite of the night. I’m really looking forward to more of Tim.
Hunters face when Raylan pushes him over in the Winnebago was great, knew it had to be one of the gifs tonight!!
This comment made me realize I went straight to the comments and still haven’t looked at the gif.s
“Can’t I just hurt him a little bit?”
Chekov’s Go-Bag. Fortunately filled with an AK-74. I’m glad everyone was such a terrible shot, or else it would have been more tense and less hilarious.
I think they went to the A-Team Shooting Academy
Yeah he got pretty lucky. The explanation of that event and the weapons associated with it would be pretty tough.
plus the old guys were drunk
I’m sure sales of Yorkie terriers will go through the roof now that they have the Wynn Duffy seal of approval.
If he would have said Corgi the Universe would have exploded.
The shootout with Patton was priceless. Friggin AK-47
The enthusiasts over at imfdb haven’t updated their Justified Season 4 page yet but I’m pretty sure that’s an AKMSU. Great scene.
You know, just because something is predictable and can be seen coming in television, doesn’t mean its bad. Its far worse to just throw in a swerve that makes no sense (see also, Russo, Vince).
So sad we’ll never hear ‘Eeet sheeeit’ again, R.I.P. Arlo, you old coot. (I know i’m a week late)
There’s always the chance of a flashback.
Anyone else think it’s suspicious that the preacher chick walks in looking for Ellen May? It doesn’t ad up.
I think either Johnny got her to do it to force the issue.
Also, is Ellen May on the run with Shelby now?
The preacher chick showed up due to a message from Ellen May; Johnny didn’t even know about it until his hooker told him. Ellen May is not yet on the run as of this episode.
Regarding Cousin Johnny; I’d suspected that his intention to usurp Boyd with the help of Wynn Duffy was just a ruse to keep tabs on any threat Wynn Duffy might pose to Boyd. He seemed genuine when talking to Boyd about Colt whilst driving.
@Entropy – forgot about the hooker. You’re right.
“Tell Raylan that if he doesn’t deliver Sherriff Mosley to Supermax he will no longer be a martial and neither will I, and that’s where his problems start”
“Do you want me to go word for word or parahprase.”
“Let me guess, you’re calling because Art’s pissed”
Underrated exchanges.
Underrated my ass. Who didn’t think that was great?
Survive list:
Wynn
Cousin Johnnie
Ava
Boyd
Goner list:
Colt
Hunter
Ellen May
Shelby/Drew
flip Ellen May and Cousin Johnny and I’d believe it. If Wynn lives, boyd’s definitely going to find out about Johnny’s plot
I think Johnny lives. I think next season he and Boyd go at it.
It would be a miracle if Johnny makes it through this.
Johnny’s a goner for sure. I think Ellen May might make it, and I HOPE
whoops. ct’d: I hope Shelby makes it, but that seems unlikely. Jim Beaver is the man though.
Jim Beaver is the man. Although, like Sean Bean, he tends to die a lot, and usually by getting shot in the head. Poor bastard.
I was thinking that Sniper Tim may have been a goner this week, which would have pissed me the hell off. Who knows though
I think Ellen Mae makes it, probably due to Shelby.
I hope they give an explanation as to why Shelby didnt get the hell out of Harlan upon first word about Drew being alive. And if he isnt running or giving himself up, then why didnt he turn himself in? He had to know he was on borrowed time. Based on the deal offered Arlo and Hunter, you got to think Shelby gets immunity to take down Tonin, then he reunites with his wife with witness protection and third identity.
“All that dog was bark and shit, as if one had something to do with the other”
Another underrated line.
I’m really in love with Art’s “…till I learn to like you again” line (or something along those lines). Feel like he’s used that in reference to Raylan before, and it’s just perfect for a father-figure type like him.
Having Art pissed at you seems like it’d be one of the worst things in the world
@Carcetti, but being around Art when he’s pissed at someone else has to be a good time.
This season has been a blast. I don’t know how they keep the bar so high. That is all.
Does anyone have any information on a 5th season? It was about a year ago that they announced the renewal for Season 4.
Do I have this right? Shelby/Drew remarried a woman in Harlan named Abby that left him and now Ellen Mae was wearing her clothes?
yep
That was the only thing that was bothering me about Shelby as Drew, I’d forgotten about his other wife!
Is Abby real? Or was he just talking about the psychic lady? (Who looks NOTHING like Ava Gardner btw)
I felt like he was lying to Ellen Mae about his wife “leaving him” when in reality he left her.
I mean that whole “Pretending long enough” speech was all about being Drew, so.
I thought he was speaking about the psychic working with the marshals as well, gut why would he have her clothes in Harlan Co? I say he remarried.
Art should tattoo “Don’t be a smart ass” on his forehead.
I just really loved Art’s meltdown on literally everyone within 30 feet of him.
Anyone think we’ll see Theo this season? Possibly in Harlan?
IDK. I would think if Drew can finger him in a murder he would not want to be in the same place as Drew under any circumstances. I think Mike O’Malley’s character shows up again as Theo’s proxy and promptly gets ‘Justified’ by Raylan, Boyd, or more likely Shelby.
I think it might be possible because I believe Theo wants Drew brought to him (presumably so Theo can kill Drew himself).
Actually. methinks that Boyd protects Drew to get Detroit off his back. If he fingers Tonin, Tonin goes to the poke and and what happens to Detroit? I’m guessing they leave Boyd to his own devices.
I think an outright battle with Detroit could take up an entire season.
Go bag, go bag, go bag!!!!!
I really wish they would’ve gave Tim a Raylan moment and had him swiss-cheese Colt.
Soon…
It’ll happen, he’s waiting for Colt to be sober
that moment may be coming in the next episode or two.
Loved that line ‘I’m gonna wait till his eyes are clear’
I don’t think Tim cares whether he is sober or not. He’s gonna get him.
I agree that Tim is gonna get Colton, but I have a bad feeling he may be hurt/killed in the process. I’m getting bad feelings about both him and Ava (especially Ava…things are too close to being perfect for her to end well). Bad feels all around.
Yeah hard to believe Ava is going to get to live in rainbow land after all she’s been involved in. Colt’s only chance is
Dammit. His only chance is to try and bushwhack Tim which still probably go badly for him.
Yeah, I’m not too worried about it. Tim is probably the most dangerous man on the show.
That showdown is going to be SO badass if it ends up happening
I kinda want Boyd to do it. He’s always so badass about shooting people in the head
The moment with Wynn Duffy expressing his condolences was great, but I’m worried that Wynn might not make it through the rest of the season for his failure to procure Drew Thompson.
“I had a Yorkie once.”-Wynn Duffy.
The yorkie line was by far my favorite of the night
It was good, but not as good as Raylan’s line about Hunter shitting himself.
Has this been Wynn’s best season? He’s been awesome
Wynn could survive if if Drew/Shelby rats out Theo Tonin and brings him down.
I wouldn’t say it’s Wynn’s best season. Who knows where this crazy roller coaster will end up though?
Ok the bag in the wall was a great way to start the mystery, but ultimately did it really have shit to do with the story? There was never any explanation as to why in the hell Arlo had that in his wall. On it’s own I don’t think it proved anything meaning it was useless for blackmail.
Season’s not over yet.
yeah, you’re right. We’ll see
I’m also interested to find out why Arlo was so intent on keeping Drew’s secret.
He was using it to get a deal. When Hunter found out Arlo was shopping that info, he killed him.
And why was the bag Puerto Rican?
was it Puerto Rican or Dominican? either way, they explained it but I forgot the explanation.
Bag was Panamanian.
It’s either the country with the civil war, the one with the cocaine, or the one with the fancy hats.
Considering Puerto Rico is part of the US, they probably don’t have diplomats, so I’ll go Panamanian. More coke their than the Dominican, right?
*there. derp.
Is it just me or has Boyd been in handcuffs in every episode this season?
his season started a little slow, but it’s been pure gold the last few episodes. Raylan and Tim teaming up to get Shelby, er, Drew can’t fail. Also, Raylan finally managed to win a fist fight. It doesn’t mater if one of them were handcuffed.
You know I’m still catching up…i’m half way through season 2…dammit Scott I gotta get my sh*t together.
Season 2 is amazing. You take your time and enjoy the hell out of it.
Take your time man. It’s all good.
Take it slow like a good bourbon. Actually, take it slow with a good bourbon.
And now I want bourbon.
Yeah, don’t rush Mags. Savor that shit.
Oh man. I wish I could watch Season 2 (and 1 and 3 for that matter) for the first time again.
I absolutely agree with the whole “not being mad at the reveal” jargon. Going into the episode it just felt right that Shelby would be Drew, but having them finally admit it still felt right in the way they did. At that point, no one else had a clue and it’s not like he did it at the beginning- the episode was basically over, which gave us time to see more about the clues and leads that were available for a case that seemed cold and to show us that, although we the viewers were pretty aware of who Drew was, the main players within the show still did not, and that there was no true evidence pieced together that could make them aware until it was too late.
Long rant aside: I want to see Tim go all Richard Harrow at some point to take down Colt. Would make my day.
My favourite Arlo line was when he told the guy to get used to purging case files until Arlo learned to like him again
Damn it, I mean Art.
So, anyone have any fantasy casting for Theo Tonin? I mean other than Ian McShane?
Theo is already known. It’s Adam Arkin.
Crap, you are right, I forgot that with the episode with the younger Tonin.
Seems like the proper arch for Adam Arkin – backwoods chef, conspiracy wingnut in Alaska to Detroit gangster
And I for one would love to see Arkin make an appearance this season.