I’m sure there are more professional ways to start out a recap than by typing “holy crap” in all caps, but seriously, HOLY CRAP. How good was last night’s episode? The scene at the beginning with Nicky and Boyd, the whole standoff between Tim and Colt (especially the phone call), Drew telling Raylan about meeting Arlo in Vietnam, Ava going FULL Ava Crowder on Nicky and Johnny, Constable Bob turning an enforcer named Yolo into beef stew, all of it. Any of those scenes could have been the high point of another episode, but instead Graham Yost and crew stacked them on top of each other like a gun-toting, wise-cracking, 30-foot tall sentient totem pole, and the result was one of the most enjoyable hours of television in recent memory.
A season that started with Raylan Givens happily boinking a bartender and going toe-to-toe with her cage fighter ex-husband has smoothly transitioned into a battle between the U.S. Marshals and the Detroit mob involving helicopters, snipers, and booby-trapped cars lining a rural Kentucky road, and has occasionally featured a bumbling constable spraying bullets into things. All in the course of like a week or two in the characters’ lives. Stay frosty, Justified. Stay very frosty.
And now, the highlights:
- As Graham Yost explains in his weekly postmortem with EW, a bunch of the action in this episode was inspired by Tarantino films (mostly notably the scene where Yolo beats the snot out of Constable Bob while “Love Train” plays in the background), which is kind of a snake-eating-its-own-tail homage since Tarantino has listed Elmore Leonard’s books as one of his own inspirations.
- Speaking of that Bob/Yolo scene, Tom Scharpling, host of The Best Show on WFMU, had a call-in topic on a recent show about what song would be the worst to get beat up to. My answer is still “The Chicken Dance,” but after last night, let’s go ahead and put “Love Train” on the short list.
- One more Constable Bob note: Patton Oswalt did an interview with Esquire where he talked about his burgeoning acting career, and he said that he “got nervous” acting around Jere Burns. This seems reasonable. Wynn Duffy will do that to a man.
- Look, I know he was kind of being a dick about it, but it was still nice of Nicky Augustine to compliment Boyd on his teeth and his snazzy wardrobe.
- From now on, whenever anyone asks me why or how I know a lot about a person, my answer will be “We dug coal together.” (Ex. – “Hey DG, you sure seem to know a lot about Boyz II Men.” “We dug coal together.” “Uh… what?”)
- Note to self: DO NOT INSULT AVA CROWDER OR CONFESS YOUR LOVE FOR HER AFTER YOUR PLOT TO DOUBLE-CROSS HER BEAU HAS BEEN REVEALED.
- My favorite part of the Tim/Colt Kentucky IED standoff? The fact that Tim named him “Lt. Dan” in his “screenplay.”
- Wait, I lied. My favorite part was when Art said “This is Kentucky, not Sausalito” when he found out there were no smokers in the crew who could provide a lighter to ignite the Molotov cocktail.
- I lied again. My favorite part was ALL OF IT.
- How have I made it this far without mentioning that (a) Raylan Givens is apparently a big reader, and (b) Drew met Arlo when Arlo was reading a book outside a Saigon whorehouse because he thought the name of the poor sap who drugged him was in there and he wanted to find out so he could castrate him? Seriously. This goddamn episode.
- Two things: 1) If an astronaut had landed a helicopter on the baseball field of my high school, I would never shut up about it either. 2) I love that Boyd Crowder — a well-read, eloquent man known for using 40 words when four will suffice — still refers to this as “the coolest, most awesomest thing” that ever happened to him in high school.
- TV PITCH: Justified High, featuring teenage versions of Boyd, Raylan, and Ava back in the late 80s doing geometry and screwing around in detention and so on and so forth. Make it a cartoon and air it after Archer.
- “Playing the part of a lawman doesn’t mean you know sh-t about sh-t.” Put that on Raylan’s gravestone and engrave shotguns on either side of it.
I’ll stop here because I could go on forever. Feel free to add your favorite moments in the comments. As always, GIFs from Chet Manley are on the following pages. Please do not beat the hell out of me while listening to the O’Jays.
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c’mon there’s a lot more gifs you can add. like all of the different drews bob comes up with, or when colt says they circled the wagon or nicky asking how many dicks you have to suck?
This episode was the Bad Ass of Bad Assery. Seriously, every character couldn’t be outdone.
I would so watch Justified High if it was made by the same people behind Clone High.
YOLO had swag…had…
Great ep, but still seems far fetched that they could get three cars on the road ahead of the marshals and load em up with explosives and remote detonators in the short time provided. Also it was only two guys and there were three cars.
So did Colt just go crazy again, or was it somehow implied by Boyd that they were gonna kill the detroit mafia ppl??
But wasn’t the point that they weren’t necessarily loaded with explosives, but Colt knew Tim would suspect they were. They didn’t actually need to blow up as the convoy drove by, just cause the convoy to fear that would happen to stop them in their tracks.
DREW-BACCA!!!
so many amazing scenes from this episode. YOLO.
It’s such a small thing, but Tim made that Molotov Cocktail in an Ale-8 bottle. And that didn’t even mean a thing to any of you non-Kentuckian assholes.
You all have pointed out the good stuff again and again, I mean it just can’t be said too many times. But here are a three subtler items that thrilled me down to my toes.
Example of perfect comic/dramatic timing without words: Constable Bob cocking his gun the perfect millisecond AFTER Raylan says here is the guy backing me up.
Example of perfect dramatic acting without words: Ava’s face continually throughout that five minute scene in the bar. You knew exactly what she was faking and at the same time exactly what she was really feeling. She was old and young, soft and hard, blazingly in control and scared as shit. Joelle just won my Best Actress Emmy.
Example of perfect action scene in thirty seconds without words: Those four screaming vehicles whipping and sliding around into a circle climaxing (and I do mean it) with Tim running to the edge with that rather large rifle. Who’s the pussy now?
What effing percentage of lines in this show stand completely on their own as repeatable memes? Fifty percent? Eighty percent? These writers have so much mojo they just throw the stuff away. They sweep it out of the room when they leave at night.
Tim turning AWAY from the camera throwing off “nah, it’s not a fantasy,” he’s like we’re just drowning in this good shit, if you catch it fine, if you don’t – too bad.
By the way, my friends, Colton shot that guy because Colton had a gun in his hand. If you are ever in a room with Colton and you think there is any chance a gun is within fifty yards, kneel down and say your prayers.
Can’t leave it out – Colton pronounced Depardieu with an ostentatiously perfect Parisian accent – please no more, I can’t more endorphin rushes to my brain.
@Cindylou…I just checked back in here after a few days and was glad to see another great synopsis…well done my dear!! The Depardieu reference was unexpected coming from a character you’d think would not have a clue as to who that is. I love these writers and all of these characters. What a delight to be drowning in all this good shit week after week!!
Another scene, brought up again by JustaRat, on the stairwell, when Raylon warns Boyd ” you two come any closer and you’re gonna have a baaaad afternoon” – incredibly baddass.
I see your baaaaad afternoon and raise you:
Raylan: (gun pointed at Detroit guy) I’ll bet you a dollar.
Boyd: (gun pointed at his head) Wehell, ah do not have it on me right now Raylan but . . .
Detroit guy: knock this shit off
Constable Bob as a hardass stole the episode for me, though I do also like Raylan’s “Bring friends. I’ll be upstairs. I won’t be hard to find.” And Tim vs. Colt was awesome.
very late on this, but what a great fucking episode. easily the best of the season. just incredible scene after scene.
Yup. Episode of the year. Finally got to watch it last night.
Personal highlights:
–Constable Bob not just standing up to the bad guy, not just taking a beating, not just outfoxing him with a stabbin’,… but grabbing him by the leg and crawling after him.
–”How many D1cks have you sucked to get to the top?” That whole nasty, ignorant, unsulting speech which had every audience member at home wanting to slap him around.
–Love the phone conversation between the vets. The guy who plays the marshall (I’m terrible with names) is awesome. Every conversation he has with Art, Raylan, et al, is gold.
This entire episode was amazing, but I will remember that Constable Bob scene for a long time.
It was so good!
Just got my first badge because I’ve been catching up on episodes until now and avoiding spoilers. I’m going to stay a constable for a while…
I’m totally proud of my Constable Bob badge.By Season 6 Bob will rule Harlan County with an iron fist!
Two of the most savage beatings in the history of the show last night. Of course Bob, but when Augustine hits Boyd square in the mouth, HOLY FUCK! That damn near hurt watching!
And Raylan did everything without his hat, his lifeblood, the source of his power. Sure he’s lost it before, but never has he done so much, so awesomely without that 10 gallon hat riding shotgun.
I thought I read or heard somewhere, that every now and then they make a point to lose the hat (my guess is to show Raylan’s power comes from his pure awesomeness & not the hat)
And important part of the plot for the decoy convoy
I figure that’s exactly why they do it; to remind people there is a man under the hat. In other episodes, it’s almost been a scene stealer, so I’m glad they got rid of it for this one. Attention to details.
I cannot wait to watch this episode! Looks amazing!
I am watching it again right now and it is every bit as good the second time around. Oswalt is amazing in that scene w/Yolo.
Another great underappreciated line from Tim when Colt tries to tell him that he’s kicked- “evryone knows that he’s just one busted shoelace away from saying, screw it and he’s back on smack” or something to that effect….
Make next season 22 episodes please!
nope, it would water it down. Don’t mess with a good thing. Scratch that, the best thing.
short seasons are fine. ending this show after the 6th season is not
I want this series to last forever, too, but I also want a climatic series-ending movie (with an epic showdown between Raylan and Boyd) because the only thing missing from Justified is copious amounts of swearing and nudity.
My god, this episode was fantastic. “People underestimate Bob at their own peril.”
Bob is making his case to be my favorite side character.
Patton Oswalt on Burn Notice and Justified in the same season. Who is his agent and where can I sign up?
Not bad for a guy who was on King of Queens.
Danger- while it may be true that any of last nights scenes could the one highlight for this episode, I think the exchange between Ava and Augustine was classic, full of tension…here I was thinking that Johnny was gonna lose it and shoot that asshole and in the next instant, I thought Ava was gonna either burn his face off or shoot him in the nose. Also love the scene with Rachel asking Drew how he killed Truth. Also how Raylon reminds Drew ( after he asked for a gun, any old gun) that was why he was over there and the three of us us are over on this side, the right side of the law…so which part did I love the most? OK OK already, fuck it Danger, you’re right- IT WAS ALL OF IT !!
Talk about six seasons and a movie. I want the movie to tell us about what happened in Miami.
God that would be fantastic!
I would totally see a trilogy of Justified prequels; they can even feature Boyd and Colt fucking shit up in Afghanistan, too.
Constable Bob proved to be far more badass than I would have ever imagined
They better give him a proper police car and a real paycheck from now on, oh and some respect!
You failed to mention that Dewey Crowe would be the Screech of Justified High. And that would be the best.
holy crap! so true.
I always thought Colt reminded me of someone, but i could not remember who and it has been bugging me from the episode he was introduced in. Finally the show itself told me who he reminded me of, Gérard Depardieu. Thanks Justified writes, now i can finally get a good nights sleep again.
another great piece of dialogue from yesterday’s masterpiece.
I was doing “work stuff” yesterday and all day today. And let me just say that when I rule the world I will make sure that everyone is free to watch Justified on Tuesdays, and be available for comments on Uproxx on Wednesdays. But… just watched the episode and was blown away. And from this point on when anyone ever says “Yolo” to me… I will take Raylan’s lead and never repeat it!
Yoohoo, whatever
Mike O’Malley is just superb. I began to realize how good an actor the man is when he started guest starring on Glee, his turn on Justified has solidified my opinion on the matter.
Yeah, his role here has completely changed my opinion of him. I used to not care for him at all, but that is probably because i had only seen him in bad sitcoms before this.
Yea last nights episode alone made up for all those season’s of Yes, Dear.
precisely. i started by laughing at his appearances because all i could think was Guts. But, last night made his character great. good range by o’malley.
I remember reading about how he was almost cast as Ron Swanson on Parks & Rec, and my first thought was, “Wow, good thing he wasn’t, the guy from Yes, Dear would have been terrible.” Now I can kind of see how they thought he might have been good for the role.
It would have been a nice tie in if Drew Thompson had stolen a piece of the Aggro Crag.
If anyone needs me, just look me up in the phone book under “Drewbacca Coaltrain.”
Drewsitania.
The Yolo/Constable Bob scene obviously paid homage to the Mr Blonde/Officer Marvin scene from Reservoir Dogs but there was also hints of the Jules/Brett interrogation from Pulp Fiction with Yolo explaining his name and saying, “You know when I say it? When shit is about to get real.”
So much goodness in this episode with so many of the cast of characters operating at their peak. I think Nick Augustine stole it.
Is there a Colt badge to be had? If not, sort it.
Definitely want Art, Tim, and Bob with me if I’m ever trapped in an ambush. But Raylan with his “y’all come on up” can eat a dick.
Anyone expecting the guy with Boyd in the stairwell to lean a little too far in and get capped?
Was certainly hoping he’d lean a little too far…
And why the hate at Raylan?
Raylan badge! I feel…sassy.
LimeHOUSE
Yes, yes YES!
Justified High … LOL
After neglecting the rest of the Marshals in previous seasons I think the writers have done a great job weaving them in to the storyline expanding on their back stories and giving them some great moments this season.
This
Holy shit this episode! Everyone has pretty much commented on all the awesome parts, but I want to reiterate that I would watch the shit out of Justified HS.
Danger, you need to get on that!
Danger is already working on the Jackie Navada spinoff this country needs. Give him his space.
Danger has time to do both. Us readership should band together and bankroll him. I know this really good banker in kentucky. he doubles as a butcher too, so could ribs while you make withdrawls.
aw fuck, good not could.
I love this show so much. Last night was just amazing…give those writers a raise. some of my fav parts.
*They made Mike O’Malley, aka the Guts guy, a good character with his scenes with boyd and ava.
*Please make made-for-tv movies with the Justified cast called “The House that Cocaine Built” and “The Battle of Bloody Porch”. Would watch forever.
*Colt better not die this season. Him and Tim are too good together. Another Boyd-Raylan combo.
*That Justified spinoff about 80s high school Harlan County needs to an episode devoted to Art at a GNR concert. Cocaine and Bourbon must be featured heavily.
*Yolo is Yoohoo for now on.
*Kind of disappointed that Eva didn’t break the glass on Mike O’Malley or actually light him on fire.
I can’t wait for next week.
Those made for tv movie titles sound like bizarre Hardy Boy novels, you Raylan would approve.
I used to read Hardy Boy books as a kid too. Wonder where my life went off the rails.
I think the greatest take away from last night was that Art once attended a GNR concert. This episode couldn’t have been any better.
Best episode since it was already in the glass, not in the jar.
What if Drew is both Raylan & Boyd’s real dad and they’re brothers ? Bad Ass fathering 2 Bad Asses. Would also explain why Arlo never liked his own son.
Nope
Holy shit. They circled the wagons.
Here’s something awesome- The U.S. Marshals apprehended a fugitive in Harlan last night who had been on the run for 14 years. [www.wkyt.com]
that… is indeed awesome.
how perfect
except for the child molestation part
My God was this episode amazing. So much awesome in one hour.
Bob is Drew Thompson level badass after last night.
Also, everything with Colt and TIm was pure gold.
Joelle Carter’s scene last night was without question one of the best since the series began. Ava handled that with finesse and strength. I was applauding in my living room.
Yup. The minute she said I’ll have a brandy i thought, “Oh hell here we go”
This was by far the best episode of the season, and one the best of the series. It’s been a long time since an entire episode has kept me captivated.
I think the last 4-5 episodes have all been on the same level. For my money, though, none can touch the episode where Arlo died.
2 questions:
1. Did Constable Bob say “Drew Santana”?
2. What is Drew Santana? (I have no idea what that means.)
Drew-sitania. It was a pun on Lusitania.
Wow. That is a pretty obscure reference. That’s like, Archer-level obscure.
Especially when Drew Carey and Drew Barreymore were right there.
It seemed like all his references were obscure in an Archer sort of way.
A list of all the Drew names and their references would be a great post – (hint hint)
Worst song to get beat up to? Jungle Love…
ohweeeohweee-OUCH
Wake me up before you go, go by Wam
Theme song from “Barney”
`Rich Girl – Hall & Oates
I heard Keep On Movin’ by Five again recently.
[www.youtube.com]
Lyrically it’s Psychiatry 101 with regards to the treatment for depression with sound advice such as “Get on up when you’re down.” It’s jolly enough to make an excellent contrast* to any intense scene. That Constable Bob scene was intense.
[www.youtube.com]
* is there a name for this technique? Like chiaroscuro for strong contrasts between light and dark in paintings?
Keep On Movin’ by Five. [www.youtube.com]
Lyrically it’s revered by the psychiatry profession for its no-nonsense take on depression; “Get on up when you’re down.” It’s jolly enough to offer brilliant contrast* to any intense scene and that Constable Bob scene was intense.
*is there a name for this technique? Like chiaroscuro is the use of strong contrasts between light and dark in paintings?
Knights in White Satin
Never Gonna Give You Up, because Rick Rollin.
H’mm. That 5.20pm comment seemed to disappear into the ether from my end only to reappear this morning.with the link repeated. *squints disappointedly at internet*
Ooh, Boyd badge. *buys internet a drink*
I was hoping Nicky would say that he’d like to get all up in Ava’s (wait for it) GUTS
Boyd’s face in that second GIF…..
No ifs, ands, or buts, these kids got guts. Do you have it?
@ Mr List – I think this is right up there with one of the best but if I know this series the best is yet to come…….
Then I can amend my comment to “The best episode of the series, so far.”