
Production note: Our pal VJ Boyd, who co-wrote last night's episode, will be swinging by a little later this afternoon to answer your questions in the comments. Feel free to load some up for him now and check back later.
Ladies and gentleman, Art Mullen.
The first thing were gonna do is acknowledge that this guy is awesome. He shoots Theo Tonin, fakes his own death in a spectacular fashion, pushes a guy out of an airplane WHILE HE'S FLYING IT, parachutes into Harlan county with enough coke and cash to jump start the economy of a small country, and then he has the balls to get a job in law enforcement not once, but TWO TIMES... he spends a couple days riding around with you while you're looking for him, and now he's run off with a hooker that's half his age. That's some badass sh-t.
And that about sums it up. It is some badass sh-t, especially when you lay it all out at once like that. Shelby/Drew may have been living a quieter life in recent years, but it's still been a mighty public one for a man on the run. The dude took part in his own manhunt, for God's sake. No wonder he broke his legs when he landed in Harlan. He was probably weighed down by his giant brass balls.
And now, the highlights:
- I had forgotten how much Limehouse frightened me. When I first saw him pop up on screen I was excited, like you would be upon seeing an old friend ("LIMEHOUSE!"), but after about 30 seconds I remembered that, oh yeah, he likes to give menacing speeches while brandishing a giant bloody knife, and is just a terrifying human being, in general.
- Aaaaaaaand there's your explanation for why Arlo took Drew's secret to the grave, and why so many criminal-types seem to be willing to do the same: His cocaine put food on their tables and Christmas presents under their trees way back when. Maybe I missed that earlier, but Drew's speech to Boyd definitely cleared it all up.
- JUSTIFIED SPIN-OFF PITCH: Boyd Crowder: Young Rascal. That's all I could think about during Johnny's speech in the trailer. Half-finished treehouses, half-finished go-karts, stealing candy to score cigarettes... he's like a 50% more dastardly version of Tom Sawyer. Would watch.
- Speaking of spin-offs, let's give Rachel and Tim their own show while we're at it, too. He can sass her to and from crime scenes, she can sing showtunes to get him to stop, they can both shoot people in the face once they get there. Would also watch.
- Two "whore's underwear" related thoughts: 1) I love that Rachel owns a pair and is willing to tell Raylan just to make him feel uncomfortable. 2) I love that Raylan figured out Ellen May was with Drew because of underpants.
- Line of the night goes to blonde hooker Teri, who said this about Ellen May: "If she had someone she could count on, I guess she wouldn’t be sucking hillbilly dicks for money, would she?" A fair point.
- Speaking of Ellen May, I just feel bad for her at this point. Everything she touches turns to sh-t. Will someone please take her out to a nice Mexican dinner?
- Of course Wynn Duffy wears a sleeping mask. Of course.
- Kinda thought we might have had our Tim/Colton standoff last night after the marshals snagged Drew. Was really excited. Will continue waiting.
- One question: Why did Colton take off? Shouldn't he have stayed to get the money, or at least to ensure the drop went as planned?
- Somewhat off-topic, but Salon ran a piece the other day titled "Justified is too flip about violence, even for this devoted fan." Allow me to make two counterpoints: 1) NO. 2) It's like people complaining about TV violence in 2013 never watched Crockett and Tubbs waste every single drug kingpin and money launderer in Miami for most of the 1980s. Relax, y'all.
- EVERYBODY RUNNIN'. Boyd and Ava might be running (in addition to their Tonin problems, this Ellen May thing could go really, really bad for them now), Wynn Duffy might take the old Wynn-ebago to the Great White North, and the marshals are gonna try to run out of Harlan with Drew (and alive, preferably). Take it away, Ghostface.
As always, the GIFs from Chet Manley are on the following pages. Please do not threaten me with a drill or spit in my face.

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Holy shit! I just watched Training Day again. Is Arlo Givens one of the wise men??? Mind… BLOWN!
+1 for Ghostface Killa
So is the psychic Eve Munro really Drew Pearson’s ex-wife? Or current wife? Why were the clothes she left behind so dowdy? She doesn’t dress like that anymore and she said she used to look like Ava Gardner. Upcoming plot twist?
It’s a testament to the shows creativity that they could make me forget about Limehouse for an entire season.
Let’s not forget about Dickie Bennett. He may play a total fool but who is the one person left alive from that family? He is the rattiest of the rats. Rats will be around munching on our bones when all us humans are long gone.
Thanks to the end of this episode and spending the last day on here, I cannot stop singing:
“In the deep dark hills of EASTERN Kentucky…”
the last scene of the last episode: the little graveyard at the Givens’ property, slow pan across the tombstones ending with Raylan’s. The final date has been carved in. Background faintly then louder ” . . . you’ll never get out of Harlan alive.”
I had the exact same reaction… Been excited for that song since they didn’t play it last season
Salon sucks. They’re consistently wrong about everything and anyone who watches the show knows the real crux of the show is watching a dastardly southern criminal, formerly a white supremacist, fight for a better life with his accomplices AND YOU WANT TO ROOT FOR HIM. That is drama right there.
Yeah, that Salon article was pretty unnecessary. I don’t see how the writer could call herself a fan when she disagrees with a large portion of what makes the show good.
not even gonna bother opening that link.
Soon as Limehouse turned up on the screen I screamed “OH SHIT IT’S A PIGGY BANK”
I hope one armed Quarles makes an appearance. Assuming he didn’t die.
Nick Searcy (Art) Wikipedia page says he’s going to be in Archer. CANNOT WAIT
He was on last week’s episode as one of the Sheriffs.
He was a border patrol agent
Art’s monologue was a thing of beauty. And, the way he delivered, “That’s some badass shit” just killed me.
gotta love Art (no homo)
Art for new pope
Am I the only one who can’t stand Ellen May’s character?
She can be pretty annoying. Plus she has some bad tooth to gum ratio going on.
I’m okay with her until she makes that face. You know the one.
Unfortunately, she’s been making that face all season. Seriously, how can someone be constantly on the verge of tears for an entire season?!?
I’m right there with you. I’ve hated her character since her first episode.
She annoys me to the core of my soul, but I’ve known people as equally dumb in real life that can elicit the same reaction from me. (this means it’s realistic and awesomely acted) She doesn’t deserve to die though.
In reference to CindyLou post on the quandry of Raylan’s ancestry…..Arlo was such a prick that he ‘d have thought it would be too much of a gift to Raylan to let on that he wasn’t his real Dad. What a sigh of relief it’d be for Raylan knowing that his dad was not a lying, cheating, murderin’ asshole !! Truly soul-affirming for our Deputy Marshall, don’t ya think? Of course, then we’d have to figure out who his real Dad was and maybe Drew could be- I mean do we really know if Raylan is well into his thirties? Has that ever been confirmed? And how about this for a twist, Rachel is his half sister, fathered by Limehouse ??
Raylan is in fact well past his thirties. The gravestone in his front yard says he was born in 1970 which we saw in season 1. I’m perfectly fine with the notion that Raylan has a biological father who was just an asshole and didn’t like his son. It happens. I also don’t see the need to turn the show into Days of our Lives with it either.
And whom the son desperately wants to rid himself of, spiritually speaking. But everyone around him reminds him he is his father’s son. (Winona, S1; You’re the angriest man I’ve ever known. Boyd, recently; we know whose voice makes you do what you do.)
Thanks Reede…I didn’t know about the tombstone. I am also fine with the fact that Arlo was just an asshole..I was only indulging Cindylou’s hypotheticals. I’ll say one thing though, even if the writers did go in that direction, this show would still never in any way even remotely resemble Days of our Lives !
Thank you Joes Willie, I love being indulged.
And El, I think this whole story begins and ends with the implications of Winona’s words “you are the angriest man I have ever known.” A man’s greatest strength can also be his greatest weakness – every great tragedy shows us this.
@CindyLou, comment of the year, right there! I know S1 had some touch and go moments, but we should never forget the pilot was amazing.
And as much as we all root for Boyd, I could not agree with you more. This story is ultimately about Raylan’s anger (most of which comes from and is really directed at Arlo), and Raylan’s constant struggle to keep it buried. Silly as this might sound, I still think Tim O does not get nearly enough credit for how well he pulls this off.
@CindyLou…I agree with EL C.–profoudly insightful comment. I know that anger can take many shapes and forms but I’ve always thought Raylan has handled his anger pretty well. He seems to have sort of a ‘silent’ type of anger, an even-tempered anger, I daresay. He’s a man that just does not suffer fools gladly. Besides, can we ever remember a time when he has killed someone unnecessarily? His put-downs always seem to be-(without trying to sound too cliche) justified !!
Raylan badge! Bad. Ass.
Art reminding us why we’re all here in the best way possible, especially since Shelby had been so humanized in the past few episodes.
Its been interesting all the discussion about fathers and sons this season. Interesting character development considering half of those characters are already dead.
That may have been my favorite Art moment of the series. Been such a good season!
So, know one knew drew Thompson was alive until they found the bag in Arlos wall?
Other than Arlo, a few older members of Harlan, and some dead people, yeah.
When did the Leo Tonin know?
Leo Tonin figured it out when they finally correctly ID the body that fell from the sky. Once the dead guy wasn’t Drew Thompson he knew that Thompson was still alive.
Leo is Theo Tonin’s uncle. Uncle Leo.
HELLO!
LOL, I can always count on you, Otto! Now I picture Uncle Leo as Theo’s capo. I keep imagining Leo torturing Quarles for all his fuckups…..
Rewatching with my wife…the scene at the tree with Boyd, Ava and Drewby is so gorgeously done.
I thought the same…beautiful old tree, great camera angle
They should have kept limehouse out of the opening credits.
yeah – that was a dead giveaway
I fast forward the credits for exactly that reason. One of the few perks of having to watch episodes the day after airing. Saved the surprise for the recent Morgan episode of Walking Dead too.
The ‘Previously on…’ spots have Britta’d up my cable viewing experience more times than I can count.
Yeah, gotta skip those too. I don’t see the point for those nowadays, as it must be rare that someone just jumps into a new show, especially midseason, or doesn’t watch the previous episodes of a show they already enjoy.
@Whiteyj – I see those more as setups for what is going to happen in this episode. It’s like, “hey, remember that this shit happened before? Well, just wait until you see what we have for you today!”
Ellen May is a lot less retarded in those cars.com commercials.
She never asks how fast they can go, for starters.
Amazing episode. Also I love that this show takes advantage of plot lines that would be overlooked by other cop dramas. In most cases you get the bad guy that the mob’s after, story over, take him in, go to trial. But not Justified. They’ve spent the better part of 2 seasons drumming up Theo’s badassness and a whole season on how big of a deal Drew Thompson is.
Just cause they got him in custody, doesn’t mean it’s over or that a pyschopath mobster is going to quit. Not too mention it’s just a great plot for an episode, getting a high value witness/enemy of the mob to safety. Justified delivers on all accounts.
I do love the way they are setting it up. I will say though that if the Detroit mafia wanted Drew so badly, they’d have opened fire from the chopper on the feds. I guess it’s better they didn’t though so we can get a few more episodes out of this.
limehouse!
I know right?! Was kinda upset to not see him at the begininning of the season, epsecially since Mykelti Williamson killed it last season. Looking forward to how the rest of this season plays out.
Just a huge shoot out to VJ. Very well done. We love you. Why does limehouse not like drew? I know. I’ll watch it again. But why? And will it come back to haunt Boyd that she picked drew and money over the hooker?
I think the whole shit is gonna come back to haunt Boyd and Ava
Just WOW! As much as I love this show I think they need to turn down the badass level on these episodes, my heart can’t take it anymore.
That ending montage of everyone running was just magical.
Verified
I’m done for now but in case there are any latecomers I will get back on late tonight or in the morning, in case there are any pressing questions. Thanks for everyone’s kind words and support.
VJ – do you see any parallels between Ava and Lady Macbeth?
@ VJBoyd- You are the man and keep up the great work on the show!
Thanks!
Verified
There have definitely been parallels, but Ava isn’t manipulating Boyd at all. If she’s being Lady MAcbethish it’s accidental.
@VJ Now that you all are done filming this season. Is there generally an idea where the story will atleast start in season 5 (what is holding up the renewal by the way)? Or do those talks come later?
Verified
Only very vague notions. We’ll talk about that come Summer!
Thanks.
That awesome speech almost but guarantees we lose Art. Say it ain’t so.
Yes indeed- Art’s synopsis and chronology of Drew was epic…LOVE IT !!!
And if I may add another point to that Salon article: go fuck yourself.
agreed
For the record, I want a reality show on how they prepped Jere Burns’ eye brows the last few years.
and I want to hear Jere Burns sing those showtunes
I meant Rachel *singing showtunes*
Ava made the wrong choice. Ellie May is PISSED.
Some great non verbal acting all around last night as showcased by the GIFs.
Looking forward to next week’s escape from Harlan episode. All we need is Snake Plisken.
Olyphant should play that part instead of Gerard Butler.
Wonder if Tim was involved in the process of choosing the Pope, again.
I still can’t accept that he was in Eurotrip.
I think it shows his great range as an actor.
I agree with that. Dude deserves every acting award there is for going from a sex crazed teenage slacker to a cold possibly PSTD suffering ex-sniper turned marshal.
Get rid of Theo Tonin, to make room for the REAL “Big Bad”…. Ian McShane. C’mon, it’s got to happen, he’s one of the only Deadwood alums yet to appear in this show, c*cksuckers.
Agreed with the sentiment…and you’re allowed to say “cocksuckers” around these parts.
ART BADGE! That’s some pretty badass shit!
Uh-oh…looks like Shane/Boyd is going on the run with his family again, and we all know how well that turned out last time.
/boydkillsava
Boydn not running. He’s going to help Tonin’s guys try and get Drew before they get out of Harlan.
@VJ What are your thoughts on the new Pope?
Verified
I haven’t been on CNN.com yet today so I’m blessedly unaware of this event.
We got out first Latin American Pope! Yo Soy Fiesta!
The Cardinals all partying, smoking huka pipe and so now we got two popes for the price of one. Hella Holy Caths !!
Sorry Catholics- I forgot to capitalize “Pope”
@Quattro He’s Latin American but like many in Argentina, he’s a result of the Italian Diaspora
New Pope was also born in Italy.
@Whiteyj I believe he was born in Argentina but his parents were from Italy. A side note, in those Pre-WWII years, Mussolini openly encouraged footballers of Italian descent from Argentina, Brazil, etc. to play for the Italian National Team in the Olympics and World Cup.
You are correct. I got my information from “rushed first reports” yesterday, which I should have known better than to trust.
Police say the fake pope can be identified by his high top sneakers and his incredibly foul language.
….and the lack of teenage boys at his side.
Let me also ask if the one thing Raylan cannot resist is ice cream and Boyd’s highest aspiration is to own a Dairy Queen . . . I can’t remember my reasoning now but wouldn’t you agree the Buster Bars are not what they used to be? The peanuts used to be salted and that makes all the difference.
I can think of a particular bartender that could probably learn how to make blizzards…
Let’s just review the clues: 1) Raylan’s mother (Francis) on occasion escaped to Limehouse’s enclave when Arlo beat the crap out of her. 2) Raylan now knows the family feud was not over the dog but some remarks about Francis’ honor. 3) Arlo always hated Raylan. 4) Drew lived with the hill people while recovering and knew Francis’ cousin quite well.
Obvious question: Who is Raylan’s father?
Is that an obvious question? Arlo was the kind of SOB that would’ve made it clear on his deathbed that he wasn’t Raylan’s father if that was the case. Besides, if you’re insinuating that Drew is Raylan’s dad I don’t think that the dates match up. Raylan is well past thirty.
1) No insinuation, simple question (I too can do math, I learnt it at skule). 2) What kind of man tells another man to “kiss my ayass” as his last words – possibly not a father kind of man.
I’m pretty sure that if Raylan weren’t Arlo’s son, Arlo would’ve used that one quite a bit by now.
That would be totally in character for Arlo (to say the least). But it is possible having his wife cheat on him was too shaming or he is scared to death of the father or someone else who threatened him if he let anyone know.
if they dropped something like that on us, it would be so lame.
Its an interesting theory, but for all the talk they’ve laid out over the years about how Raylan is more Arlo’s son than he’d like to think, it seems like a disingenious thing for the writers to do with their characters.
Limehouse, obviously!
But I agree with House. The whole point of this season, regarding Raylan, is that Arlo is in his blood, no matter how badly he wants to escape his paternal heritage.
What if Arlo hated Raylan so much because he was Drew’s son? Maybe that’s the reason that he never said anything about it because he was still protecting Drew, even though he banged his wife and fathered Raylan.
Yes kudos to acknowledging the fact that Harlan and Lexington is some distance apart, that has always bothered me. Also in season 2 when Ava stated that she was cutting hair in Corbin….Whaaaaa? you would be be going in debt for the gas bill to go to work.
I am holding my breath for all the marshals stuck in Harlan…..please not Art, Raylan, Tim, or Rachel, I can handle any other US Marshal leaving the show.
The one thing that is really sticking in my crawl is why in the name of all things good and holy did Drewby not leave Harlan before now. He knew he was a made man, was privy to inside info. He had his plane and money ready…why wait?
“please not Art, Raylan, Tim, or Rachel, I can handle any other US Marshal leaving the show”
Um who’s left? So you are saying kill a bunch of red shirts and leave the blue shirts alone?
Yes. Please let it me that. I too don’t want to see any Marshalls die. Constable Bob is more than welcome to go out in a blaze of glory.
Exactly
best episode of the season, and i’ve said that at least 3 times this year already. such an incredible show.
also, Rachel’s sexiness really locked in for me last night. it was obviously the line about owning some whore panties.
Would smash.
Yes, hit that all night and twice more in the morning!
Been fantasizing about her at least since she went all “Miss Rachel” on Limehouse last season…
Wynn Duffy for Trailer Park Supervisor!
Wynn Duffy is a drunk bastard.
The shit hawks really are shitting all over him.
“I expect hourly updates”
**goes back to sleep**
If you guys are jonesing for some more Art (Nick Searcy) I just discovered he has a web series on his site nicksercy.com. I watched the episode “Root Time.” He drinks Whiskey with Stephen Root while the Golden Girls theme song sung by Nick is played in the background. Also, an actual interview and more shenanigans.
My favorite is the latest one where he goes to the FOX party and gets drunk, sings with Jacob Pitts, gets into an argument with David Boreanaz, and gives Natalie Zea shit about leaving the show and she just walks away while giving him the bird.
Holy crap those sound awesome. Sign me up.
Am I the only one that had a problem with Drew Thompson going to Limehouse for help? 30 years of badassery flushed because he took the simple girl’s word that Limehouse could be trusted? He had to know Limehouse would screw him over, right?
It was that or turn himself in. At least with Limehouse,, he thought Ellen May would be safe.
I thought about that…but maybe with the desperation he made a poor decision. He was between rocks and hard places.
He said he had no plan C. Ellen May came up with one and it was that or turn himself in.
I thought Ellen May would pick the preacher’s sister for plan C
@brian
as did i
30 years of baddassery, but even badasses get old and soft. I bet a young Drew Thompson might have done what Boyd suspected, blackmail Boyd with Ellen May, I think that cold heart of Drew’s has warmed over the years. Remember what he said to Ellen May, you pretend something like enough, it becomes who you are.
Drew Thompson/Shelby is much more Shelby than Drew these days.
*long enough
The previews for next weeks episode would make it seem like a season finale for any other series. There are still two more episodes after next week. This is why I love Justified.
EXACTLY
Is Wynn Duffy gay? Doesn’t change anything…I was just curious.
Scroll down all the way and you will see no less than four separate posts on this.
Oh, then he’s totally gay.
Verified
There are several questions I haven’t answered, yet, but I have to take my kids to Chuck E Cheese, so I’ll be back in 3 hours or so and will answer the rest, sorry about the wait! KEEP POSTING QUESTIONS!
Oh god! I took my niece and nephew to one of those a few weeks ago. Dante himself never could have imagined a place like that.
New question: If Ava and Boyd did own a Dairy Queen, would you take your kids to it?
Please use the line, “Now that’s some badass shit” regarding something there. The singing animals, a free pizza, a high score on ski-ball, a ticket prize, something. That would be swell.
DID YOU PLAY TOP SKATER! I have to know.
I find the pizza at Chuck E Cheese to be underrated.
@ VJBoyd: I hope you totally dominated some grade school kids at skeeball.
I’m going to re-post two questions I had from last nights show:
How is it that Limehouse always seems to have intelligence on everything before anyone else does? I know he used the hooker last year, but he knew who Shelby was when they showed up at Noble’s Holler. He must have someone on the inside like a deputy or in the Sheriff’s department.
Why did Raylan not seem bothered by the fact that Ellen May is being held by Limehouse? Shelby was basically pleading with Raylan to get her out of there, but Raylan acted like it doesn’t concern him.
According to Brian Beckner it’s easier to score crack in a Chuck E Cheese parking lot than it is to buy a lukewarm Bud Light inside a Chuck E Cheese
Verified
crispy – I would, I love Dairy Queen… Devil – no, I don’t think they had it at this one… Palin – I answered your question below.
@PaulG…..It may have been Johnny that tipped off Limehouse about Shelby being Drew. Also, Raylan’s only concern now is bringing in Drew alive so he can get that big promotion and be able to provide for his son and possibly win Winona back.
@VJ – was the episode title ‘Get Drew’ and homage to ‘Get Shorty?’
Verified
yes!
Art just…he sustains me. Couldn’t help but grin like mad at his little speech. Of course, since I love him so much he’s probably not going to make it.
DAMN YOU TV GODS!
I just saw a preview. Art and Tim sitting in the car. Tim: “That’s not right.” Art: what’s not right? Loud crashing noise.
They wouldn’t….they’re not gonna kill Art AND Tim? Please someone sing me something nice and comforting… What if Colt gets Tim?
NOPE LALALALALALA NOTHING’S GOING TO HAPPEN TO THEM THEY’LL DRIVE OFF INTO THE SUNSET SASSING EACH OTHER FOREVER LALALALALALA NOBODY’S GONNA DIE
Aww dammit it all now VJ, don’t go killing Art !!
“How fast does your car go?”
Oh, Ellen May, never change being the dumb box of rocks you are.
She really has the “complete fucking moron” thing down pat.
But she is so sweet and innocent…for a whore anyway
I’m always amazed at the coolness and intelligence of Limehouse. I hope he’s a recurring character. The various criminal elements really make this show worth watching because they all have a good back story and individual personality.
Also, I think we can discount the idea that Johnny was working for Boyd against Wynn Duffy. I’ve seen that theory floated but Johnny single-handedly screwed Boyd massively, helped Raylan immensely, and I believe he got out from under Duffy’s thumb by letting Boyd screw up the turnover of Drew Thomson to the Tonin gang.
I’d also like the actor who plays Limehouse to join Chalky White’s gang on Boardwalk Empire.
I tend to think that Johnny is gonna die.
Nah. Cousin Johnny will probably get shot again and paralyzed even worse. Left to live out his days hooked up to machines.
Just back in the wheelchair next season like Ray.
I’m about ready for Johnny to die as well, weaselly little shit that he is.
Doesn’t Jonny have to die? Who else could have tipped the marshalls off about where the drop was?
@VJ I have no question. Just major props for helping create such a fantastic episode.
Verified
thanks!
Art’s breakdown of Drew and Raylan’s grim agreement were pretty damn hilarious.
Also, the Boyd torture scene was both hilarious and terrifying.
Don’t tell me Wynn Duffy and bodyguard Mike is breaking up? That would be too sad even for this show.
I kinda thought Duffy was gonna shoot him right there and take off
@PowerClashing I was anticipating the same thing. It would’ve been a very Wynn Duffy thing to do.
If he did that who would clean it up?
I also thought that it was building up to Wynn shooting him. I was more surprised when he didn’t.
The body guard reminded me of the farm boy defendant in A Few Good Men – just not bright enough to grasp the severity of their predicament
I get the feeling he’s gonna wish he had “run like a bitch”
I’ve been waiting ages for a line from Mike. He did not disappoint.
This still continues to be my favorite show currently on TV (maybe even ever). This episode was fantastic as well. I loved seeing Limehouse again. I guess he avoided prison by chopping off Quarles’ arm. He kind of saved the day then.
with you here on this being my favorite show currently on tv. most people probably lean breaking bad, but justified beats it for me by a hair.
not ever though…the wire still the king.