There are plenty of shows on the air right now with great ensembles, like Game of Thrones and Orange is the New Black. But here’s what sets Justified, and its cast of players, apart from those shows: I would watch a whole different show about any of Justified‘s supporting cast. Wynn Duffy, Tim Gutterson, Rachel Brooks, even newcomers like Katherine Hale or Avery Markham.
“Noblesse Oblige” was definitely the funniest episode of Justified‘s sixth season, but it was definitely a place-setting installment. Rivalries were intensified and brought to a head. It made for entertaining, occasionally riveting television, but narratively speaking it was far from essential.
There were two main story threads: Raylan (and the Marshals) finding out where Boyd has been procuring his Emulex, and Boyd fighting his employers. Raylan visits an old pal, Luther, who works in the explosives cage at a coal mine (his telling Rachel “When he and I dug coal, we dug coal with Boyd Crowder” was a nice callback to a storyline that hasn’t been mentioned in ages). It turns out Luther’s son Tyler has been stealing the Emulex and selling to Earl, a henchman of Boyd’s. This might help the investigation, but it doesn’t really help the narrative.
Where “Noblesse Oblige” really picks up is in its scenes with Avery (Sam Elliott) and Ty Walker (Garrett Dillahunt, who was born to play roles like this). They pay a visit to Ava, and it’s seriously one of the most menacing scenes I’ve seen on TV in a while.
As good as Dillahunt is – and he is very, very good – Elliott is fucking perfect. His basso profundo voice makes every one of his pronouncements terrifying. When a man like Avery Markham says “I’ll kill you,” there’s no doubt he means it. Elliott’s performance is made even more terrifying by the fact that he never yells, never seems to lose his cool. All of his threats, veiled or not, are delivered in the same conversational manner. Yet another coup for the Justified casting department.
This is the kind of show that almost requires binge-watching, because every episode – even middle of the road episodes like this – is so entertaining that you can’t stop. I could seriously watch this show every day of the week. The storytelling, and the performances, are so confident and assured that it’s never less than an absolute thrill to watch.
A Few Thoughts
- “I ain’t puked up bourbon since I wore a cheerleader skirt” – Ava
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“When you frisk him, make sure to check his cigarettes” – Wynn, about Boyd
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Boyd is righteously pissed at Wynn and Katherine. Another great scene. Mary Steenburgen is quietly menacing, and Jere Burns is always a delight
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