A Satisfying End to "Justified"

By Jeralyn, Section Media
Posted on Wed Apr 15, 2015 at 08:13:00 AM EST
Tags: Justified (all tags)

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"Justified" with Timothy Olyphant ended its six year run on FX last night. I won't spoil it for those of you who haven't seen it yet -- I'll just say it was very good. No ambiguous nonsense like the bizarre end to the Sopranos.

We not only know what happened to Raylan, Boyd and Ava now, but we get to see them all four years from now. [More...]

Having watched the first four seasons as they aired, I tuned out season five after the second or third episode because the violence was just so gratuitous and over the top, and there were so many unappealing characters. Some of them were so uncomfortable and unpleasant to watch, it was like watching a caricature of a freak show. Also, the violent scenes of Ava in prison were just too depressing.

Season six was better, especially the final three or four episodes. Last night's finale not only gave us closure, it showed us the characters' humanity, and gave them some dignity.

I think the show ended at the right time and on a positive note. I'll miss Raylan, his boss (the chief Marshal), Ava and and Winona. The others, including Boyd Crowder, not so much. Killing off Dewey early in the season made the show much more watchable, but I couldn't have taken any more of Duffy the snake or Boon the psychopath. As for Kentucky, it's certainly not on my list of places to revisit -- the show made it about as appealing as Homeland made Pakistan.

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A Satisfying End to "Justified" | 17 comments (17 topical)

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I was surprised by how good (1.00 / 1) (#14)
by kdm251 on Thu Apr 16, 2015 at 01:35:43 PM EST

The finale was. Great point about getting rid of Dewey early, made the show way less annoying. I hope the writers of better call Saul keep the skateboarders away as well. Badger and skinny pete really weren't that great and better call Saul doesn't need them.

Gotta say the ending of the sopranos has grown on me over th years. Tony is dead

I was just reading an article on the (none / 0) (#15)
by ruffian on Thu Apr 16, 2015 at 01:41:52 PM EST

'Tony is dead' theory at lunchtime. Yes, I believe it too. And that is fine, I did not need to see it in all its gory detail. I was not someone that ever complained about that ending, even when it was ambiguous in my mind.

Agree about Better Call Saul...it does not need any comic relief when Jimmy/Saul is the main character.


: It's strange (none / 0) (#16)
by kdm251 on Thu Apr 16, 2015 at 09:30:15 PM EST

How at the time I couldn't decide what happened to Tony but I watched the finale again about a year later and it was pretty obvious.

This is a series (none / 0) (#1)
by CaptHowdy on Wed Apr 15, 2015 at 07:24:48 AM EST

I'm looking forward to Netflixing. Or recording a marathon.
I am recording the series marathon of Orphan Black that starts fri nite/sat morning. Leading up the season premier on Sat. I'm sure they will do a similar thing with popular series.

Ha (none / 0) (#2)
by CaptHowdy on Wed Apr 15, 2015 at 07:26:23 AM EST

and KY is actually a lovely place with many lovely people. I would not want people to judge my area based on Winters Bone.

You say you won't spoil it for those of us... (none / 0) (#3)
by MileHi Hawkeye on Wed Apr 15, 2015 at 07:53:40 AM EST

who haven't seen the ending yet but then you go ahead a tell us we get to see Raylan, Boyd and Ava four years from now?

Thanks for "not spoiling it". Or not.

Yeah, I caught that too :-) (none / 0) (#4)
by ruffian on Wed Apr 15, 2015 at 08:43:12 AM EST

But you never know, maybe we see a cemetery?


I didn't tell you what you will see (none / 0) (#9)
by Jeralyn on Wed Apr 15, 2015 at 01:26:01 PM EST

or whether they are alive or dead


: Yeah, right. (none / 0) (#10)
by MileHi Hawkeye on Wed Apr 15, 2015 at 05:54:54 PM EST

I'm not some Fox News viewer.

I loved the finale, I will just say that much. (none / 0) (#5)
by ruffian on Wed Apr 15, 2015 at 08:53:48 AM EST

It was true to the tone of the series, with the dry humor and wonderful dialog. I think Elmore Leonard would have approved.

I mostly agree with Jeralyn overall, though I did keep watching even though the last couple of seasons were uneven. Really did not need to see a new big baddie (Boon) this season either. Maybe 10 episodes per season would have suited this show better from a quality standpoint, but I realize on commercial TV they have to sell something during the commercials I ff through.

But through it all the writing and performing of the main characters was truly superb.

Kentucky is one of the handful of states I have not visited...yeah, this show did not make it very appealing, but if I based my travel plans on how TV makes things look there are many wonderful places I would never have visited.

Mostly I am curious about the true driving time between Lexington and Harlan.

I am really going to miss Raylan. Waiting for what Olyphant does next. I wish someone would revive Deadwood, and add a role for Walton Goggins.

: Creepy Boon... (none / 0) (#6)
by MileHi Hawkeye on Wed Apr 15, 2015 at 09:01:10 AM EST

is a black eye to Colorado. The teasers show him and Raylan about to draw down on each other - I sure hope so because I've been hoping for him to be done in ever since he showed up. I was hoping it would be Loretta though.

Saw this video last week, for a contest (none / 0) (#7)
by ruffian on Wed Apr 15, 2015 at 09:05:26 AM EST

to watch the finale with Olyphant or Goggins. I would have entered had I not known for certain I would melt in the presence of wither of them. I mean, how much charm can ooze out of one video? It would just be embarrassing,

Would have rather... (none / 0) (#11)
by MileHi Hawkeye on Wed Apr 15, 2015 at 05:56:15 PM EST

watched with Joelle Carter. And hopefully get some fried chicken - and not got hit in the face with a frying pan!


: Ha, yes I cannnot blame any straight male of the (none / 0) (#13)
by ruffian on Thu Apr 16, 2015 at 10:12:56 AM EST

species for preferring Joelle. But a frying pan is the least of your worries! Make sure that is all she is carrying.

All good shows must come to an end (none / 0) (#8)
by jimakaPPJ on Wed Apr 15, 2015 at 09:46:52 AM EST

and I thank Jeralyn for saying no more. I hate commercials and having to try and not miss the next week so I always wait for the DVDs of the seasons so I haven't seen any of this year.

Leonard is my second best "pulp" writer. Only John D . MacDonald is better. Interesting that the TV series credits "Fire In the Hole" as "based on" when the scene of Raylan shooting the guy in Season 1 Episode 1 comes from the novel, "Pronto" in which he played a fed. He was lead again in "Riding the Rap." I don't think there was a third novel. (At one time I had most of Leonard's non-western works.)

And no, the series is not true to Kentucky, or even East Kentucky. But having done a lot of business in the area in years past I can tell you that if you are a stranger and act nice you'll be treated nice. Act like an a$$ and they'll return the favor with interest. Which, of course, is the same in all places.

I think I tuned out around Season 4 (none / 0) (#12)
by Jack203 on Wed Apr 15, 2015 at 11:10:17 PM EST

It was never a spectacular show but it held its own. I think I'll try to pick up the last couple seasons now that I know it ends pretty well.

I read somwhere that Boyd was suppose to die (none / 0) (#17)
by McBain on Sat Apr 18, 2015 at 12:03:37 AM EST

in the first episode but Goggins did a such a good job with his character, they had to keep him.