Justified rewatch: 1x10 and 1x11

[gwyn]

1.10 The Hammer
Original Air Date: May 18, 2010
Written by: Fred Golan & Chris Provenzano
Directed by: John Dahl



Determined to repair the damage he's done, Raylan takes time away from his assignment bodyguarding an eccentric judge to track down an old lead.


1.11.Veterans
Original Air Date: May 25, 2010
Written by: Benjamin Daniel Lobato
Directed by: Tony Goldwyn



When Boyd Crowder and his crusaders become vigilantes, Raylan takes it upon himself to try to shut them down.

Please share your thoughts and reactions in comments.

Comments

[gwyn]

Doing these posts reminds me each time of the huge talent pool that this show brought in: directors like for these two episodes, both with feature films in their CVs, and Dahl directed one of my favorite neo-noirs back in the day, plus previously they've had Jon Avnet and a few others who are also features directors. And then there's the kind of actors they bring in, like Stephen Root for The Hammer, as well as the Deadwood actors: last week it was Dan from the Gem, and this week it's his buddy in crime, Johnny.

I like how both these episodes have amazing scenes with Boyd and Raylan out in Boyd's wilderness "church." Raylan's whole prayer is absolutely golden, counterpointed perfectly with Boyd's long-suffering reactions. Then they follow it up the next week with the bust and the two of them lounging next to each other. It's no wonder they became the main slash pairing.

I liked that we got to see a little more of Tim in Veterans, and it was that scene where he shows up partly drunk (don't drink and drive, Tim!) to get them into the VFW that inspired me to write a Tim is actually gay fic for Yuletide that year (at the time, they'd never said anything, but a few years later they off-camera decided that he was, in fact, gay). I loved how quickly Tim moved to go after Arlo for striking Raylan--that says SO MUCH about who Tim is, and that he's seeing this side of Raylan he had no idea existed previously. Art maintains an even strain about it, but you can tell he's watching everything there very carefully.

Jesus, I hate Arlo. I always wanted him to die in a really hideous way. Bo isn't much better. It's too bad Helen didn't eviscerate Arlo in his sleep.

[mackiemesser]

Red Rock West is an under-seen, under-appreciated work of genius. I remember being really excited when I saw John Dahl's name.

The VFW scene is very interesting: you can see that Arlo's behavior explains different things about Raylan to Tim and Art. And it's also really interesting to see how Raylan reacts, and how you can see traces of that in how he acts with other authority figures - and his self-consciousness/embarrassment at having Art and Tim witness that behavior.

[hafital]

I LOVED Tim in Veterans.

(at the time, they'd never said anything, but a few years later they off-camera decided that he was, in fact, gay).

I did not know this! Though it does not surprise me in the least. I had more or less concluded that he was in fact gay, and not just in a slashy way.

On a related note, is it just me or are there more than average number of gay-related references/jokes in their dialogue?

Hammer

[hafital]

I actually watched both of these episodes prior to Tuesday but if I don't jot down what I want to say as I'm watching I forget everything. So I decided to just rewatch them again -- no hardship, especially since I'm sort of dissatisfied with all tv right now anyway.

So, Hammer --

haha I love Raylan doing his "prayer" at Boyd's camping ground. "Let the image of Jared's brain matter on that windshield not dampen our appetites."

Honestly all of Raylan's and Boyd's scenes together are so friendly antagonistic, but I do get a sense of what they were like as teenagers together digging coal. Honestly the actors really hit their chemistry out of the park.

"I wasn't in a shoot out. I was just..near one." haha <3

My enjoyment of this episode is dampened slightly be generally disliking the actor who played the judge. i just have found him tedious in everything I've ever seen him in and it seems like he guest stars on everything lol. I don't mind the plot or the character of the judge, but I can't stand that actor.

I love Raylan showing what an honorable man he is by not using the "preacher" to put Boyd back in prison.

Veterans

[hafital]

Haha Dewey messing up Boyd's catch phrase.

"Well Raylan, it seems we're destined to be locked in an antagonistic relationship."

I kind of love Art losing his shit at Boyd, slapping down the bible.

Gwyn, I share your extreme distaste for Arlo Givens. Though I appreciate a good complicated father/son relationship, there is nothing redeeming about Arlo.

I thought Art was a veteran too....? Maybe he didn't have his id card on him. I'm fascinated by the scene outside of the veteran bar when Tim gets there. How he's dressed, how he walks. Everyone's dialogue. How he says things like, "I was heading in that direction" and "Did you try flirting?" and Raylan's "He was immune to my charms." "I didn't bring my cape." Though I think my favorite might be Art -- "I didn't think it was that kind of an evening." haha!

I like the parallels between Raylan and Boyd vs Arlo and Bo, as well as the kind of fathers they are/were -- How the parents treat their adult kids vs how they treated them when they were kids, the glimpses into Raylan's and Boyd's childhoods, with Raylan playing ball by himself waiting for his dad outside the veteran bar and Boyd making blanket fortes. Bo will never win father of the year but you do get the sense that between the two, Arlo was worse.

Love Goggins subtle acting in response to Raylan telling Boyd about the 2 dead meth cookers, 'cause he didn't know about it beforehand.

I'm not sure calling Winona to help with Ava was the wisest choice lol.

In conclusion, more slightly drunk Tim Gutterson please and thank you.