Justified rewatch: 2x06 and 2x07

[gwyn]

2.06 Blaze of Glory
Original Air Date: March 16, 2011
Written by: Benjamin Cavell
Directed by: Jon Avnet



A once-infamous bandit is back to his old tricks, but when Winona winds up the victim of his botched bank heist, Raylan is on the warpath to bring him down.


2.07 Save My Love
Original Air Date: March 23, 2011
Written by: Graham Yost
Directed by: Jon Avnet



Winona's blunder could put her behind bars, unless Raylan can weave his way through a federal courthouse locked down over death threats.

Please share your thoughts and reactions in comments.

Comments

Blaze of Glory

[gwyn]

I remember that I really loved a lot of this episode, because I loved the story of the old bank robber and the way Art interacted with him. I adore Art, so it was a wonderful chance to see him shine. The whole exchange with him begging the guy not to make him run was gold, and then the discovery Raylan makes that he's wearing hearing aids was priceless. I also LOVED that scene where Raylan asks the computer guy a question and he responds with "What am I, an asshole?" Raylan's complete bewilderment at that response, his long pause with furrowed brow, and then "...No?" was as funny today as it was 8 years ago. God, I love Raylan.

I really love too how much he loves Winona--which makes it all the harder that this was where I really began to dislike her. Just everything about this story bugs me, from her trying to make Raylan walk away from his chosen career, something he loves doing and that he's very competent at, to the stupidity of stealing the money, regardless of the fact that no one plans to be in a bank robbery.

It was kind of nice to get them out of Harlan for a little while, too, which is another reason I like the episode, minus Winona's part in it.

Re: Blaze of Glory

[mackiemesser]

ARgh! Winona's story line was just so infuriating, and required Raylan to be a lot stupider than normal. I mean, sure, being stupid about a relationship is not that improbable, but for this to work both Winona and Raylan had to be idiots. This whole situation required my yelling "Don't play the sap!" at Raylan several times.
Art's resignation about having to chase the bank robber was very relatable, and is even moreso now.

Save My Love

[gwyn]

I'd forgotten how much this one made me grind my teeth back in the day. Not only is it more bullshit about Winona's terrible judgment, but this is almost like a bottle episode in some ways, and the constant interruptions and unlikely occurrences throughout as a way to create tension really annoyed me. Graham Yost is a better writer than this, but it feels like they had this idea for an arc and had to deus ex machina their way through it. That Raylan loves her so much he risks everything for it is there in the ep title, but the whole thing feels pastede on.

I also hate that this sets up a future conflict with Art. Bleh.

Some of the good: The three deputies figuring out where the real threat might be and dealing with it, Boyd's increasingly physics-defying hair, the light it shines on just how terrible coal companies are.

Re: Save My Love

[mackiemesser]

This could have been played with loads of black humor, turning up the slapstick vibe, or a Soderbergh and/or Ritchie-type thing with seemingly unconnected bits coming together at the end, but instead it was frustrating. I was so irritated with Winona and with Raylan for being this stupid. So very, very irritated.

Blaze of Glory

[hafital]

I like Boyd correcting the ATF guys. "Ms Crowder."

I also like Art calling bullshit on the ATF guy trying to say Boyd threatened him.

Honesty I think Winona lost her mind when Gary put their house up for collateral on a "champion" Arabian horse -- which just let me tell you is the most RIDICULOUS thing for Gary to do. It would make more sense if he put up their house to buy a champion Thoroughbred horse, since they're in KENTUCKY for crying out loud. I mean all the top thoroughbred racing barns are in Kentucky. ARABIAN??? WTF GARY. Arabian racing exists, and not much in Kentucky. People don't make millions on horses unless it's thoroughbred racing. But horses are a dodgy prospect to make any money on at all. That is some backwards thinking. This isn't the 1800s lol.

I can't hear or read the phrase Blaze of Glory, without thinking of Young Guns. It's a problem. Could be the vibe they're going for with this ep I guess.

"What am I, an asshole?"
"...no?" haha!

I like Art's "Son of a bitch" when he figures out what the old bank robber's escape plan is.

The two old geezers chasing each other is priceless. Especially with the music they play over that scene.

"Do you remember the end of Jaws?" lol ilu Art.

It's hilarious to me that the whole situation with Winona and the money could have been easily resolved if Raylan had managed to pick out the correct $100.

Save My Love

[hafital]

I forgot we start this episode with Wynn Duffy.

Rachel: "You've been a bad boy."
Rylan: "I get that a lot. You'll have to be more specific."

This whole money thing -- in and out of evidence, up and down elevators, the judge interrupting, then you have to follow the bag of money, Boyd in a suit looking innocent just sitting there in an empty courtroom, bomb checks, then just as they're getting the bag again, whoops ALARM, everyone out, then the bomb squad x-raying the damn thing -- it's like Marx Brothers level of farce. It just needs like one door opening as another one closes kind of choreography.

I do like how the two story lines tie together though, bringing in Boyd and Black Pike Carol into the money farce with Judge Reardon throwing a wrench into Winona and Raylan's attempts to put the money back.

Boyd teasing Raylan about how to do his job haha. I'm kind of fascinated by how Boyd says "Hello, Raylan" each time he sees him.

Black Pike Carol: "My, sounds like a love story." hahah. uh huh.

Back in the evidence vault again. Poor Raylan keeps trying to leave but everyone else is too good at their job.

Art: "Round of drinks says it's empty." Good bet, Art.
"I feel like Geraldo Rivera when they opened Al Capone's vault."

Tim: "$210k in forgotten money, we should run off to Mexico, start a cult." LOL.

This episode has another one of my acquaintances floating around -- a friend of mine's husband is one of the attorney's in the trial. I'm gonna start a list.

One of the reasons I love Justified so much is the whole competence kink thing. Seeing Raylan figure out the bomb threat is probably a stunt to get the key players in the trial outside is awesome. Seeing all the marshals working together to find the shooter is even better.

In my opinions, the writers cooked up this money farce arc to give Winona a character trait that's not only being Raylan's ex wife, but I agree it doesn't do her many favors. Though my main take away is that it shows she has more in common with Gary than either she or Raylan care to realize.

I'm of two minds about the effect the money farce has on Art and Raylan's relationship. Yes it sucks, but I kind of like the angstyness it gives their friendship. Also, the actors are so good at their dynamic, portraying the the cooling off at just the right tone, all that buried emotion. It's a pleasure to watch every scene with Raylan and Art, even when Art's disappointed in him. But I do agree it's a dumb reason to give it that dimension, instead of something more meaningful than a weird OOC money farce.