Justified rewatch: 2x12 and 2x13

[gwyn]

2.12 Reckoning
Original Air Date: April 27, 2011
Written by: Dave Andron
Directed by: Adam Arkin



When a brutal murder hits close to home, Raylan will stop at nothing to hunt down the killer.


2.13 Bloody Harlan
Original Air Date: May 4, 2011
Written by: Fred Golan
Directed by: Michael Dinner



The quest for a missing person forces Raylan to wade into a war that has erupted in Harlan between Boyd and the Bennetts.

Please share your thoughts and reactions in comments.

Comments

[mackiemesser]

2.12 - You can just see the shit coming down the pike in this episode and it doesn't look like there's any way to stop it. Deals, double-crosses, friends and enemies sometimes being the same person, old grudges and new offenses...Every scene just leaves me thinking "Well, that can't be good."

And Raylan is just so thrown by Helen's death that he isn't thinking at all clearly about what's happening around him.
Also, his coat is excellent.

2.13 - And yet another situation where I just don't get Winona. What kind of person tells someone not to go help a girl in trouble? Or says they might not be there after? Yeah, I get that she wants Raylan alive coz of the baby and that Harlan is a very bad place for Raylan to be on a good day, but how does she so fundamentally misunderstand who he is? Art clearly knows when he hedges about sending Raylan to Georgia. Tho that may be as much for his doubts about Raylan's teaching abilities as much as anything else.

I do love how Raylan and Boyd keep saving each other and griping about it.

And Art saves the day by knowing way more about what's going on then he lets on!

That ending with Mags is one of the best scenes in TV. Tremendous performances all around. Just deserts and tragic at the same time.

Reckoning

[hafital]

I feel so bad for Raylan in this episode. He may have had issues about her marrying Arlo (who wouldn't) but regardless she was a mother to him. Also, not sure if she did much to ease relations between father and son but without her there really is nothing at all between them.

As achy as it is, i really love scene at Arlo's house when Boyd shows up. Rylan's totally thrown by Boyd and Ava being there.

I love Mags, but I do not believe her "i had every intention of living a simple life" lol.

Doyle's face when Raylan shows up at Jed's home lol. And then straight up calls Doyle on the plan.

Timothy is so good in that scene with Dickie. It's fitting somehow that it's his love and appreciation for Helen, and speaking of her, that reminds him of who he is, who he was able to become because of her, so he doesn't kill Dickie.

Nice twist at the end. Mags had that ace up her sleeve.

Bloody Harlan

[hafital]

Having just recently watched Dark Waters, I keep thinking the whole Black Pike situation is gonna poison Harlan in the same way. So sad.

One of my favorite parts of the culmination of this season is that it's Loretta that ends it. These criminal masterminds and long standing family taken down by a 14 year old girl.

I'm a little confused by Winona here. I think she handled the situation poorly, saying she won't be there when Raylan gets back. But at the same time, she probably saved his life by going to Art. 'Cause if Art and the Marshal's hadn't shown up when they did, Raylan would likely have died. So? I don't know. I know she doesn't get much love from us, but I'm not sure that's her fault.

Is there a reason Dickie can't have a knee replacement? Just wondering.

BOYD TO THE RESCUE. lol i love it. When I watched Justified the first time, I wasn't really into Raylan/Boyd though I saw why it was popular, but this time around I am digging the ying/yang push me pull me of their dynamic.

TIM TO THE RESCUE. Or I guess all the marshals, and Art. But that was definitely Tim's sniper shot, taking down Doyle. (you know I kinda liked Doyle. Or it could just be that I find the actor kinda cuddly-looking lol. He slots into my Mark Ruffallo type. Don't think I've seen him in anything else).

Considering Mags probably was planning to kill herself the moment she confessed to killing Loretta's dad in front of the marshals, not wanting Loretta to shoot her was probably one of the few decent things Mags ever did.

Also, i'm glad she didn't mix up those glasses! So ends the Bennetts. Well, I guess there's still Dickie.