Justified rewatch: 4x02 and 4x03

[gwyn]

4.02 Where's Waldo?
Original Air Date: Jan. 15, 2013
Written by: Dave Andron
Directed by: Bill Johnson



The marshals try to solve the mystery behind Waldo Truth's identity, Boyd gets an opportunity to confront his two biggest competitors, and Raylan makes an intimidating new enemy.


4.03 Truth and Consequences
Original Air Date: Jan. 22, 2013
Written by: Benjamin Cavell
Directed by: Jon Avnet



Boyd steps up his battle with the new preacher in Harlan, the Marshals run into trouble trying to interview fugitive Drew Thompson's widow, and Raylan confronts Lindsey's ex-husband.

Please share your thoughts and reactions in comments.

Comments

[gwyn]

I realize that on rewatch, I got last week's comments all wrong, because I'd let the episodes run and conflated Art's amazing dialog with the premiere episode, when in fact he'd said all that in this one. (I loved his listing of his deputies and their issues, and pretty much everything he said about anything, especially "Marshal stiffy". God, ILU Art. <3<3<3 ) It was so cool the way he instantly cued in to everything from the past.

It was great for once to see someone else getting in trouble besides Raylan, and I loved how Art played Rachel's dressing down against Raylan's history. I don't care at all about the story in Harlan, I kind of resented the way it took time away from the Marshals this whole season, but at least what stuff we got with them was choice, and it's great to see Art as a boss and how he views his employees. It was also so fun to see Tim goading Raylan about the psychic stuff.

I despair sometimes for Raylan's thinking process. After you hear about your current squeeze's grift, you leave your money in the drawer... The show always seemed above that kind of cheap dramatic irony where we're forced to sit there going "no, Raylan, take your money" and watch him be an idiot. I definitely didn't enjoy that aspect. But the less that ex-husband is on screen, the better, I guess. There's just too many characters I don't care about, all moving around on a board, and everything feels very unfocused this season.

[mackiemesser]

I agree that Art's summation of his command is one of the best moments of the season.
The Waldo Truth/Drew Thompson stuff is completely uninteresting, but I do think the revival church stuff is both a reasonable wrinkle in Boyd and Ava's plans, and a really interesting character beat for Boyd to deal with given his own experiences in that area. (I remember the feeling pretty sorry for the kid when he tries the non-rigged snake handling; that was just a brutal thing.)

I mean, at least they're consistent in showing that when Raylan's dick is engaged his brain is not? He's only ever stupid when it involves the woman he's sleeping with at the time.

Where's Waldo

[hafital]

Somehow I forgot yesterday was Tuesday? I don't know. These days, I'm lucky if I know where I am and what I'm supposed to be doing.

I don't really mind the plot of this season as much as you all seem to. I like the mystery of it.

And I rather like the bartender lady, though WHY in god's name would she prefer that neanderthal to Raylan is a mystery for the ages. I also find it rather amusing that Raylan's track record with the ladies is, shall we say, crappy. None of this bothers me lol.

As per usual, I adore Art. Especially his speech to the other marshal who I guess was there to see about taking over? For when Art retires? I wasn't entirely sure I got the reason why he was there, but don't matter. Art's description of his marshals though!!!! But what got me was his description of Rachel. I mean, we already know how messed up Raylan is, and we have had a peek at Tim, but i loved the dimension we get with Rachel here.

"That mystery bag thing is giving me a little bit of a marshal stiffie."
"That's a nice image." wheeeee

Still getting a incest vibe from this brother sister act. I would be more sympathetic to the preacher, since he treats Ellen May gently, if he weren't conning everyone.

Tim: "You were snoring real loud." haha his expression i love him.

Honestly how awesome would it be if Raylan really did attend a pilates class.

Raylan very neatly deflects the conversation off his side jobs, and onto Art retiring. Also, at the risk of being a broken record, I love Tim here. His switch from "I'd rather not take sides," to "You do seem a little tired." hahah <3

The actress who plays Waldo's wife is the sparkle motion lady from Donnie Darko and I kept thinking, "I doubt your commitment to Sparkle Motion" throughout this scene. Also I loved how Raylan handled that creepy kid. Excellent casting here; this family really got the "poor white trash" thing down.

Truth and Consequences

[hafital]

Bartender lady really knows how to work Raylan.

The snake to the face thing is real gross, but I feel bad they killed those snakes. Poor snakes.

I like Raylan purposely winding the neanderthal up, though that scene was odd.

"What's your opinion?"
"On your stiffie? I don't have one." haha. They really tok that stiffie joke and ran with it.

I don't care one jot about Johnny Crowder.

Always great when they team up Tim and Raylan together.

LOL Raylan mimicking the Truth family haha "Badges. If I seen one badge I've seen a thousand."

I always like it when they save a hostage.

"Getting a little stiff?"
"Little bit."

I like to imagine that both Tim and Rachel show up at the bar at least a couple nights a month or so, not because Raylan is fun to hang out with, but one thing Raylan is very good at is I don't think he judges his fellow marshals much at all, so they like going to him to just have a drink without questions. :D

Re: Where's Waldo

[gwyn]

It isn't that I hate the plot, it's more like this season feels more like writer's room sketched out scenes strung together, there wasn't a lot of cohesion to the scripts and the through-line of the narrative. It definitely heats up toward the end, and that's always good. The season I reserve hatred for is S5, but I'll no doubt make that known when we get there. ;-)

I could absolutely see Raylan in pilates class if he ever let himself do it. He'd be making sure everyone else was good all the time, and not paying attention to the instructor while being so ingratiating she couldn't lose her temper, and he'd come out of it with good core muscles. Win-win, Raylan, you should look into it.