Justified rewatch: 4x08 and 4x09

[gwyn]

4.08 Outlaw
Original Air Date: Feb. 26, 2013
Written by: Benjamin Cavill and Keith Schreier
Directed by: John Dahl



Will Arlo reveal the identity of Drew Thompson to Raylan, or will he take the secret to his grave? Meanwhile, Boyd tricks the local mob and Wynn Duffy, and Colt is blackmailed over not killing Ellen May.


4.09 The Hatchet Tour
Original Air Date: March 5, 2013
Written by: Taylor Elmore and Leonard Chang
Directed by: Lesli Linka Glatter



While transferring Arlo's killer, former sheriff Mosley, to another prison, Raylan stumbles upon the identity of Drew Thompson. Boyd and Ava discover that Colt did not kill Ellen Mae.

Please share your thoughts and reactions in comments.

Comments

[gwyn]

LOVE Raylan saying "I still like you more" after Mosley points out "I tried to kill you." That is such a Raylan thing to say.

Of course Arlo uses his last words to be evil to his son. Good riddance to bad rubbish. It was gratifying to see Raylan finally break down and cry while he waited for the elevator, but I wish so much he could just have a full-on mental breakdown because boy does he deserve it. Art was right to want him to take time off--and their bargaining was funny--but he knows how much Raylan needs and he knows also that Raylan will never get it. Loved Tim watching the whole thing, keeping track.

Seeing Tim get his own storyline in relation to his friend, and then the friend's murder, is very cool. How it comes to a head in the following episodes was one of my favorite stories in the show. Though honestly, this season is just so hyperviolent. It's like they got a little bit up their asses in terms of writing their ids or something, and just cut loose with it in a way that's almost off-putting.

[mackiemesser]

4.08 - I remember being really concerned about Raymond Barry's health in this episode as he had looked increasingly frail in this season, and I've always wondered if that's why they killed off a character as useful to story arcs as Arlo.

It's also this episode that makes it clear how bad Tim's dad must've been, because even tho we knew Tim's dad was a shit, the understanding and empathy for Raylan that comes across speaks of experience.

4.09 - Constable Bob!!

A lot of tense but important moments in this one, but my favorite thing is watching Tim get kicked into high gear.

Outlaw

[hafital]

(i wrote this last night but then fell asleep before clicking post comment whoops. this seems to be a theme lately lol)

That's a good scene, between Raylan and Mosley. Well performed, good dynamics. "I can ask again with a different tone if you like." hee.

I'm fascinated by Mosley's observation that Raylan is only a law man when it suits him. Not sure that's entirely fair, but it's more or less what Art has to deal with as Raylan's chief.

All these deaths over Drew Thompson.

Absolutely love how they focus on Tim's reaction, not only as Raylan's getting the news about Arlo, but also just before when he's teasing Drew's wife and then complimenting her.

What breaks my heart in this scene is how Raylan says "not right away. It'll just upset him." Also, i mean give Timothy all the cookies for that subtle performance. Aside: Drew Thompson's widow circling the picture of a bald guy...no one is paying any attention!

Ellen May talking about can she ever deserve to wear clothes like that. :( Poor thing.

I don't think any heartfelt deathbed father/son 'make peace while you can' scene would have rang true at all So they didn't even bother. Raylan roughly touching his father's shoulder though, as he turns to leave. ugh.

Always a pleasure seeing Boyd manipulate other bad guys into doing his dirty work for him.

The scene between Raylan, Eva, Boyd, and the fake cop is one of my favorites. The way Raylan pauses the fake cop to turn to eva to ask about the ring -- the definition of crazy. wheeee. And then Boyd's eager interjection that they thought it over and they're sill inviting him. :D :D It really makes me wish for them to get an actual wedding just of the hijinks

"Jesus, I hope I got that right." That was bad ass.

This Harlan cabal of creepy old white guys is creepy.

Ew. I did not need a close of a gross foot.

The Hatchet Tour

[hafital]

I love focusing on Tim right away. Nice. Watching this again, I realized I missed the detail before of Tim's friend texting him "bagram" to tell him who it was. And it's interesting that Tim is clearly intending to look into his friend's death without interference from the police.

Nice touch with the reveal on Raylan when the bus pulls away, and Mosley seeing who's escorting him to supermax.

Ooooh, Art is really mad I love it. He yells at Tim! Tim looks like he can take it. How much do I love Tim and Raylan's conversation? Besides the obvious chemistry between them, there's a wisp of brothers-in-arms intimacy about it and it makes me happy, even if there are underlying motivations for both.

Look at Wynn Duffy having a sincere moment.

Occasionally in these episodes I get a real sense of these families in Harlan going back generations and how everything in present is really a product of old feuds going back decades.

Tim is so great in that scene at the tent church.

"Goddamn it, Bob." lol. Patton Oswalt shooting up a storm is comical.

Finally,the Shelby reveal.

Tim: "When I take him down, his eyes will be clear."

Interesting, having a man like Hunter Mosley give Raylan advice about his father. Which really just tells me that EVERYONE within fifty miles of Harlan county knew Arlo was an asshole and an abusive father and husband and no one did anything about it.

This episode ends with Raylan turning to Tim to team up as they go hunt down Drew and I love that. <3