Justified Season 4 Meme -- The Outlaw, The U.S. Marshal, & The Origins of Harlan County = EPICNESS!!
This is hands down one of THE BEST SEASONS in the series!! Don't get me wrong all seasons of this series is really good, however; season four kept me on the edge of my seat. It gave me the same feeling that the first season gave me when I first watched this series. Season four was filled with twists, turns, and major payoffs in the show's mythology. This season really went back to basics, and had far more focus on the characters themselves. The storylines were so solid in how it related to the show's characters. Season four became the show's origin story in how Harlan became poisoned with its criminal lifestyles. I love when a show can deliver an awesome backstory that affects the events in the present and future, and this is exactly what season four did!!
Favorite Episodes: "Hole in the Wall", "Truth and Consequences", "This Bird Has Flown", "Kin", "Money Trap", "Outlaw", "Get Drew", "Decoy", "Peace of Mind", and "Ghosts"
So-So Decent Episodes: "Where's Waldo?", "Foot Chase", and "The Hatchet Tour"
Least Favorite Episodes: This season is pretty much flawless!!
Favorite Storylines: There were several storylines I thoroughly enjoyed....
*The Criminal Origin of Harlan: The Mystery of Drew Thompson -- Ever since season one I always wondered how Harlan became to be what it is today. How it became so ridden with despair with so many lost souls. Season four answered my questions tenfold due to the mystery surrounding Drew Thompson. I simply loved the whole mystery surrounding Drew from finding out he was alive to getting him out of Harlan alive. Everyone had an agenda in finding Drew whether to bring him in to destroying him. I didn't figure out it was Sheriff Shelby until he pulled the gun on Hunter. It took me until the second before the reveal that I figured it out....d'oh. I normally really good at this, but the writers even had me. I simply loved "Decoy" because I really didn't know how they were going to get Drew out of Harlan. I didn't realize it was train at all, but it made perfect sense.
I also loved how it also became as a redemption of Drew due to his livelihood in his Shelby persona. As he told Ellie Mae he's been pretending to be Shelby for so long that at some point he eventually became Shelby. Realizing how wrong he was, and protecting Ellie Mae from Boyd, Ava, and Colt. In some weird twisted way Drew found out who he really was along the way. Sadly, it also came at the cost of Harlan's soul. Due to Drew's actions Harlan became further poisoned not only due to the criminal activity, but also because of the family feuds driven by this criminal activity. The writers did a terrific job with this storyline, and how it answered a lot of the background mythology questions. Plus it was awesome to see Jim Beaver in a role that at first seemed very Bobby Singer-lite to a criminal who has found his way to redemption. Overall, hands down the Mystery of Drew Thompson is one of my favorite storylines in the series.
*The Anti-Hero: U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens -- This had to be the most ship-less season for Raylan in the series, and I think it truly did his character wonders. He still struggles on which side he hails from the most: Arlo or Frances and Helen. Even in this season there are moments where you see the positive influence Frances and Helen had on Raylan. Then there are moments where you definitely see Arlo's negative influence on Raylan. The moments where things appear to be "justified" in doing. I like that the show continues to push this theme because the "justified" theme is pretty much Raylan's character tenfold.
What made it a bit different this season is that Raylan was continued called out on it by Rachel, Art, and now even Boyd. What I find interesting is that now Tim is showing aspects of Raylan's "justified" methods. The way Tim went up against Colt you can see where it was heading the moment Colt killed Tim's best friend Mark, but you weren't quite sure if Tim go all "justified" on him. Needless to say you can see the influence Raylan is having on the other U.S. Marshals. So it will be even more interesting if Raylan gets promoted how he will handle Marshals that are similar to him.
Raylan has always been a badass, but I found him even more badass this season in dealing with so many villains. It was really compelling to watch how Raylan was going to handle Nick. I totally forgot Raylan had a mutual understanding with Sam. The show continues to impress in depicting the anti-hero Raylan Givens. So now I'm wondering how will Raylan go out in the final season six *sniff*. I look forward to the last two final seasons, but boy am I going to miss this show and U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens *sniff*.
*The Outlaw: Boyd Crowder -- While Raylan continues to struggle which side of the law he really is on Boyd Crowder knows exactly who he is.....the Outlaw. I have to say this was the season Boyd scared the crap out of me, and yet I still find his character so compelling. Ah, only in the fictional world eh? The more Boyd started to become his father, ignored his cousin Johnny, and put a hit on Ellie Mae I knew Boyd was going to get a world of hurt at the end of the season. Boyd was becoming to confident, greedy, and he was going up against the U.S. Marshals, the Detroit Mob, and High Society. Boyd may have gotten half of Kentucky's heroin district, but at what cost? Lee and Mooney made it known that Boyd doesn't control the High Society as he thought. Boyd lost Drew, Ellie Mae, and the body was found with Ava's hands. Boyd pretty lost Ava if Ellie Mae's testimony is brought forward, and she is not harmed next season.
So Boyd received the wealth and some of the power, but in turn he lost a lot of self-respect, power, love, and family. Boyd is the Outlaw which only means he will only have two endings for this character: jail or death. Will it be Raylan's hands? Boyd's own hands? Or will someone else put Boyd down? I'm glad the writers made sure they didn't depict Boyd's outlaw ways should be revered like with Breaking Bad's Walter White. I see it how the writers depicted Dexter Morgan. You have these criminals who are portrayed and written quite compelling, however; I like that the writers don't have them idolized. They received consequences for their criminal activities. Dexter Morgan lost everything in his series finale, so I'm curious to see what the writers do with Boyd Crowder. What ending he receive? I'm personally hoping for a "justified" ending the moment he put a hit on Ellie Mae. I love-to-hate Boyd, but his character get a "justified" ending for the wrong doings he has done. Whether it be jail or what not.
*Ava Continues to Downspiral -- The hardest storyline for me continues to be Ava's because I hate seeing this character to continue down the wrong path. However, I do like the message they are bringing that Ava is going down the wrong path. She is following Boyd into the abyss she can't get out of now. She has been caught red handed with a body, put a hit on Ellie Mae, and so much more. Ava chose wrong, and now she is in full blown consequences of it. I like that the show is depicted accurately what happens when a woman gets involved with a criminal. Sooner or later you will become part of your boyfriend's criminal record by making a record of your own. I was worried the writers were going to idolize Ava's decision making due to her romance with Boyd, so I was quite thankful to see it is not the case especially when you get to the last two episodes. "Peace of Mind" emphasized that Ava really isn't a killer like she thought she was and tried to stop Colt from killing Ellie Mae. Ava discovered who she was, but sadly it is no too late. I'm glad the writers made sure Ava is receiving consequences for her actions. It is still sad for me to see because I love Ava's character. I hope during the course of the final two seasons Ava finds her peace and redemption. To perhaps someday legally fulfill her fantasy of a nice home in the suburbs. However, if she does not, then she will continue to follow Boyd's path that will only end in utter despair.
*Ellen Mae Finally Finds Herself -- When I first saw Ellie Mae I thought she was a goner right away. So color me happy to see her live longer past season four. I was really happy to see Ellie Mae find her way through grace, accountability, and mentors like Cassie and Shelby. I'm glad Ellie found her voice and self-respect to stand up against Ava. It was such a beautiful, powerful moment that just hits you after the scene is over. Ellen Mae's storyline was really a quite one that slowly build overtime, and due to that slow build the payoff was well worth it. I hope due to Ellie Mae's cooperation that she will get a lesser law consequence. I'm still fear that Boyd will kill Ellie Mae to save Ava though *sniff*. I hope it doesn't happen, but I'm still expecting. Overall, I simply loved what the writers have done with Ellie's character from her own peace of mind to her father-daughter relationship with Shelby this season.
*Villains, Agendas, & More Villains -- This season was filled with various villains that ranged from humorous Randall to unpredictable Jody and Colt to scary Nick. I simply loved with what they did with the villains this season, and how they intertwined with the main storylines. Randall proved to be one of the most funniest villains in the show's history. I couldn't stop laughing he was into chicken fighting haha. Jody scared the crap out of me because he was downright mean who just killed to save his own hide. Nick was pretty much a one dimensional villain, but he still scared the crap out of me because he pretty much put a hit on a pregnant woman and he was played by Mike O'Malley. I'm not used to see Mike O'Malley play such a mean character, but boy was he good at it!! My hat goes off to O'Malley for what he did on the show. I'm still glad he received that "justified" ending with a swiss cheese limo to boot because going after an unborn child is crossing the line big time.
Colt has to be one of the most compelling villains the series because you can see him suffering from his own PTSD, his MP history, and what happened during his military tours. You can see Colt was suffering the following episode after his introduction. I knew it was a matter of time for him to unravel, but I was really surprised how quickly he was forgiven by Boyd. Boyd pretty much threw Johnny under the bus, before Johnny's reveal, but due to Colt's carelessness Ava is now in jail. I think Colt was a great compelling character and Ron did a terrific job in his role. I also liked that Colt's character was able to bring more of Tim's character out in the open outside of Raylan and U.S. Marshal business. I knew Colt was a goner the moment he killed Mark. I knew Tim would figure out the connection, and Colt would receive his "justified" end. It showed how much Tim is ridden down with his own PTSD, how resourceful he is with a weapon, and how much influence Raylan is becoming around Tim.
Overall, the writers did a terrific job in this season's villains. I'm curious to see what happens between Wynn Duffy and Raylan since they both share Kentucky's drug ring. Will they kill each other finally? Will Duffy survive the season? What will happen next in the villain world of Justified....
*Team U.S. Marshal Through & Through -- Having a less shippy season allowed for the Team U.S. Marshall to be shown more. I always loved seeing the interaction of the U.S. Marshals on the show. In this season it was slightly difference because Raylan received massive amounts of screentime with Art, Rachel, and Tim compared to the previous season. I really loved seeing how everyone interacted with each other from being there for each other to giving advice. They weren't over the top scenes because that is not what these characters are. They are for the most part really subdue, quiet characters until they are forced to react. I hope the series continue to show the greatness of this team during the show's final two seasons. I wonder if Art will be retiring in the final season because there is a huge foreshadowing that Raylan may take over Art's job.....d'oh. I'm looking forward to see what happens next for Art, Tim, and Rachel. I also think Bob would fit right in as well, but I can see him become the next sheriff of Harlan County considering the beating and sacrificed he did in "Decoy".
Misc. Hated Aspects: As previously stated before this season is pretty much flawless!!
Favorite Couples & Potential Couples: Tim/Cassie
Favorite Friendships and/or Fremies: Team U.S. Marshall, Art/U.S. Marshalls, Raylan/Bob, Ellen Mae/Shelby, Cassie/Tim, Ellstin/Ellen Mae, Cassie/Ellen Mae, and Raylan/Boyd
Favorite Characters: Raylan, Art, Tim, Rachel, Boyd, Johnny, Ellen Mae, Constable Bob, Ellstin Limestone, Cassie, & Drew Thompson/Shelby
Mixed Characters: Ava -- its just hard to see her go down this path *sniff*
Can't Stand Characters: None
Favorite Villains: Colton, Boyd, Wynn Duffy, Nick Augustine, Arlo, Hunter, Jody, Lee, Randall, & Mooney
Least Favorite Villains: None
Most Tragic Deaths: None, because if you ever go into Harlan there is a good chance you won't leave it alive. Now if Ellen Mae died, then that would be a different story for this section. Furthermore, the show isn't called "justified" for a reason.
Most Shocking Deaths: Arlo -- I knew he would die eventually, however; the way he went left me in shock. Not only did Arlo have a brutal death, but he also left things unsettled between him and Raylan. I didn't think they would go there, and yet it totally fits the series in doing so.
What did you think of the season in general? As I already stated before I LOVED this season!! This season was pretty much flawless from beginning to end. Each episode was important to each main storyline. Everything was concise from each characters' motives to the gunfights. Speaking of the gunfights I was left shock several times this season, and my hats goes off to the writers and crew to make each one unique. Now that so many storylines closed in season four I wonder what will happen in the show's final two seasons. Granted there are several hanging threads in regards to Boyd, Ava, and sooner or later you would think Theo will pop up again. A part of me can't to see what happens next, but a part of me is dreading it because I don't want this show to end *sniff*.