r/justified • u/darthsidian • 17d ago
Opinion Masterpiece
Stumbled on this some weeks ago searching for my first ever western to watch and all I can say is, WOW. How come nobody ever talks about this show? It's perfect, it grips you from the very first episode up to the last. I finished it some days ago and now I'm on the last episode of Primeval.
I've never watched a show where it had me rooting for both the protagonist and the antagonist. The dynamic between Boyd and Raylan chefs kiss, I loved it when they worked together and when they were at odds, I wanted both of them to win. I can't rave about it enough, I know there are other westerns out there but I'm afraid I've started off with something that set the bar very high.
37
u/BeerBaitIceAmmo 17d ago
Watch Deadwood next!
13
7
u/Sorry_Rub987 Kentucky Outlaw 17d ago
Currently watching it rn. Raylan was so Seth Bullock 2.0, wish he had a bigger role in the show. Soooo cool.
6
u/ThePrideOfKrakow 17d ago
Yup my head Canon is that's his great-great-grand pappy
3
u/Sorry_Rub987 Kentucky Outlaw 17d ago
Lol I love that headcanon
4
u/ThePrideOfKrakow 16d ago
While serving as a Marshall, he ends up shooting a man who drew on him first. But the man's connections with the Crooked Governor means they twist the Justified shooting into a murder and try to pin it on Bullock. He fakes his death, changes his last name to Givens and flees east. He settles in Kentucky, digging coal and marries a lovely woman by the name of Evelyn Crowder and they start a family.
5
3
u/TheDeadQueenVictoria 16d ago
It's funny because DW is what got me into Justified bc I was FOAMING AT THE MOUTH for more Timothy Olyphant at the end of that show
3
u/WintersAxe 16d ago
Loved Justified but couldn’t get into Deadwood. Too slow for me, and way too much filmed in alike settings (dark houses).
4
21
u/millenniumxl-200 17d ago
This cover always reminds me of the 80s ad for Maxell Cassettes
3
u/RecommendationRare68 17d ago
Yes. I can’t help but think they were going for this. Wonder if that’s ever been confirmed.
18
u/robinizzme 17d ago
I’ve rewatched it so many times. NEVER GETS OLD.
Timothy Olyphant is my forever boyfriend. My husband has seen the show too, so he does not mind.
Timothy gives ‘Fire in the hole’ a whole other meeting!
10
u/Shameful90 17d ago
Welcome to the party pal! Glad to have you on board! I’ve been watching since the day the pilot aired in 2010 and was hooked from the start. Make sure to rewatch it soon, I’ve rewatched it a few times and it gets better and better every time!
2
u/darthsidian 17d ago
I've just finished it but I know I'm due for a rewatch soon and I'm sure I'll be watching it yearly from now on.
8
2
10
u/xobeme 17d ago
"You make me draw, I'll put you down."
3
u/darthsidian 17d ago
😂 and they always tested him, ending up tasting his bullet.
8
u/rseery 17d ago
One of my faves is when Raylan is standing next to the car and the hood is like, “what you gonna do?” And Raylan shoots the airbag and it blows up so he has the drop on him.
6
u/Mission_Ad6235 16d ago
My favorite is Art asking him to stop shooting people. It isn't because they're not justified shootings. It's because Art is tired of the paperwork.
2
u/dubtown1551 16d ago
Best line is from season 3. When the guy has the gimp with the knife.
R “drop the knife” Bad guy “ I’m walking outta here” R “that ain’t gonna happen” Bad guy “wanna see this guys insides” R “ that ain’t gonna happen either”.
9
10
u/Guilty-Coconut8908 17d ago
Justified is one of my all time favorite shows and I regularly recommend it. You might try reading some Elmore Leonard since the show is one of the few that gets him right. He was an executive producer on Justified until he died. He was an amazing writer much because of his characters and their dialog.
2
7
u/MinnesotaTornado 17d ago
As someone from a hillbilly place in Tennessee the show showcased an exaggerated but realistic view of what life in that part of the world is like. The music, the dancing, the way of life, the churches, etc is all pretty realistic.
The people that made the show had to either been from Appalachia or spent a lot of time there growing up.
3
u/darthsidian 17d ago
Maybe and also in the last episode they thanked the people of Harlan for helping and sharing their stories.
7
u/Weekly_Hall_52 17d ago
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Unfortunately, I think you hit the nail on the head: you started with one of the best pieces of the genre. Not much will touch this. You’re standing on the top of Mt. Everest and asking, “What’s next?” I couldn’t really get into Primeval. Are you enjoying it?
4
u/darthsidian 17d ago
Primeval doesn't hit quite the same, I've only gotten so far because I wanted to see more of Raylan the Marshall but this series seems to have turned him into some kind of detective. Except for Givens, it doesn't seem like it's connected at all to the original 😆 would've been nice to see some old faces!
5
u/AmaroisKing 17d ago
Primeval isn’t as bad as people make it out to be, I recently rewatched it.
2
u/darthsidian 17d ago
If you look at it comparing it to its predecessor, I'm afraid it has no chance. But as its own thing, I guess it was alright. I finished it, ending with Boyd was a nice touch.
1
6
u/mich55 17d ago
I had heard many people complain about Primeval - that it wasn't as good as the original. But, I watched Primeval first. I had never watched the original series. I liked Olyphant from Deadwood and I really liked everything Boyd Holbrook had done, so I watched Primeval when it came out. I really enjoyed it.
After Primeval was over I decided to watch the original series. Watched all 6 seasons and, of course, loved it! I can see now some of the issues people had about Primeval. Obviously taking him out of Kentucky and not have Boyd Crowder in it is a far departure from the original series.
I can compare it to this - Led Zeppelin was the original, classic, and insanely good. Many many years later, Robert Plant still puts out very good music (IMO), but it's not like the original. Once so many years pass, you can't go back. 2010-2015 is over - you can't go back to that time or get that vibe. If they tried to go back and do that same thing over again, 10+ years later, it wouldn't be right.
Having said all of that, the ending scene [SPOILER ALERT] for Primeval is Boyd breaking out of prison and Raylan retiring, but getting that phone call. They need to create a new series where he comes out of retirement and hunts Boyd down again.
3
u/Weekly_Hall_52 17d ago
I’m glad you liked it! It wasn’t for me but I won’t ever yuck someone else’s yum. And I think most of my problems stem from exactly what you said: you can’t go back. If I’m being honest, I probably entered it with such insanely high hopes that it was going to disappoint me no matter what. It might not even be a fault of the show, but just me setting unrealistic expectations. No matter what, I’m glad you enjoyed it and then watched the original series. It’s my favorite show of all time.
2
7
u/Ganicenda 17d ago
Raylan is phenomenally Justified!
I agree though I still root for Boyd and a few of his crew. Boyd, had a real chance at complete redemption his dad screwed him. This is one of my top five favs and watch it often.
8
u/Confident_Series8226 17d ago
I have dragged my stupid-ass horse friends to the water so many times...and yet they refuse to drink. I give up.
1
6
6
u/BovaFett74 17d ago
Another good one is Anson Mount in Hell on Wheels. A bad ass gunslinger. Justified was a masterpiece no doubt. The series was epic.
1
3
u/februarysbrigid 17d ago
I just finished my 3rd watch of the entire series. It never gets old & I always enjoy it to the end. However, City Prime Evil was lackluster
2
1
4
u/RoseofSharonVa 16d ago
This pic was my screen saver for the longest time. Those long legs & hat always brightened my workdays.
12
u/Soggy-Box3947 17d ago
And how about that opening theme song from Gangstagrass!!!
7
u/Honest_Grade_9645 17d ago
I really fell for the song “You’ll Never Leave Harlan County Alive”. Snippets of it are played in several episodes by several artists. The Dave Alvin version - who also played in a bar on the show - kills!
2
1
u/darthsidian 17d ago
Sir? I usually skip opening songs but this one? It was too good
3
u/Soggy-Box3947 17d ago
When I was checking youtube for Gangstagrass (who I had never heard of) I stumbled over this clip of them doing the song live at a small venue. It's raw and brilliant!
1
3
3
u/lucasadtr 17d ago
I had not watched this until recently. I saw the clip of the petrol station scene on YouTube shorts, looked up the show, seen it was on Disney, and blasted straight through it. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Watched city primeval as well, I liked the change in tone of the show to match the city as well. One of the best series in a long time
3
3
2
2
u/discsarentpogs 16d ago
If you get a chance, watch Yosts earlier series Boomtown. Unfortunately it was one season but it was excellent as well.
1
2
u/wolfwarriorxyz 16d ago
Just picked up the first 2 seasons for 6$ at half price books, it's excellent.
2
2
2
u/suzenah38 16d ago
I watched this and Deadwood back to back. It was the summer of Timothy Olyphant. Now when I see him, for a moment I feel like “oh! My ex-boyfriend…”. And I mean this in the best possible way.
2
u/suzenah38 16d ago
I loved them both so much. Boyd and Raylan…you’re exactly right that I pulled for both of them. Some of my favorite episodes were when they worked together.
2
2
2
2
2
u/Embarrassed_Range_39 15d ago
I read somewhere that originally Boyd was killed off in the pilot, but they changed this when test audiences responded well to the character. I’m so glad they did.
The whole series is brilliant, but the interplay between Raylan and Boyd is a consistent high point.
2
u/darthsidian 15d ago
wow good thing they didn't. can't imagine the series without "Raylaaaaan, your timing sucks"
3
u/WyldFyre0422 15d ago
I named my son Raylan because of this show. Turns out, he's a sarcastic asshole just like the main character. Ain't that some shit.
2
1
1
u/NotLarryDierker 16d ago
So the back of the chair is between his back and coat? It always confuses me.
1
1
u/RunningwithmarmotS 16d ago
I do love this show but I could never get my head around them using what was so easily seen as CA landscapes for the hollers of Eastern KY. It should be green and forested and rolling hills. I wish the filmed in Atlanta where those scenes would be easier to capture.
1
u/dubtown1551 16d ago
I rewatch this every few years or so. Mid season 3 at the moment. Such a great show.
1
1
u/AnOldSchoolVGNerd 16d ago
Happy to have you here OP, but you didn't say it, OP. You didn't say "the thing".
Nobody tell OP what "the thing" is😂.
OP will know within one minute of reading this comment.
1
u/FLJeeper007 16d ago
The 2 best FX shows ever: Justified and SOA
0
u/tyrannybabushka 15d ago
SOA is trash, best is The Shield, The Americans and Fargo, even Snowfall and Atlanta beat SOA.
1
u/-The-Ark- 11d ago
I recently discovered this as well and can't watch much else. Been bingin. Theres also a idk continuation(?) of the show, Justified Primeval. Also! Timothy Olyphant stars in another great western, Deadwood... I'm fairly certain they make many references to Deadwood in a round about way in Justified.
1
0
-3
u/Tommy_Nebula86 17d ago
John Travolta worships Satan
3
u/sazerak_atlarge 17d ago
It's always fun when some gibbering knob makes an entirely unrelated comment.
90
u/Blakelock82 17d ago
It aired during the heyday of Breaking Bad, Game of Thrones and The Walking Dead, so people were overlooking it. Thankfully more people are discovering the show.