Justified - Season 2

Starts tonight. I'm looking forward to this evening like I would a major-picture release.

Here's the "Han Shot First" promo, for anyone who hasn't seen it. So awesome.

And here's one that's a take on Dirty Harry.

Damn, if only Terriers had had this kinda publicity...

Tonight's gonna feel like Christmas. A violent, Kentucky Christmas.

Just re-watched the final S1 episode last night in preparation -- simply an amazing series (and it's always nice to have something that my wife enjoys as much as I do) .

Honestly, who'd have imagined that either Olyphant or Goggins would so quickly find roles as memorable as on their previous series? Most actors are lucky to get a role like Seth Bullock or Shane Vendrell once in a career, much less follow those up immediately with characters every bit as iconic and unforgettable.

I had a big ol' smile on my face when I saw, "...and Walton Goggins" at the end of the opening credits. A season with Jeremy Davies, Margo Martindale, and Brad William Henke playing a hillbilly crime-family? Could not be more happy.

Poor Mulkey. Always getting snuffed after an episode or two on almost every show he pops up on. At least he's relatively safe on Boardwalk Empire.

Anyway, good episode. Getting a strong "Winter's Bone" vibe from this new storyline. Loved how they just threw us right back into everything. No sense holding our hand, and slowly getting us reacquainted with this world. The highlight for me was the 14-year-old telling the perv every little fucked-up thing that was going on his his head, while he sat there dumbfounded. Nice.

I want more Goggins next week. Then again, I always want more Goggins.

The "apricot" moment was pretty fucking great. I remember a moment like it from the Miami Vice movie. But this was so much more badass. I love the way they use the junior deputies (junior? associate?) in this show -- they're not the main attraction, but both have proved to be just as badass as Raylan when the time calls for it...

And it's a shame that the crook who realizes his partner has gone too far and tries to do the right thing, the heroic thing, always gets killed for his efforts.

More Ava, please. Thank you very much.

Such a strange dynamic between her and Boyd now. Wonder where that's going to lead? Joelle Carter and Natalie Zea are the most ridiculously sexy one-two punch on television right now. Man, I love crazy southern chicks in TV and movies. I'd probably react more like Raylan in real life -- bemused and exasperated more than excited, but damn, they're turning me on.

Although I think the "I JUST WANNA SEE MY KID!!" trope is trite and overplayed, I nevertheless enjoyed the hell out of last night's episode. The opening scene with the Mags Bennett clan was just great.

I love how no matter how threatened she is, Mama Bennett will always offer food. In a perfect world, Margo Martindale would be on her first leg of an Emmy-run.

Man, I'm absolutely adoring this season. They've nailed exactly how to blend the arc-stories and the stories-of-the-week.

True, the show effectively balanced one-offs and season-long arc-episodes last year as well. Not every episode has to be about the major storyline (which will clearly be Mags, her family, and the Dixie Mafia). I'm fine enjoying the slow-burn setup while focusing on some of the other characters.

And I agree it is one of the best, and most entertaining, shows on TV right now. It's living up to how good Season 1 was (which took until the Ruck episode to find its rhythm, even though it was already plenty decent before that).

You know a show really has you by the balls when, on a cop show, your favorite parts are a bunch of scenes of people just sitting around and talking.

While not quite "Kathy Bates-in-Misery," the punishment scene was even more disturbing for me than the aftermath of the bombing. Boyd's plan was pretty clever, especially blowing up most of the money so no one would be looking for the chunk he kept.

I just realized that both of Mags's sons getting punished were on LOST, although I don't think they shared a scene. So that's at least three LOST actors so far on Justified. I guess someone's a fan (and a really good casting-agent).

All I can really say right now is that Dave Alvin followed by DBT is just more evidence that this show is on some fairly specific Southern-fried wavelength that I never knew existed.

And not that I really care about the Emmys, but if I had a vote, I can't even begin to imagine how I'd choose between Martindale and Maggie Smith.

Outstanding look of bewilderment from Raylan upon discovering Boyd, in a suit, alone in the courtroom. Made even better by Boyd "volunteering" to show Raylan where he'd have hidden a bomb.

My only tiny quibble is that I'd have preferred to see Boyd's recruitment begin playing out in the previous episode; it felt a tad rushed to me (but "Is there a Penney's on the way?" was only one of a good dozen classic lines from last night).

Should be interesting to see him mix it up with the Bennetts next week.

Somebody involved in Justified's casting clearly likes HBO's Hung. They've now employed the sexiest 40% of that show's cast from Season 1 (apologies to Thomas Jane). But while Justified is the better show, Hung gets bonus points for having had both actresses naked.

    Quote:

Precisely what my wife said out loud last night, as we were sitting there watching it. Preceded immediately by, "Jesus Christ, he's GOING BACK?!?"

And I don't know who hit it farther out of the park, Searcy or Root, but they both have absolutely dead-on timing in their delivery. Which is not to take Olyphant for granted -- given the need to keep Winona's situation hush-hush, he did an amazing job communicating so much just with looks and small gestures.