Justified – “Fugitive Number One” Review. Take the Money and Run...or Not.

Season 6, Episode 11

Air date: Tuesday, March 31, 2015, 10PM E/P on FX

Rating: ★★★★★

“You know, I can usually smell a rotten bud before it blooms but your scent, my dear, has always been presidential kush.” – Avery Markham

Things are getting downright bloody in this final season of Justified. “Fugitive Number One” gives tragedy a new spin and loyalties are put to the ultimate test. The U.S. Marshals’ office and the District Attorney’s office are wondering what side Raylan (Timothy Olyphant) is truly on, causing the doubts and accusations to fly.

The hunt for Ava is on. Pictured (l-r): Louis Herthum as Detective Willits; Jacob Pitts as Deputy U.S. Marshal Tim Gutterson; and Timothy Olyphant as Deputy U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens

Avery Markham (Sam Elliott) wants Boyd (Walton Goggins) dead. There’s no mistaking that after what happened in “Trust.” And Ava—what was she thinking when she shot Boyd and took off with Markham’s $10M? With the U.S. Marshals hot on her heels, I don’t understand why Ava doesn’t take the money and run…all the way to Mexico without a backwards glance. That’s what I would do. And instead of traipsing up and down the hills of Kentucky to hide out, why doesn’t Ava send money to her Uncle Zacariah (guest Jeff Fahey) instead? Sometimes, I wonder what the writers are thinking when they craft these story lines. I know it’s the final season but damn, Ava could easily make a money drop somewhere Zacariah could find and then hightail it out of Kentucky. Why risk staying behind? She can’t possibly think there’s any hope left for her and Boyd to ride off into the proverbial sunset, can she?

They say imitation is the best form of flattery. Looks like Boon (Jonathan Tucker) thinks getting himself a cool hat like Raylan’s, one that doesn’t smell “like Patchouli and scared hipster,” might be just the thing he needs to top off his image. Things get interesting when Raylan visits Markham at the Pizza Portal but is greeted by an eager Boon. Their initial conversation morphs into a tense showdown. “I love this part. Don’t you just love this part? … You can hear a goddamn pin drop.” When Markham interrupts, Boon, a bit too excited, ever so colorfully states, “Check my balls right now; they purple, they so blue.” I’m going to call TMI on that one, but thanks for letting us know, Boon. Who do you think would win that showdown – Boon or Raylan? If it were anyone else, I’d say Raylan, but Boon is a wild card I’m not quite sure I’d bet against. Again, Tucker gives an outstanding performance.

There is a tragic and poignant scene involving Wynn Duffy (Jere Burns), his trusted bodyguard Mike (Jonathan Kowalsky), and Katherine (Mary Steenburgen). To say I was moved to near tears would be accurate. While I didn’t shed many, a few drops did fall as the scene unfolds. Mike is so upset and hurt by Wynn being an informant, aka “rat;” he sees it as the ultimate sign of betrayal. Even if Mike weren’t directly affected by what Wynn did to Katherine’s late husband Grady (not ever seen), the act of being a snitch goes against the criminal’s code. Katherine is a tough old gal. I wasn’t sure how this was going to play out. I thought it was going to go one way, then in a split second, things changes, and then morph into something unrecognizable. I was sitting, hand over mouth, gasping at the audacity of it all by the end of this scene. If Wynn ever doubted Mike’s loyalty, he has his answer now.

I’m not sure what Raylan is doing anymore.
Pictured: Timothy Olyphant as Deputy U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens

ADA Vasquez (Rick Gomez) goes way off base throwing around accusations, especially to Art (Nick Searcy). Art isn’t dirty like some of the cops in Harlan turn out to be in “Fugitive Number One.” Did Markham buy the police department or what? Of course, Vasquez is laboring under the delusion that Raylan and Ava are sleeping together and somehow plot this whole thing out. Wouldn’t that be a strange twist of events? I am curious as to why Raylan lets Ava just drive away with the money at the end of “Trust” when he could have easily shot her tires out. If Raylan is in on this whole deal with Ava, that would be beyond shocking – it would almost be like a ‘Who shot J.R.?’ type of jaw dropper.

Overall

More than a few lives are lost in “Fugitive Number One.” If Boyd only knew how loyal Carl (Justin Welborn) really is, he may have thought twice about how things go down in that hospital room. I wonder if Markham will take time out of his busy revenge schedule to plan a nice funeral for his beloved. And I’m still not quite sure what to make of Raylan’s actions does at the end of “Fugitive Number One.” Why doesn’t he go back to Lexington like Art asks him to? Does everyone at the Marshals’ office think Raylan is on the take?

Let me know what you thought of “Fugitive Number One.” I’d love to hear your thoughts. Leave a comment below and/or tweet me @judybopp.

Tune in to the final episodes of Justified, Tuesdays at 10:00 PM ET/PT, only on FX.

For more on the show, go to http://www.fxnetworks.com/justified.

Follow on Twitter @JustifiedFX #JustifiedFX and follow cast member Joelle Carter @Joelle_Carter. For fans of Walton Goggins, follow @WaltonGFan.

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Judy Manning

Dream chaser extraordinaire! Judy tends to be a tad sarcastic and kind of goofy! She is an avid admirer of all things supernatural, paranormal, celestial and mystical. She loves to read, write, and watches way too much TV. She enjoys many genres of film and music (and let's be honest, most music from the 80s). She also has a wicked sweet tooth. Cupcakes beware.