Advance Review: #Justified "The Gunfighter" (Revenge, New Players, and the Pee-Pee Dance?)

Advance Review: Justified, Season 3, “The Gunfighter”

Airdate: Tuesday, January 17, 2012 10PM E/P on FX

Rating ★★★★★

Advance Review: #Justified "The Gunfighter" (Revenge, New Players, and the Pee-Pee Dance?) 1

Timothy Olyphant as Deputy U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens

(Inhales deeply) Can you smell the Kentucky bluegrass? That’s right kids, Justified is back and it’s full of exciting twists, turns, humor, bloodshed, and a bevy of new characters to keep you thoroughly entertained!

When we last left Harlan, KY in “Bloody Harlan,” a whole lot of people got shot and some got dead, including the powerful and ornery Mags Bennett (Margo Martindale). I sure hated to see her go – she was a very intriguing character and Martindale earned an Emmy® for her outstanding portrayal of the Bennett matriarch. Raylan (Timothy Olyphant) was also shot in the crossfire between Doyle’s (Joseph Lyle Taylor) henchmen and the U.S. Marshal Service, while Dickie (Jeremy Davies) practically dug his own grave when he shot Ava (Joelle Carter).

As we dive into “The Gunfighter,” Winona (Natalie Zea), who we learned at the end of season two is pregnant, learns Raylan’s been shot. Luckily, he’s not mortally wounded but it highlights his professional hazards a bit brighter now that she’s carrying his child—which I’m still not 100% sure it is actually Raylan’s since she was married to Gary (William Ragsdale) at the time she decided to sleep with Raylan. (And where did Gary disappear to anyway? Hmm.) Fast forward three weeks to a desk riding Raylan who’s been put on light duty by Art (Nick Searcy). It was a bit perplexing to actually see Raylan in the office pencil pushing because we know he rarely likes to do paperwork. However, after having a face to face with a bullet can often change a person’s perspective.

I love the banter between Art and Raylan. You can tell they have respect for one another as much as you can sense the aggravation they each suffer at the hands of the other. Their conversation in the locker room about Raylan being shot is quite entertaining.

Art: “The only thing that saved ya was all that body fat you got going on there.”

Raylan (pulling his shirt on): “Starting to feel uncomfortable.”

Art: “Why? We’re alone.”

Advance Review: #Justified "The Gunfighter" (Revenge, New Players, and the Pee-Pee Dance?) 2

L-R: Raylan (Timothy Olyphant) and Boyd (Walton Goggins) have a heated discussion about Dickie

What really shifts this premiere into high gear is when Raylan talks with Boyd (Walton Goggins) about Mags’ entire marijuana stash going missing not even a full day after she died. Of course, Boyd doesn’t seem to know much about it, or perhaps he’s just being coy on the subject. However, after their tense conversation, Boyd asks Raylan about returning Dickie to get his comeuppance like this is some afterschool quarrel. Sure, Boyd sort of saved Raylan from becoming a human piñata in “Bloody Harlan,” but to think a U.S. Marshal is simply going to hand over a suspect seems a bit ridiculous. But somehow I knew Boyd wasn’t going to walk away quietly – oh no. He ends up exactly where he wants to be though – within an arm’s reach of Dickie, who is sitting idle in jail.

There are some familiar faces returning and a few new players in town. Robert Quarles (Neal McDonough) hails from Detroit and is shaking things up in the Dixie Mafia. Our old pal Wynn Duffy (Jere Burns) is back doing what he does best, which isn’t anything good or legal. And a new ruthless henchman, Fletcher Nicks (guest star Desmond Harrington) really sends chills down your spine with his calm demeanor and quiet threats.

As we see throughout “The Gunfighter,” Raylan is definitely off his game, which further lends to his partner Tim’s (Jacob Pitts) suspicions about Gary’s disappearance. Tim continues to push Raylan to jump back into the game after seeing his reluctance to shun his pencil pushing duties. Despite him being shot, Raylan would fight through whatever pain he had to get back on the saddle again. Perhaps the fact he’s about to become a father is giving him pause?

– Funny Line:

After Tim and Raylan visit Duffy to discuss a double homicide, Tim suggests Raylan go over to talk to the Dixie Mafia or… “Or you know, you can go back to the office, get your paper clips, do the pee-pee dance—whatever makes you feel happy, Raylan.” (LOL! Pee-pee dance!)

Advance Review: #Justified "The Gunfighter" (Revenge, New Players, and the Pee-Pee Dance?) 3

Walton Goggins as Boyd Crowder

All of this and more definitely puts season three off to a fantastic start! The acting is superb with the enigmatic Goggins putting his Boyd Crowder hat back on. The southern charm slides off him like sweet golden honey and his words are uttered with poetic fluidity. Olyphant gives a brilliant and deft portrayal of a lawman living on the edge of two lives – one as a dutiful U.S. Marshal; the other as a father-to-be. The swagger dripping off him is mouthwateringly good! The supporting cast of Searcy, Pitts, Carter, McDonough, Harrington, and Burns truly round out this amazing season opener. And with more guest stars like Carla Gugino (Watchmen, Californication) and Mykelti Williamson (Forrest Gump, 24) lined up this season, things are really going to sizzle!

With Boyd finally within reach of getting his revenge on Dickie for shooting his beloved Ava; the new player Robert Quarles shaking up the Dixie Mafia like he’s churning butter; and Ava showing some serious gumption in Boyd’s stead, it’s getting down and dirty in Harlan.

Tune into the season three premiere of Justified on Tuesday, January 17, 2012 at 10PM E/P only on FX.

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

Follow FX on Twitter hashtag #JustifiedFX.

Follow on Twitter @Joelle_Carter and @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.