Justified (season 1)

Justified (season 1)

Season 1 DVD cover
Country of origin United States
No. of episodes 13
Release
Original network FX
Original release March 16 (2010-03-16) – June 8, 2010 (2010-06-08)

The first season of the American television drama series Justified premiered on March 16, 2010, on FX, and concluded on June 8, 2010, consisting of 13 episodes.[1][2] The series was developed by Graham Yost based on Elmore Leonard's novels Pronto and Riding the Rap and his short story "Fire in the Hole".[1] Its main character is Raylan Givens, a deputy U.S. Marshal. Timothy Olyphant portrays Givens, a tough federal lawman, enforcing his own brand of justice in his Kentucky hometown.[1] The series is set in the city of Lexington, Kentucky, and the hill country of eastern Kentucky, specifically in and around Harlan.[3]

Plot

The story arc of season one concentrates on the crimes of the Crowder family. Raylan Givens (Timothy Olyphant) seeks to protect Ava Crowder (Joelle Carter) from the rest of the Crowder clan after she shoots her husband Bowman Crowder dead in retaliation for years of abuse. Her biggest threat initially comes from Boyd Crowder (Walton Goggins), a local criminal masquerading as a white supremacist whom Raylan shoots in a stand-off. Boyd survives the shot to the chest and claims its lack of fatality is a sign from God that he should change his ways. Raylan hesitates to believe him but Boyd is soon sent to prison, spending his time reading the bible and preaching to convicts. The season builds towards the release of family patriarch Bo (M. C. Gainey) who wishes to re-build his family's drug trade and to settle old scores, including one with Raylan's father, Arlo (Raymond J. Barry), who has cheated him out of money. Bo's release is soon followed by Boyd's, after a technicality prevents him from being further incarcerated. While Bo works on gaining dominance over the local drug trade, Boyd collects a camp of spiritually reformed criminals whom he trains to blow up meth houses in the county to "clean up Harlan". The explosions cause a few casualties, leading Raylan and the other US Marshals to keep an eye on the team. In the meantime Raylan is dealing with his own personal dilemmas, including working in the same building as his ex-wife (Natalie Zea), for whom he continues to harbor feelings. His continuing visits to Harlan are peppered with small crimes and big shootings, and his success in dealing with these matters draws Bo's attention. Bo promises the niece and nephew of Gio that he will deliver Raylan to them in exchange for a large shipment of drugs. Boyd catches word of this and, with his "flock" of reformed prisoners, blows up the truck carrying the shipment, leading the niece and nephew to hold Bo accountable for the damages. This leads Bo to go to Boyd's camp and threaten to kill his own son, illustrating the harsh family relations that provide some insight as to how Boyd turned out the way he has. But instead of killing Boyd, Bo offers his son the option to abandon his group, after which Bo will leave all of them alone. Boyd walks away into the forest, where he hears gunshots, and returns to see that all of his followers have been killed. This sends him, depressed, to Raylan's door, saying he will help Raylan find Bo as long as he's allowed to be the one to kill him. A plan to deliver Raylan into Bo's clutches is foiled, but Bo has taken Ava hostage. This is the turning point that drives Boyd and Raylan to join forces for the first time, and Boyd leads him to the Crowder cabin an hour or so away. There they manage to kill Bo's guards and shoot Bo in the leg, but as he runs outside a truck pulls in with Gio's niece and nephew, and they attack the house with machine guns. Bo is killed, while Boyd, Ava, and Raylan are trapped; the niece and nephew demand Raylan be turned over to them. After Boyd attempts to pass himself off as Raylan, Raylan tells him and Ava to leave out the back way, and he walks forward, hands in the air. As the niece and nephew step out to shoot him, Boyd shoots the nephew and the niece runs away. Boyd wants to go after her but Raylan stops him, saying it's against the law. However, Boyd absconds with Raylan's car, while neither using or facing violence. This signifies the beginning of a somewhat-friendship between the two characters that will continue throughout the series.

Cast and characters

Main cast

Recurring cast

Production

Filming

While the pilot was shot in Pittsburgh and suburban Kittanning, Pennsylvania and Washington, Pennsylvania, the subsequent episodes were shot in California. The small town of Green Valley, California often doubles for Harlan, Kentucky. In the pilot, Pittsburgh's David L. Lawrence Convention Center appears on film as the small town "airport" and the construction of the new Consol Energy Center serves as the "new courthouse".[4]

Episodes

No. in
series		 No. in
season		 Title Directed by Written by Original air date U.S. viewers
(million)
11"Fire in the Hole"Michael DinnerTeleplay by: Graham YostMarch 16, 2010 (2010-03-16)4.16[5]
After some bad publicity involving a shooting, Deputy U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens' (Timothy Olyphant) boss transfers Raylan from Miami to Lexington, Kentucky. Under Chief Deputy Art Mullen (Nick Searcy), an old friend from the academy, Raylan takes on the case of the murder of a young white supremacist who is linked to a church bombing. The chief suspect is Boyd Crowder (Walton Goggins), a childhood friend of Raylan's. In order to catch him, Raylan returns to his hometown of Harlan. Boyd gives Raylan an ultimatum: leave Harlan within twenty-four hours or be killed. After a tense confrontation at an old acquaintance's house, Raylan gets the drop on Boyd and shoots him in the chest, though he survives and is hospitalized.
22"Riverbrook"Michael DinnerGraham YostMarch 23, 2010 (2010-03-23)3.57[6]
Raylan visits Boyd in the prison hospital to check on him, and transport Crowe to prison. Meanwhile, during a 'prison band' performance, convict Douglas Cooper (Chris Ellis) and a fellow inmate escape. After Art Mullen asks Raylan to return to investigate, Raylan makes a stop at a gas station. Unbeknownst to Raylan, the convicts have set a trap, and Cooper makes off with Raylan's guns, car and hat. After learning that Cooper only had three months left on his sentence, Raylan and marshal Gutterson make a trip to Cooper's ex-wife, Shirley (Kristin Bauer). Cooper then visits after and makes a deal with Shirley and Dupree, Shirley's 'cousin'. They are looking for money Cooper hid in the flooring of development housing during construction. After Ava makes a house call to Raylan, he discovers a hunch as to the location of the money. Cooper, however, screwed up the location. After Dupree shoots Cooper, they find the right house, whose occupants have spent it all. A hostage situation ensues after Cooper helps Raylan find the right house, and Shirley helps Raylan by allowing Gutterson to snipe Dupree, citing that it 'wasn't right' to shoot Cooper. The episode ends with a nice conversation between Cooper and Raylan as they once again leave the prison.
33"Fixer"Fred KellerBenjamin CavellMarch 30, 2010 (2010-03-30)2.31[7]
Raylan starts to work with Arnold Pinter, a local informant (David Eigenberg) who makes money ratting out people to the US Marshals and taking sports bets. Pinter's collector and a debtor decide to work together and kidnap Pinter to find out where the informant's "escape money" is. Raylan grows suspicious after he can't find the informant. The debtor kills the collector, and not long after Raylan shows up. A gunfight ensues, and Raylan kills the debtor and rescues Pinter despite getting shot in his bulletproof vest. Pinter gets his money, and Raylan gets a week's paid leave—a time that Art says will be restful—for Art.
44"Long in the Tooth"Adam ArkinChris ProvenzanoApril 6, 2010 (2010-04-06)2.10[8]
Raylan and the Miami mob compete to capture a fugitive, 'Roland Pike,' (Alan Ruck). The Miami mob wants to kill Pike because Pike was their former accountant and he stole their money and disappeared. The authorities want Pike to act as a informant. Raylan once had a chance to nab Pike, but Pike lied to him and ran off. Pike comes out of hiding as a result of brutally attacking a client from Pike's dental office. The Miami mob spots Raylan looking for Pike, and decides to kill both Raylan and Pike when they have a chance. Raylan eventually kills two of the mob henchmen on his tail (marking the third episode in which Raylan kills someone), and then find Pike. Pike decides to let a sniper shoot him.
55"The Lord of War and Thunder"Jon AvnetGary LennonApril 13, 2010 (2010-04-13)2.41[9]
Raylan's aunt calls him to tell him Arlo is in jail. Raylan reluctantly goes to Harlan, where his aunt says Raylan needs to bail out his father. Raylan is wary about getting too involved with his father, who as revealed during the episode made Raylan live in fear growing up and who was constantly involved in some sort of scheme. Arlo in part blames his behavior on his own father, who was a religious man who created a house of fear. Raylan eventually discovers that Arlo planned to use his own son as a shield from runners of "hillbilly heroin" Oxycontin, who Arlo stole from earlier in the episode. Arlo's plan worked, as Raylan finds Oxy at the drug runner's house (planted by Arlo's wife, Raylan's aunt) and threatens the Oxy runners with jail if they go after his step-mom (former aunt) and Arlo again. Raylan doesn't even bother asking Arlo where the stolen Oxy or money is because he knows Arlo will not tell him.
66"The Collection"Rod HolcombGraham YostApril 20, 2010 (2010-04-20)2.06[10]
A wealthy man seemingly commits suicide on a luxurious Kentucky horse ranch, and Raylan must hunt for his missing art collection while resisting the advances of his attractive widow.
77"Blind Spot"Michael WatkinsWendy CalhounApril 27, 2010 (2010-04-27)2.26[11]
After disrupting an apparent assassination attempt on Ava, Raylan is hellbent on tracking down the responsible parties. However, he soon discovers that Ava may not have been the real target. It is revealed that a hitman employed by the Miami mob wanted Raylan dead. Harlan county Sheriff Hunter Mosley (Brent Sexton) kills the hitman to protect himself and then exposes his true affiliations to Raylan. Ava helps Raylan turn the tables on Mosley and his partner, and Raylan and Ava escape. Boyd is almost killed in prison for talking to Raylan as other inmates view Boyd as a snitch, but Boyd's father Bo (M. C. Gainey) saves Boyd.
88"Blowback"Jon AvnetBenjamin CavellMay 4, 2010 (2010-05-04)2.46[12]
Raylan is turned hostage negotiator when a dangerous inmate (W. Earl Brown) holds a group of people hostage. Raylan's affair with Ava inadvertently grants Boyd an early release from prison.
99"Hatless"Peter WernerDave AndronMay 11, 2010 (2010-05-11)2.09[13]
Having been suspended from the Marshal's service, Raylan decides to use his free time to go head-to-head with the gangsters who are bothering Winona's new husband.
1010"The Hammer"John DahlFred Golan & Chris ProvenzanoMay 18, 2010 (2010-05-18)2.08[14]
Raylan is assigned to guard an eccentric judge (Stephen Root), but Raylan takes time off from the assignment to track down an old lead connected with the Crowders.
1111"Veterans"Tony GoldwynBenjamin Daniel LobatoMay 25, 2010 (2010-05-25)1.81[15]
It's up to Raylan to keep Harlan safe when Boyd Crowder and his cadre of "followers" turn vigilantes.
1212"Fathers and Sons"Michael KatlemanDave AndronJune 1, 2010 (2010-06-01)2.13[16]
Boyd Crowder's increasing influence has gotten out of control and Raylan is ordered to bring in his estranged father, Arlo, to help defuse the situation. Raylan has an intimate encounter with his ex-wife Winona that is witnessed by Ava. Ava finds some unfriendly visitors in her house and decides to pay a visit to Bo Crowder to prove her resolve. Boyd decides to up the ante against Bo's business by targeting his supply truck. Bo wants to take out Raylan Givens, so he reaches out to people who want him gone, including Miami gun runners and his own father Arlo.
1313"Bulletville"Adam ArkinFred GolanJune 8, 2010 (2010-06-08)2.03[17]
In the first season finale, Harlan is turned into a battlefield when the tense situation between Raylan, Arlo, Boyd and Bo Crowder finally comes to a head. When Bo sadistically kills all of his son's followers, Boyd looks to Raylan for help. Arlo's plan to betray Raylan is found out, and he is shot by Raylan. Ava is kidnapped by Bo and Johnny Crowder, after which, Bo shoots Johnny for suspected collusion with Boyd. Boyd and Raylan go after Bo to rescue Ava. At the standoff, Bo is unexpectedly killed, in an ambush, by Miami gun runners who are after Raylan. Raylan and Boyd manage to save Ava and kill three of them, but one of them escapes. Raylan is forced to let Boyd (who calls Raylan his "only friend") chase after Bo's surviving killer.

Reception

For the first season, the series received very positive reviews.[18] TV Guide critic Matt Roush praised the show, particularly the acting of Olyphant, stating: "The show is grounded in Olyphant's low-key but high-impact star-making performance, the work of a confident and cunning leading man who's always good company."[18] Chicago Tribune critic Maureen Ryan also praised the series, writing: "The shaggily delightful dialogue, the deft pacing, the authentic sense of place, the rock-solid supporting cast and the feeling that you are in the hands of writers, actors and directors who really know what they're doing—all of these are worthy reasons to watch Justified."[19] Mike Hale of The New York Times praised the shows "modest virtues", but was critical of the first season's pace and characterisation, writing: “Justified can feel so low-key that even the crisis points drift past without making much of an impression... It feels as if the attention that should have gone to the storytelling all went to the atmosphere and the repartee."[20]

Awards

Justified received a 2010 Peabody Award.[21] For the first season, the series received a single Primetime Emmy Award nomination, for Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music.[22]

Ratings

The first season averaged 2.417 million viewers and a 0.9 rating in the 18–49 demographic.[23]

Home media release

The first season was released on Blu-ray and DVD in region 1 on January 18, 2011,[24] in region 2 on November 29, 2010,[25] and in region 4 on June 7, 2012.[26] Special features on the season one set include four audio commentaries by cast and crew, five behind-the-scenes featurettes, a music video, and a season two trailer.[27]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Zogbi, Marina (December 1, 2009). "'Justified' on FX Premiering in March". AOL. Retrieved December 13, 2009.
  2. ↑ Poniewozik, James (December 1, 2009). "FX's Former Lawman Gets Justified". Time. Retrieved December 13, 2009.
  3. ↑ "Justified Official Website". FX. Retrieved March 26, 2011.
  4. ↑ Owen, Rob (April 6, 2009). "TV Notes: FX 'Fire in the Hole' pilot on hold". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved August 3, 2010.
  5. ↑ Seidman, Robert (March 17, 2010). ""Justified" Scores Second-Highest Series Premiere Ever for FX". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved March 18, 2010.
  6. ↑ Seidman, Robert (March 24, 2010). ""Justified" Drops 15% from Premiere, Still Tops Tuesday Night Cable". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved March 25, 2010.
  7. ↑ Gorman, Bill (March 31, 2010). "Updated: "Justified" Falls Hard; "Law & Order: CS" returns, Plus More...". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved April 1, 2010.
  8. ↑ Seidman, Robert (April 7, 2010). ""Southland" Finishes Flat; "Justified" Falls Again; "Law & Order: CI" Down". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved April 8, 2010.
  9. ↑ Gorman, Bill (April 14, 2010). "Cable Ratings: Post-Goren/Eames Law & Order: Criminal Intent Down Slightly; Deadliest Catch Series Best, Justified & More". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved April 15, 2010.
  10. ↑ Gorman, Bill (April 21, 2010). "Cable Ratings: Deadliest Catch Comes Off Highs; Law & Order: CI Up; Justified Slips". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved April 22, 2010.
  11. ↑ Gorman, Bill (April 28, 2010). "Tuesday Cable Ratings: The Hills Debut; Deadliest Catch, Law & Order: CI, Justified & More". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved April 29, 2010.
  12. ↑ Gorman, Bill (May 5, 2010). "Tuesday Cable Ratings: The Hills Slips From Premiere; Deadliest Catch, Law & Order: CI, Justified & More". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved May 8, 2010.
  13. ↑ Gorman, Bill (May 12, 2010). "Tuesday Cable Ratings: Cavs/Celtics Game Tops Night; Deadliest Catch, Law & Order: CI Both Up". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved May 13, 2010.
  14. ↑ Seidman, Robert (May 19, 2010). "NBA Playoffs, NBA Draft Lottery Lead Tuesday Cable; Law & Order: Criminal Intent Falls". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved May 20, 2010.
  15. ↑ Seidman, Robert (May 26, 2010). "Tuesday Cable: Lakers/Suns Dominate + "Law & Order: CI," "Justified" and others". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved May 27, 2010.
  16. ↑ Seidman, Robert (June 3, 2010). "Tuesday Cable: "Justified" Rebounds a Bit, While "Law & Order: CI" Dips 20% With Adults 18-49". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved June 3, 2010.
  17. ↑ Gorman, Bill (June 9, 2010). "Tuesday Cable: Justified Finale & Law & Order: CI Flat, Plus Deadliest Catch, The Hills, WWE NXT & More". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved June 11, 2010.
  18. 1 2 "Justified: Season 1". Metacritic. Retrieved February 11, 2013.
  19. ↑ Ryan, Maureen (March 15, 2010). "Timothy Olyphant and 'Justified' are just terrific". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved February 11, 2013.
  20. ↑ Hale, Mike (March 15, 2010). "Lawman Returns to Kentucky, Facing Bad Guys and Skeletons". The New York Times. Retrieved July 13, 2013.
  21. ↑ "Peabody Award Winners 2010: NPR, PBS, CNN, C-SPAN, 'Good Wife,' HBO And More Win Prestigious Awards". The Huffington Post. March 31, 2011. Retrieved February 11, 2013.
  22. ↑ "Justified". Emmys.com. Retrieved February 11, 2013.
  23. ↑ "2010 Year in Review/2011 Year in Preview: FX". The Futon Critic. January 25, 2011. Retrieved February 25, 2013.
  24. ↑ Lambert, David (December 7, 2010). "Justified - 'The Complete 1st Season' on DVD and Blu-ray Gets One Week Closer!". TVShowsOnDVD.com. Retrieved December 9, 2010.
  25. ↑ "Justified - Season 1 (DVD)". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved January 14, 2013.
  26. ↑ "Justified: Season 1". EzyDVD. Retrieved April 16, 2012.
  27. ↑ Liebman, Martin (January 17, 2011). "Justified: The Complete First Season Blu-ray Review". Blu-ray.com. Retrieved January 9, 2014.

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