Justified: "Blaze of Glory"

Once I learn the difference between dynamite and road flares, I'll offer up a review of last night's episode, after the jump...
Since episodes of Justified tend to bounce back and forth between telling standalone stories and focusing on the season-long arc, one tends to adjust their expectations based on the type of episode. We inherently expect less from the standalone episodes than from those that deal with the season-long arc. Yet there's no reason that these standalone episodes can't be good, at least relatively speaking. In my opinion, the show's best standalone episodes tend to do three things:

1. They make sure to spend a moderate amount of time with the villains, making sure we understand their motivation for their actions. 
2. They find a way to include the show's signature slow burn anger and/or tension. 
3. The case provides some sort of resonance with at least one of the characters. 

As easily as it may seem to clear these points, the show doesn't always do so. While it always hits the first point, as you go down the list, the frequency of occurrence lessens, to the point where requirement #3 only appears a fraction of the time. Clearly I bring all of this up in order to discuss tonight's standalone episode, which wile slight, still manages to hit all three of the above points, and remains a fairly entertaining episode, even if it avoids the status of "great."

As far as points 1 and 2, these were easily cleared tonight. We met the main villain (Frank Reasoner) and his two compatriots (Billy Green and that other guy); he's in it in order to provide money for his wife after he passes, while the other two are just greedy. The actions set pieces were never big nor flashy, but they never are on this show; instead we had two very tense standoffs during bank robberies, Winona being present for the first, and Raylan for the second.

Then there's point #3, which of the trio was the most significantly addressed in tonight's episode, mostly concerning Winona, and by extension, Raylan. While Raylan and Winona have often exuded some powerful chemistry, its mostly been a mixture of lust and antagonism, more vague connections rather than any specific signs of compatibility. But tonight we saw the two teasing each other, saw the how they operate as a couple, and just why they were together in the first place. 

Even more important, we got to see at least part of the reason why they got divorced. While past episodes have chalked it up to Raylan's anger, or the stress of having a cop for a husband, these explanations, much like the past explanations of their chemistry, these reasons were fairly vague. But tonight we saw that kids were part of the equation; Raylan, ever the big softie, wanted children, while Winona never wanted to have to face the possibility that her kids' father would have a job from which he might not one day return. None of this is likely to be important going forward (outside of the children reveal, given Winona's pregnancy), but they do help to flesh out these characters with whom we spend so much time.

But all of this took place before the robbery, which added another layer to their relationship. While Winona's a smart woman, like most people, it only takes the right trigger for her to do something stupid. That trigger, it appears, is Gary (or more likely, whichever man in her life has pissed her off most recently.) Winona has become unstable under all the financial pressure she faces (especially since Gary just re-mortgaged their house to by a prize-winning horse), and it won't be long before she takes Raylan down with her. He may have saved her form getting caught (for now) by keeping the stolen bill out of evidence, but as next week's previews make clear, that secret won't stay hidden for long.

Notice that I said that the emotional relevance was “mostly” focused on Winona. Art, another character who was under-serviced last season, got a few minutes throughout the episode in which he was forced to reflect on his age, due to his encounter with Reasoner, a man he tried to put away 30 years ago. This wasn't a particular heavy note for this show, or any show really – the final “chase scene” between the two was played for laughs – but I think that's what makes it notable. There aren't many shows that would use a crime spree as fodder for such lighthearted reflection, but Justified isn't just any show, and this is yet another reason why it has my respect.

Tonight's episode was breather, a pause before we jump back into the actions soon (though next week's looks to be similarly slight). But it was a well-executed breather, one that I don't just have to write-off as a necessary evil of the long-form storytelling of television.

What did everybody else think?


Additional Thoughts:

As far as Boyd's appearance in the cold open: A good way to reflect on the similarities between he and Raylan, but not significant to this episode, or even this season, really. I'm sure I'll have something substantial to sink my critical teeth into before the season is over.

“The one that kicked me in the face? If you get the chance, shoot him in the nuts.”

“On second thought, beating you ass to death is a little ambitious, health-wise.”

“If you run, I'mma gonna put a bullet in that tank. You remember the end of Jaws?”

Will the Marshall's office ever use Tim as anything other than a sniper? I realize that's his specialty, but still...

Did anyone else notice that Timothy Olyphant went hatless for the entire episode? Maybe he was trying to appease Elmore Leonard.