Over recent months I have found myself coming back to a particular series that manages to pull in my interest, but not to the point where it become something I'm obsessed with and find myself binging through. It's a strange outcome for me given typically when I find a series I enjoy, it pulls me in to the point where it is all I watch until there are no more episodes to watch. Series in general have become a rarer viewing for me given their lengthy nature most of the time: series of five or more seasons with episodes in the dozens, forty minutes or more in length that just make viewing a chore. Though I find that I unintentionally take breaks from this show, forgetting about it briefly, coming back to it when I have the time, and thoroughly enjoying it as I watch a few episodes over the week.
This series being none other than Justified. Currently aside from Clarkson's Farm, the only other reason for me to maintain my Amazon Prime subscription now that Christmas has ended. I stumbled across Justified so long ago that I can't even remember when I started. Finding it on Prime Video and having never seen or heard of it before and desperate for something to watch. Coincidentally, just after this did I discover that the show was actually quite popular, with many that still watch through it and praise it. Though this demographic seems rather niche as Justified ages on and Prime Video falls out of relevance due to its mostly dull library.
While I'm reaching the halfway mark, Justified thus far is one of my favourite series, having pulled me in from the start, to the point where I like the fact that I take my time with it, almost feeling nostalgic over it as I slowly begin to crave more of it during the unintentional breaks.
Justified
Timothy Olyphant is an actor I had seen around from time-to-time over the years, but never enough to recognise him and tie him to a particular role. As the lead in Justified, things just felt right from the start. Cast as a U.S. Marshall with a bit of a rough edge to him. A character that holds the intentions of a good cop but plays a little bad cop in order to pursue justice. To no surprise to the name, much of his unconventional actions are justified. Backed by a moral compass that supports his direction as a result of living in the dangerous and highly corrupt Kentucky. Showing an old, relatively run-down town that must've suffered as a result of the removal of industrialisation that swept through the United States and caused massive economic decay. Lost jobs turn to tough times, turning to organised crime through robberies, drugs, and weapons smuggling. What better location for such actions than the backwater locations? Void of attention, hidden in the mountains and trees of a former economically flourishing environment.
This is our setup that places our rogue Marshall precisely where people don't want him poking around. Though also his hometown and very much familiar with its characters and happenings. Raylan Givens, our protagonist, often found roaming the area wearing his hat to match the southern style. Getting caught up in old family and friend drama as well as the organised crime that runs rampant throughout the land. Givens almost untouchable as a result of his Marshall status that only makes him both a larger target and one not to be messed with due to the extra eyes that may appear if someone of his status is harmed. The series early on juggles the idea of danger as we see the methods criminals go to to attempt to gain the upper hand. This is where the writing of the show is incredibly strong, introducing a wide range of characters that are often repeating throughout the seasons as their characters are not only explored but expanded upon. One criminal character being played by Walton Goggins, who I also had very little awareness of before watching the show. Goggins and Olyphant absolutely carrying the show with incredible performances, particularly as their two characters clash and show balance between the good and the bad within the story. In a way you can't help but find yourself rooting for both of them due to the way the show displayed these characters.
With this writing comes the drama as these characters are given backstories and things to pursue. They're done in a very human manner which makes the criminal side of things quite enjoyable to watch and explore. Often enough these characters are relatively dumb, but loveable due to it. Many of which not necessarily bad, but victims themselves of the aforementioned struggles as a result of the location and its struggling economic history. It is quite powerful when a show explores characters in this way, and it adds a degree of realism to the show that doesn't paint them all as cartoonish villains all the time, but humans trying to get by. Much of this is done through constant clashes between our Marshall and them, dialogue that explores past and present as tensions are risen. Though Olyphant, character struts around these locations with a careless, cool attitude that makes him seem like the town's own demon that plagues upon the criminals, forever watching and lingering around, waiting for them to misstep. This attitude of his serves as contrast between the characters as to ensure we don't end up seeing them as two of the same.
The balance between action, character development, and tension is perfected in Justified. Never does an episode feel out of place or losing its pacing over the prior. The writing and directing are just perfected. It is rare that I feel I can say this about a series, or even a film, but Justified is certainly high up there reaching towards that bar. From cinematography to how it handles its characters.
The Strength of a Mostly Unknown Cast
In regards to those characters, Justified is riddled with unknown actors. Though it still holds a few familiar faces you may recognise from other shows and films. But much of it is carried by relatively unknown actors. Of which seem perfectly cast for the setting and environment. Much of the characters hold the proportions of the types of people you would find in such an are and surrounded by crime and poverty. Skinny, tall, and with unkept hair. Faces that stand out and accents that just punch. I have mentioned in the past that I am a huge fan of shows that trust in the smaller actors, casting people that give the audience very little to connect these people to other than the characters on screen. It makes the viewing experience so much better due to this. And some of these cast members look to have been pulled from the very environments the show aims to represent. If you have seen The X Files or maybe Psych, you will understand what I mean by having a mixture of relatively famous and just totally unrecognisable actors.
This by far is one of the show's greatest strengths. And its trust in unique casting worked out so well in adding to the immersion. These actors perform incredibly well and are often so distinct from one another due to their appearances and mannerisms. Much of these actors likely to have little acting experience or coming from theatre backgrounds. Justified absolutely would not have this same level of quality that it does without the casting being the way it is. When I watch through it, I definitely think of the main parts of other shows I highly enjoyed and make comparisons, then wondering just why the film industry doesn't continue doing these things? We have an environment that makes sense with casting that makes sense, but also solid performances to match it all.
Justified seems like a gem mostly forgotten these days, and I wish we had more like it. Where the episodes tell a solid, simple story, but with incredibly strong characters. Though it seems to have been made in an era already gone. With it being a finished series and thankfully escaped the horrors of modern television productions and their trigger-happy nature of cancelling things, I highly recommend checking out Justified. I don't think there's anything quite similar airing to this day.
