What Did You Think of "Justified?"

[Benjamin Sobieck]

"Justified," the new FX series based on crime novelist Elmore Leonard's character U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens, premiered last night.

I really enjoyed it. The show felt stiff in the first half of the episode, but more than made up for it in the second.

Don't bother comparing the TV Givens to the book Givens. Outside of the cowboy hat, spaghetti Western code of ethics and general kick-ass/take-names paradigm, TV Givens is a far cry from book Givens. The fact the FX version is a series and not a direct screen interpretation of Leonard's work has something to do with it.

In case you're wondering, the name "Justified" is different from what the show was originally titled, "Lawman." Steven Segal messed that up with his "reality" show of the same name. "Justified" is OK, but "Lawman" has more of a crime novel feel to it. It's forgiveable though.

But that doesn't mean it isn't worth a watch. FX has a history of cranking out quality grit ("The Shield," "Rescue Me," etc.), and "Justified" should be another.

What did you think of the show?

[Dana King]

Dead on, great show, great season finale. 

What I like best about how they end seasons of this show is how they manage to wrap up all the key plot lines--no cheap cliffhangers--while still leaving you something to chew on until next year. How's Ava? What happens to Dickie? What about Raylan, Winona, the baby and Glencoe? What will the relationship be between Raylan and Boyd now that Boyd has assumed Bo's thorne and Raylan kind of owes him?

Can't wait for next year.

[Benjamin Sobieck]

Right on, Dana. It's an awfully high bar to reach again, and I'm worried we're in for a slump. But there's enough left over to fill at least the next half of season 3.

 

I will miss the Bennetts, though. Dickie may as well link up with Boyd's operations to stay in the pot business.

[Tim Scanlon]

I doubt they'll drop off. They have some great writers involved. If it runs for a longer season or more than 4 seasons I'd start worrying.

 

I thought Dickie was finally going to get his come-up-ance in the finale. Now I'm just left wondering how he, Raylan and Boyd are going to play out.