Season 2 of Justified kicked off tonight and Raylan Givens was just as cool, slick but a little less trigger happy as ever. Before things could really get going though it was time to settle all old business and that meant Miami.
We picked things up with an edited version of the the end of last season's finale. I was hoping there was some way Bo Crowder was going to survive last season mostly because I'm a big MC Gainey fan. It wasn't to be. Boyd set out to find Pilar and exact his revenge for killing his daddy. Boyd's attempt to kill Pilar is thwarted by Raylan and Raylan takes her back to her uncle in Miami to use as a bargaining chip.
I'm I the only one who had flash backs of Niel going after Van Zant in Heat when Raylan showed up at Reyes' glass walled house? Anyway, with the help of the Miami Chief Deputy Marshal the loose ends in Miami were all neatly tied up as Raylan headed home to Kentucky.
It was nice to see a show where an officer/agent actually is held accountable for his actions. Raylan finds himself in paperwork hell for everything that went down with his father and the Crowder clan last season. So when Agent Brooks asks for his help tracking down a sex offender, he jumps at the opportunity.
The show makes a point to address the uncomfortable situation a black female agent finds herself in when questioning these backwoods white criminals. I have a feeling the racial tension will continue to play a part throughout the season.
The search for the sex offender leads Raylan and Agent Brooks to the Bennetts a clan of pot farmers. We've already been introduced to their harsh brand of justice when they make a man put his leg in a bear trap for growing on their land. The Bennetts are led by the matriarch of the clan Mags and her three sons Doyle, Dickie and Coover. Doyle it turns out is a local sheriff. While Dickie played by the always beautifully weird Jeremy Davies is the sadistic seed. Coover is just plain nuts and nearly meets his end tonight when he tries to test Raylan's patience.
The sex offender story is used as a vehicle to introduce us to the new villains in Raylan's life but the fun is all on the horizon. Somehow we made it through and entire episode without Raylan killing anyone. By the looks of it his ex wife, Winona, is looking to rekindle their relationship or at least the physical part of it. Boyd who had gone missing after the encounter with Pilar shows back up at the end of the episode working in a mine. Somehow I doubt we've seen the last of Boyd's criminal ways.
This was an excellent beginning to what I hope is a great second season for Justified. I'm really looking forward to the confrontations with Mags and the Bennett boys, especially Dickie. I love the potential Jeremy Davies brings to that character. Personally, I'd be happy if we've seen the last of Ava. Beyond getting Raylan involved with the Crowders I don't think she brought much to the show. The relationship with Winona is a more interesting subplot.
What were your thoughts on tonight's premier? Are you as excited about the Bennett clan as I am?
Loved the cool way that Mags set the man down. "We put it in your glass first, thats how me and Dickie could drink too." The Bennett family looks to be tremendous and I think they'll be better than the crowders. The first season wasn't supposed to be so serialized, but Boyd was too good. This season, the writers have fully prepared on the Bennets sticking around. I trust they'll use them even better. In losing one Lost alum in MC Gainey, we do gain Daniel Farraday. So there's that.
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