By Jeff Michael Vice
JUSTIFIED – Live-action drama developed by Graham Yost, based on characters created by Elmore Leonard; rated TV-MA; airs Tuesdays on FX; 60 minutes (approximately). Episode 5.10: “The Toll” (original airdate, March 25, 2014). Directed by Jon Avnet; written by Benjamin Cavell (8 out of 10)
The story so far: After one high-profile shooting too many (mostly criminal types), trigger-happy Deputy U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens has been re-assigned. He’s gone from his home in drug-infested Miami back to his now, more-overrun-by-drugs childhood home in eastern Kentucky (specifically, Harlan County). Once again in semi-familiar territory, loose cannon Raylan butts heads with his new co-workers and his new, no-nonsense boss, Art Mullen. He also has an uneasy reunion with his estranged family members, as well as his childhood friend, Boyd Crowder, who has become a local drug kingpin.
In this episode: Raylan and the rest of the local Marshals Office try to find the shooter responsible for putting Art in the hospital. Meanwhile, Boyd tries to explain the circumstances behind the missing half of the heroin shipment to his Dixie Mafia “partners,” including Wynn Duffy and his mentor, Katherine Hale. And Boyd’s imprisoned girlfriend, Ava, awaits the discovery of and the retaliation for her killing of a fellow prisoner.
As the show’s fifth season winds down (including this episode, there are only three episodes left), the main story lines really ratchet up with this deadly serious, surprisingly tense hour, which sees Chief Deputy U.S. Marshal Ed Kirkland, from the Detroit office, put in charge of the office while Art is hospitalized. And he’s heading up the investigation into the shooting, which has left social worker Allison Brander (Raylan’s most recent ex) in a state of shock.
In the meantime, Boyd is being raked over the coals – and threatened — by Wynn, Katherine and Picker, who is fingered as the would-be assassin by his now-imprisoned former boss, Theo Tonin. (Sadly, Adam Arkin, who plays Theo, is nowhere to be seen – thanks to his duties on Yost’s other FX Network program, “The Americans.”)
While this season has had a few duff moments, the main story lines progress in pleasing fashion, with several twists and turns (including one really shocking death) over the course of the hour. Raylan’s face-to-face with Darryl Crowe Jr. (the always excellent Michael Rapaport), whom he believes was really behind the shooting, ends the episode on a gripping note that makes you more than a little anxious for next week’s penultimate season chapter.
Then there’s the Ava subplot, which continues to spin its wheels as well as steal time from the better characters and story.
Film and television veteran Jon Avnet (“Fried Green Tomatoes”) directed the episode, possibly the best of the season. The script comes courtesy series regular Benjamin Cavell, and, as we’ve come to expect, “The Toll” has quite a few memorable quips and quote exchanges. Among the better ones:
“You can call this an abundance of caution.” (Art)
“If I admit to hitting him, could you call it child abuse and take custody of him for me?” (Art)
“Our social hierarchy is the least of your concerns.” (Wynn)
“What’s that?” “My abiding shame.” (Wynn, then Boyd)
“He’s wondering if I can come up with a reason not to kill you.” “My sparkling personality?” (Katherine, then Boyd)
“Well, I guess this hotel takes that no-smoking policy very seriously, Mr. Duffy.” (Boyd)
“She doesn’t look like any grandmother I’ve ever seen. Of course, both my grandmas look like Edward James Olmos.” (Vasquez)
“You know that web of lies you’ve built around yourself? I’m going to use it to strangle the life out of you.” (Raylan)
Overall rating: 8 out of 10
CAST:
The regular characters: Timothy Olyphant (Deputy U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens), Walton Goggins (Boyd Crowder), Nick Searcy (Chief Deputy U.S. Marshal Art Mullen), Jacob Pitts (Deputy U.S. Marshal Tim Gutterson), Erica Tazel (Deputy U.S. Marshal Rachel Brooks), Jere Burns (Wynn Duffy) and Joelle Carter (Ava Crowder)
Guest stars: Rick Gomez (ADA David Vasquez), Shashawnee Hall (Chief Deputy U.S. Marshal Ed Kirkland), John Kapelos (Picker), (Ed Kirkland), Jacob Lofland (Kendal Crowe), Danielle Panabaker (Penny), Michael Rapaport (Darryl Crowe, Jr.), Amy Smart (Allison Brander), Mary Steenburgen (Katherine Hale) and Alicia Witt (Wendy Crowe)
Jeff Michael Vice, aka Jerk-bot, can be heard reviewing films, television programs, comics, books, music and other things as part of The Geek Show Podcast (www.thegeekshowpodcast.com), as well as be seen reviewing films as part of Xfinity’s Big Movie Mouth-Off (www.facebook.com/BigMovieMouthOff).