Additional Coverage:
“Justified” – A Modern Western Masterpiece Worth Revisiting
For those seeking a Western drama with a contemporary edge, look no further than “Justified.” This critically acclaimed series introduces viewers to U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens, portrayed by the highly praised Timothy Olyphant, as he returns to his roots in Harlan, Kentucky, to enforce the law.
Givens, a lawman with a distinctive approach to justice, finds himself in a perpetual dance with criminals and corruption in an area rife with both. His methods, while effective, often put him at odds with lawbreakers and create friction with his superiors. A “justified” shooting of a Miami crime syndicate leader ultimately leads to his transfer to the Eastern District of Kentucky Marshal’s Office – a jurisdiction that, ironically, includes his birthplace of Harlan County, a place he thought he had left behind for good.
Olyphant’s stellar performance as Marshal Givens is complemented by a talented ensemble cast including Nick Searcy, Jacob Pitts, Erica Tazel, Joelle Carter, and the standout Walton Goggins, whose portrayal of Boyd Crowder is frequently singled out for its exceptional depth.
“Justified” premiered in 2010 to widespread critical and audience acclaim, running for six seasons and solidifying its place as one of the finest television series of its era. The show’s enduring popularity led to an eight-episode continuation, “Justified: City Primeval,” in 2023, with Olyphant reprising his iconic role.
Developed by Graham Yost, the series draws inspiration from Elmore Leonard’s Raylan Givens narratives, most notably the 2002 novella “Fire in the Hole.” With a remarkable 97% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a passionate online following, “Justified” has garnered effusive praise, with many fans on social media platform X proclaiming it the “greatest series of all time.”
One enthusiastic fan lauded it as “a masterpiece, both in its punch in the face opening, and its top 3 series finales of all time.” Another echoed, “The series finale of @JustifiedFX was an absolute masterpiece.”
A fourth viewer passionately stated, “In my opinion, Justified is the best TV show of all time. I got hooked since the first scene.
Incredibly well written. Great character development.
All characters are interesting and contribute to the story. And have some of the best dialogues I’ve seen in any TV show or even movie.
I simply love it.”
Another viewer highlighted the show’s unique blend of genres, remarking, “Best show of its kind on TV IMHO. It’s more than just a TV series. While on the face of it it’s a crime/police drama show, and has an enormous amount of killing and violence, it’s all done with such a tongue in cheek sardonic sense of humor that it’s also one of the best comedy shows of all time.”
All 78 episodes of the original “Justified” series are available for streaming on Amazon Prime, while the spin-off, “Justified: City Primeval,” can be found on Disney+.