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Justified has always been the voice of the poor disenfranchised white shitkicker so it’s fitting that it begins its fifth season with the dream of every poor disenfranchised white shitkicker: a life changing government handout. Dewey Crowe wins $300,000 in damages for the multiple indignities, assaults and human rights abuses he suffered at the hands of Deputy U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens. Sound investment is the first thing on Dewey’s mind and to this end he purchases Boyd’s whorehouse – running pussy being a long-standing ambition of his. He better make the most of his good fortune while he can because the Florida Crowes are coming and, as he readily confesses, they are bad news.
Justified begins its fifth season with the dream of every poor disenfranchised white shitkicker: a life changing government handout.
We see this for ourselves when Art sends Raylan down to his former stomping ground to investigate a murder where a Florida Crowe associate is the prime suspect (Sucre from Prison Break “Maricruz! Papi! Fish!”) Sucre is a pal of terminally thick Dylan Crowe, a stuttering prick who bumps off a bent coastguard for making fun of his speech impediment.
Sucre is a pal of terminally thick Dylan Crowe, a stuttering prick who bumps off a bent coastguard for making fun of his speech impediment.
It doesn’t go down well with his brother Darryl who seems to be constantly bailing out his mentally challenged brother. No more of that though when other brother Danny knifes Dylan through the heart with Darryl’s approval. “Sorry bro” he explains “Darwin and all that (even though we don’t believe in evolution down here). #YOLO”. Despite this minor setback the family’s fortunes could well be changing quite soon. Darryl gets wind of cousin Dewey’s $300,000 and we get a very clear sense that he could been paying a visit to Western Kentucky to spread the wealth.
“Sorry bro” he explains “Darwin and all that (even though we don’t believe in evolution down here). #YOLO”.
In Clan Crowder it’s a trying time for Boyd who in a heartfelt attempt to keep Ava out of prison beats Lee Manners to death (it doesn’t work). It’s just one of those weeks for him. He shoots dead three Detroit gangsters who try to pull a fast one during a drug consignment delivery and after losing a connect with some Canadian gangsters (ridiculous, we knows no such beast exists) looks set to make some new Mexican friends. In what is laughably still called “real-life” the Aryan Nation has a long and healthy Association with the Mexican Mafia and other Hispanic prison gangs. It’s surprising the friends you make inside.
In what is laughably still called “real-life” the Aryan Nation has a long and healthy Association with the Mexican Mafia and other Hispanic prison gangs.
Justified is a show about crime families that happens to be a comedy of manners. Criminals straight out of Deliverance and cops straight out of a Spaghetti Western perform a strangely alluring dance-off for the territory they claim as their own. All victories are fleeting and there’s always a new crew of punks willing to try their luck. It hasn’t got old yet. It doesn’t feel like it wants to.
The verdict: Cunty and Western.
Marks out of 10: 7.5