I don't have much to say about this episode specifically - some teaser or preview I saw revealed last week's shooters were not after Raylan, which meant waiting around for 45 waiting for Raylan to catch up to what I already figured - but a bigger series topic:
Is Raylan going to be a US Marshall next season? He doesn't seem to have much particular interest in the actual job and his boss and at least one of his coworkers has lost their respect for him. He solved this week's problem with a clear disrespect for the law and his office; Raylan may have done the right thing (doubtful) but even the criminals were sure it wasn't the legal thing.
The violence evident in the last seconds of this episode, and that implied by the preview for next week, is clearly going to push Raylan to again take the law into his own hands. Which should finally enough to get him kicked out, unless Raylan is especially crafty; if this show is the show I think is, the season isn't going to end with Raylan skating on all his issues and the office going out for celebratory pancakes. This is a show of consequences, heavy ones.
There was a line, a couple weeks ago, in the car with Raylan and "the Coal Lady" that stuck out to me at the time
"I make-believe good enough, but in the end, you know, you are who you are."
This seems to not only a common theme in Elmore Leonard fiction and a great philosophical argument for half drunk late night insomniacs, but also the pattern for the main characters carried over from last season. Those who have tried to be something different have been pulled back to who they were. Boyd, obviously. Ava. Winona, though that's been going on for a while longer. Arlo's back in the game, destructively.
Raylan's not a US Marshall, that just happened to be the job that fits his skill set the best. Raylan is doing what is right, but I'm not even sure that requires the law. When Raylan make-believe gets totally pulled away, where is he going to be? A PI? Someone more akin to Boyd? I'm not sure.
The B-Plot was an unexpected look at The Wire come to Kentucky. This season is headed to a crazy shootout at the end, just as the last, and I'm sure Jeremy Davies isn't making it out alive. He'll probably be taking a few with him.
I can't agree that Raylan's going to stop being a US Marshal. Raylan is a lawman: that's one of the major conceits of the show, and it would lose a lot if they got rid of his office environment, and especially his relationship with Art. Last week they even spelled it out that Raylan may have trouble following the rules, but he knows and respects the law. Now, what that means for the next two episodes, I'm not entirely sure. You're definitely right when you say that this is a show with consequences, but I get the feeling what we might see is something similar to last season's ending, where Boyd somehow keeps Raylan from doing something he can't come back from. Raylan and Boyd have one of the best dynamics on television, and I particularly love how they're both much more like each other than either one is comfortable admitting. I think it would be interesting going into next season with Raylan in Boyd's debt.
Am I alone in REALLY hoping that the Bennett clan doesn't go down entirely? All 4 of them were epic additions, Mags especially, and I kind of feel like losing her would be as big a blow to the show as if they had kept the original plan of letting Boyd die first episode.
Originally posted by CxMorgadoAm I alone in REALLY hoping that the Bennett clan doesn't go down entirely? All 4 of them were epic additions, Mags especially, and I kind of feel like losing her would be as big a blow to the show as if they had kept the original plan of letting Boyd die first episode.
I have a feeling Doyle'll stick around, but Dickie's a dead man walking one way or another. You don't antagonise Raylan and Boyd and stay alive for too long, do you?
I'd like for Mags to stick around--she's been utterly amazing this season.
-LS "ahhh...vague, mandatory knee-jerk cynicism. God Bless Internet Forums.."
Love me some Mags and her whole "Ma Barker" role on the show.
Kinda bummed that Boyd is back to his old ways. I really liked the angle of his attempt at redemption. Also, I find it hard to believe that Ava would shack up with Boyd UNLESS he was legit.
She spent all that time threatening to kick him out unless he stayed clean and now it's like "screw it".
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