Justified

[Roger Wilco]

Anyone else watching this show? wikipedia

Unless I'm blind and/or too stupid to use the search function, there hasn't been a thread about this yet.

I really, really like this show, in fact it's my favourite new tv show in quite a while. This modern-cowboy-sheriff stuff sounds a little tacky, but Olyphant makes it work. I love it.

 

[Pingfah]

I have been watching it, I have been enjoying it somewhat.

It's clear to see why they picked Olyphant though, a tough, no nonsense, harsh but fair 19th century style lawman with a moustache and a cowboy hat. Sound familiar?

 

[Roger Wilco]

Sound familiar?

Hmmm...

 

[species5618]

I've watched the first 3 episodes so far...it's pretty good and has a lot of potential, though as others have said, Olyphant as the 21st century Marshall with 19th century sensibilities is overly familiar. I am dissapointed that Walton Goggins (from The Shield) was only a guest star in the first two episodes--I had hoped his character would be part of the main cast. Hopefully he'll be a recurring character.

I just hope they revisit the storyline they developed in the first episode about the white supremacist group Raylin encounters--it was far more interesting than the 'fugitive of the week' episodes that followed.

One last nitpicky thing regarding foul language on FX programs--it bugs me that the characters can say shit, goddamn and asshole, but the f-word and variations thereof seems to be forbidden. The Shield, Sons of Anarchy, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia* and Justified all have this restriction and I have to say, after picking up on this phenomenon it's kind of distracting--though I'm guessing it may be some sort of FCC rule. IMO, either go the route of the major networks or go all out like HBO, Showtime and Starz.





*I think the creators of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia feel the same way, because in their straight to DVD Christmas special the characters make a point of (overly) using the f-word. The gag they use it in really isn't all that funny, but I think it illustrates some of their frustration with the language constraints.

 

[Base_Delta_Zero]

Also a new favorite of mine. If I can't have Marshal Seth Bullock, I'll take Deputy Marshal Raylen Givens. I don't think I've seen Olyphant in something and not enjoyed it. Very cool guy.

I hope they'll revist the premiere plot line, too.

 

[Star Wolf]

3 out of the first 4 episodes were strong right of the starting blocks. They just need to play down Deputy Given's celebrity status for the shoot out with the Miami gun thug. Does anyone but Elmore Leonard really say gun thug?

 

[PKerr]

I've been watching and enjoying it as well, as a matter of fact I've been thinking about starting a thread as well.

I didn't see last night's episode yet but I have it DVR-ed

 

[Temis the Vorta]

I checked it out briefly. I was hoping that Olyphant was playing more a Dexter type - a character whose behavior and ethics don't slot neatly into what is socially acceptable, and the show challenges the audience's assumptions about everything.

But my impression is that it's a more straightforward vigilante/vengeance wish fulfillment type show, where the story is unambiguously on the side of the sheriff and so are the viewers. Zat about right?

 

[Gaith]

Just what the world needs, another cop show...

 

[Star Wolf]

I checked it out briefly. I was hoping that Olyphant was playing more a Dexter type a character whose behavior and ethics don't slot neatly into what is socially acceptable, and the show challenges the audience's assumptions about everything.

But my impression is that it's a more straightforward vigilante/vengeance wish fulfillment type show, where the story is unambiguously on the side of the sheriff and so are the viewers. Zat about right?

The first showdown against the gun thug which sets up why Deputy Givens was exiled to Kentucky could be in that vein. Afterwards because of his reputation he is being forced into old west showdowns as the bad/stupid guys are intrigued at the ideal of a quick draw showdown. In most cases Deputy Givens wants to break the rules, hand cuffs and the like and thrust the bad guys honor.

 

[Temis the Vorta]

Just what the world needs, another cop show...

A cop show in the Dexter style would at least be not exactly like all the other cop shows. But I don't think this show is the type to push things that far. Too bad.

And hang onto your hat for the 2010-11 season because approximately 50% of the pilots being lined up are cop shows, all of which sound exactly like all of the others. Unbelievable.

 

[species5618]

But my impression is that it's a more straightforward vigilante/vengeance wish fulfillment type show, where the story is unambiguously on the side of the sheriff and so are the viewers. Zat about right?

To some extent, yes--he seems to shoot somebody every episode, usually in quick-draw scenario of some kind or another. However, the latest episode (#4) has him chasing down a fugitive dentist who the viewer can sympathize with to some degree.

I was hoping this show would be more arc based, but it seems to be highly episodic, with Olyphant chasing a 'fugitive of the week' in every installment.

 

[tharpdevenport]

I tried, but I missed it when they changed the original air date. I strictly catch a show in running order (unless it's common knowledge the running order has been messed with) and I tried to watch the pilot on the FX site, but they removed all full episodes and only have previews. I then tried searching YouTube, but all uploads are fakes, so I then went to IMDB.com to see when the next time it is they are airign hte pilot, and there are no schedules airs (at this time) for the month.

I experience the same goddamn bullshit with "White Collar" -- only one pilot airing, which I missed, no planned re-airings, and the fucking channel's website removes older episodes after a week or so, so you only basically have the last two episodes, so I have spent over a month trying on occassion to see if the pilot is airing, jsut so I can fucking watch the show. I have lost nearly all interest and am about to fucking give up. Same thing will probably happen with "Justified" if they keep on this route.

 

[Star Wolf]

I tried, but I missed it when they changed the original air date. I strictly catch a show in running order (unless it's common knowledge the running order has been messed with) and I tried to watch the pilot on the FX site, but they removed all full episodes and only have previews. I then tried searching YouTube, but all uploads are fakes, so I then went to IMDB.com to see when the next time it is they are airign hte pilot, and there are no schedules airs (at this time) for the month.

I experience the same goddamn bullshit with "White Collar" -- only one pilot airing, which I missed, no planned re-airings, and the fucking channel's website removes older episodes after a week or so, so you only basically have the last two episodes, so I have spent over a month trying on occassion to see if the pilot is airing, jsut so I can fucking watch the show. I have lost nearly all interest and am about to fucking give up. Same thing will probably happen with "Justified" if they keep on this route.

That's odd my cable provider has it on demand with a week's delay

 

[tharpdevenport]

And for those who don't have "On Demand", and don't want to pay for "On Demand"...?


And, on a side note, I use someone else's TV -- I don't actually own a TV and haven't for about six years.

 

[Roger Wilco]

I checked it out briefly. I was hoping that Olyphant was playing more a Dexter type - a character whose behavior and ethics don't slot neatly into what is socially acceptable, and the show challenges the audience's assumptions about everything.

But my impression is that it's a more straightforward vigilante/vengeance wish fulfillment type show, where the story is unambiguously on the side of the sheriff and so are the viewers. Zat about right?

You're right, he's no Dexter. He's definitely a good guy and the viewers are supposed to like him. He does draw, shoot and kill more quickly, with less provocation and less remorse (none actually) than usually in cop shows though. In fact I can't spontanesously think of a tv show where the good guy kills so many people if that makes you feel better.

 

[Checkmate]

He has a great personality, too. Definitely a "paladin" of sorts who genuinely wants to help people. He doesn't take it against you if you try to kill him, but he certainly has no problem killing you if you force his hand. He also appears to have a dark past and a criminal for a father which will likely explain some of his personality quirks. Olyphant is a joy to watch and he fits this role nicely.

It's interesting how many people in this thread dislike the show not for the show itself, but because of the type of show it is. It's sort of like saying "I hate the color red, so since blue is also a color, I'm just going to assume I hate blue, too. Even though I have nothing against blue, per se, and only kinda saw it once before. But still. It's a color, so I hate it."

 

[Gaith]

Just what the world needs, another cop show...

A cop show in the Dexter style would at least be not exactly like all the other cop shows. But I don't think this show is the type to push things that far. Too bad.

And hang onto your hat for the 2010-11 season because approximately 50% of the pilots being lined up are cop shows, all of which sound exactly like all of the others. Unbelievable.

More time for me to chat up ladies in pubs, then.

 

[Temis the Vorta]

In fact I can't spontanesously think of a tv show where the good guy kills so many people if that makes you feel better.

Even more than Jack Bauer?

I find it a bit chickenshit of a show to have a main character who kills at an alarming clip, yet they contrive everything so he's always the good guy. Anybody who racks up a body count like that has got to have a screw loose. I'd respect the show more, and maybe watch, if they were more honest about that.

It's interesting how many people in this thread dislike the show not for the show itself, but because of the type of show it is.

Sounds like it's like most shows on TV - they give the viewer the vicarious thrill of violence without too many messy ethical complications that might distress the viewers. There's always some evildoer "forcing the hand" of Our Hero so he can kill the guy - isn't that convenient? That's been TV's bread and butter since the days of Gunsmoke. If it were the kind of show I'd like, the ratings would probably be worse (unless it were on HBO or Showtime) because the kind of show I like deliberately makes the viewer uncomfortable.

TV is packed with Justified type shows. I was just hoping maybe it would be the rare trend-breaker - meaning, I was hoping the title was ironic and Our Hero is justified only in his own deluded mind. Oh well, I'll keep looking.

 

[Roger Wilco]

Even more than Jack Bauer?

I passionately hate hate hate 24 and haven't watched it since the first season.