Review: FX's 'Justified'

Olyphant Takes No Prisoners As U.S. Marshall Raylan Givens

By Thomas Umstead -- Multichannel News, 3/15/2010 5:43:56 PM

FX’s new drama series Justified continues the long line of gritty, strong character-driven original drama series that the network has become known for.
Based on an Elmore Leonard-penned short story, Justified stars Timothy Olyphant (Deadwood) as U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens, a no-nonsense lawman who takes no prisoners, as witnessed in the first four minutes of the pilot.
After his superiors deem his tactics too aggressive for Miami, Givens is shipped back to his hometown in Kentucky and tasked to track down former childhood friend Boyd Crowder — played very effectively by The Shield’s Walton Goggins — who has turned to a life of crime.
The series successfully portrays life in a small Midwest town as the quiet but unshakable Givens rattles the trees and ruffles the feathers of a few local, smalltime criminals to find and capture Boyd, his ex-coaldigging partner turned church-burning, bank-robbing felon.
His Kentucky ties also catch up with Givens as he runs into a former friend in Ava Crowder (Joelle Carter) who recently killed her abusive husband — who happened to be Boyd’s brother. Ava’s rekindled feelings for Givens contrasts with her fear of Boyd, whose desire to avenge his brother’s death puts him on a collision course with Givens.
In a rare moment of vulnerability, Givens also meets up with his ex-wife (Natalie Zea) who, toward the end of the pilot, delivers one of the best and most revealing lines in describing the complicated Raylan’s demeanor and sets the table for what looks to measure up as a likable and entertaining ride for viewers.

Justified premieres March 16 at 10 p.m. on FX.