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<i>Justified</i> – “Alive Day” Review. The Unknown Unknown.

Season 6, Episode 6

Air date: Tuesday, February 24, 2015, 10PM E/P on FX

Rating: ★★★★★

 

 

 

“Wonderful things can happen when you sow seeds of distrust in a garden of assholes.” – Raylan

 

We are at the mid-point of the final season of Justified and I’m no closer to figuring out the end game. I am sure all the major story arcs intertwine more deeply than what has been presented, but surprisingly, I’m not upset about the lack of clues. In fact, I’m enjoying the unpredictability of how the season has been panning out. I don’t know what’s going to happen next and I’m relishing in the unknown.

Boyd may not be too happy with Ava when he finds out where she spent her day.

The main plot point of the entire season has been Raylan (Timothy Olyphant) building his RICO case against Boyd (Walton Goggins). By using Ava (Joelle Carter) as his C.I., Raylan is putting her in more danger than he can fathom, especially after Ava’s stunt in last week’s “Sounding.” At the time, I wasn’t sure what Raylan’s point was in staying at Ava’s at the end of “Sounding,” knowing Boyd was on his way home. In “Alive Day,” the reason Raylan stays at Ava’s becomes clear. Raylan wants to find out where Dewey (Damon Herriman) is keeping himself these days. Unfortunately, Dewey won’t be making an appearance anytime soon unless he comes back as a ghost. Boyd, of course, thinks Raylan is there for other salacious reasons. After all, it’s no secret about Raylan and Ava’s former relationship and Boyd’s just trying to mark his territory.

It seems Boyd isn’t the only one thinking Raylan is trying to spark an old flame. I adore Rachel (Erica Tazel) but she’s wrong about Raylan and Ava. I don’t know why she thinks Raylan is sleeping with Ava. Perhaps, after all the years of Raylan being able to get away with a lot of shenanigans while conducting Marshal business, Rachel is quick to assume the worst of him. This doesn’t bode well, especially since she’s acting as interim Chief while Art (Nick Searcy) is recuperating.

I’m worried about Ava, especially since her impromptu trip to Noble’s Hollar. Limehouse (Mykelti Williamson) isn’t exactly the most trustworthy person. I’m not the only one concerned as Boyd makes sure Ava is safe. Don’t you think she’s too old for a baby sitter, Boyd? But you never know when some unsavory characters with an axe to grind might show up again. With everything going on in Boyd’s life combined with all the speculation about Ava’s release from prison, Ava’s strange behavior since then, Boyd’s brush with death in the mines, and now a call from Limehouse; it’s safe to say Boyd is not a happy camper.

What is Markham up to? He makes a grand gesture to Katherine (Mary Steenburgen), yet follows it with an insulting accusation. Perhaps he’s just fishing around to see what her reaction is but Katherine isn’t pleased about this turn of events. I am not sure what Katherine wants to happen with Markham but if he’s not the snitch who ratted out her ex-husband all those years ago, who is he?

Markham is taken aback by the information Raylan gives about their mutual realtor Calhoun.

Meanwhile, Markham’s guys—Seabass (Scott Grimes) and Choo-Choo (Duke Davis Roberts)—inform Ty (Garrett Dillahunt) about the incident involving Calhoun (Brad Leland) in “Sounding.” From the moment we met Choo-Choo, we knew he wasn’t the sharpest tool in the shed, or at least that’s how it appeared. He’s been quite clever in figuring out the Pizza Portal bartender (Natalie Clark) is skimming from the registers. But when he has to clean up his mess, including finding Calhoun’s escort friend Caprice (Ashley Dulaney), things go south very fast.

The proverbial shit hits the fan when Markham learns what happened to Calhoun from the U.S. Marshals. Raylan and Tim (Jacob Pitts) stop by and from the subsequent conversation Markham has with Ty regarding Choo-Choo’s loyalties, we learn how Choo-Choo and Ty became such good buddies. But as Markham says, “Real leadership is about making the hard choices.”

Damnit, Choo-Choo. Sometimes you gotta know when to keep your mouth shut.

The showdown among Choo-Choo, Ty, Raylan, and Tim gets extremely violent. I’m not sure where the showdown among Choo-Choo, Ty, Raylan, and Tim will lead but it’s definitely going to throw a monkey wrench into Markham’s grand scheme. Roberts does a great job portraying Choo-Choo as a kind of gentle giant. I’m reminded of George from Of Mice and Men; Choo-Choo is man who doesn’t know his own strength sometimes. While Choo-Choo has his faults, he doesn’t deserve what happens. Ty could have handled things differently but now things are FUBAR (f**cked up beyond all recognition).

Ava’s uncle Zachariah (guest star Jeff Fahey) isn’t fond of the Crowder family and doesn’t like her involvement with Boyd. Perhaps that’s the motivation for what happens down in the mine shaft. I’m still unclear about Boyd’s plan to get inside the Pizza Portal but I’m along for the ride.

 

Overall

“Alive Day” moves the storylines along a bit further and adds in a wild card with Zachariah’s actions. I wonder what Wynn Duffy (Jere Burns) will find if he digs deeper into Markham’s background and whereabouts after he left Kentucky all those years ago. And with Art nosing around the case of Katherine’s ex-husband Grady (not seen), there’s no telling what will happen.

 

Let me know what you thought of “Alive Day.” Leave a comment below and/or tweet me @judybopp.

Tune in to the final episodes of Justified, Tuesdays at 10:00 PM ET/PT, only on FX.

For more on the show, go to http://www.fxnetworks.com/justified.

Follow Justified on Twitter @JustifiedFX #JustifiedFX and follow cast member Joelle Carter @Joelle_Carter.

For fans of Walton Goggins, follow @WaltonGFan.

LIKE Justified on Facebook.

 

Photos ©2015 FX Networks, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

 

 

Judy Manning

Dream chaser extraordinaire! Judy tends to be a tad sarcastic and kind of goofy! She is an avid admirer of all things supernatural, paranormal, celestial and mystical. She loves to read, write, and watches way too much TV. She enjoys many genres of film and music (and let's be honest, most music from the 80s). She also has a wicked sweet tooth. Cupcakes beware.

Judy Manning

Dream chaser extraordinaire! Judy tends to be a tad sarcastic and kind of goofy! She is an avid admirer of all things supernatural, paranormal, celestial and mystical. She loves to read, write, and watches way too much TV. She enjoys many genres of film and music (and let's be honest, most music from the 80s). She also has a wicked sweet tooth. Cupcakes beware.