Justified – “Trust” Review. Feminine Wiles, Indeed.

Season 6, Episode 10

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

Rating: ★★★★★

“Raylan, if I didn’t know any better, your tone might suggest you doubt the power of my feminine wiles…’cause I recall a time not so long ago when you yourself were held sway by those very same wiles… ” – Ava

Unpredictability – it’s a key ingredient for any good TV drama, and this final season of Justified seems to have it in spades. I’ve mulled over many plot points this season and I’m not sure who will be left standing in the end. I will say this; what Ava (Joelle Carter) does in “Trust” takes the damn cake.

Limehouse is shrewd but if he knew what Boyd was really up to, would he try to get in on the action?

Previous characters from past seasons continue to make their mark in the final season. I’ve always appreciated the way Limehouse (Mykelti Williamson) conducts himself. He may not be honest, but he’s done his fair share to help those who were in dire straits. Limehouse reluctantly pays another visit to Harlan County when Boyd (Walton Goggins) requires some assistance. While it’s clear Limehouse and Boyd don’t see eye to eye, what they both agree on is their shared adoration for greenbacks. If Limehouse had any inclination as to how much money Boyd’s after, he’d realize that measly $100,000 is chump change. Ten million can make people do strange things. But I don’t think Limehouse cares much to have that amount of money lying around in his neck of the woods.

Boyd knows the money isn’t being moved but he doesn’t feel like sharing that info with Wynn and Carl.

Not surprising how Boyd doesn’t fall for the ruse about Avery Markham (Sam Elliott) moving his money after what happens in “Burned.” Boyd is smarter than your average redneck and he knows there is really only one way to get at Markham’s money, and it doesn’t involve chasing an empty armored car across Kentucky. Boyd’s bold move to hit Markham in his weak spot seems like a clever option, and one I don’t think Katherine (Mary Steenburgen) anticipated when she hired Boyd to take Markham’s money in the first place. Well played, Boyd; well played. Goggins takes Boyd to new heights this season. All the frustration of being unsuccessful in his attempts to rob Markham and the added tension between him and Ava are beginning to take their toll. The way Boyd shouts at Ava startled me and by the looks of it, her too.

I’m not usually gracious in doling out compliments to guest actors on a series because often times their characters are either short lived or they simply aren’t an integral part to the story. Or they don’t pop up on my radar with blaring intensity. This is not the case with Jonathan Tucker. His character Boon has swooped in like a bird of prey and is perched firmly in my line of sight. Plain and simple—Boon scares me. The way he intimidates a “hipster” coffee shop clerk (Andrew J. West) and his girlfriend Maya (Chandler Patton) sends shivers down my spine. In addition to that, the way Boon continues to talk about Loretta (Kaitlyn Dever), saying she’s his “girl,” puts a lump in my throat. What he says to Maya, “You remind me of my girl. She’s not a student, you understand; she’s more of what you call an entrepreneur. She’s a couple years your junior, I guess; she’s legal, before you ask – grass on the field and all that…” is not something you want any guy like Boon saying about you, especially when you are not his girl. I’m afraid of what will happen when Boon accidentally-on-purpose runs into Loretta again and she spurns his advances once more. Tucker should get an Emmy® nom for his performance. In just the two episodes he’s been in, he’s made a lasting impression; one I won’t soon forget.

Another unpredictable turn of events involves Wynn Duffy’s (Jere Burns) right hand man Mike (Jonathan Kowalsky). I mentioned in my review of “Burned” how Mike’s lack of enthusiasm over Wynn’s recent behavior will come into play. With Wynn being Raylan’s (Timothy Olyphant’s) C.I., Mike finally shows Wynn exactly how he feels about it in “Trust.” I have to give Mike a round of applause. Wynn takes Mike’s loyalty for granted. You can see the look of disgust and the sting of betrayal in Mike’s eyes every time Wynn talks to the U.S. Marshals. I’m anxious to see what Katherine does when she gets Mike’s voicemail.

Ava may love Boyd but she loves herself and being out of prison a hell of a lot more.

Finally, we get to the biggest twist I did not see coming. Ava has surprised me a few times this season. She’s not really one for keeping secrets from the people she cares about, as evidenced with how she handled being Raylan’s C.I. around Boyd. But her going to Limehouse to try and make a run for it, and then her kissing Raylan back in “Sounding,” kind of threw me for a loop. That all takes a backseat to what Ava does in “Trust.” When ADA Vasquez (Rick Gomez) makes it clear he doesn’t care about Ava anymore, it puts her between a rock and hard place. She’s willing to do anything to keep from going back to prison, so she offers up something to nail Boyd. I knew Dewey Crowe (Damon Herriman) would somehow come back to haunt Boyd, even if it’s just by way of his blood stained alligator necklace Ava found. Carter runs the gambit of emotions this season. From being terrified of Boyd finding out she’s a C.I. to wielding her “feminine wiles,” Ava continues to surprise me with how far she’s willing to go to save herself.

Overall

“Trust” is definitely a thought provoking and eyebrow raising episode. From Boyd revealing a little tidbit to Markham about how he came to know about his money to Ava taking matters into her own hands, “Trust” takes us for a wild ride and I’m anxious to find out what’s coming around the next bend. My hats off to episodic writer Benjamin Cavell; well played.

Let me know what you thought of “Trust.” 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 on Twitter @JustifiedFX #JustifiedFX and follow cast member Joelle Carter @Joelle_Carter. For fans of Walton Goggins, follow @WaltonGFan.

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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.