Review: Justified, S4 Ep. 401 "Hole in the Wall" ('Truth' Will Be Revealed)

Review: Justified, S4, Ep. 401 – “Hole in the Wall”

Air date: Tuesday, January 8, 2013, 10PM E/P on FX

Rating: ★★★★★

“Well, I guess I have to be more careful with my words.” ~ Boyd

Justified reigns supreme at bringing seemingly benign items to the forefront, making them popular again. Season one, we got the iconic Stetson making a huge comeback on the ever so dashing Raylan Givens (Timothy Olyphant), and it’s still going strong. Season two brought us Mag’s “apple pie” moonshine. Believe it or not, two years ago, I actually received a mason jar of apple pie moonshine from some friends here in CA for Christmas. Didn’t taste too bad either! But I like/value my esophagus and liver, so I didn’t drink more than one shot. Season three, we had good old fashioned barbeque slow cooked in a make-shift oil barrel grill. We can overlook the first-hand slaughtering of the pigs that Limehouse (Mykelti Williamson) handled so frighteningly well… and focus on the yummy end results.

Raylan travels with Constable Bob to a scrap yard to find his Town Car that contains some important cargo in the trunk…the kind of cargo that breathes.

And now in season four, we see the return of a classic car—the Gremlin. Yes, ladies and gentleman, the big butt hatch-back struts in as the ‘go car’ for Constable Bob Sweeny (Patton Oswalt). I get the car but I’m still trying to decipher what he means when he tells Raylan to “stay frosty.”

Raylan gets flashed at a hardware store…is he losing his touch? Didn’t her realize this was a ruse?

“Hole in the Wall” strolls in all as if nothing happened last season. As a matter of fact, in the first few scenes of the premiere, you almost want to double check the channel to make sure you’re watching FX and this is, in fact, season four of the award winning drama Justified. Rest assured; it is…it’s just not the Justified you’re accustomed to…at least at first glance. That’s one of the qualities of Justified I like so much. Even though there is something left over from each season to explore, you’re not really beat over the head with it when a new season starts. The writers will get to it, it’s just that other things are going on that also need some attention…like the unsolved mystery of a drug mule who crash landed in the middle of a cul-de-sac 30 years ago. This mystery has reared its ugly head and somehow involves Raylan’s father, Arlo (Raymond Barry). It takes two young, misguided teens to help Raylan discover the connection which also leaves an unsightly gaping hole in the wall of the Givens family home.

If you’re expecting to see some familiar faces, you will, but the one face I have yet to spot Limehouse. I know we haven’t heard the last of him—well, at least I hope we haven’t. There is a helluva story there that still needs telling, especially with Johnny (David Meunier) betraying Boyd (Walton Goggins). Remember, Johnny is the one who told Limehouse about Boyd killing Devil (Kevin Rankin).

Constable Bob Sweeney – there’s more than meets the eye with this local law man.

There are some new characters this season, including the seemingly inept Constable Bob Sweeney, who is acting as a watch dog over Arlo’s humble abode at the bequest of Raylan. Bob is a likable guy but in a very odd sort of way. It’s almost as if Raylan feels empathy for him. Bob hasn’t been able to get on with the State police so he’s mucking about as a local Constable until he gets his golden opportunity. I think Bob’s disillusions about how law enforcement really works will get him into more trouble than just the bloody nose he gets trying to help Raylan recover his stolen car. (Yes, the town car gets jacked…but it’s the cargo in the trunk that Raylan is most concerned about.) Now why does Raylan want to keep tabs on the goings on with Arlo’s house? Familial memories? Raylan doesn’t seem the sentimental type but I guess with his kin buried in the family plot that is conveniently located in the front yard, maybe he can’t help himself.

And while poor Ellen May (Abby Miller) must deal with a ‘bear’ of a client, Boyd is contending with a newcomer to Harlan, a preacher named Billy (guest star Joe Mazello) who slips into town with his “Last Chance Holiness Church” and helps some of Boyd’s Oxycotin-addicted customers to get clean. Well, that’s just not good business, now is it? As an aside, I must say, I laughed during the scene with Ellen May. It’s darkly humorous and unexpected. Miller does an excellent job of portraying a downtrodden, dim-witted country prostitute.

Lindsay Pulsipher who plays Preacher Billy’s sister Cassie on the red carpet of the season 4 premiere.

Preacher Billy isn’t the one Boyd needs to concern himself over; it is Billy’s demure, but calculating, sister Cassie (Lindsay Pulsipher) who requires Boyd’s full attention. When I spoke to a delightful Pulsipher on the red carpet on Saturday, January 5, 2013, she mentioned that her character, Cassie, is more than just a quiet little sister supporting her brother. Mazello is convincing and compelling while giving his sermons. His tremendous acting lends itself to his seamless integration into Justified. It’s as if he’s been in Harlan, KY the whole time. I have a sneaking suspicion the snake Preacher Billy uses in his sermons may not be as dangerous as Cassie is. And now that Boyd has a new hired hand, an old Army buddy Colton Rhodes (guest star Ron Eldard), the dichotomy of Boyd’s inner sanctum is sure to become more unstable. And once again, the writers give Boyd some of the most sophisticated dialogue that truly stands out in the current environment. Coupled with the superb acting by Goggins, Boyd is a formidable adversary.

Erica Tazel, who plays U.S. Marshal Rachel Brooks, was a delight to speak to on the red carpet.

Another character we don’t see in this season premiere is the very pregnant, former Mrs. Raylan Givens, Winona (Natalie Zea), although there certainly are a lot of mentions about the baby being on the way. In addition, Raylan has taken on some ‘odd’ jobs to make ends meet, if you will. But I think his moonlighting gigs may get him into a lot of trouble. Raylan, apparently, isn’t going to be the only one to test the waters with the U.S. Marshal Service…at least according to Erica Tazel, who plays U.S. Marshal Rachel Brooks. On the red carpet, she mentioned that her character isn’t happy with the varying sets of rules – one set for Raylan and a vastly different set for other Marshals.

”Hole in the Wall,” leaves many doors open with an interesting peek inside that I am fervently ready to explore. All the new additions to the cast make for an unexpectedly fascinating dynamic that we haven’t seen yet. With Arlo misbehaving in prison, causing quite a shocking turn of events and the end of this first episode marks the beginning of an explosive new season of Justified.

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And check out the video interviews from the red carpet.

Tune in to Justified, Tuesdays at 10PM E/P, only on FX.

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

Follow FX on Twitter and use hashtag #JustifiedFX.

Follow cast members Joelle Carter @Joelle_Carter and Jim Beavers @jumblejim on Twitter.

For fans of Walton Goggins, follow @WaltonGFan.

LIKE Justified on Facebook.

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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.