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Review: #JustifiedFX “Cut Ties” (“a man who’s sleeping with his dead brother’s widow and murderess..” )

Review: Justified, Season 3, Episode 302 “Cut Ties”

Airdate: Tuesday, January 24, 2012, 10PM E/P on FX

Rating ★★★★★

“Cut Ties,” however entertaining, is a filler episode. While I’m pleased both Art (Nick Searcy) and Rachel (Erica Tazel) have more screen time, this episode merely sets the stage for what’s to come.

Raylan (Timothy Olyphant) and Winona (Natalie Zea) play house for a while. It seems funny they shack up in Winona and Gary’s (William Ragsdale) old house, which is up for sale, especially when Raylan wakes up to the sounds of an open house being conducted. Raylan jokes about Winona not being interested in the realtor since it’s a woman and Winona puts Raylan at ease. “No, as far as realtors go, I’m done. Person spends enough time lying for a living, gets to the point where you realize the only thing he doesn’t mean is what he’s actually saying.” (The reason Winona and Raylan divorced in the first place is because she had an affair with their former realtor and current hubby Gary, who’s still missing by the way).

L-R: Timothy Olyphant, Mel Fair, and Carla Gugino

Oddly enough, Winona’s little speech triggers something in Raylan. He finally realizes why Boyd (Walton Goggins) took a few swings at him. It wasn’t to get back at Raylan. It was to get himself locked up so he could take care of Dickie (Jeremy Davies) personally for shooting Ava (Joelle Carter). I love the entertaining conversation Raylan has with Boyd in jail, explaining how he’s not been himself lately with the shooting and recovery and, of course, learning he’s going to be a daddy. This bit of conversation truly makes me chuckle! I absolutely love Goggins; his heavy Southern accent, coupled with the way he emphasizes his words, really add that extra punch. But now Boyd has to quickly re-strategize on how to get to Dickie, who somehow manages to get himself locked up in solitary. (I would be hiding too if I were Dickie!)

Raylan: “What do you make of a man who divorces a woman, then gets her pregnant, then wonders if they should move in together?”

Boyd: “Well now, Raylan, you’re talking to a man who’s sleeping with his dead brother’s widow and murderess so if you’re looking for someone to cast stones at you on this matter, I think you’ve picked the wrong sinner.” (LOL!)

Carla Gugino as Asst. Director Goodall (standing, L), Erica Tazel as Rachel (seated, center), and Timothy Olyphant as Raylan (seated, R)

Art’s friend, Marshal Bill Nichols (Michael Harding), who was working with Witness Protection, has been found murdered. Asst. Director Goodall (Carla Gugino) joins the case to help find out what happened. I really love that Art shows some gumption in how he goes after the perpetrator who is trying to sell out a young mother in WITSEC. He holds no punches, literally. It is really nice to see Art getting his hands dirty! There seems to be a twinkle in his eye as he belts out punch after punch to the man who killed his friend. And Rachel, who’s been sent to protect the mother, finds things going south, fast. The only thing I don’t like about some of the scenes with Tazel is how the writers make her seem so full of angst. When she tells Raylan about seeing the mandatory psychologist after her first kill, he asks, “What did he say,” to which Rachel corrects him by replying, “She…” to point out that women also hold powerful or professional positions. I think seeing Goodall as Asst. Director really gives Rachel a boost. I just hope the writers will stop making her seem like she has to constantly prove she’s worthy of being a U.S. Marshal. That chip on her shoulder could be a detriment not only to her career but her life while on the job.

L-R: Timothy Olyphant and Carla Gugino.

As I watch Goodall interact with Raylan, it’s apparent they have history. I don’t think it’s just their time working in the Miami field office together. I would love to see Gugino reprise her role in future episodes because I think she’s great. It takes a strong woman lead to pull off the character of an Asst. Director of a federal office and Gugino certainly fits the bill. She’s obviously beautiful, but her beauty doesn’t overshadow her ability to lead. Plus, I’ve made no secret regarding my dislike for Winona but now I’d feel unscrupulous breaking up her and Raylan since she’s knocked up. I’d much rather see what could happen with Goodall and Raylan. Besides, it’s not proven that the baby is his. It might possibly be Gary’s.

The coup de grace is when Boyd confronts Dickie about his momma’s missing money. Not the Black Pike money the government seized, but the money she quietly stashed away over the years, which seems to be a hefty sum. Dickie tells Boyd Limehouse (Mykelti Williamson), an old family friend, is holding the money and will not give it to anyone other than Dickie. It seems Limehouse is a formidable adversary, which is evident when he demonstrates to one of his own men what happens when they fall asleep on the job. Williamson is convincing when he tells his man to consider the choice of punishment. It was like watching Bubba* become the embittered Lt. Dan* except I don’t think there will be any happy endings. (*from the movie Forrest Gump)

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

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

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Photos © 2011 FX Network, 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.