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Review: #JustifiedFX “The Devil You Know” (“I’m sensing a disturbance in the force.”)

Review: Justified, Season 3, Episode 304 “The Devil You Know”

Airdate: Tuesday, February 7, 2012, 10PM E/P on FX

Rating: ★★★★★

Before I begin, I have to get this out – I love Justified! I think it’s a fantastic show, full of great potential. With that said, I’m ready for this whole debacle with Bennett money to be wrapped up so we can mosey along to some juicier story lines.

Mykelti Williamson as Limehouse

Ellstin Limehouse (Mykelti Williamson) is holding money for the Bennett family and we know every Tom, Dickie (Jeremy Davies), and Harry wants it. Of course, now that Dickie is out of jail, thanks to prison guard Ash (Todd Stashwick) and male nurse Lance (Clayne Crawford), things go from bad to worse. While I find the whole ‘get the money’ scheme a bit overdone, I will say “The Devil You Know” is quite entertaining and very humorous. The way Dewey (Damon Herriman) handles himself makes for some hilarious physical comedy, in addition to the comical dialogue he’s given to say.

 

Ash: “Hey moron, how much have you heard?”

Dewey: “’Bout ya’ll breaking out? Nothing.”

As you may have guessed, the title of the episode has a lot to do with the character of Devil (Kevin Rankin). When Devil’s old friend Tanner (Brendan McCarthy) introduces him to hot shot Quarles (Neal McDonough), Devil begins to buy into the ‘grass is greener’ ideology, but when he tries to sell Quarles’ plan to Johnny (David Meunier), this is where he makes his fatal mistake. You don’t pit family against family. Devil actually thought he was going to pull one over on Boyd (Walton Goggins). I guess he is…was…dumber than I thought. Again, Quarles trying to scoop up Boyd’s men and honing in on Harlan territory is so much juicier than finding Bennett money.

I love what Quarles says to Devil to goad him into changing sides after Devil comments they’ve got a few things lined up.

Quarles, in his best preacher voice:  “Tell me you’re shittin’ me! Chasing money up a black hollar? Cozying up with people you just as soon see swingin’? Taking orders from a woman who has RAAAISED her hand to you and is protected by a man who is not against taking a poke at you himself. Gimme an Amen, gimme an Amen, gimme a Goddamn Amen!”

This statement and the way it’s delivered clues me in that Quarles, although seemingly calm, cool and collected, is, in fact, a bit nervous about taking over the Dixie Mafia reins. Why does he seem desperate to recruit Boyd’s men if he’s got such an edge over things?

Seeing Kaitlyn Dever as Loretta McCready made me smile. She is becoming a great actress and I love her turn as a down trodden teenager trying to adjust to life in her new foster home. When Raylan (Timothy Olyphant) pays her a visit to see if she knows anything about where Mags (Margo Martindale) kept her money, it gave me hope that perhaps Dever might become a regular again but if we really want season three to progress, we have to say goodbye to some great characters – including Loretta.

L-R: Limehouse (Mykelti Williamson) smoking up some ribs when Rachel (Erica Tazel) and Raylan (Timothy Olyphant) pay him a visit

Raylan and Rachel (Erica Tazel) go to Nobel’s Hollar to visit Limehouse. Of course, the interesting part of their visit isn’t about finding the Bennett money; it is Limehouse commenting on knowing the Givens’ name when Raylan introduces himself as Deputy U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens. We know Limehouse mentioned seeing Raylan’s daddy, Arlo (Raymond J. Barry), on the one bridge into Noble’s Hollar some time ago. Well, it turns out Raylan’s mother ran to Noble’s Hollar seeking refuge from her abusive husband. Now, here is a juicy back story that needs to be told. We never did find out what happened to Raylan’s mother – we’ve only seen her tombstone.

Observations and Funny Moments:

“The Devil You Know” ties up loose ends and hopefully squashes the storyline that has been carried over from season two. What is so entertaining about this episode are the comedic aspects:

–          After being put to sleep, Dickie and Dewey are broken out of prison in body bags. When Dewey wakes up from his drug induced slumber and finds himself encased in a black body bag, he goes buck wild. Ash just watches as he flails around in the body bag until Dickie asks him if he’s going to just sit and watch Dewey freak out or let him out.

–          Ash runs into Raylan…or rather, Raylan runs Ash down with his Towne car after confronting Ash outside the hotel where they’re hiding Dickie and Dewey. The conversation that ensues after Raylan watches a van speed off is darkly humorous.

Raylan: “D’you see that? They just left you. You know where they’re going?”

Ash: “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” (winces in agony)

Raylan: “Ooh, does your stomach hurt; could be bleeding inside; most likely your spleen. That’s ok, you can pretty much live without a spleen as long as they get it out before it goes septic. That shit happens, oooh. No bars. So hard to get cell phone service on these hollar roads.”

–          Strange Star Wars references seem to pop up throughout the episode. Some are implied – like Quarles trying to get Devil to join him on the dark side and the obvious reference when Boyd says, “I’m sensing a disturbance in the force,” when Raylan stops by to ask him some questions.

–          Boyd to Raylan in regards to Dickie and Dewey’s whereabouts: “I might have a nut or two for your trail mix.”

–          When Lance drugs Dewey the second time, it seems so habitual and carefree. I feel for Dewey. With all the medical tools Lance has and that giant plastic sheet, I’m thinking we’ll find Dewey in a tub of ice very soon.

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 member Joelle Carter on Twitter: @Joelle_Carter.

For Fans of Walton Goggins, Follow @WaltonGFan.

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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.
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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.