FX's Justified - Episode 6.13 "The Promise"
Raylan, Boyd and Ava fight one last, bloody battle to find out who leaves Harlan alive.
Over the course of six seasons, Justified has just been a whole lot of fun. It prided itself on its character and how they realized what roles they were playing in this story. Raylan Givens made some morally questionable decisions - the opening minutes of the pilot feature him forcing a criminal into making him pull his weapon and kill him in a way that would make it legal. But Raylan has always been painted as the hero of the story. Similarly, no matter how charismatic and desperate to find love Boyd was, he was always the villain. All the other criminals and allies who have come in and out of Harlan County have left a mark on Raylan and Boyd. This has been one fantastic final season that embraced everything that made the show so special while coming to a wonderful conclusion that was truly unique.Both Raylan and Boyd recognized that their journey together was coming to an end - at least the version of their relationship that had existed for the past six years. The show had been building to one final climatic showdown between the two of them all season long. And yet, it occurs differently than how most of the audience likely imagined. So much plot was left to cover at the end of last week's episode. This finale could have been extended by another couple minutes and it would have felt earned. Instead the running time is typical of an average hourlong drama on FX. The show still used that time brilliantly to wrap things up with Avery Markham, Boon and Boyd before heading into one long epilogue about the future of these characters. It's an unexpected choice which is one of the qualities that this show has taken so much pride in doing. Justified always set out to tell a complex story. This finale was different than expected but is still incredibly satisfying for the journey.
The finale does start somewhat slow with Raylan needing to escape FBI custody and Boyd figuring out his next move on top of the hill. And yet, those scenes still held a whole lot of value. It was fantastic to see Raylan in the back end of the cop car dealing with an officer who was so much like himself. Meanwhile, Boyd nearly escaped death once again only to be uncertain of what he could possibly do next. The marshals were combing the mountains looking for him and he had no idea where the money or Ava were. That phone call with Ava gave him the passion and the drive again. But it still came with a perilous journey down the hill where he had to use Zachariah's explosives to escape Tim and the rest of the marshals.
It was all building to a handful of confrontations that most of these characters relished in having them finally play out. It all started with Boyd surprisingly walking into the shed Avery and his men were holding Ava in. He miraculously escapes death once again to kill Avery while keeping Ava from getting her hands on a gun. Boyd narrowly missing death was a device the show used way too often. And yet, it did help establish what kind of a character he really was. He is the outlaw of this story who wants to go out with all the money or in a blaze of glory. But Boyd's next confrontation isn't as easy as his first. Raylan walks in to see all the tragic death Boyd has just caused and he is ready to end this once and for all. Much like the criminal at the start of the series, Raylan gives Boyd the chance to pull on Raylan and see who is the faster shooter. It's a continuation of their last encounter on the mountain. This confrontation is what they have been expecting. And yet, Boyd has made a living at being the wisest criminal. He knows that giving Raylan the chance to kill him is exactly what Raylan wants. This showdown is as much about what Raylan wants to do as it is about Boyd. Raylan wants to kill Boyd. However, Raylan is never able to kill Boyd in cold blood. He couldn't without reason. Over the course of the series, so much has happened between the two of them that would make Raylan justified in killing Boyd. And yet, he is unable to do so because they dug coal together all those years ago. That's the one thing that has kept Raylan from killing Boyd for six years. That's why he couldn't do it in the pilot when given the chance and that's why he can't do it now. So, Boyd ends up going to jail for the rest of his life.
Both Raylan and Boyd surviving this climatic showdown was unexpected but also very richly drawn in who they were as characters. The finale still gives Raylan a quickdraw situation when Boon pops up again. That scene really did feel like a classic western where they both pulled their weapons and fired with both falling to the ground and the audience having no idea if either of them survived. Over the course of the last few episodes, Boon has been built up as a character who may finally beat Raylan at the quickdraw. And yet, it's not the keeping of the first round empty that does Boon in but his instance on going for the head shot. Boon's shot just grazes Raylan's head and his hat while Raylan's actually kills Boon. It's a satisfying final showdown that is about the female companions hiding in the respective vehicles as much as it is as about the gunslingers. Before he dies, Loretta is able to tower over Boon and make sure that he does not cause any more destruction before she goes to see if her old friend Raylan is okay. It's not that surprising that Loretta is the last woman standing in Harlan County ready to take over in ways both spiritually and criminally.
What comes next for the finale's last third was surprising in that it focused on Raylan, Boyd and Ava four years later as they were all able to leave Harlan County alive. None of them have the guilt of their past actions weighing heavily on their conscience. However, the past is still very much playing a role in their lives. Raylan did make it back down to Florida safely to be with Winona and his daughter. It didn't come easily as he felt things were still left complicated in Harlan when he left. But he made that choice to finally leave. It feels like the right choice too because seeing him as a parent to a toddler makes it seem as if he is doing a good job at helping raise her. Meanwhile, Ava is living a life constantly looking over her shoulder afraid of either some law enforcement officer or one of Boyd's associates recognizing her. Raylan does eventually find her hiding out in California, with the added surprise of a son who must be Boyd's. And then, Boyd is in prison going back to his preacher routine which even Raylan has to remark is him simply repeating himself. That final scene is so dynamic and is only possible because both Raylan and Boyd survived this grand confrontation. Raylan got his man but didn't have to kill him. After all these years, Raylan is still drawn to Boyd and makes it important to personally give him the false information of Ava's death.
For all the ups and downs the two have had, Raylan and Boyd have made one dynamic couple to center a series around. Their back-and-forths have enriched the texture of the show that made it so gratifying for the audience. Their endings have been determined in a way that altered everyone's expectations including the character's own visions for their futures. That's what made Justified feel so satisfying over six seasons. It mixed the tragedy and the comedy of this rural life with such specificity. These characters will be missed. But I am so grateful to have spent six seasons down in Harlan County.
Some more thoughts:
- "The Promise" was written by Graham Yost, Fred Golan, Dave Andron & Benjamin Cavell and directed by Adam Arkin.
- The finale most certainly needed more Wynn Duffy who only really appeared as Raylan's most likely assumption as to how Ava got out of Harlan. It makes a whole lot of sense given what Wynn's last scene was in the previous episode. And it also feels right that he's enjoying life surfing in Fiji with Avery's money.
- Ellen May and Limehouse also make brief cameo appearances as the other suspects on Raylan's list of those who helped Ava in the end.
- Even though Rachel pulled back the perimeter on Boyd, how did he escape through the hills so easily to make it to Avery's shed? She had a helicopter after all!
- I'm disappointed that Constable Bob's fate was left in the air though I'm pretty certain he survived his encounter with Boyd.
- Who would have guessed that every single regular character on the show would still be alive by the end of the final season?
- "The Promise" fittingly ends as it should with a title card thanking the people of Harlan County, the marshal service and the great late Elmore Leonard.
