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I had a very successful if exhausting shopping trip ...technically yesterday. It involved a lot of driving and very little sleep but I got an awesome new phone and the Apple store managed to fix my computer in under a day AND compted the repair because I had a long wait while at the store to pick it up.
And then I came home to a new episode of Justified!
–I am giddy over the way Boyd/Ava played out. I love how straight Ava is with Boyd. She calls him on his actions and comes across as really adult.
"You give me a reason to wake up in the morning. For that I'll be eternally grateful."
"Get out."
And then in the end of the episode she calls him Mr Crowder! That just delighted me. And I'll be frank, I expected Boyd to take the lead in this romance more than he did; in the end of the episode he's being very verbally emotionally honest but it's clearly Ava who lays one on him first. And then hugging at the end? To me, that so clearly showed how much they care about each other. (And if/when they have a sex scene, I am going to be VERY curious about how it's filmed. Watching the first season the show clearly showed the difference between Raylan's emotional investment in Ava versus Winona simply by how they filmed the love scenes, and I'm very curious about how they'd handle a Boyd/Ava sex scene. So show, get right on that, plz.) And also, I would ADORE the instrumental music that was playing as they kissed.
A hell of a lot of other stuff happened this episode but I'm tired and it's late so I'm just going to mention how much I loved the Mags and Helen scene. It reminded me of Winter's Bone in the level and respect it showed for the social power women in this society wield and the way in which they use it.
And then I came home to a new episode of Justified!
–I am giddy over the way Boyd/Ava played out. I love how straight Ava is with Boyd. She calls him on his actions and comes across as really adult.
"You give me a reason to wake up in the morning. For that I'll be eternally grateful."
"Get out."
And then in the end of the episode she calls him Mr Crowder! That just delighted me. And I'll be frank, I expected Boyd to take the lead in this romance more than he did; in the end of the episode he's being very verbally emotionally honest but it's clearly Ava who lays one on him first. And then hugging at the end? To me, that so clearly showed how much they care about each other. (And if/when they have a sex scene, I am going to be VERY curious about how it's filmed. Watching the first season the show clearly showed the difference between Raylan's emotional investment in Ava versus Winona simply by how they filmed the love scenes, and I'm very curious about how they'd handle a Boyd/Ava sex scene. So show, get right on that, plz.) And also, I would ADORE the instrumental music that was playing as they kissed.
A hell of a lot of other stuff happened this episode but I'm tired and it's late so I'm just going to mention how much I loved the Mags and Helen scene. It reminded me of Winter's Bone in the level and respect it showed for the social power women in this society wield and the way in which they use it.
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Exactly. I thought that too, the fact that it's not just a physical attraction, that they emotionally need each other is emphasized with that hug. I'm so glad the director lingered on it.
Also, I'm wondering about the reason Boyd seemed so hesitant to act on feelings he was undoubtedly having, if his words are to be believed (which i do think they are). Do we have any idea if Boyd has ever actually been in love before, or at least had feelings similar to these?
I'm not saying it's not like he never had a girlfriend or anything, but from the way he was before, I would imagine that any relationship he was in would have been more based on power dynamics and sex than anything really emotional.
This could be completely new territory from him. Or this could just be wild speculation!
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And then in the end of the episode she calls him Mr Crowder!
YES TO THIS A THOUSAND TIMES.
And I'll be frank, I expected Boyd to take the lead in this romance more than he did; in the end of the episode he's being very verbally emotionally honest but it's clearly Ava who lays one on him first.
I'm not too surprised. I think, as
I'm very curious about how they'd handle a Boyd/Ava sex scene
I'd guess we'd see the aftermath, them laying in bed together post-sex. But um, I'd love to see them film the start to, I'm interested how Boyd would act.
And also, I would ADORE the instrumental music that was playing as they kissed.
YES! I want to find that music!
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I look forward to that! And whether or not we see a sex scene or a post-sex scene will, I think, depend on if they went right up to bed at the end of this episode or if the writers are holding back the complete comsumatation for later in the season.
"Don’t Look Back" (which is quite appropriate!). I couldn't find it on itunes or youtube though :(
That is sad! At least we know what it's called, now, so hopefully we can find it later, maybe?
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It could go either way. I almost want to think he just came in and stayed the night but nothing happened (yet), mostly because HOW ROMANTIC would that be? I can see Boyd wanting to just sleep beside her in the most innocent of ways, just to be close and touch her. I almost feel like while Ava probably wants him in the physical sense he's probably afraid sex would make things more complicated.
ALSO, I really want to see a Raylan/Ava/Boyd scene where he figures out Boyd has gone rouge and Ava and him have started to carry on a relationship. You know it's going to be Ava laying Rayland OUT while Boyd watches on in silence, totally amused.
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That TOTALLY sounds like something Boyd would do and is super-romantic. *sigh*
ALSO, I really want to see a Raylan/Ava/Boyd scene where he figures out Boyd has gone rouge and Ava and him have started to carry on a relationship. You know it's going to be Ava laying Rayland OUT while Boyd watches on in silence, totally amused.
Actually, in my head that could go either way - either Ava being like, 'once again, you don't get a say in how I live my life' OR it could be Raylan really getting under Ava's skin and making her feel terrible.
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Yeah, that was a really good choice on the director's part.
Also, I'm wondering about the reason Boyd seemed so hesitant to act on feelings he was undoubtedly having, if his words are to be believed (which i do think they are). Do we have any idea if Boyd has ever actually been in love before, or at least had feelings similar to these?
I'm not saying it's not like he never had a girlfriend or anything, but from the way he was before, I would imagine that any relationship he was in would have been more based on power dynamics and sex than anything really emotional.
I think this is true and DEFINITELY a factor but for me, I thought what was really keeping Boyd back was a.) Ava had stated that she wouldn't tolerate criminal activity and he was trying to respect that and b.) he did/does not think that another Crowder criminal is what she deserves.
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Oh yes, definitely. Probably those two more than the other thing.
This ep does leave me wondering though if, considering how Boyd probably thinks he will not be good for Ava, whether or not he will just be okay with them being in some kind of relationship, or if now that things are laid out between them, that will be that and they'll be together...and if he will share what's going on with the criminal element with her.
I can't imagine Ava being okay with being in the dark, but I also can't imagine Boyd being cool with having her completely in on everything. It will definitely be a very interesting balance the writer's have to strike between these two.
I'M SO EXCITED.
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As you said, I don't think Boyd will have the option of keeping Ava in the dark and having a relationship with her. First of all, Ava has already show that she won't stand for that, and secondly, it seems like that would put Ava in MORE danger than having her know what's going on.
I'M SO EXCITED.
ME TOO.
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Agreed. I'm really interested to see how it all will play out though. Especially when they made such a big deal out of the definition of felony murder when they brought Ava and Boyd in the first time over the mine explosion.
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Ooooh, good catch. Now I'm imaging Ava getting arrested and charged... and refusing to rat out Boyd to lessen her sentence... followed by a Crowder-orchestrated jailbreak. Following which Ava and Boyd head South to a new life in Costa Rica.
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This is an excellent point. In my head-cannon, Boyd had never had a romantic relationship. Pre-series he was too centered on power, adrenaline, and pleasure. Beyond that, Boyd has a tendency to live out creeds or roles. Before this season, his criminal mastermind and redeemed sinner roles didn't leave a lot of room for emotional vulnerability.
I also like the ambiguity in Boyd's relationship to Ava. Does he love her because she took him in? Obviously he's long been attracted to her. I wonder if his pre-series attraction went deeper than lust. The sappy shipper in me could see Boyd making Ava uncomfortable because he's uncomfortable with the depth of his attraction to his brother's wife.
At the start of the season, I was very nervous about Boyd/Ava because it would be so easy to screw it up. I really like that the show has given Ava so much agency (that word again!) in the relationship. She's not content to let Boyd treat her like a princess in a tower. Boyd's feelings may be strong, but he sees himself as poisonous. Ava has to make all the iniating moves because Boyd is trying to protect her from himself. I do wonder how that will change. I think Ava might get a kick out of being the co-kingpin of Harlan County.
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I think it went deeper than lust, if not to a degree I would call love. Or, as much love as a power-obsessed, neo-nazi is capable of. (Which is to say, no, I think Boyd has had bedpartners but nothing really worth the name of a relationship.) What struck me looking back on the series (and what points at something more than lust on Boyd's) is the fact that he has sort of been protecting Ava from the beginning. In the pilot, he refuses to act against her even though it's expected and he did care about his brother, when he had his religious awakening he got as much protection for her from Bo as he could, and I'm sure I don't need to sum up the second season for you. ^_^
The sappy shipper in me could see Boyd making Ava uncomfortable because he's uncomfortable with the depth of his attraction to his brother's wife.
That scenario is a little too sappy for me. I feel like if Boyd was uncomfortable with wanting Ava (which, in my mind goes back to when she and Raylan were making doe eyes at each other)... I don't know, I feel that he wouldn't have been as casual talking about her as he was in the pilot. (Although I do think that part of his motivation for not stepping in given that he knew she was being abused was both the HUGE social prohibition on doing so AND some subconscious desire to see her punished for not picking him.)
I do wonder how that will change. I think Ava might get a kick out of being the co-kingpin of Harlan County.
I kind of feel like the show is slowly setting up Ava and Boyd: the Bonnie and Clyde of Harlan county and I WOULD BE SO BEHIND THAT STORYLINE.
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I kind of feel like the show is slowly setting up Ava and Boyd: the Bonnie and Clyde of Harlan county and I WOULD BE SO BEHIND THAT STORYLINE.
SO MUCH THIS. <3 If it doesn't happen, I will write that AU so hard.
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I'll be right behind you. ^_^
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There were so many things that made me happy in this episode. First off, full-on fangirling about Boyd and Ava. Anything with a Crowder in it this week made me happy. I was also pleased to see Kevin Rankin back as Devil. First of all, it's good to see Boyd with a henchman who maybe has a brain. Secondly, I just love Kevin Rankin. Between this and tonight's NBC broadcast of FNL, I'm having wonderful flashbacks.
Secondly, I love that Loretta is still present in Raylan's life. Kaitlin Dever does a fantastic job with the role, but I was still apprehensive with her first couple of appearances. Looking back, even in the first episode, while she's tough, smart, and mature, Loretta doesn't really understand the full implications of her situation. The character I feared she might be would have seen through Mags. Television rarely does tough who've had to grow up too fast well. Loretta is smart, cool, rough, and realistic in her responses. I loved her last week and this week as well.
Thirdly, Damn right, Helen and Mags! With such economy, Justified tells us again just how strong Helen is. I do wonder, though, whether Mags is driving Dickie's back to the wall in an attempt to give herself plausible deniability. I can believe that her grief over her two losses has narrowed her vision, so she assess the Dickie situation accurately. I could also believe that Mags plays her cards very close to her chest, knows exactly who her sons are, and wants vengeance while keeping her hands clean. Setting Dickie against Boyd might be a kind of trial by fire for a son who's ambition usually exceeds his abilities.
Fourthyly, Art is my favorite television boss right now, eclipsing Ron Swanson. The fact that Raylan went for seven episodes (probably six months) without killing anyone probably made this confrontation much worse. Art got a period of Raylan being a good marshall. Then the money shenanigans. Then another shooting. When someone who looks like they're changing reverts to their old ways, you feel so much more disappointment and anger. I also wonder if part of the motivation for the money theft is to get Raylan involved in something questionable.
On of Justified's skills is drawing Raylan's aggression as a law enforcement officer, not in the fact that he shoots criminals, but in the fact that shooting Raylan confronts them so aggressively that events come to a stand-off. We've seen shooting Raylan and non-shooting Raylan in action. When he's actively managing his aggression, Raylan is a canny negotiator and manipulator of criminals. The tricky thing here is that shooting Coover is not one of those situations. About the only thing Raylan could do, besides charge right in, is contact the state police (and we don't know that he didn't also do that).
So all of that to say this: because it is so hard to make Art's actual issues with Raylan's performance in re Harlan County (acting outside of the marshall's purview, antagonizing the Bennetts, generally not seeking to de-escalate situations) sound reasonable in the wake of eminent reasonability of shooting Coover, the writers felt like Art needed something else to pin his anger on. Thus the Art knows spin on the money subplot.
Done? Not Hardly!
First off, I like that Winona frequently isn't nice to Raylan. She's not trying to draw him in; she doesn't know why she's with him, and she worries that it's a bad idea. Still, his familiarity is a comfort and he gets her engine running. They have agreat time together until reality intrudes. Winona understands that she probably can't be happy with Raylan. The fact that she loves him keeps her coming back to him anyway.
Secondly, Raylan has agency! I'm passive agressively responding to general internet criticism here where none of those opinions have been expressed because that's how I roll. Faced with the opportunity to turn in Winona or at least convince her to turn herself in, Raylan breaks the law. If Raylan can't say no to her, that's not because he literally cannot say no. He keeps choosing not to. Personally, I really enjoy Raylan making bad choices. In summation, Winona did not ruin Raylan's relationship with Art as you never, ever asserted. Additionally, in further summation, Winona probably didn't hire the hitmen in this episode to bind Raylan to her more closely as you likewise never, ever asserted. The more I think about that plot twist, the more I almost wish it was true.
Hot as he is (so, so hot), I would never get involved with Raylan Givens. It's not just the fear of his death on the job, but the fact that he carries his job with him to such a degree. When Winona blows off the Cadillac following them, I took that as an indication of many false alarms in the past. I think this is a function of how much he cares about Winona. Last season, there was a scene with Winona and Ava where Winona runs through all of Raylan's irritating over-protective behaviors, and from Ava's reactions, he's never been this way with Ava. So if he cares deeply, Raylan Givens may smother you. If he doesn't care deeply enough, he may stop taking your calls when he blames your relationship on the release of your murderous brother-in-law from jail. So yeah, Justified has established that Raylan Givens is a good lawman, but a bad marshall and a not the world's best boyfriend. That's how I like him.
Argh, I've barely talked about Raylan/Winona in this episode. The thing that I like about their relationship is that it feels like a bad idea. The sex is great, they have a good time together, but they don't communicate well. This is a realistically tough row to hoe. I just wish they'd handled the whole money stealing thing better. I wonder if this will end up the equivalent of the big big plot error in season two of Friday Night Lights where after a couple of episodes everyone's just whistling casually and going, "Money? What money?". I'd be amused if for the remainder of their relationship Raylan continues to bring up the money.
Re: Done? Not Hardly!
I agree whole-heartedly, and with the the most of all:
So yeah, Justified has established that Raylan Givens is a good lawman, but a bad marshall and a not the world's best boyfriend. That's how I like him.
Although, I'm not saying i would stay away from him. Goddamn you, Timothy Olyphant and your legs in pants. D:
Oh and also this:
My life is currently structured around Wednesday night at 10. It's a sad story.
DD: I mean... :DDDDDDD
Re: Done? Not Hardly!
On the other hand, since the thing that the first thing I notice about men is vocabulary, I might do something regrettable with Boyd before I fully notice his tattoos.
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LOL! Yeah, that would definitely be an "oh, shit" moment. But after that you'll find out he's (sort of) reformed. :P
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I'd do something regrettable with Boyd, only I wouldn't regret a damn thing. ...although I also wouldn't tell anyone, ever.
leave you here wearing your wounds
Usually around... Friday there is a moment where I'm like 'it is Justified time now?' and then realize I have almost an entire week to wait. It's tragic.
was also pleased to see Kevin Rankin back as Devil. First of all, it's good to see Boyd with a henchman who maybe has a brain.
Agreed. I can't wait to see them pulling some heists and stuff. That's going to be fun.
Television rarely does tough who've had to grow up too fast well. Loretta is smart, cool, rough, and realistic in her responses. I loved her last week and this week as well.
Agreed. I adored Raylan's conversation with her (and describing the light inside her made me go 'awwww') and I think her anger at her father and her continuing grief about her mother is really realistic. The show did a good job of showing that deep down she knew that the Bennets had killed her father but that she wasn't able to consciously put all the pieces together until she saw the watch.
I do wonder, though, whether Mags is driving Dickie's back to the wall in an attempt to give herself plausible deniability.
I can easily see Mags doing that. Besides getting revenge on Raylan (which I am positive she wants) it would also solidify her relationship with the sherrif-son, who's clearly her most valuable family member (in the sense that he has power to help her that neither Dicker nor Coover really did/do).
re: Art
I remember reading something from the producer about Art and how they wanted to find a way to remove Art from Raylan's life to see what would happen when he didn't have this positive father figure anymore*.
What I liked best about their confrontation this episode was Art treating Raylan like an adult: he knew what Raylan WANTED to have happen and refused to play that script (and I think if Raylan had been straight with Art and told him it would have gone down differently). Raylan lost Art not because of his actions so much as how he handled the aftermath: he wasn't courageous enough to be honest with Art and he needed Art's approval and trust too much to keep lying... and he ended up losing that anyway. I'll be honest, that was a hard scene to watch.
(*I have issues with the unrelenting throwing of rocks at a protagonist as a storytelling strategy, but that's a tangent)
Waving your guns at somebody new
I'm in a similar position. I don't like Winona 85% of the time but fandom's hate for her (and seriously, are people actually calling her a evil stupid whore? Sweet jesus) makes me feel obligated to like her. (And there are time I actually do.)
I'm passive agressively responding to general internet criticism here where none of those opinions have been expressed because that's how I roll.
Roll on.
Additionally, in further summation, Winona probably didn't hire the hitmen in this episode to bind Raylan to her more closely as you likewise never, ever asserted.
Do people actually think that? Wasn't it REALLY CLEAR that Gary had something to do with that?
think this is a function of how much he cares about Winona. Last season, there was a scene with Winona and Ava where Winona runs through all of Raylan's irritating over-protective behaviors, and from Ava's reactions, he's never been this way with Ava.
*nods* Yeah, I really liked that scene for how clearly it showed Raylan's different levels of affection for Winona and Ava. And I also enjoy that I couldn't tell if Winona was saying what she was because she felt a connection with Ava or because she wanted to twist an emotional knife in Ava's back.
Hot as he is (so, so hot), I would never get involved with Raylan Givens.
See, I totally would.
And I think part of the reason I have a hard time with Winona is that there are aspects of our personality (and the personality that I'm attracted to in fictional characters that are TOTALLY OPPOSITE. Which is to say, I'd totally jump Raylan Givens bones and while our hypothetical relationship would probably fail too, it would fail for a different reasons than that ones that have Winona and Raylan floundering around.
The thing that I like about their relationship is that it feels like a bad idea. The sex is great, they have a good time together, but they don't communicate well.
Here is my thing about Winona/Raylan: sometimes, I really like them. I like that they both love each other so much they can't stay away, I like that Winona doesn't have stars in her eyes for Raylan, I love that they can hurt each other epically, I love that Winona left.
Here is what I don't like: there are several times (usually relating to Raylan's job) where I go 'that is a relationship dealbreaker and neither of you are going to ever change enough to make that work.' For BONUS Do Not Like, as I mentioned, Winona is just not my kind of woman. And I'm not sure if that's just the character (it's not like they're aren't guys who just Aren't My Kind of Guys) or if the writer's are doing a bad job handling her character.
Re: Waving your guns at somebody new
I'm definitely giving the writers the benefit of the doubt when I say that I like Winona as a character. With the way she's been written, Winona could be someone I'd genuinely like in full on my life is skidding out of control mode (I have dear and intelligent friends who've had years long relationships with men nearly as bad as Gary.), someone I find fascinating to watch on television but wouldn't want anywhere near me in real life, or someone who's a badly written cipher that's an unfortunate exception on Justified.
In closing, is it Wednesday yet?
Re: Waving your guns at somebody new
Oh, honey, no. Did they pay any attention to the first season? Where Raylan made bad choices because of his attraction to Ava or was completely emotionally strung out dealing with his father? Or, you know, the very first scene of the show where he shot a man and got transfered?
With the way she's been written, Winona could be someone I'd genuinely like in full on my life is skidding out of control mode (I have dear and intelligent friends who've had years long relationships with men nearly as bad as Gary.), someone I find fascinating to watch on television but wouldn't want anywhere near me in real life, or someone who's a badly written cipher that's an unfortunate exception on Justified.
Agreed. I'm retaining judgment until I see how this season plays out.
In closing, is it Wednesday yet?
PLEASE BE WEDNESDAY RIGHT NOW.
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*nods* I agree. And I think that the show has already illustrated how attuned and attentive Boyd and Ava are to each other.
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But now with Boyd, at least to me as a viewer, it seems very different. They share something that she didn't have with Raylan. Also, I think that Boyd changed much, which I really like. It seemed that he was still involved in bad things, but it didn't look like that to me. He seems... kinder.
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Also, Ava shooting Charlie and chasing Coover and Dickie out of her house? LOVE.
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Same here. One of the things I love about that ship is that it really illustrates how each of the characters has grown, while still keeping them in characters.
Also, Ava shooting Charlie and chasing Coover and Dickie out of her house? LOVE.
AGREED. I cannot get over how awesome her shooting that bag was. "What the hell..." BANG. That's my girl!