Episode 12S1: Fathers and Sons (Penultimate Episode)It’s time to ask the question I have (after coming to this Justified partly very late in its 2nd season) about THE scene which I will cover in depth later, under ‘Favorite Scenes.’
Question: How did that sexy montage of Raylan and Winona play with fans and critics when it first aired? What were people saying about it on the FX board? That was hot! The writers never did anything like that before, and they’ve never done anything like that since. It’s obvious they shot this scene differently to show that this coupling of Raylan and Winona was different from the rest. Because they’ve never done it again on the show (with the lighting, music overlay, heat, skin, pre-coitus, post-coitus without jokes), it suggests to me that it didn’t go over so well? With critics, segment of fan base, etc.? Or am I missing something? Because it played plenty well with me. I loved it and wanted more.
Favorite Lines (actually, dialogs):Ava: “Tell me somethin’ so I know exactly how cheap I should feel. Were you screwin’ her all along?”
Raylan: “You know I wasn’t.”
Ava: “No. Come right down to it, I don’t.”
Bo: “Well, I guess we got ourselves a real problem, now don’t we, Sugar.”
Ava: “Well. Honestly? I don’t think we do. I already killed one Crowder. I could easily kill another. You wanna go next?” Snap!
Favorite Scenes (Way too many of them in this episode!):1. Listed first because it is one of my all time, favorite scenes. I’m a romantic, and once Winona went to Raylan’s motel room, took off her wedding ring, and kissed him (and stopped pulling away from him) and succumbed to their passion that was still there after many years … and the music keys up. Hello! That was a sexy, well-lit, well-acted, hot little montage. (Wish it had been longer!) Until she got up out of bed, put her clothes on (I noticed this time her bra was at her feet after she was dressed and was putting her shoes on. She must have stuffed it in the pocket of her trench coat.), put her wedding ring back on … making a little ‘gun’ movement with her fingers synced to music, and left without saying a single word. Then, to find Ava outside watching her leave? Whoa. That face of realization and disbelief that Ava gave and then, scrubbing said look off her face was some A Number 1 acting.
Back to Winona. At this point, I understood why she wanted Raylan back after he saved her and Gary from Wynn Duffy. I learned from that montage how they really felt about each other. That was no ordinary ‘roll in the hay.’ But I did not understand why Winona left after their rekindling and put the ring back on. Did she change her mind? Was she trying Raylan on for size? That’s my guess, that she was testing him and testing herself. But she’s an idiot!
Other than that, I just want to say, I’ve watched that montage, many, many times. Glad for this Rewind opportunity to watch it again. These two actors are physically beautiful. TO’s back and arms? SWOON! Just beautiful. The undressing one another at warp speed, breathy kissing, smooshed noses, going South, legs over back. OMGosh. I’m just saying. My TV boyfriend, Kyle Chandler, would never film anything like that. Which is why I’m cheating on Kyle with TO.
2. ‘Father and Son’ scene 1 where Raylan and Arlo get into it in the Marshal Service conference room, again, because Arlo refuses to wear a wire (at Raylan’s insistence, because Raylan knows he can’t be trusted). When Raylan spews his anger and says to him, “Go on. Get!” TO was playing spitting mad. That’s as angry as I had seen Raylan … up to that point. Great acting!
3. The following scene where Art tries to dial Raylan’s anger back in, before he drinks all of Art’s whiskey before breakfast. And then, Art sends a half-cocked Raylan out there in the world to bring his father back in, while telling Raylan there will be no wire. It’s funny because Raylan is right not to trust Arlo. Art just doesn’t know that … yet.
4. The scene between Ava and Helen when Ava goes to her house to arm herself. What can I say? Joelle Carter is on fire in this episode. Two fine actresses having a great scene.
5. The scene where Raylan confronts Ava in her darkened house, only to be confronted by her himself about sleeping with his ex. This scene is THE best acting in a scene between these two, since the Pilot. Top notch. Damn. Justified perfection.
6. ‘Father and Son’ scene 2 between Boyd and Bo when, after that incredible testimony Boyd gives to the congregation, father and son draw the line in the sand on where they stand regarding meth amphetamines. They are on opposite sides and have given each other fair warning. Walton Goggins is in his element as a ‘preacher.’
7. Scene where Arlo talks the young suicidal Iraq Veteran, Lucky, down. There goes that Raymond J. Barry again, making that SOB Arlo seem humane. Same with the talk between ‘Father and Son’ scene 3 afterwards, between Arlo and Raylan, when they had a drink together. And Arlo agrees to wear the wire.
8. Ava barging into Johnny’s bar, brandishing her sawed off that she got from Helen and confronting Bo Crowder was pretty damn awesome. If this wasn’t Joelle Carter’s Emmy submission episode for Best Supporting Actress, it should have been.
We’ve also been drawn into the story of an important person in the Miami drug cartel, Gio Reyes (who was a Miami associate of Tommy Bucks), his niece Pilar, and his nephew, Ernesto. They are moving meth amphetamines out of Harlan and to Miami with Bo Crowder as Protection. Bo goes to Miami meet Gio, and Deputy Marshal Raylan Givens comes up in the conversation. Also, there is some great self-deprecating ‘red neck’ dialog in this scene, compliments of Bo Crowder. Anyway, Bo is working his way out of a debt of a couple of million dollars to Gio, thanks to Boyd blowing up the meth trailer last week. But later in the episode, once again, Boyd interferes with the trucking transport of the meth by hijacking the truck and blowing it up with a rocket launcher. He spares the lives of Pilar and Ernesto (not knowing who they are) and allows them to leave. This is a dumb criminal move that will come back to haunt them in the season finale.
By the way, as superficial is it is … it must be said: TO looks so damn good in this episode!! His body (OMGosh), his hair. His wardrobe (or lack thereof). Wow. Once again … one of my FAVORITE episodes.
Next up … Bulletville, the season finale on or about Friday. Bulletville and The Moonshine War for the week beginning September 13th. That gives us plenty of time this week to discuss Veterans and Fathers and Sons.
