Raylan’s Law: “Cash Game”

One of the most impressive things about a show like “Justified” is it’s ability to ebb and flow in complex characters in plots mid-season like nothing. Even though there’s an overlying arc and usually a “big bad”, there’s still plenty of other stuff to chew on in the midst.

Last week, I remarked about this season’s guest stars Garret Dillahunt and the legendary Sam Elliott. This week we’re given more details on those characters. But their true intentions are still mysterious.

Dillahunt is revealed as the shady Ty Walker. Last week he was trying to give Raylan an offer he couldn’t refuse in regards to Arlo’s house. This week he’s been trying to strong arm other Harlan residents in giving up their property.

He’s also strong-arming local realtor Calhoun (“Friday Night Lights” Brad Leland, trading his Texas accent for a more Souther one) who is a heap of trouble. His nefarious dealings resulted him in keeping a ledger of dates and figures, which is not only a target of Ty Walker but of Wynn Duffy and Katherine Hale, who’ve enlisted the help of one Boyd Crowder.

Last time we saw Boyd he was taking care of an old friend (Dewey Crowe). While he’s hot on the trail of Calhoun’s dealing, he’s still dealing with a distant Ava who has the pressure of the Marshall Service stronger than ever.

Raylan being one of them. And when he’s not trying to push Ava, he’s trying to figure out what Ty Walker and his cronies are up to. Then there’s a semi-climactic scene with him and Boyd that gets a little too personal. Add it to a long list of tense conversations these two have had over the years.

So there we have it. Ty Walker and his crooked security crew have their own motives. Wynn Duffy and Katherine Hale want Boyd on their side to get to the bottom of it all. And then there’s Raylan, stuck in the middle of it once again.

• Raylan Givens, Certified Badass: He chooses not to fight the dim-witted but brutish Choo Choo, and instead decided to steal his ride. Brains over brawn wins for Raylan this time.
• Sam Elliott Alert!: The iconic actor, sans mustache, shows up as a lover of Mary Steenburgen’s Katherine Hale.
• Wynn Duffy, Man of Action: “Let me handle the hillbilly.”