Justified “The Hunt” 

It’s weird to see Raylan take a step back in “The Hunt.” He’s been so focused on catching Boyd – the right way – and I think he’s doing a pretty good job of coloring inside the lines, even with the way Rachel’s been riding him in the last few episodes. Don’t get me wrong, Raylan needs a strong hand to play nice (or by the book) and I like that she’s the one to do it. And there are a lot of moving parts in this investigation. Avery Markham and Katherine Hale add a level of complexity to his job that makes it necessary for Raylan to be extremely involved and to have his guard up almost constantly. It doesn’t really seem like he’s had a moment to breathe and focus on anything non-Marshal related, so when Winona and Willa show up it’s a strange but nice change.

Well, is nice even the word? Because that baby is FUSSY. Super fussy. So fussy, I’m surprised Winona has been getting any rest at all. But it’s nice (and strange; I already said strange, right?) to see Raylan be more domestic. And boy, is he trying. And Winona sees that he’s trying and proposes a reconciliation. She tells Raylan she wants this if he wants it and probably the most important part is that she wants him to be with her and be himself. You can see that Raylan thinks it’s too good to be true, because he’s still making excuses even after she puts it all on the table. And while I like this development, I can’t see it working. Here’s a link to the TCA Q&A with the cast and EPs that makes me think this can’t last.

Boyd Plays Ava

Ava’s days are numbered. I was pretty surprised when she came clean, but I understand why she did it. Does she still love Boyd? I believe she does, but she had to find a way to get herself out of jail, or she would’ve died there. It’s interesting that more than that betrayal, Boyd gets himself worked up over whether or not Ava has resumed an intimate relationship with Raylan. He says he still loves her, but if she’s back with Raylan in any way she should just shoot him now. And, of course, it’s huge that Boyd gives Ava a loaded gun. Only, it isn’t loaded. It was a test, which she passes…for now. We know what happens to rats – they go the way of Dewey Crowe and Johnny Crowder. The only way I can imagine Ava making it out of this situation alive is if Boyd dies before he can kill her.

Walker Goes Off the Rails

I felt like I had to make some sort of train reference for Choo Choo, but boy is this true. Watching Walker dig that bullet out of his shoulder was slightly traumatizing. But he’s a soldier and he got through it pretty well. He encouraged (after threatening) those frat boys to take his credit card to throw the Marshal’s off, which doesn’t work, as Tim so sarcastically informs Raylan. And Walker lures two paramedics out into the woods so he can get some medicine. At first it doesn’t seem like he wants to kill them, but that doesn’t stop him from executing both of them. It’s been that kind of day.

But now that he’s got his meds, what’s his next move? Seabass’s loyalty has been bought and paid for by Markham as far as we know. Will Walker go back to Harlan to get a piece of what’s his or will he move on? Markham’s a formidable adversary, but I don’t think there’s any scenario where Walker stays away.

Questions:

Markham accused Katherine of being the rat and Katherine is convinced it’s Markham. When are we going to find out if and who the rat is and does it matter? At this point, it doesn’t seem like Katherine is going to change her plans to rob and then kill Markham. Now, it’s just a matter  of if he goes fast or slow.

Will someone with the last name of Crowder be the end of Ava? Bowman didn’t kill her, but I think Boyd probably will.

Is Seabass truly loyal to Markham now? Has he really abandoned Walker? Money speaks volumes, but a lot of soldiers have a code that almost nothing can break.

Justified airs Tuesdays at 10/9c on FX.