Justified S4 Ep03 "Truth and Consequences" Directed By Jon Avnet Written By Benjamin Cavell
Sister Cassie might be the darkhorse for character of the season. Yes she is a operator who can stand up to Boyd, but she also seems to genuinely care about the safety of Billy and his work. Refusing the donation Boyd comes bearing in the wee hours of the morning. To get them out of Harlan it’ll take a more permanent home for Preacher Billy. All she is really guilty of (right now) is wanting to make a little money, hardly the worst sin.
Returning with the carrot Boyd unleashes his stick(s): Colt and Jimmy. The sticks don’t get to do much smashing as Jimmy finds himself in a scene out of Raiders of the Lost Ark. Too bad Jimmy left his fedora and whip at home. Snakes are an interesting thing on film since you hardly see them actually attack, except for this fine gif. For the most part you only realize snakes are their by the sound and sudden reaction of their victim Jimmy. That was an unsettling scene made at least a little comedic by the fact he spent most of the episode with half a snake stuck to his face.
During all this a member of the Crowder family was noticeably missing. Where was Cousin Johnny? He was off to see another type of snake, the Wynn Duffy kind. Offering to betray his cousin as a gesture towards a fruitful partnership with the Dixie Mafia. Going back to the well of “Johnny is mad at Boyd for crippling him” seems tired, especially after “The Devil You Know" already had Johnny go through something similar. That was all Robert Quarles doing, poisoning Devil against them. This time it’s Johnny’s plan to betray and kill Boyd.
The mystery of the bag has turned into the search for Drew Thompson. The once thought dead fugitive may not actually be dead, so Raylan and Tim check out Thompson’s ex-wife Eve. Eve is a psychic or or “certified spiritualist,” as Deputy Marshal Tim puts it. She is a certified spiritualist, who has been investigated several times for fraud. Surprisingly her gift might be the real deal, correctly outing Rayaln’s plan to meet up with Randall later in the day and have a fight. Her gift gave the episode a nice touch of magical realism that enhanced the snake off between Boyd and Billy later on. As gifted as she is, it isn’t useful once you’ve been kidnapped.
The U.S. Marshal’s are not the only government entity looking for Drew Thompson. The FBI is as well, turns out Thompson was a material witness to some crime and never got to testify. With the FBI involved it isn’t long before it is revealed who exactly Eve’s kidnapper, Mason Goines, is working for. Detroit crime boss Theo Tonin, which means more Adam Arkin on the screen. Once the Marshal’s service rescue Eve she just happens to remember why Theo Tonin’s men would be after her, Drew witnessed Theo Tonin himself kill a government witness. Theo Tonin’s resurgence works within the world of the show. It still would've been cool for suddenly a South American drug cartel of some kind show up and make Raylan busy.
If you can’t buy out the competition and you refuse to join them, you could always break their spirit. Boyd would knows something about raising and lowering with people's spirits. Most of those bites suffered by Jimmy suffered were dry, no venom. Sister Cassie was secretly helping the theatrics by milking the snakes, further fueling Billy’s righteous preaching. Boyd is really good at playing chicken, but after Billy took the snake even he felt bad about it. There is a bit of respect for what Billy is doing, he just doesn't want it taking money out of his empire. The true believer that he is Billy takes up the snake, is bitten, crumples to the floor and that’s the last we see of Preacher Billy.
Barkeep Lindsey has a bit of Bonnie and Clyde in her. In an earlier life Lindsey and her ex Randall made money the old fashion way, stealing it. Lindsey would be the bait, figure out if there was anything worth stealing, and Randall would do the smashing and grabbing. That little scheme doesn't work so well once Randall develops a jealous streak and beats a man half to death. He served most of his time and finds himself out on parole. Something Rayaln uses to leverage Randall out of Harlan, but ever the cowboy gets talked into a shoot out at noon (well 6pm). Much to Raylan’s surprise and disappointment Randall took the advice and left. With Lindsey and all his side money with him. Is Lindsey running off with him over her own freewill? That is going to be hashed out next week.
B- Not a lot of new ground was covered, in fact it’s largely a repeat of last week, but good scenes are good.
- Raylan hasn’t killed anyone in two episodes, there must be a massacre coming
- Hat Tip to Matt Fowler and his Showrenity blog for the gif.
- Nice call out to The Dead Zone movie by Raylan.
