Mon 21 May 2018
A TV Review: JUSTIFIED “Fire in the Hole” (2010).
Posted by Steve under Reviews , TV Drama[10] Comments
JUSTIFIED “Fire in the Hole.” Season One, Episode One. FX, 16 March 2010. Timothy Olyphant, Walton Goggins, Joelle Carter, Nick Searcy, Erica Tazel, Natalie Zea. Based on a short story by Elmore Leonard (ebook, 2001). Series developer: Graham Yost. Director: Michael Dinner.
The story that Elmore Leonard wrote, a 60 page novella, one source says, really had some legs to it. Few cable TV series last as long as Justified did: It was on for six seasons and 78 episodes. (If anyone knows if I am correct in saying that the story first appeared as an ebook — and if so, why — let me know, or correct me if I am wrong.)
This, the first episode, seems to follow the story closely, but in truth this is hearsay only. I have not read the story, one in which Deputy U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens (Olyphant) kills a Miami gangster before the latter could pull his own gun and fire, even though he made his move first.
Even though the killing was “justified,” Givens is reassigned to the area of home state of Kentucky where he grew up, and his past quickly fills his life again. In particular, his partner in the coal mines, Boyd Crowder (Walton Goggins), when they were both 19-year-olds, is now a local criminal hiding behind a facade of Bible-thumping white supremacy. The two meet again after Crowder’s brother is killed by his wife (Joelle Carter) after years of abuse, and an almost deadly shootout ends this first installment of the six-season series.
I do not know where the story goes from here, but there is plenty of potential, with Givens’ ex-wife part of it, I am sure, as well as the fellow officers in his new place of work.
I am also sure that more characters will be introduced as time goes one, but it’s rather obvious that the relationship with Givens and Crowder will be the major one that will continue to develop and be explored.
The cast and production values are all excellent. You spend money on a TV series, and it shows. I don’t know how involved I want to be in watching the rest of the story, but if I start, I am sure it will be addictive.
One small caveat, as far as I am concerned. Olyphant’s character, very well established from the get-go, is awfully cocksure of himself, and so far, through episode one, always has the right quip at the right time. I imagine (hope) the producers of the show will have him show some human failings, too. (The final scene suggests anger issues.)
May 21st, 2018 at 10:17 pm
Steve,
Excellent review of one of my favorite shows of all time. I don’t know where the story first appeared, but I read it in a volume of short stories by Leonard of which I can’t put my hands on at this moment. I can’t say enough good about this show and I hope you at least will watch the whole first season through before you decide to
Continue with it or not. After you’re finished with “Justified” you should jump right into “Boardwalk Empire”. All terrific! Enjoy!
May 21st, 2018 at 10:21 pm
I should have mentioned that after watching this series, I have NO desire to visit Kentucky anytime soon! LOL
May 22nd, 2018 at 12:32 am
Me neither, Paul, me neither. (With apologies to anyone reading this who lives in Kentucky.)
May 22nd, 2018 at 12:20 am
I own the entire series and consider it one of the best TV series ever done. Elmore Leonard was involved in the series until he died. The original short story this pilot was based on existed before the series, but Elmore did write some stories inspired by the series.
In the pilot Raylan killed Boyd but the chemistry between the actors and their characters was so great that Boyd survived and was one of the best highlights of the entire series.
The series revolved around Raylan and focused on his relationship with Boyd, women (which he had problems) and work as a US Marshall whose willingness to shoot people often got him in trouble.
Each season featured a different villain and storyline. Season Two is considered by many to be the best of the series. Villain Margo Martindale won the Emmy for her role.
This is a must watch for Elmore Leonard fans as TV finally got his work right. I actually like the TV series better than Leonard’s books.
May 22nd, 2018 at 12:31 am
Michael
You say that in the pilot, Boyd died. Was not this first episode also the pilot, or was there a pilot before this one that never aired?
Or did you mean than in Leonard’s story, Boyd died?
I would expect that that is the way the story might have ended. Even watching the TV episode, I expected that Boyd was going to die, that the story was building up to it, and was surprised when he didn’t. I can see why they changed it though.
May 22nd, 2018 at 2:11 am
It was filmed with the gunshot at the end killing Boyd (I have not read the short story but I think Boyd dies there as well). When they were shooting or editing the film they realized what a find they had and went back and changed it so Boyd survived.
And yes, it was this episode.
May 22nd, 2018 at 6:02 am
What Michael said – Margo Martindale was brilliant in her season, and I really hated to see her go. But it was well worth watching start to finish. No, Raylan never loses that cocksure attitude, even though he gets taken down a peg from time to time. And yes, Boyd survives to the end, though there are any number of times he comes close to the edge.
May 22nd, 2018 at 8:27 am
You will love this series! Great acting, great dialogue, and the story gets better and better. Walton Goggins is superb as Boyd Crowder.
May 22nd, 2018 at 2:38 pm
Overall, Justified is one of those series whose six season run makes it more of a novel instead of a collection of short stories. This first season looked the best, because though not shot in Kentucky it was filmed in nearby Pennsylvania. Giving the scenes an authentic rainy, and luscious green look. Unfortunately, the production had to move to California for the rest of the series’ run. Forcing the viewers to accept the near barren, brown hills of southern California are supposed to be Kentucky. But the show is so good that you really don’t mind this.
Rylan does learn to handle his anger over the course of the show. Which is one of the major themes of the series’ story arch. And, by the closing scenes in the last episode, he has changed, appearing more relaxed, and even dressing different.
Each season has it own unique story lines. In the first, Rylan helps to bring down one of Harlan County’s strongest crime families, the Growders. In the second, another local crime family, The Bennetts, tries to fill the space left by the removal of the Growders. In the third, the “Detroit Mafia” sends an operative down Harlan to take over the drug smuggling business now that the two families have been taken out. The fourth, featured a season long story arch concerning the hunt by both law enforcement and the mob for a sort of DB Cooper like criminal, who has been hiding in Harlan for decades. Many think the fifth season is the weakness, as a family of Florida crackers try to move into the Harlan crime scene. The final season has a legendary local crime boss returning to Harlan County wanting to take over the drug scene. He brings with him a hired gun who is eager to face down Rylan to see who is the fastest.
Throughout the run of Justified, I always loved the music cue that comes at the end of the last show in each season. It underscores one of the major overall themes of the show, can anyone change their life, or does the environment you grew up in and your family background predetermine your fate? “You can never leave Harlan alive.”
May 22nd, 2018 at 6:23 pm
Solid, sometimes brilliant series that offers many delights in its run, but I warn you many are outright addicted to this show.