Justified (2010 — 2015)

Premiering on March 16, 2010, on the FX network, Justified (2010–2015) is an American neo-Western crime drama TV series developed by Graham Yost. Based on Elmore Leonard’s stories about the character Raylan Givens, notably ‘Fire in the Hole’, the show follows Deputy U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens as he navigates modern times with a 19th-century-style of enforcing justice. His unconventional methods often make him a target for criminals and a challenge for his superiors in the U.S. Marshals Service. Following his controversial quick-draw shooting of mob hitman Tommy Bucks in Miami, Givens is transferred to the Eastern District of Kentucky Marshal’s Office in Lexington. This area includes Harlan County, where Raylan grew up and thought he had left behind for good during his youth.

Season 1 (2010). Season one’s narrative focuses on the criminal actions of the Crowder family. As Ava Crowder takes revenge on her abusive husband, Bowman Crowder, Raylan becomes her protector against the rest of the Clowder clan. Boyd Crowder, a local criminal who pretends to be a white supremacist, is initially the biggest threat to Ava’s safety. However, in a confrontation with Raylan, Boyd is shot but survives and has a change of heart. Despite Raylan’s skepticism, Boyd claims that it was a divine sign and spends his time in prison preaching to other inmates after his capture. The season’s climax centers around Bo Crowder’s release from prison and his desire to rebuild the family’s drug empire while settling old scores- including one with Raylan’s father Arlo, who had swindled him out of money.

Season 2 (2011). In its second season, the focus shifts to the Bennett family’s illegal activities. Led by matriarch Mags Bennett, her sons Dickie, Coover, and Doyle plan to expand their marijuana business into Crowder territory after the death of Bo. This decision is partly due to Boyd’s hesitation in following his father’s footsteps. Raylan finds himself caught in the middle of the conflict between these two rival criminal organizations. The situation becomes even more complicated as old tensions between the Givens and Bennett families resurface, stemming from a past incident involving Raylan and Dickie that left Dickie with a permanent injury. Meanwhile, a mining company’s attempt to secure mountain access leads to Raylan and Boyd taking opposing sides, causing animosity within the community towards the Bennetts after Boyd exposes Mags’ involvement in negotiations with the company at the expense of her neighbors.

Season 3 (2012). In season 3, viewers are introduced to a fresh face in the form of Robert Quarles from Detroit. The Frankfort, Kentucky mob, who Quarles is associated with, has banished him to Kentucky. Forming an alliance with local enforcer Wynn Duffy, Quarles begins to take over from the existing criminals while Raylan looks into his activities. As a result of Quarles’ moves, tensions escalate between him and Boyd’s crew, causing casualties among the town’s inhabitants. At the same time, Dickie Bennett seeks assistance from Noble’s Holler and their leader Ellstin Limehouse in reclaiming his inheritance as the last surviving member of the Bennett clan. While Limehouse initially tries to stay out of the disturbance between rival criminal groups, he is ultimately drawn in when Boyd gains the upper hand over Quarles, leading to a chain of disloyalty and fatalities.

Season 4 (2013). In season 4, a decades-old mystery comes to light. It all started on January 21, 1983 in Corbin, Kentucky, when a man fell from the sky and died on impact. His body was found with bags of cocaine and an ID tag that read ‘Waldo Truth’. Raylan’s curiosity is piqued when a vintage diplomatic bag containing only Waldo Truth’s ID tag is discovered at his father Arlo’s house. Further investigation points to Arlo as the one who hid the bag but he refuses to talk. As Raylan delves deeper into the case, shocking information emerges about a big-time mafia boss. Meanwhile, Raylan is trying to save up for his unborn child by living above a bar and maintaining a complicated relationship with bartender Lindsey Salazar. At the same time, Boyd Crowder is teaming up with an old army friend named Colton ‘Colt’ Rhodes to expand his empire. However, their plans are hindered by the arrival of charismatic preacher Billy St. Cyr, whose success is cutting into Boyd’s drug business.

Season 5 (2014). The fifth season introduces viewers to the Crowe crime syndicate, headed by Darryl Crowe Jr. Jere Burns, who previously had a recurring role as Wynn Duffy during the first four seasons, has now been promoted to a series regular.

Season 6 (2015). The sixth season centers on the climax of Raylan and Boyd’s feud, complicated by Ava’s betrayal, the schemes of Avery Markham, and Boyd and Wynn Duffy’s plan to steal from him. Ultimately, Boyd is able to carry out the heist against Markham, but Raylan’s ploy to catch him with Ava’s assistance ends in tragic results. As a result, Raylan faces unprecedented danger to his career, livelihood, and prospects for the future.