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dorindaI keep saying to my friends, "Friends," I say, "I should post a couple of thoughts I was having about Justified." And they say "Yeah, you should!". But for some reason I keep letting talking get in the way of doing.
BUT NOT TODAY.
1. General thought about Justified, and Raylan and Boyd (with one lightly spoilery comment under the cut about 3x03 "Harlan Roulette"): courtesy ofmollyamory, who was talking over here about how "underneath all the other things it's about, it is MOSTLY about the burden of being smart while surrounded by stupid." I thought that was well-observed... It's definitely something Raylan and Boyd have way in common, being a very smart and savvy person who ends up having to tolerate swathes of average-to-stupid people while just trying to do a job.
Raylan's stupid people aren't his coworkers, of course, while Boyd's sometimes are. But they both run into stupid people in their adversaries, as well as some people who they need help from (looking at you, Dewey Crowe), as well as people they just have to do ordinary business with in the process of getting to their goals. In so many of their encounters that aren't with each other, Raylan and Boyd end up being the smartest guy in the room (or in the shootout). It's one of the things Raylan and Boyd have in common, possibly a surprising thing, and it seems to be one of the things that often gives their direct interactions with each other such juice. Finally, says the subtext, I get to talk to someone who GETS IT. Whether they're heading for the same goal or working against each other, they're still enormously relieved to be on the same wavelength with each other, on a higher plane, truly punching in their weight class.
Also, just in general, the realistic stupidity/poor judgement on display reminds me of my beloved show Homicide: Life on the Street. In the pilot, Frank, telling Tim his theories on crime, opines that "Crime makes you stupid." Now, partly of course he's yanking Tim's chain (one of his favorite pastimes), but also, he's getting at something that show did really well. It hardly ever had Criminal Masterminds on there... the vast amount of the time, crime was something perpetrated by realistic people with pressing needs, poor impulse control, and a violent and/or selfish streak, the sort of people actual cops catch all the time.
So on Justified, I never feel like we're entering some kind of classist "backwoods yokels are dumb, y'all" territory. Instead we'll have actual people whose motives make sense and whose tactics are stupid. We'll have Wade Messer, who's on a downhill slide of oxy addiction, sent to do a job and fumbling it up, with Raylan about fourteen hundred steps ahead of him. I never felt like that was Raylan vs. a cartoon; it was the smartest man in the room vs. a traumatized junkie way in over his head.
Is it any wonder that Raylan comes alive whenever he's with Boyd? (P.S.: PHWOAR.)
2. A few specific thoughts about Art, spoilery for 3x02 "Cut Ties"...
First off, may I say: POOR ART.
Secondly, I found Art's tactics clever (understanding the chair imprints in the rug!), super competent (the GPS, the perfect elbow to the face even with that headrest potentially in the way!), and very sad for him. He played out the old-time Old Testament script really well--I loved and was chilled by his matter of fact explanation of how you used to smack guys with phone books because it didn't leave a mark, but no one has phone books anymore... he says while wrapping his fist in a dishtowel...). But he seemed disgusted by it, too. Disgusted by the murdering betraying rat in front of him, yeah, but also, disgusted by the tactics he feels he has to--and wants to--use. He spat out all of that stuff like it tasted bad. He did it because he felt it needed doing and felt it would work (and presumably also because of rage over the horrible things that had happened to Bill), but he didn't enjoy it.
Of course, he's Art, so he keeps his lid on tight. I thought it was sweet, how Raylan asks him at the end if he's okay. Aw, Raylan, using your words. ♥ And Art says, "Yeah, why wouldn't I be?"... and then passes a hand over his face, and you know he's had the worst day in a very long time, and not just because of what happened to his friend.
It makes me think about Art's dynamics with Raylan. He understands Raylan well, and does his best to keep him in bounds when he can. And I think some of that understanding must come from Art's own younger days and his knowledge of what he can do and has done out of bounds himself. Art was wild once, and can be wild still.... but he didn't relax into that wildness like someone whose shackles are finally off or someone practicing an old vice he missed. There's a more complicated relationship there.
Soooo, those are some of my thoughts on Justified. I have many, but I don't always remember to write them down.
(The short version:
1. RAYLAN AND BOYD.
2. OH, ART.)
BUT NOT TODAY.
1. General thought about Justified, and Raylan and Boyd (with one lightly spoilery comment under the cut about 3x03 "Harlan Roulette"): courtesy of
mollyamory, who was talking over here about how "underneath all the other things it's about, it is MOSTLY about the burden of being smart while surrounded by stupid." I thought that was well-observed... It's definitely something Raylan and Boyd have way in common, being a very smart and savvy person who ends up having to tolerate swathes of average-to-stupid people while just trying to do a job. Raylan's stupid people aren't his coworkers, of course, while Boyd's sometimes are. But they both run into stupid people in their adversaries, as well as some people who they need help from (looking at you, Dewey Crowe), as well as people they just have to do ordinary business with in the process of getting to their goals. In so many of their encounters that aren't with each other, Raylan and Boyd end up being the smartest guy in the room (or in the shootout). It's one of the things Raylan and Boyd have in common, possibly a surprising thing, and it seems to be one of the things that often gives their direct interactions with each other such juice. Finally, says the subtext, I get to talk to someone who GETS IT. Whether they're heading for the same goal or working against each other, they're still enormously relieved to be on the same wavelength with each other, on a higher plane, truly punching in their weight class.
Also, just in general, the realistic stupidity/poor judgement on display reminds me of my beloved show Homicide: Life on the Street. In the pilot, Frank, telling Tim his theories on crime, opines that "Crime makes you stupid." Now, partly of course he's yanking Tim's chain (one of his favorite pastimes), but also, he's getting at something that show did really well. It hardly ever had Criminal Masterminds on there... the vast amount of the time, crime was something perpetrated by realistic people with pressing needs, poor impulse control, and a violent and/or selfish streak, the sort of people actual cops catch all the time.
So on Justified, I never feel like we're entering some kind of classist "backwoods yokels are dumb, y'all" territory. Instead we'll have actual people whose motives make sense and whose tactics are stupid. We'll have Wade Messer, who's on a downhill slide of oxy addiction, sent to do a job and fumbling it up, with Raylan about fourteen hundred steps ahead of him. I never felt like that was Raylan vs. a cartoon; it was the smartest man in the room vs. a traumatized junkie way in over his head.
Is it any wonder that Raylan comes alive whenever he's with Boyd? (P.S.: PHWOAR.)
2. A few specific thoughts about Art, spoilery for 3x02 "Cut Ties"...
First off, may I say: POOR ART.
Secondly, I found Art's tactics clever (understanding the chair imprints in the rug!), super competent (the GPS, the perfect elbow to the face even with that headrest potentially in the way!), and very sad for him. He played out the old-time Old Testament script really well--I loved and was chilled by his matter of fact explanation of how you used to smack guys with phone books because it didn't leave a mark, but no one has phone books anymore... he says while wrapping his fist in a dishtowel...). But he seemed disgusted by it, too. Disgusted by the murdering betraying rat in front of him, yeah, but also, disgusted by the tactics he feels he has to--and wants to--use. He spat out all of that stuff like it tasted bad. He did it because he felt it needed doing and felt it would work (and presumably also because of rage over the horrible things that had happened to Bill), but he didn't enjoy it.
Of course, he's Art, so he keeps his lid on tight. I thought it was sweet, how Raylan asks him at the end if he's okay. Aw, Raylan, using your words. ♥ And Art says, "Yeah, why wouldn't I be?"... and then passes a hand over his face, and you know he's had the worst day in a very long time, and not just because of what happened to his friend.
It makes me think about Art's dynamics with Raylan. He understands Raylan well, and does his best to keep him in bounds when he can. And I think some of that understanding must come from Art's own younger days and his knowledge of what he can do and has done out of bounds himself. Art was wild once, and can be wild still.... but he didn't relax into that wildness like someone whose shackles are finally off or someone practicing an old vice he missed. There's a more complicated relationship there.
Soooo, those are some of my thoughts on Justified. I have many, but I don't always remember to write them down.
(The short version:
1. RAYLAN AND BOYD.
2. OH, ART.)
no subject
Date: 2012-02-13 10:41 pm (UTC)1. I love that aspect about Raylan and Boyd. I also love how the show can have their two smartest people making really dumb choices, while not making them dumb. Smart, competent people can do stupid things, too!
I admit, I was leery of the show at first, wondering about the latest gallery of hicks we were going to see on TV, but I never feel that way. Maybe because we see everyone in the station and people from all different levels of education and circumstance.
2. ART! You know, that scene, and him calmly laying it out to the guy, really reminded me of LA Confidential.
I think Art is frustrated with Raylan, not least of which is that he LIKES Raylan. The bad choices Raylan makes at times is what frustrates the hell out of him.
Lots of interesting thoughts you got there! :-)
no subject
Date: 2012-02-15 02:41 pm (UTC)Yeah, I can always see where their not-so-good choices come from, motivation-wise, personality-wise, etc. Rather than, you know, "Because the script required me to suddenly do this dumb thing here." So even when I'm going "OH RAYLAN (BOYD) NO", it all nevertheless makes sense and is enjoyable.
I see what you mean, with the LA Confidential feel! I figure that young!Art would've been taught his trade by old guys who were of that LA Confidential generation.
And though it may be wrong, Art putting his body into fake-swinging that phone book was super hot.
no subject
Date: 2012-02-15 11:27 pm (UTC)Yeah, I can always see where their not-so-good choices come from, motivation-wise, personality-wise, etc. Rather than, you know, "Because the script required me to suddenly do this dumb thing here." So even when I'm going "OH RAYLAN (BOYD) NO", it all nevertheless makes sense and is enjoyable.
And I think that's the key above all else: it's stupid because smart people sometimes do stupid things, and it makes sense for who they are and the situations they're in (even if it's so obviously the WRONG decision), but that it's not just a stupid decision to make the plot work.
Your icon reminds me: I had a double-take "Wait, what?" moment when I read last week's EW because they had one of the photos of Scott and Grant in their swimming pool together: it was for the memoirs of this guy who claims to have had "lots" of threesomes with the two of them, along with most other male actors of the time, it seems. I think the guy is sweet and not 100% on the up-and-up, but what cracked me up was the EW interviewer seemed particularly incredulous about the idea that RS and CG would have been gay for each other--and this guy--saying it's as if someone said George Clooney and Brad Pitt were lovers!
Oh, honey.
no subject
Date: 2012-02-13 11:01 pm (UTC)Yes, this! One reason I came late to watching the show was fear that it was going to be another round of Hollywood depicting all southerners as stoopid hick with with generically awful "moonlight and magnolias" accents.
It has been delightful to discover that even minor characters are given nuance and dimension. The show tends to mine, quite effectively, the differences between ignorance, narrowmindedness, and actual stupidity. And even the stupid characters are operating out of recognizable motivations.
One thing I adore, and a thing that still surprises me for some reason, is the rich vocabulary Boyd has, much more varied than Raylan's good, but more plain-spoken word choices. There is a grandeur in Boyd's language that is wonderfully at odds with what we know of his upbringing, and with the quiet, understated way in which he speaks. Raylan and Boyd are a good balance to one another in that respect as well.
As for Art, I can hardly wait to have his character's past slowly unpeeled before our eyes. It almost certain to be juicy.
no subject
Date: 2012-02-15 02:59 pm (UTC)I totally agree. And I like your ignorance/narrowmindedness/stupidity breakdown there!
To take Dewey Crowe (♥) as an example of a minor character with dimension: he has ignorance problems, and is easily led. He is solidly stupid, especially in terms of understanding/predicting other people. He gets stuck in/distracted by the moment and whatever's in front of his face (for instance, when he stole that oxy last season and then was so easily caught because what he really wanted right then was two hookers.*g*). But he also has a bone-deep sense of loyalty that I find really endearing (I mean, getting beat up trying to come to Dickie's rescue, which was really just screwing with Dickie's plan! Aw.). Which I'm sure is part of what makes him so easily led, but it's like the sweet/heartbreaking undercurrent of that tendency.
the rich vocabulary Boyd has, much more varied than Raylan's good, but more plain-spoken word choices. There is a grandeur in Boyd's language that is wonderfully at odds with what we know of his upbringing, and with the quiet, understated way in which he speaks.
I mostly had to quote this FOR TRUTH. And also to sigh over it and say Yes oh yes mmmm. I am enchanted by Boyd's language and his voice, and the way he employs--and deploys--both.
no subject
Date: 2012-02-14 01:44 am (UTC)It's really interesting to see the different kinds of intelligence the show depicts. Raylan, Art, and Rachel have been educated and trained, but they also have that canny, intuitive cleverness that people like Boyd and Loretta have. And then Boyd is also self-educated, and has more book smarts than I think most people realize. Dickie has kind of a hypersensitive survival instinct, and is way smarter than I gave him credit for last season (he plays dumb very well) Limehouse and his guys come across as very savvy. And, really, they all *have* to be that smart, or they're dead!
Raylan and Boyd have such interesting chemistry. And broccoli! That last ep, when Boyd heard a car pull up to the bar and knew it was Raylan? That was awesome. Hee. It's like he has a sixth sense where Raylan is concerned. And I loved in the first ep when he attacked Raylan just to get thrown in jail with Dickie. And Raylan figured out that was why he did it. Oh, boys.
And Art... Oh, Art. ♥ I think you're right, he sees himself in Raylan. He observes Raylan's shenanigans and lapses in good judgment, and is like, does he *really* think he's fooling me?
I miss Tim. :(
no subject
Date: 2012-02-15 03:52 pm (UTC)Definitely. And I agree with all of your categorizations (especially Dickie--you're right, he's managing to stay alive without his powerful family, not by denying his weakness but instead leveraging it--'I'm weak but necessary for you to keep around').
It's interesting to think about in terms of someone like Tim--well-trained in the military, but also, from that story we heard him tell, his violent upbringing shaped him along these lines too. So he took the instincts being bred into him at home, and honed them into a positive and productive weapon, rather than turning bad himself. (Although it's true that we don't know what would have happened if Tim's dad had still been alive when Tim finally came home trained and armed...)
Raylan and Boyd have such interesting chemistry. And broccoli!
YES. ♥ I could watch them talk (or whatever!) allllll the livelong day. I loved when Raylan let on that he had figured Boyd out, and was so helpfully going to get Boyd out of prison, and Boyd is like "...". Because now he knows that Raylan knows, and his plan is foiled (by Raylan being SO VERY HELPFUL). And it's all done with showing-not-telling, and I was jazzhanding in delight.
And Art... Oh, Art. ♥ I think you're right, he sees himself in Raylan. He observes Raylan's shenanigans and lapses in good judgment, and is like, does he *really* think he's fooling me?
Arrrrrt. So true. Given everything we've seen of Arlo, it's clear that Raylan is not at all used to having an older male authority figure in his life who 1) cares about him, 2) is super-competent, 3) pays attention to him and what he's doing, and 4) will not take his guff. Art so often can see Raylan screwing up and trying to hide/repress it, and I love when Art calls him on it (not even necessarily to interfere, but sometimes just to go, I SEE WHAT YOU DID THERE AND MAY I SAY IT IS NOT A GOOD IDEA ALTHOUGH I KNOW YOU WILL NOT LISTEN TO ME).
no subject
Date: 2012-02-14 02:47 am (UTC)♥ ♥ ♥ ART. Yes to the complicated relationship he has with Raylan. I just love the nuances there so much.
no subject
Date: 2012-02-15 03:02 pm (UTC)Sometimes I get the urge to collect Art's conversations with Raylan. Like the time Raylan stumbles shirtlessly out of his motel room and Art says he can't keep from staring at Raylan's nipples. Or this one:
ART: So you were out with somebody and Tim happened to be there?
RAYLAN: Could we not? Just...
ART: Suppose it could be Rachel. (sternly) Are you sleeping with Rachel?
RAYLAN: No.
ART: I don’t guess Ava’s looking to spend time with you, and I think I would remember if it was me.
RAYLAN: You done?
ART: Unless, of course, you roofied me. Did you roofie me, Raylan?
OH ART I LOVE YOU SO MUCH.
no subject
Date: 2012-02-16 03:22 am (UTC)♥ ♥ ♥