Mini-series - 8 episodes
Watch Justified: City Primeval on Hulu // Buy the book (paid link)
Created by: Dave Andron, Michael Dinner
Starring: Timothy Olyphant, Boyd Holbrook, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, Vondie Curtis-Hall, Norbert Leo Butz, David Cross, Keith David, Luis Guzmán
Rated: TV-MA
Watch the trailer
Plot
U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens returns in a limited series based on Elmore Leonard's novel "City Primeval: High Noon in Detroit." The original series concluded in 2015 after six seasons.
Verdict
It's a great mini-series, and you don't need to have seen the original series. The story is great, unfolding across the episodes as cops and criminals parry. Raylan and the antagonist Mansell are great, both the characters and actors. The focused story, instead of one off episodes, makes this completely engrossing as you never know where this will go or what Mansell will do.
Watch It.
Review
I enjoyed the show especially Olyphant playing Marshall Ralyan Givens. He was absolutely great in the role, and he hasn't missed a beat since the show concluded in 2015.
Episodes one has Raylan testifying in court. He's being Raylan, sardonic and blunt. You can't help but like him. The prosecutor is questioning the little trip he took with two car jackers he apprehended. From there, Raylan is forced to help the Detroit police on a case. It just happens to involve the judge that Raylan irritated earlier, but for Raylan the job comes first.
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| Timothy Olyphant plays Raylan Givens |
Boyd Holbrook plays Clement Mansell. He's an interesting antagonist, an unrepentant criminal whose apathy for morals knows no bounds. What makes him so good is his disregard for social norms and his unpredictability. Mansell never behaves like how a criminal is typically portrayed. He's smarmy and good at provoking a reaction. Raylan can't stop from reacting violently when provoked. We, like Raylan, wonder how Mansell has made it this far without ending up in jail. He has no reservations whatsoever about theft or even murder.
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| Boyd Holbrook plays Clement Mansell |
For a few episodes, Raylan has to care for his daughter. It certainly adds to the show as she's a vulnerability, and he has to justify his actions to her while he tries to be a good father.
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| Boyd Holbrook Timothy Olyphant play Clement Mansell, Raylan Givens |
While the judge is at the center of Raylan's case and the catalyst, for most of the season we don't quite know what Mansell is after. Mansell seems like he can't help but intimidate and rob everyone he meets. The arc for the season is one big story, weaving and intricate. It's well plotted and the characters, primarily Raylan and Mansell, make this enjoyable. Being a mini-series, I'm not worried about whether this will leave the season open ended. It has to wrap up this story.
With Mansell, it feels like the next domino could drop at any point. Surely his luck will run out. How can he leave so many bodies without recourse? The next to the last episode seems to have all the pieces on the board, and I can't wait to see how this concludes.
The final episode is full surprises, but it's also a nice conclusion to this season and the show as well. It does feel a bit too focused on fan service and showing us a couple of characters from the series. It's a solid episode, but I was hoping for more. The episode is less focused on the big finale for the mystery at hand and more focused on Raylan and what happens after. I love this season. It ends well, but not great.
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