Raylan Givens, how can I quit you?

It's hard to believe, but there's only one episode of Justified left, and then it's gone for good. Six seasons is a pretty good run, especially these days when television shows don't seem to have the same longevity they once did. But still, it's going to be hard to let go.

I remember the first time I saw the trailer for Justified. We were at the theater, and they ran an ad for it before the coming attractions, and my first thought was seriously? Commercials here? So I wasn't kindly disposed to want to watch the show. But the next time we went to watch a movie, we saw the ad again, and it started to grow on me, and we decided to give it a try. We haven't missed an episode since.

**SPOILERS AND SPECULATIONS AHEAD**

It's been on hell of a ride, I have to say. And this season is no exception. Last season, we saw Ava end up framed and in prison, and then she got herself released to become Raylan's CI. Raylan began a daddy, but Winona and his daughter live in Florida, kind of a far distance for being a good daddy. So Raylan's had to consider his future and what part he wants to play in his daughter's life.



Boyd Crowder (Walter Goggins) has certainly has his share of ups and downs, but like the Energizer bunny, he keeps on going. He's been doing his damnedest to get Ava out of prison, also to make the big score he's always dreamed of. This season, he sets his sights on a very wealthy man named Avery Markham (played by Sam Elliott). Markham has ties that stretch to another familiar face - Wynn Duffy.

Raylan is determined to bring Boyd down this season, and he's not above taking matters into his own hands, doing things in his own way, which often puts him at odds with the Sheriff's department, particularly his boss, Art Mullins. Art isn't going to cut Raylan any slack, and he's got his eye on him.

Remember Dewey (I have four kidneys?) Crowe. He's been providing comic relief from the

beginning, ever since Rayland pounded his face into a steering wheel and busted his nose. Last year, he found some balls and hijacked Boyd's drug shipment, and blackmailed him. Dewey means well, but he isn't the brightest bulb in the box, and he went up against the wrong guy.
I shouldn't have been surprised when Boyd blew him away, but I was. Rest in peace, Dewey, you poor fool.

So Avery Markham has a girlfriend named Catherine, played by Mary Steenburgen, and she's a pretty tough gal, determined to find out who ratted out her late husband and got him killed. Trouble is, she suspects Markham, but guess what? It was Wynn Duffy. Boyd delights in telling Markham the truth, and Avery tells Catherine he'll take care of Duffy, but she doesn't listen and tries to take care of him herself. She almost succeeds, but Duffy's driver/friend/assistant Mikey kills her, dying in the process.

Remember Bobby Quarles (Neal McDonough)? He was one wacky guy with a great ass who was cut

down a few seasons back, but I've always had this idea he didn't die, that he only lost his arm but lived. Well, if he's coming back, he better do it tomorrow night, it's his last chance. And if he does, boy am I gonna brag about how I figured this out a long time ago.


This series has been excellent from the beginning, with an ensemble cast, especially Timothy Olyphant. Justified awakened my interest in his films, and I've watched more of them, including Hit Man (which I own), and Die Hard 4. I'm sure he'll do something else, but it won't be Raylan Givens, so it won't be the same. Not to say I won't watch whatever he does next.

Well, tomorrow night is it, the end of a good run. I'll have some comments, probably Thursday. But damn, that's one good series. It's gonna be missed.

Especially you, Raylan.

Catch and Release Review

Wedding days are meant to be happy, but for Gray Wheeler (Jennifer Garner) that happiness is marred when her fiancé, Grady, dies right before the wedding.  On the day of his funeral, she has a wedding cake in the refrigerator, and she is turning away the wedding flowers at the door.

After his death, Gray finds she cannot afford the house they bought together so recently that her fiancé hadn’t even moved in yet.  She moves into the house he shared with two roommates, his friends Sam (Kevin Smith) and Dennis (Sam Jaeger) as well as a third friend who has come from out of state for the wedding and stayed for the funeral – Fritz (Timothy Olyphant). She works at rebuilding her life from the ashes of her tragedy – only to find that Fate isn’t done with her yet. In settling his finances, she learns that there was an aspect of his past that he never told her about.  His not so distant past.  Feeling more than a little betrayed, she comes face to face with this living breathing reminder that her late fiancé was not perfect.

His friends, who are also her friends, are very supportive of Gray, especially Fritz. He’s a very enigmatic sort of guy, but he’s there for her.  He helps her to deal with this curveball that’s been thrown into her life. She doesn’t even realize she’s falling for him, which causes other problems, cause Dennis is in love with Gray too. Gray is determined, though, not to get hurt again, and isn’t willing to put her heart on the line for anything, or anyone.  What will it take to get her to live again?

You can read my complete review at Yaoi Radius!

Welcome back, Raylan Givens - we missed you!

Last night was the season premiere of Justified on F/X, and it began where the last season left off, with Raylan, Boyd and Ava hunkered down in a small cabin, under fire from two drug dealers from Miami.

****Warning- may be spoilers ahead, proceed at own risk****

As those who watched the first part of this know, Boyd took off after the woman in the SUV, and Raylan went after him. From there the action returns to Miami, and into the lap of the man who'd like to see Raylan done harm to because of the whole Tommy Bucks affair (see season one). So once this all got squared away, Raylan returns to Harlan County, and goes out with another deputy to see about a complaint about a child molester.  And here we meet the family that I figure will take the place of the Crowders as arch enemies this season - the Bennetts, at the head of which there is a matriarch who can go from sympathetic to cold-blooded at the drop of a hat.  And don't underestimate her cause she appears so motherly - she can and does kill without hesitation.

What can I say about this series?  I can't say enough about it. The season premiere was fantastic, and I look forward to a whole lot of hot hunky Raylan Givens action this season too.  I'm still wondering what's going on between him and Winona - if you'll recall, last season she come to see him, removed her wedding ring and ended up in bed with him.  Well, rinse and repeat. But I've yet to hear her say why.  I have to assume she's re-evaluated her new marriage to realtor Gary (last heard from, he moved out of the familial home) and is contemplating some sort of relationship with Raylan.  A new relationship, that is.  But what?  And will the problems that came between them the first time around raise their ugly heads this time, or have things truly changed?  Also, what about Ava - is she really down for the count and out of the picture?  Or is she laying low and licking her wounds before she steps back into the ring?

I'm currently reading Riding the Rap, which is a Raylan Givens story by Elmore Leonard, creator of said Raylan, and it certainly has his touch all over it - typical goofy unpredictable and somewhat likeable baddies, Floridian setting - and Raylan.  If you go to check this one out, be aware that a lot of the action centers around the bad guys, so it isn't an all Raylan show or anything.  And if you go to the beginning, to Fire in the Hole, don't be surprised that there are differences.  For one thing, Elmore killed off Raylan's daddy from black lung disease and we never see him.  If you've watched the show, though, you know that Arlo Givens is alive and annoying the bejesus out of his son at every turn.

What makes Raylan Givens so damn fascinating?  I mean, outside of that whole hot hunky Timothy Olyphant thing?  That part's a no-brainer.  But what else is there that makes us turn to him every Wednesday night? Maybe it's his impeccable manners, the way he treats people, even the ones that don't deserve it.  And his own special code of justice and honor.  He believes in doing things honorably - you know his shooting of Tommy Bucks was justified.  He gave him twenty-four hours to get out of town, and even then he waited for the other man to draw first.  In Riding the Rap, he's in a situation where he believes that a man is being held hostage inside a mansion, but he won't go in without a warrant, and he knows he can't obtain one on the flimsy evidence he has, so he looks for a legal way to do it, which exasperates the heck out of his female friend, who still doesn't understand how he can shoot someone in cold blood (although justified) and yet not rush in to save a man he's sure is in trouble.  Knowing Raylan, he'll find the legitmate way to do it, and save the day.

Raylan has a way with women, although his track record isn't the best. You can see he cares for Ava, and he'd protect her with his life, but she just isn't the one.  He's been holding a torch for Winona ever since we first met him, and I'm sure that whole thing will be addressed this season.  I can't say I'm sorry Bo Crowder is dead - that is one damn mean family, and he was a very mean man. Boyd, on the other hand, is a bit of an enigma.  He found Jesus in the first season, and assembled a group of homeless men, formed his own church, and lived with them in a camp comprised of tents.  His daddy put an end to that - and I have to wonder what it's done to Boyd.  I believe he was sincere in his beliefs, and his desire to do the right thing. But just maybe Daddy did something to him when he killed his men - it remains to be seen where he ends up.  Will he take over his late father's empire and be the new drug kingpin in Harlan County?  Or will he embrace a higher cause?  Such as fighting injustice?  Last seen, he seemed to be blowing up a mine.  Wonder what that portends?  Both my daughters find Boyd strangely attractive - they can have him, I'll take Raylan, thankee kindly. Although I will make a confession - in the first season, Bo Crowder had a guy working for him, a child molester, that I found to be strangely attractive - I think it was the long wavy hair. He's gone now, though.  Oh well.

Anybody else think Boyd is cute?  Maybe it's realtor Gary you like?  Or Raylan's boss Art?  Or maybe it's one of the ladies - Winona or Ava?  Tell me what you think, I'd love to hear it!

Have an awesome day and live every day to the max!

Julie

The Face of Sonny

Last week, some of the authors of Silver Publishing began a new segment on our blogs which we call the Silver Flash - and every Wednesday, some of us will be "getting our Flash on", as Ryssa would say.  The roster will probably fluctuate from week to week, as not everyone is participating on a weekly basis, and some will come and go, no doubt.  I hope to stay for a long time, and I'm aiming at weekly for my flashes.

My first story is part of a series I call Yes He's My Ex.  The challenge is to make the prompt work with the new segment of the story.  I think I can do that.  I wanted to show you all the inspiration for my Sonny, what he looks like.

And now here is Tim.

Finding the right picture for a cover, though, isn't as easy as this - I didn't get these guys from any stock photo place, and wouldn't even know how to approach them to seek photo rights.  They're just for my private inspiration.

There are a number of sites that you can search for pictures for covers - eg Dreamstime, iStock, FotoSearch and more.  It's still a difficult process, I know - I'm looking for the main characters for Revelations.  Namely, Judas and Jesus.  When I find them, I'll need to find robes too, no doubt, as I want them fully clothed for the cover.

I'm always open to suggestions for new sites to try, as long as they don't cost an arm and a leg.  For Jesus, I'm seeking someone preferably of Middle Eastern derivation, large dark eyes, either smiling or even pensive. Long hair, but that can also be added.  Judas is blond, blue eyed, also long hair.  Both are lovely men.

So, back to working on my flash, hope you enjoy these glimpses behind the scenes.  Ta ta for now!

TV Rambling - in anticipation of the return of Justified and a chance to win

Check this guy out.

For those of you have haven't been privileged to meet him yet, that's Raylan Givens, federal marshal relocated to Kentucky from Florida after he shot a man there (the shooting was justified, but nonetheless Raylan was sent back home for it).  Raylan comes from Kentucky, and knows a lot of people there, including his ex-wife Winona, and Boyd Crowder, criminal turned evangelist whose daddy Bo is still a crimelord in those parts.  This is the background against which Justified is set.  Justified has completed its first season, which is now out on DVD (my copy of which is even now on its way to me), and the new season begins on February 9th.  I am way excited for this for many reasons.  I almost didn't give Justified a chance, as I am very selective in my TV viewing, which is close to non-existent.  But I saw some promos for this at the theater (and it's impossible to fastforward through those, so you either watch and listen, or tune them out).  First I tuned out, but then I began to watch and listen and I became interested, and now I'm hooked.

Having watched the first season, I was unaware until recently that Raylan began with a short story.  His creator is none other than Elmore Leonard.  You may know him for many reasons, among them being Get Shorty and Be Cool.  The original story is called Fire in the Hole, and I recently read it.  You can read it before you watch the series, or after, bearing in mind that transferrence from one medium to another generally involves change, and this one is no exception.  Justified is full of humor, action, and plain good ol' fashioned fun.  The characters will hold your attention, and Raylan is definitely my favorite, although Boyd is an interesting case study, and Dewey Crowe - well, there are not adequate words to describe that boy.  Do yourself a favor, check it out when it returns February 9th, and then catch up on the first season.  If you like what you see, find more of Timothy Olyphant.  I did - Hit Man (which I reviewed here), Die Hard 4 and Catch and Release.

Moving on.

A new show premiered on F/X a couple of weeks ago.  Being pleased with Justified, I checked it out, and I'm glad that I did.  Lights Out is about a boxer who left the ring five years before, after a title fight which he, and a lot of other people, think he was robbed in.  Since that time, things have gotten rough for him, and he's been reduced to such things as calling bingo games and appearing in cheesy ads to make money.  He has a large home to maintain, a wife and daughters to support, but times are tough, and a real estate investment he sunk a lot into isn't materializing quite the way that he'd hoped.  His brother is his business manager, and he does what he can, while his dad (former Papa Titus Stacy Keach) helps out at Lights' gym.  But when he is compelled to help with collection of a debt, and resorts to violence, and then ends up wailing on a loudmouth at a bar - well, he's sinking fast and it looks like his only way out is the rematch of that title fight which the winner is clamoring for, cause he's tired of hearing that he robbed Lights.  To complicate things, Lights has been diagnosed with pugilistic dementia.

I like this already, after only two episodes.  It's character driven, and well written and acted, and I think it has potential.  F/X is doing good.  I would be happier with them if they hadn't let Terriers get canceled.  I understand that it was a bad time slot, but it could have been moved to a different one.  I recorded it anyway, so it didn't matter to me when it aired, but it was good, and its cancellation is our loss.

So what else is going on in my TV land?  Hawaii 5-0.  I watched it for Alex O'Loughlin, but there is more to it than him (though if you only watch for him, you won't feel shortchanged, I assure you). If you'll recall, he was vampire Mick St. John in Moonlight, which died far too soon, after only one season.  Blame the writer's strike.  I do - for that and for the demise of Deadwood, but that's another story.  Hawaii 5-0 is beautifully shot, the acting and the writing are first rate, the scenery is magnificent, and it's a refreshing update of the old series.  The stories are all good, the last one, which actually aired last night, after the football game, was about a killer tsunami hitting the island.  If you haven't seen it, check it out, you'll be glad you did.

******potential spoilers ahead******
A few weeks ago, Californication returned for its fourth season, starring that sexy sex-addicted bad boy Hank Moody (David Duchovny).  I have liked this show from the start, never missed a one.  It's still got the kick it had when it began, and it never disappoints.  If you'll recall from the first season, Hank had sex with a girl he picked up at a book signing, who punched him during their coitus, and who turned out to be only 16, but he didn't know.  Later, after a dry slum of non writing, he wrote the story of what happened, under the guise of a novel, called it Fucking and Punching.  The girl in question, whose name is Mia (Madeline Zima, also of Heroes) found the manuscript, stole it, and published it under her own name.  Ye gods!  It gets worse.  She's a sudden instant hit, feted and touted for her writing, to Hank's chagrin.  But how can he reclaim his own material without his long time girlfriend discovering the truth of what happened (it's a very complicated situation). Well, last season she found out and the shit hit the fan, and now this season - the fallout.  Hank is still Hank, and he's still got his sleazy but cute manager Charlie Runkle, as well as the regulars.  This season's guests so far include Rob Lowe and Matt LeBlanc.  If you haven't seen it, you should.  Be warned that there is a nude or semi-nude David Duchovny in almost every episode, not to mention a great deal of language and sexual situations.  Not everyone's cuppa tea, but definitely mine.

Enough about my shows - let's hear about yours.  Ever watch something, get totally hooked and have the network yank the rug out from under you by cancelling it?  I think we've all been there done that.  Ever written a letter of protest?  I'm not sure if those even help, but I hear they do.  The one time I tried was years ago when they canceled Matt Frewer's show Doctor, Doctor (pre Max Headroom).  It didn't help.  I also wrote last year to the writers of Vampire Diaries telling them their stories were horrible and the writing had slid downhill by the end of the first season.  It's gotten better this season, but that could be a coincidence.  They never replied, so who knows if they even read my letter.

Who are your deepest regrets from the TV graveyard?  What shows did you love that died without being allowed to properly wrap up their storylines?  Do you regret that they left the castaways on Gilligan's Island and only came back to them in movies years after the fact?

I'll be giving out a gift from my virtual gift basket to one of my new followers.  Follow and leave a comment which includes your email addy!

That's all for now!

Julie