Justified Review: “Whistle Past The Graveyard” (Season 5, Episode 8)

Raylan’s new love interest, Allison (Amy Smart), was a character who looked to have every intention of sticking around. She presented our protagonist with the first real option for a relationship since Winona (Natalie Zea) broke it off last season. Allison seems to possess a similar demeanor when it comes to her job. Raylan may want to start facing the fact that this is a quality that he’s unlikely to find in mass quantities. But, as soon as he starts to exhibit genuine feelings which theoretically should have acted to cement their budding romance, Allison, in a interesting move on the part of the writers, slammed on the breaks.

After a string of failed chances at happiness, this latest disappointment might have been the last straw. But it’s not likely. The narrative originally placed Wendy in the role of antagonist, presenting Raylan with inconvenient roadblocks at several turns. Over the last few episodes, Justified has changed its tune. As we continue to see her interact with other characters on the show, she has become much more endearing – especially in comparison to the other Crowes, with the exception of Kendal.

The entire time that Raylan is off playing the hero, Boyd (Walton Goggins) is down in Mexico cleaning up a mess of a different sort. Once again Boyd’s mental capacity to outsmart, out maneuver and out play everyone around him pays off. After the fiasco in the desert incited by the Crowes, Boyd was left with four dead bodies, quite a bit of heroine, and the wrong country at his feet. Meanwhile, Ava (Joelle Carter) is waiting for a hero of her own, and she’s losing patience.

Boyd’s priorities have been all over the place lately. At the beginning of Ava’s incarceration, he was clearly dedicated to helping her escape penal consequences for her unlawful actions. As the story has played itself out, he became less invested in his relationship and more concerned with attempts to derail his business efforts. This leaves Ava in a precarious position now that she’s exchanged her word that she can create a new drug pipeline within the prison for protection. If Boyd continues to play this aloof role and she can’t come through with the heroine, her recent beating is going to be the least of her worries.

Do you think that Boyd will come through for his lady love? Will Raylan rebound with Wendy? Let us know all your theories on Justified in the comment section below!