chani | Justified 3X10 "Guy Walks Into A Bar" (Reply)

Terrific opening scene with ~~Mr Ellsworth~~ Shelby, but Jim Beaver was terrific in all the scenes he was in. I loved Johnny's amused reactions too. BTW I love how Boyd keeps calling him "Cousin Johnny" instead of "Johnny".

As for Shelby's lying to the cops about his having only two years to live at best, I wonder if we're supposed to draw a parallel with the scene between Quarles and the teenager. On the one hand, I'd love Quarles' story to be a lie, something he uses as a predator to lure his victims (after all he already lied to the boy when he said he didn't kill his friend), so the parallel with Shelby's making up a story about liver cancer would be neat.
On the other hand, if Quarles' story is true, it's a new parallel between Raylan and him...which seemed to be hinted at in the bar scene when he mentioned Arlo. Quarles is becoming obsessed with Raylan because Raylan reminds him of himself (the rage, the daddy issues, the abused kid he once was). So it's probably the latter.

Unless it's the other way around and Shelby does have liver cancer and actually lied to Boyd and Johnny. That way, Quarles' storyline would parallel both Raylan's and Shelby's. I wonder if it could be a nod at Breaking Bad...

I'm sure some will praise Quarles' teary monologue and McDonough's acting but to me it's Wynn Duffy who is truly excellent in the scene.

Dickie compared to one of those floaters that never go away no matter how many times you flush by Judge speedos. Perfect. That little cockroach manages to have against him Raylan, Boyd and Limehouse, yet he'll probably survive.

Raylan's quest was funny (the Black Dickie!!!)...up to his statement in court. That was so Raylan. Art and Vasquez' reactions were priceless.

If they ever did a flashback episode, Jed's granny should meet Tio Salmanca from Breaking Bad! They would have interesting conversations together! The callback to what is the best tv drama these days was fantastic. I loved the milkshake detail and how Raylan couldn't figure the reason she asked for two...until it was too late and she had split it on his lap. It reminded me of Tio, shitting himself instead of answering Hank's questions in season 2! Tio was badass, but granny is creative and a good planner! Raylan looked a little bit impressed in the end.

It's the second time this season that Raylan is defeated by an old lady he could not cajole into helping the marshal office.

Ava is soooo in Trixie mode now that she's the madam. I remember that in Deadwood Trixie mentioned hand jobs and blow jobs to get votes too!

Boyd savouring his victory and rubbing it in Quarles' face. Great moment. Boyd is definitely the new Mags.

Speaking of Mags, I think that Quarles' sleeve gun is playing the role of Mags' drinks now. Every time she offered Raylan (or anyone else) a drink last year, the scene got tense because we knew the trick from the first eppy. It's the same with Quarles' hidden weapon. Will he use it or not? So this season has to end with Quarles using the gun against himself, as an echo to Mags' poisoning herself...except that ion his case it might be an accident, possibly helped by Raylan.

I think that something in Quarles' and Duffy's behaviour tipped Raylan off during the scene bar. I can see Raylan returning the trick against Quarles eventually, beating him to his own game...a bit like he did with the Ice Pick killer.

Raylan has found himself a new ~~Gunshot Ava~~ woman. No wonder Ryalan likes her. And her "that boy looks like an albino deer" must have pleased him too. That shot with the light coming from the hole Raylan's bullet has left in the floor was neat.

The western vibes were huge in the episode, hence the title I guess. I can't wait to see Raylan and Quarles going all desperado onto each others. Especially knowing that Raylan is smarter and stronger than Quarles.