review - Justified

FX has been my channel of choice for a number of years now as the cable channel keeps cranking out watchable television (The Shield, The Riches, Damages, Rescue Me, 30 Days, Sons Of Anarchy). Once I heard they were going to do a series about Elmore Leonard's "Justified" AND that he was going to be an executive producer was good news indeed.

Deputy U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens (Timothy Olyphant) is a 19th century-style but modern-day officer who enforces a highly individualized brand of justice. This in turn places a target on Given's back with criminals and puts him at odds with his bosses in the U.S. Marshals Service. As a result of his having eagerly shot a Miami fugitive in a "justified" shooting in his South Florida assignment, he gets reassigned to the district covering his rural Eastern Kentucky mining hometown of Harlan County.

"Justified" effectively captures the feel of the deep south as well as pretty much nailing what you would call a typical Elmore character. They don't grow in the typical linear sense, but steadfastly occupy their given station in life and are true to whatever situation happens along.

With a mix of slightly dry humor and edge-of-the-seat drama, this is yet another freshman series that will happily be back for a sophomore year. Let's hope "Justified" stays on the track laid down so far. This is a really good show.