Saturday Sidebar ~ Justifying My Love of 'Justified'

As I do with a good book, when I'm entertained in other mediums, I just have to share. I don’t watch a lot of TV per se, unless it’s one of those true life crime shows like The First 48, Cold Case Files, or City Confidential (OMG don’t you just love the narrator’s voice on City Confidential? His name was Paul Winfield, and he died in 2004, but I could curl up on the couch and listen to him for hours in those old episodes.) Sorry, I digress.

As a romance writer, I’d rather curl up with a good book than watch bad TV and as I said, I don’t watch a lot of fictional shows. However, I did enjoy The Sopranos, in an odd, cringing sort of way, and several years ago, hubby and I happened upon another HBO series, Deadwood. If you’ve never seen it, you missed one hell of a ride. The language shocked the crap out of me in that first viewing but the characters were fascinating, and the acting so brutally believable, it wasn’t long before we were both hooked. Unfortunately, like The Sopranos, Deadwood was cancelled without warning.

Months later, I happened upon an advertisement for a new show on F/X. Timothy Olyphant, who played the quick-tempered—and ruggedly gorgeous—sheriff in Deadwood, had a new roll as US Marshal, Raylan Givens in 'Justified'.  I was thrilled, and what woman would blame me? I mean, come on.  A modern day cowboy with subtle, southern manners and a killer smile, swaggering through Harlan, Kentucky, doling out his brand of 19th century justice? What's not to like? 

But there is more to Justified than hottie Marshal Givens, though he is the picture of a romance novel hero in this writer's opinion. Like all good thrillers, in Justified, the big picture is not all black and white. The story lines are intriguing, pushing the envelope occasionally—A villain swallowing poisoned moonshine when she knows she's caught, our hero, pummeled by a baseball bat while dangling by his boot from a tree (don't worry, Raylan escapes) and blackmail through organ harvesting. The action is fast paced and often brutal, and the cast of characters complex. And the ladies aren't left out. The women of Harlan hold their own. Last year's villain—she of the poisoned moonshine—Mags was one of the meatiest rolls for a woman I've seen in years. 

So, how do I justify my love of Justified? I don't, of course. Like a southern-mafia soap opera on steroids, Justified stands on its own.


Now that you know my taste in TV, is there a show out there you would suggest I check out? 


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