Justified is still recovering from last season's Bennet-clan blowout, as evidenced in this week's episode. Most of the stuff happening is in relation to the Bennets.

Also, criminal ineptitude is rampant! And Raylan doesn't use his gun to subdue a bad guy. Let's look at it a little closer.

Carpetbeggar, Boyd and Devil

Devil, as we have seen in previous episodes, is not too enchanted with the current state of criminal affairs and the way Boyd is treating him. So Carpetbeggar showing up and doing a mighty fine preacher routine to get him on his side ("Can I get a goddamn amen!") was sure to cause some amount of friction between Devil and Boyd -- especially since Devil isn't the sharpest knife in the drawer.

But for Devil to believe that Johnny would side with him in a mutiny against Boyd is just plain foolish. Devil's demise, then, has as much to do with Kevin Rankin's continuous engagement over at Unforgettable that requires him to exit Justified as it does with Devil's dimwit character.

Dickie, Limehouse and a Prison Guard

Meanwhile, Dickie is expedited from prison because a smart guard figures that personal freedom in exchange for the Bennet money might be a transaction that Dickie will agree to. And he does.

The problem is, the pieces of the puzzle don't quite fall into place as planned. When Dickie calls on Limehouse (who finally figures into the larger spectrum of the show) to make good on an arrangement they previously had and hand over the money, the barbeque-loving crime boss is none too eager to oblige.

Raylan, Dickie and a Prison Guard

But before blood is spilled between career criminals, Raylan takes matters into his own hand in a darkly comical scene in which, instead of outdrawing the prison guard when he confronts him, he simply runs him over repeatedly with his car.

A bold move for someone who prides himself on his shooting abilities (and speed!), but also an awesome one.

Raylan and Loretta

Before doing so, however, Raylan goes on his own quest to locate that infamous Bennet money hiding somewhere (Limehouse purports he only holds $46,000 of it) by paying a visit to Loretta, who makes her first appearance since last season.

As much of a pleasure it is for fans of the series to see both characters reunited in a scene, Raylan doesn't really learn anything that will help keep the bad guys and doofuses chasing after the prize from killing each other. Which is good for the show and audience, and, well, not so good for the body count.

Boyd, Raylan and Devil

Listening to Boyd and Raylan talk to each other in a scene is like listening to music. The writers really have created a magnificent rapport between the two. Their relationship also almost veers into the supernatural tonight, in that Boyd now seems to feel Raylan's presence before he sees him.

Another nice dialogue moment: Raylan cautioning Devil that Limehouse might be a more menacing fellow than meets the eye. After telling a story recounting how Limehouse has beaten Arlo into a pulp, he concludes, while ironically grinning at Devil: "Or maybe he's kicked so many white boys' ass that it doesn't make much of an impression."

Jan Cee
Contributing Writer

(Image courtesy of FX)