The untimely shooting of Art left Raylan with a choice to make. It triggered a part of him that has been hibernating while he explored the more conservative side of what life had to offer. At this crossroads in the story arc, he could have easily chosen to go down the rabbit hole with Tim (Jacob Pitts) and pursue their own outlaw sense of justice – something he would have done in the past without question. His instincts pointed him in exactly the right direction, straight toward Daryl. It didn’t take much to determine that it was payback for Danny’s death. Although it was only indirectly Raylan’s fault – ultimately Danny’s shortsightedness and temper was his undoing – in Daryl’s eyes Raylan might as well have been the one holding the knife. Instead, against his usual brand of thinking, Raylan made a choice that viewers may have been surprised with.
Daryl’s choices in this episode, although predictable, set the stage for an unpleasant season finale where he’s concerned. With no shame, he parades his sister in front of the authorities, modeling an array of unnatural colors all over her face from her recent encounter with his fist. But he doesn’t stop there. Apparently his moral code doesn’t say anything about not letting others take the blame for his actions. In this case, he lets his underage nephew claim responsibility for Art’s shooting. Not that there are many lines that it seems like Daryl isn’t willing to cross for his own benefit, but this is low even under those limited constraints. Now that he’s provoked Raylan with an insult he isn’t likely to ever forgive, Daryl may have signed his own death sentence. Especially considering the way that the writers tend to wrap things up.
The one person that may come out of this season better off, however, is Boyd. This season has been anything but kind to him so far, but he has taken this moment of chaos and played it to his advantage. He has even managed to stay under Raylan’s radar for the majority of recent episodes. In a style that seems reserved for Boyd alone, he makes one cunning move after another to secure his position in Wynn Duffy’s infrastructure. If only the way his brain ticked was enough to get Ava (Joelle Carter) out of prison, he would be on top of the world.
Tell us, have you been disappointed with the way that Raylan has been portrayed, or does that only make his promise to Daryl seem that much more foreboding? Let us know all your Justified theories in the comment section below!