In The Kids Aren’t All Right we see a lot more of what we’ve come to expect from Justified over the years. Raylan is back with his witty repertoire, wheeling and dealing, and saving teenagers from their worst enemies – which in this case is both themselves and the big bad wolf from Memphis. The spark in his eye has nearly returned as he puts himself in the line of danger, and all is right with this fictitious world.
There’s an interesting dynamic at work on this episode though that sets it apart. Unlike most seasons that simply build on the foundation set by previous seasons, it looks like they’re attempting to weave in former storylines, which is a nice treat for fans of the series. We haven’t seen or heard much from Loretta (Kaitlyn Denver) since she went off to live with a shiny new family at the end of season 3, and even if this was a one-episode reunion, it was nice to see a familiar face.
I don’t imagine we’ll be seeing too much more of her this season though, since it looks like the point was to create the perfect circumstances for Raylan to meet his future better half, Allison (Amy Smart). I’m torn between thinking that having a woman in his life acts as a counter-balance for his violent lifestyle, and wanting him to end up with Winona (Natalie Zea) when all is said and done in a very happy family type of way. However, while he’s in the midst of this emotional struggle to come to terms with his new role as a father, it can’t hurt to have some professional help. Allison is after all a social worker, so she can probably offer some insight over the course of their pending relationship that could be beneficial to him in the long run.
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