“…and a big, stupid baby head?” –Wynn Duffy
Robert Quarles! Wynn Duffy said it best. Season three’s penultimate episode, “Coalition,” sets up what is sure to be a fantastic finale next week, thanks mostly to the big baby himself.
Yet again, Justified lets no character meet their final destination before it feels the time is right. This has been the strength of the season from most critics’ standpoint; that ability to just “move the pieces around” but keep the ball rolling at once. In the weird chess match that’s been developing over the last dozen episodes, alliances, motivations and information has changed more times than anyone can count. But as the timer runs out, luck becomes the wild card. And the game is starting to look less like chess and more like perfection.
Tonight, Quarles and the Crowders are in the right place at the wrong time – not to mention the officer Quarles dropped. Raylan, sadly, is a little too late. This will all make for a much more exciting conclusion, however. Finally, Raylan has a deep personal stake in the matter, to right a wrong. He can handle Quarles busting into the bar and threatening him with his life, but seeing his colleague down brings a hugely different reaction. The Raylan we saw at the very end of this episode, if only for a moment, looked almost completely different than the one we were given all season; the one who earlier this episode told a group of chained up hookers, “From where I’m standin’, [that] doesn’t look so bad.”
Meanwhile, Arlo is suddenly one of the most interesting things happening. The late Aunt Helen appears before us, and Arlo convinces himself Boyd is trying to rip him off. After Arlo briefly kidnaps Ava, it’s unclear where or what happened to him. This is where dividends can really pay off for Justified. They certainly haven’t been letting Arlo go insane all season for nothing, and a “side-character-turned-loose-cannon” so late in the game would otherwise seem hacky and unearned. Now, his whereabouts a mystery; it can only mean bad news. Arlo was never quite in the loop of the bank robbery plan, but he is still resolute to enact unwarranted revenge on Boyd for “benching” him. That might put a twist in Boyd’s plans in the finale, which, at this point, aren’t even exactly clear.
In fact, what more can Boyd try to do? He missed his opportunity to get rid of Quarles and is no closer to finding Mags’ money than he ever was. He isn’t the only character left in limbo for now, either. What of “Wynn-Wynn” Duffy? He missed his opportunity to get rid of Quarles and Boyd. Similarly, it seems he has nothing to gain and everything to lose now that he hardly stands a chance at the money he fought for. His only hope now is that the Marshalls stop Quarles before Theo Tonin can grow too angry about the escape – and that’s just to break even on the deal.Next time, the probably-appropriately-titled “Slaughterhouse” stands a chance to join some really excellent company. Justified deserves the credit it receives for building pressure week in and week out. But it’s all in service for the staggering finales. What have we been watching the pieces fall into place for, anyway? The clock is ticking.
Raylan’s Cowboy Hat Corner: Did you see that, in the preview for next week? Arlo talks about it! Get excited again!
Raylan’s Zinger of the Night: “You’re just stupid. A stupid craven hillbilly piece of shit. At least you got your health.”
One more thing: That medium shot of Raylan in the chair holding the gun to Dickie was awfully reminiscent of this frequently-used promo photo for season three. Is it a stretch to call anything from this show “iconic?” I don’t think so.