Our TV critic picks 14 great shows from an especially strong half-year of television
justified
Tuned InReview
Justified Watch: Too Much of a Good Thing?
I’m on vacation next week, so I probably won’t be posting any thoughts on the Justified season finale (which I have not yet seen) right after it airs. So “Coalition” is as good an opportunity as any to give some almost-final …
Tuned InTelevision
The Morning After: I Fought the Law
Quick spoilers for last night’s Justified below:
I don’t feel as if this season of Justified, so far, is coming together quite on the level that last year’s grand story of Mags Bennett did. Neal McDonough has been coolly …
Tuned InTelevision
The Morning After: Icepickin’ and Grinnin’
FX’s Justified, coming off a second season that was one of the best things on TV in 2011, returned last night with an episode that included new nemeses, an icepick-wielding adversary and some old-fashioned Western shootistry. If …
Tuned InTelevision
Vacation Robo-Post: What TV Are You Looking Forward to in 2012?
Speaking of vacation binge-viewing–I’m writing this in advance to auto-post while I’m away, so just take my word for it that I recently put up a post on vacation binge-viewing–my holidays are a time when I’m consuming a lot of midseason TV along with my egg nog. Around this time last year, I was about to screen the full season of FX’s …
Tuned InTuned In
Emmys 2011: Getting It Mostly Right — the Awards, at Least
When someone asks, “What did you think of the Emmys?” — let’s pretend this is a question that comes up in daily conversation — it can mean two things: the Emmy Awards, and the Emmycast itself. The broadcast this year was not …
Tuned InTelevision
Emmy Nominations 2011: The Good, the Bad and the Surprises
The Emmy Awards are a big ocean liner that turns very slowly, and this year’s nominations, announced this morning, were no exception: a lot of familiar faces and a few new (or old but underrecognized) entries. So there were a slew of nominations for Mad Men, Modern Family and [Insert Name of HBO’s Big Movie/Miniseries of the Year …
Tuned InUncategorized
Justified Watch: Mom, Baseball and Apple Pie
Spoilers ahead for the season finale of Justified:
It could not have been more fitting that the climax of this fantastic season of Justified, “Bloody Harlan,” came with Mags Bennett telling a lie about her family, encased in a truth about family. Facing Loretta, whose father she poisoned, and staring down her own possible death, Mags …
Tuned InUncategorized
Justified Watch: Family Feud
Spoilers for last night’s Justified follow:
In a recent Justified post, I noted how the show had developed its cast so well that it can hold my attention even without Raylan Givens. Last night’s “Reckoning” didn’t change that opinion—much of it, especially Jeremy Davies’ work, only underscored it. But it also emphasized, undeniably, …
Tuned InUncategorized
Justified Watch: Not Just the Raylan Show Anymore
Quick spoilers for last night’s Justified:
FX originally intended to call Justified by the title “Lawman.” Circumstances and Steven Seagal interposed to change that, but a couple of things happened in “Debts and Accounts” that reminded me of it. The first was Art’s comment to Raylan that he’s a lousy marshal but a great lawman, an …
Tuned InUncategorized
The Morning After: One Bad Mama
Quick spoilers for last night’s Justified coming up:
I wish I had more time to give “Brother’s Keeper,” the best episode of Justified this season (following on last week’s, which was the best to that point). But simply because attention must be paid, a quick hail of bullets on this explosive installment:
Tuned InUncategorized
The Peabody Awards Justify Their Love
Appropriately enough after its strongest episode so far this season—including a flat-out stunning performance by Margo Martindale (above)—Justified headed the list of nearly 40 broadcast programs honored by the Peabody Awards this year. The (long) list follows the jump, but among the standout choices to me are Men of a Certain Age, …
Tuned In
TV Tonight: Justified
Justified returns tonight on FX. I’ve seen three episodes. I wrote a very brief review in this week’s TIME. I had plans to expand on that later. Best-laid plans, &c. Breaking news. Personal matters. Dog ate it. Volcano eruption. I shall gladly pay you on Tuesday, &c.
Anyway, Justified is back tonight. If you liked it last season, …