‘Justified,’ Season 2, Episode 4: ‘For Blood or Money’: TV Recap
Once again, Raylan Givens multi-tasks, dealing with the ongoing issue with the criminal Bennett family, the fluid situation with ex-wife Winona and the case of the week, in last night’s strong episode of “Justified,” “For Blood Or Money.”
In the aftermath of last week’s ep, Raylan makes a beeline to the Bennett house, where Mags and her sons are trying to enjoy a late afternoon meal. Raylan’s as coy as he can be, letting on that he can connect Dickie to the Oxy bus hijacking. She makes it clear that she HATES anything to do with the drug, and Raylan believes that she didn’t know anything about her son’s plan. After Raylan leaves, she admonishes her boys, saying that they don’t need a Federal Marshal (who may be harboring a grudge over an incident in their family’s past, to boot) sticking his Stetson in their “pending” business.
These concerns recede in the background as this week’s case unfolds, and this one hits close to home for Deputy Rachel Brooks. Her brother-in-law Clinton, in a halfway house after serving time for accidentally killing her sister, was planning to see his preteen son Nick on his birthday and deliver a Furby knockoff (a toy that Nick really wanted when he was a toddler), but he broke the rules of the house. After the officer in charge of the house suspends his privileges, Clinton beats him down and takes off. Art assigns Raylan to go with Brooks, whom he assumes may be itching for violent retribution.
Clinton, a former addict, goes to an old associate, a drug runner named Flex, and asks for a cash loan. When Flex, with aspirations of being a magician(!), refuses the request, Clinton shoots the dude in his hand and steals his ride. It’s clear that he’s headed to Nick’s school.
Meanwhile, Boyd is having a quiet, reflective moment with his landlord Ava (obviously a development worth watching) when Kyle, the guy who works with Boyd in the mine, just can’t take “no” for an answer. He (and his thug friends) ask Boyd to join up with them on a scheme. He apparently doesn’t tell them to buzz off, but Ava, who eavesdropped on the “meeting”, reiterates her declaration that Boyd will be gone if he does anything illegal. Boyd assures Ava that he’s a man of his word…
Back to Clinton. He approaches the school, but Raylan, Brooks and other Marshals are already on the scene. Clinton, realizing that Nick is probably not there, flees. Raylan doesn’t pursue him. Later, he and Brooks track his trail to Brooks’ mother’s house, discovering that he was there, apparently dodged his mother-in-law’s shooting at him and disarmed and restrained her. Surprisingly, her mother doesn’t hate Clinton, telling Raylan that Clinton was trying to get her daughter to a hospital after OD-ing when he crashed the car, killing her. Brooks knows the details, but is still harboring anger over the incident.
Clinton eventually shows up at a pizza joint, still hoping that Nick will show up. But instead, the officer from the halfway house pops up, hoping to get Clinton to go back with him. Their stalemate gets complicated when Flex arrives, toting a pistol in his good hand. As things get real sticky, the Marshals arrive, and Brooks takes out Flex, killing him. Clinton, remorseful for his actions, surrenders. After commiserating with her fellow Marshals over their sorrowful pasts, Brooks softens enough to allow Clinton a chance to see Nick and present the now bloodied Furbot.
The case over, Raylan is left to ponder his ever-complicated situation with Winona, who tells him that Gary “gallantly” asked for a divorce so she won’t be burdened by his financial woes; Raylan thinks that Gary’s just trying to look good in Winona’s eyes.
What of Boyd and Kyle’s “business proposition”, which involves an armored car and the money it contains? His lips may say no, but his body language says…well, let’s tune in next week for all that, shall we?
Once again, Raylan Givens multi-tasks, dealing with the ongoing issue with the criminal Bennett family, the fluid situation with ex-wife Winona and the case of the week, in last night’s strong episode of “Justified,” “For Blood Or Money.”
In the aftermath of last week’s ep, Raylan makes a beeline to the Bennett house, where Mags and her sons are trying to enjoy a late afternoon meal. Raylan’s as coy as he can be, letting on that he can connect Dickie to the Oxy bus hijacking. She makes it clear that she HATES anything to do with the drug, and Raylan believes that she didn’t know anything about her son’s plan. After Raylan leaves, she admonishes her boys, saying that they don’t need a Federal Marshal (who may be harboring a grudge over an incident in their family’s past, to boot) sticking his Stetson in their “pending” business.
These concerns recede in the background as this week’s case unfolds, and this one hits close to home for Deputy Rachel Brooks. Her brother-in-law Clinton, in a halfway house after serving time for accidentally killing her sister, was planning to see his preteen son Nick on his birthday and deliver a Furby knockoff (a toy that Nick really wanted when he was a toddler), but he broke the rules of the house. After the officer in charge of the house suspends his privileges, Clinton beats him down and takes off. Art assigns Raylan to go with Brooks, whom he assumes may be itching for violent retribution.
Clinton, a former addict, goes to an old associate, a drug runner named Flex, and asks for a cash loan. When Flex, with aspirations of being a magician(!), refuses the request, Clinton shoots the dude in his hand and steals his ride. It’s clear that he’s headed to Nick’s school.
Meanwhile, Boyd is having a quiet, reflective moment with his landlord Ava (obviously a development worth watching) when Kyle, the guy who works with Boyd in the mine, just can’t take “no” for an answer. He (and his thug friends) ask Boyd to join up with them on a scheme. He apparently doesn’t tell them to buzz off, but Ava, who eavesdropped on the “meeting”, reiterates her declaration that Boyd will be gone if he does anything illegal. Boyd assures Ava that he’s a man of his word…
Back to Clinton. He approaches the school, but Raylan, Brooks and other Marshals are already on the scene. Clinton, realizing that Nick is probably not there, flees. Raylan doesn’t pursue him. Later, he and Brooks track his trail to Brooks’ mother’s house, discovering that he was there, apparently dodged his mother-in-law’s shooting at him and disarmed and restrained her. Surprisingly, her mother doesn’t hate Clinton, telling Raylan that Clinton was trying to get her daughter to a hospital after OD-ing when he crashed the car, killing her. Brooks knows the details, but is still harboring anger over the incident.
Clinton eventually shows up at a pizza joint, still hoping that Nick will show up. But instead, the officer from the halfway house pops up, hoping to get Clinton to go back with him. Their stalemate gets complicated when Flex arrives, toting a pistol in his good hand. As things get real sticky, the Marshals arrive, and Brooks takes out Flex, killing him. Clinton, remorseful for his actions, surrenders. After commiserating with her fellow Marshals over their sorrowful pasts, Brooks softens enough to allow Clinton a chance to see Nick and present the now bloodied Furbot.
The case over, Raylan is left to ponder his ever-complicated situation with Winona, who tells him that Gary “gallantly” asked for a divorce so she won’t be burdened by his financial woes; Raylan thinks that Gary’s just trying to look good in Winona’s eyes.
What of Boyd and Kyle’s “business proposition”, which involves an armored car and the money it contains? His lips may say no, but his body language says…well, let’s tune in next week for all that, shall we?
