Miami. Day. Outdoors. Raylan Givens (Timothy Olyphant) meets a man at a restaurant. He has told the man to leave town and he hasn’t. He warns him, the guy doesn’t actually think that Raylan will really kill him. At least not then,not in front of everyone. But eventually he pulls his gun, “justifying” Rylan’s shooting him.

Raylan is a US Marshall. And since it is not wild west, his actions aren’t exactly welcome and he is sent to the Kentucky office as a “punishment”. Since Raylan grew up in Kentucky, it is the last place he wants to go.

Life in Kentucky won’t be simple. His ex-wife has moved back, an old friend/a guy who he has mined together in his youth ( Boyd- played by Walton Goggins) has turned into a terrorist/criminal/Nazi. Boyd’s  brother has been killed. The “murderer” is none other than the brother’s wife Ava (Joelle Carter). Ava is more than happy to see Raylan-her old crush- back.

So this is how Raylan’s new life in Kentucky starts with lots of complications. It is fun to watch Timothy as the Marshall who can grab and shoot his gun faster than any criminal. He is smart, to-the-point and well…not afraid at all.

Raylan’s past is complicated- with a criminal of a father and an ex who claims Raylan is the angriest man she ever knew. After all, how we see him is totally different. He is calm, cool and very cold-blooded.

Timothy Olyphant is an actor who can fit any role. So far, he has been a drug dealer (Go), a porn star’s manager ( The Girl Next Door), a guy hired to kill a lawyer (Damages), a programmed killer (Hitman), a wild west sheriff (Deadwood) and a bisexual falling in love with his gay boyfriend’s heterosexual and female best friend (Advice from a Caterpillar)….

Yep, the list goes on. He has shown versatility even in parts that might resemble each other a little bit. He has done TV and big screen, played the good guy and the bad guy. But mostly, he has done the “grey” character he is so apt at. A humane character with faults and virtues.

Justified is a one cool drama/thriller, with a little western vibe thrown in.

Also starring: Nick Searchy, Joelle Carter, Jacob Pitts, Erica Tazel, Natalie Zea,

It is engaging and our lead character is charismatic, to say the least. The show is in its 1 season. May it have a long life.