While Justified may not have had the huge ratings that some other series enjoyed, it was considered by many to be one of the best shows of the 21st century. The neo-Western series starred Timothy Olyphant as US Marshal Raylan Givens who, after a controversial shooting of a mob figure, is sent to work in his hometown in Kentucky where he meets an old friend Boyd Crowder (Walton Goggins) who lives on the other side of the law.
The show was a sharply written series that maintained the style of Elmore Leonard, whose work influenced the show. It was filled with colorful characters, thrilling showdowns and great one-liners. Though not everyone has seen the series, it features some all-time great episodes worth checking out. Here are the best episodes of Justified, according to IMDb.
Burned (9.1)
Not every show has a successful final season but Justified delivered one of its best ever with a tense and thrilling lead-up to the finale. "Burned" really ratcheted up the tension as all the players in the story began to converge with Boyd's heist of Avery Markham's (Sam Elliott) vault getting closer and closer.
The question of whether or not Ava would betray Boyd or run away with him was still unanswered, which created a great unease throughout the episode. It's also great to see so many of the main characters share the screen and face off in their own clever ways.
Decoy (9.2)
The show always has a fun time when it embraces its Western influences. Season 4 did that a lot, with "Decoy" being the most obvious example. When Drew Thompson's identity is revealed, the Marshals attempt to transport him out of Harlan as Theo Tonin's men close in on them.
The episode is a wildly fun thriller with the heroes separated and in a dangerous position. Playing around with Western conventions, the episode is one of the best-written entries in the series which also allows Patton Oswalt to be a real badass.
Ghosts (9.2)
This episode opens with one of the most shocking scenes in the series as Nicky Augustine's men visit Raylan's home to threaten his family. That violent sequence launches the episode into a dark story about the grey areas in which Raylan is willing to operate.
Taking matters into his own hands, Raylan plays outside the law while Boyd and Ava attempt to deal with their own mounting problems. The episode is a great example of how the show often made you rethink which side of the law Raylan was really on.
Bulletville (9.3)
The first season, though solid, is sometimes criticized for following the case-of-the-week formula in its earlier episodes. However, by the end of the season, the show had committed to the tense storyline involving Boyd and Raylan facing off with Boyd's dangerous father, Bo Crowder.
All the build-up from that storyline finally boiled over in the first season's finale. The episode features moments of what Justified does best — create moments of tension and action while exploring compelling aspects of its central characters. The climax makes for a thrilling end of the season and a wonderful setup for what's to come.
Slaughterhouse (9.3)
While the third season had some uneven aspects to it, it did introduce a truly memorable villain with Robert Quarles. The Detroit mobster was an unhinged and sadistic thorn in Raylan's side for the entire series, but in the final episodes, his self-destructive nature caused him to spiral out of control. The season finale finds Quarles desperate and on the run, ready to finish what he started with Raylan.
The episode wonderfully ties up the loose ends of the season in a wild and satisfying way. The final confrontation between Raylan and Quarles is a perfect display of the show's dark humor. And the episode ends on a heartbreaking realization.
Trust (9.3)
As the final season drew further to a close, this episode really set off the fireworks, kicking everything into high gear for the remaining episodes. Raylan continues to face heat for the case against Boyd going off the rails, Wynn Duffy is put in a dangerous position, and Boyd and Ava make their own plans for survival.
This is a shocking, twisting and tense episode that keeps you guessing how things are going to turn out. The ending sets the stage for an incredibly thrilling race to the end.
Bloody Harlan (9.4)
Justified sure does know how to craft a satisfying finale. "Bloody Harlan" marked the end of the show's second season, which many consider to be its finest. As the feud between Boyd and the Bennetts has turned bloody and is about to erupt into all-out war, Raylan attempts to calm things down while Loretta seeks her own revenge.
The episode was a tense convergence of the characters dealing with the consequences of their actions. It was a perfect ending for Mags Bennett, possibly the best villain on the show, and capped off a thrilling season-long story.
Collateral (9.4)
The penultimate episode keeps the thrills coming with the show's main characters all on the run and chasing each other. Boyd has escaped from prison, Ava is on the run with Boyd's money, while Raylan is chasing them both without his badge.
This episode seems like the show's chance to focus on Boyd before his story comes to an end. Goggins has some brilliant scenes in the episode which explore Boyd as an outlaw and make us question if he was someone we should have been cheering for.
Fugitive Number One (9.5)
Sometimes Justified would forget the fact that it was a show about US Marshals in favor of telling great crime stories of all kinds. However, it's nice that the show returned to its roots near the end with the exciting pursuit of Ava.
The episode once again pushes Raylan to the edge of his lawman duties as the final season continues to have us guessing which side of the law he wants to live on. Different characters make their own plays with various consequences while Boyd and Raylan put themselves on a collision course with each other.
The Promise (9.7)
Finale episodes can be so difficult to pull off. Fans have certain expectations for what they think a show needs to deliver before ending forever. With its final episode, Justified sought to tie up loose ends, take a look at the future for these characters and perfectly sum up what the show was all about.
The finale delivers a thoroughly satisfying end that was very unexpected but totally in keeping with the show. It concludes on a beautiful and touching moment which helps make it one of the best finales of all time.