FX's Justified is a show filled with colorful characters, but perhaps the most compelling of them all is Boyd Crowder. Boyd had a fascinating arc throughout the series, starting out as a villain before finding redemption, then proceeding to walk a fine line between good and bad for the rest of the show.
Boyd certainly did have some shining moments and even gained the audience's sympathy from time to time. On the other hand, his criminal ways have led him to do some pretty awful things as well. Here are some of the times we felt bad for Boyd on Justified and some of the times we hated him.
Felt Bad: Going Back To The Mines
At the beginning of Season 2, Boyd is in a pretty dark place. His holy path ends in tragedy and he becomes lost in finding a new path. Without anything else to do, Boyd returns to the one thing he knows, coal mining.
From the way Boyd and Raylan discussed their past lives as coal miners, seeing Boyd return to it is heartbreaking. He seems to have given up and surrendered to this life that would likely lead to his death. It is probably Boyd at his lowest point.
Hated Him: His Nazi Background
When we first meet Boyd, he is not a hard man to hate. His charisma is undeniable and he certainly has a way with words, but he also promotes some truly hateful beliefs.
When Raylan returns to Harlan County, he finds Boyd leading a gang of neo-Nazis and spouting racist and antisemitic beliefs. As Raylan points out, Boyd probably doesn't really believe in these things and is only using the neo-Nazis for his own ends. But that doesn't excuse the spread of hatred.
Felt Bad: Ava's Arrest
One of the most unexpected romances in the series was between Boyd and Ava. It seems that Boyd always had an attraction to Ava even though she was married to his brother, and that didn't stop after Ava killed her husband. Over time, she developed feelings for Boyd as well.
Their relationship had its difficulties, but the biggest blow came when Ava was arrested for murder. Boyd's anguished reaction to her arrest was heart-wrenching and to make matter worse, he then visits the home he was planning on buying for them.
Hated Him: Letting Arlo Take The Fall
Boyd's relationship with Arlo Givens is another unexpected one in the series. Arlo is Raylan's father, but given his criminal lifestyle, it makes sense that he leaned more towards the outlaw Boyd than his lawman son.
After Arlo kills a cop and is arrested, he decides to help Boyd out again by confessing to a murder that authorities were trying to pin on Boyd. Of course, Boyd doesn't have any problem with Arlo taking the fall for him and he doesn't even visit him in prison.
Felt Bad: Losing Ava
Ava's stay in prison proves to be devastating to her relationship with Boyd. Despite his efforts to free her, Ava feels abandoned while Boyd deals with his many business deals on the outside. During a prison visit, Ava tries to end things with him.
The hurt and pleading in Boyd's eyes is a level of vulnerability we rarely see from him. Even after Ava gets out, Boyd feels like he has lost her forever and he seems wounded beyond repair.
Hated Him: Killing Dewey Crowe
Dewey Crowe is one of the most entertaining characters on the show. The dimwitted would-be criminal is a massive screw-up who cannot help but find himself in trouble. But despite being involved in some unsavory things, Dewey is too stupid to really see as a bad guy.
After finding himself in trouble yet again and betrayed by Boyd, Dewey tries to become an informant. While visiting Boyd, Dewey begins prying for information and makes Boyd wary. Despite their history together, Boyd doesn't hesitate to coldly execute Dewey.
Felt Bad: Learning About Ava's Death
The series finale of Justified ends with Raylan and Boyd sharing one last conversation as Boyd once again sits in prison. Having found Ava living a new life with her and Boyd's son, Raylan decides to let her remain free and tells Boyd she died so that he'll never go looking for her.
Despite her betraying him, Boyd is heartbroken at the loss. As Raylan says, Boyd has lied about a lot of things but it's easy to see that he really did love Ava in the end.
Hated Him: Trying To Kill Raylan
The entire relationship between Raylan and Boyd comes down to one simple idea — they dug coal together. Despite being on the opposite sides of the law and all of the terrible things Boyd has done, that bond has cause Raylan to spare Boyd's life.
Boyd obviously does not have the same sentimentality as he tried to kill Raylan on many occasions. Even in the first episode, Boyd takes it upon himself to threaten Raylan to leave town, then shows up for a showdown, ready to kill his old friend.
Felt Bad: The Massacre Of His Followers
After getting shot by Raylan and nearly dying, Boyd has a change of heart. He focuses on religion and ridding Harlan of crime. However, it is hard to decide if he is being genuine or if it's another one of his schemes.
Eventually, Boyd amasses quite a following but also draws the wrath of his criminal father. After pushing too far, Boyd is exiled from Harlan to save his men. But his father executes his followers anyway and Boyd's devastation shows that his actions were indeed authenic.
Hated Him: Killing An Innocent Man
Boyd has always been pretty likable because he is smart, witty, and avoids killing people that aren't part of the criminal life. However, the final season of the show reminds us that the outlaws of legend are usually more ruthless than the stories tell.
While searching for Ava, Boyd forces an innocent man to drive him around in his car. When they come to the end of the line, the man realizes what his fate will be. He tries to show Boyd that he's nothing but a murderer but Boyd is remorseless as he shoots the man in cold blood.