In 2015, FX’s acclaimed series “Justified” came to an end, leaving behind a legacy of being a well-executed and timely neo-Western show. The landscape of pop culture was changing rapidly at the time, with hits like “Empire” and breakthrough performances by Black actresses at the Emmys. Millennials were also making their mark on social media, offering their own perspectives on TV. Throughout it all, the white marshal Raylan Givens remained largely immune to criticism as he dealt with criminals in Kentucky. This was in part due to the gripping source material from Elmore Leonard, Timothy Olyphant’s remarkable portrayal, and the exceptional writing and direction.
Now, eight years later, “Justified” is returning with “Justified: City Primeval,” based on Leonard’s 1980 novel. The new series moves Raylan to Detroit, a predominantly Black city, creating opportunities for complex stories involving Black characters on all sides of the law. The creators of the show are aware of the challenges and cultural shifts since the original series and have approached the new season with that in mind.
The showrunners, Michael Dinner and Dave Andron, along with the late Elmore Leonard’s estate, FX, Sony, and Olyphant (who serves as an executive producer), have incorporated Raylan into this new story, which takes place a few years after the original series ended. The portrayal of Detroit is crucial to the narrative, offering a different cultural, aesthetic, and professional landscape for Raylan to navigate. Detroit becomes a character itself, influencing the people, the racial dynamics, and the challenges Raylan faces.
The new series introduces intriguing characters like Sweety, an aging criminal, and bar owner who forms a bond with Raylan. Carolyn, a sharp-tongued criminal defense attorney, adds complexity to Raylan’s life, creating a complicated relationship. The dynamic between these characters is something Dinner hadn’t seen before and adds to the crackling three-hander at the center of the show.
The inclusion of Black characters in a series that was primarily white raises concerns, but the portrayal of characters like Carolyn and Sweety is handled with the same complexity and honesty as their counterparts. Their interactions and conversations feel genuine, and the show avoids reducing them to mere foils for the white protagonist.
Dinner and his team made conscious decisions to ensure these characters were fully developed and relevant to today’s audience. By expanding Sweety’s role and making Carolyn a different character from the book, they were able to create more compelling storylines. The show explores the complexities of race in a nuanced manner, without being pedantic about it.
“Justified: City Primeval” offers a fresh take on the beloved characters from the original series while tackling important themes and exploring a new setting. It promises to be a thought-provoking and engaging continuation of the “Justified” brand.
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