I was surprised to discover I like Justified

I’ve been watching a lot of Justified. I was a little surprised to discover I like it.

But it’s not that shocking, considering I like Elmore Leonard’s ear for dialog and the ever-present evidence in his books that he follows his own writing advice. I liked discovering that producer Graham Yost gave the writers of the show WWED bracelets.

I’ve also been appreciating:

Timothy Olyphant‘s half Jimmy Stewart, half Jack Nicholson affect.

Herky-jerky Jeremy Davies, who manages to seem simultaneously like someone who’d be running the shooting range at a seedy carnival and a semi-functional toy you’d win there.

Commanding Margo Martindale, who gets a remarkable amount of depth and complexity into what is basically a Big Bad character.

Walton Goggins (whose actual name would also work well for his character), buttoned-up and wild-eyed, with ever-precise diction.

I could go on naming actors; there are a lot of strong performances.

There are missed opportunities, too. I especially wanted more in Noble’s Holler; more characters (where were the women?), more scenes, more nuance.

But overall, good, compelling TV. Will watch again.