Raylan's Perfect Villain Trick Makes Justified Even Better
It's already highly acclaimed, but Raylan Givens’ (Timothy Olyphant) villain trick manages to make Justified even better. Based on the works of Elmore Leonard, Justified is full of morally complex characters, at times blurring the line between hero and criminal. It’s this connection between opposite sides of the law that Olyphant was particularly drawn toward, elevating Justified beyond typical crime shows.
The role of renegade US Marshal Raylan Givens would be many actors’ dream job, but Olyphant understood perfectly that the character had to be more than just a modern-day cowboy. Raylan is a deeply conflicted lawman, regularly ignoring orders and breaking the law himself, albeit for an honorable cause. He struggles to form lasting connections throughout Justified, with his longest relationship being with friend-turned-criminal Boyd Crowder (Walton Goggins).
Related: Justified Revival's Changes Mean Walton Goggins' Boyd Shouldn't Return
Raylan’s habit of connecting with Justified’s villains is one of Olyphant’s favorite things about the character. Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, he praised both the show and Elmore Leonard’s world as a study of “human behavior”, admiring how Raylan feels more comfortable telling his secrets to criminals. According to Olyphant, “[Raylan] won’t talk about himself to people that he knows, but he oftentimes reveals things to people he’s never met”. The Justified star’s preference for emphasizing Raylan’s mentality over showdowns encapsulates why the US Marshal is such a fascinating character.
Timothy Olyphant explained, “One of the most attractive things about the character to me is that Raylan often reveals very personal things about himself to strangers, criminals, as a way to get a
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