Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		3.0
Extras		2.0
Overall		3.5

Justified: The Complete Final Season Blu-ray Movie Review

A justifiable end to a great show, an unjustifiable final Blu-ray release.

Reviewed by Martin Liebman June 4, 2015

Justified, Creator Graham Yost's tight, character-driven show born of the late Author Elmore Leonard's short story Fire in the Hole, never did quite ascend to the absolute top of the TV heap, always seeming to fall into the top of that second tier behind its higher rated and more widely beloved contemporaries like Game of Thrones, The Walking Dead, and Breaking Bad. But maybe it should have. Since day one, even with a few stumbles here and there and a couple of jaunts away from the core characters to introduce and play with some outsiders coming in (which, admittedly, gave rise to what is, arguably, the series' best season, season two), the show has been a consistent performer and a shining example of broad engaging arcs and tidy little side tidbits mixed with easy and deep characterization done right. Considering the combination of Leonard's source material, Yost's vision, quality scripts, and the lead cast's superb performances, there's never been a major misfire and only a few sputters along the way in a show that critics and fans alike should fondly remember in the years to come as a truly great show with as much to offer as any other.

Draw.

Minor spoilers follow.

Season six sees the show not necessarily return to its roots -- the core has always been there -- but perhaps nurture them in a way that it hasn't in some time or emphasize them in a way that reinforces the show's finest qualities. As with other seasons, there's a fair bit of new blended in with the old, both in the way of new characters and the dynamics they introduce to the Harlan scene and new branches of character growth that expand them but ultimately reinforce the core stems that have guided their journeys since day one. At the center, as it should be, is Deputy U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens (Timothy Olyphant) whose pursuit of Harlan's most wanted criminal Boyd Crowder (Walton Goggins) continues. In the middle is Ava (Joelle Carter), once a love interest to both men and, freshly released from prison, tasked by Raylan with clandestinely informing on Boyd's criminal activities. Raylan's hoping to mop up his Harlan duties and return home to Winona (Natalie Zea) and his daughter Willa. But matters are complicated as Boyd returns to his roots, leaving behind extracurricular criminal activities and, with the support of Wynn Duffy (Jere Burns) and Katherine Hale (Mary Steenburgen), turns back to what he does best: stealing money. Some of the new players on the scene include Avery Markham (Sam Elliott) who has big plans for a new drug empire in Harlan. Working the scheme on the ground are Ty Walker (Garret Dillahunt), an ex-special forces operative who is trolling Harlan's property owners and isn't too keen on taking "no" for an answer; hit man Boon (Jonathan Tucker); and several lower-level thugs.

There are plenty of things to take away from Justified's final season, perhaps none so important as the very firm, very deliberate, yet naturally occurring sense of self the show displays. The final season is by no means perfect -- it's a bit slow in spots as it builds up towards the finale and the newer dynamics introduced throughout the season feel a little stale -- but there's a certain assuredness to it, a deep understanding of its core and a deliberate, yet effortless, push to accentuate what it does best and build both the larger, sweeping, full-series narrative and character arcs as well as the more immediate plot lines towards the inevitable final ending that in no way disappoints and, in fact, demonstrates a keen sense of character growth and dramatic understanding of the show's strengths, where it's been, where it is, and where the audience can envision the characters when the final episode's credits roll. That's really what any program needs from its final episodes, a true understanding of what's gotten it to where it is and a journey to the end that doesn't merely satisfy the show's base requirements but cements its legacy and does so with an honesty that's true to the form while also acknowledging the journey and embodying the special qualities that made it uniquely entertaining and so very well rounded.

Beyond everything else that season six gets right -- the fully satisfying character arcs, the final resolutions, the deep understanding of where the show has been and where the characters needed to go -- it remains Olyphant who continues to make the show a truly rousing success. He doesn't simply work with the material he's given, he lives and breathes it, he effortlessly falls into character and demonstrates an uncanny grasp of both the overreaching exterior details and subtle interior characteristics alike that make his Ryalan Givens one of the most completely formed characters in television history. From the way he wears the hat to the way he commands his character's most overt confidence and his most intimate emotions, he shapes the character fully and convincingly in every scene, with the slow-burn journey along his arc resolving throughout the season. Both Olyphant and the writers show a command of the character that allows him to remain largely the same Raylan Givens audiences have come to love throughout the series but slowly evolve through the process, an arc that's clearly delineated from the series' first episode to its last and captured with incredible subtlety along the way. Olyphant's co-stars are often just as mesmerizing, particularly Walton Goggins who essentially forced his way into a greater role from the opening episode forward, transforming into one of the most well-rounded and expertly performed villains that TV has seen in some time. He solidifies the character early in season six by doing something that's been almost expected for some time but still comes as a surprise, both in the poetry of how it's done and the coldness with which he does it. Season six sees a number of strong, easy performances, but it's certainly the show's longtime adversaries who shine brightest, just as it should be.

Justified: The Complete Final Season Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Justified: The Complete Final Season's 1080p, 1.78:1-framed transfer generally looks terrific. The entire frame enjoys a constant, effortless sharpness that helps reveal broad and fine detailing alike across every environment. Basic skin and clothing textures impress, down to the finest points on Raylan's trademark hat or intimate fabric details on a denim jacket. Terrain -- grasses, pebbles -- are well defined even at the micro level. Larger accents like brickwork around town or lightly cracked and chipped paint are equally precise. Colors are effortlessly bold and accurate, with those natural greens, that light blue denim jacket, and other sturdier, more showy colors leading the way. Darker interiors favor a little warmth. Light noise and trace banding are evident across some darker backdrops, and blacks are deep with only mild, and sporadic, hints of crush. This is a top end transfer that impresses a great deal in most every facet, its minor shortcomings appearing merely as brief annoyances rather than deal breakers.

Justified: The Complete Final Season Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

For whatever reason, Sony has cut corners with Justified: The Complete Final Season, saddling it with a Dolby Digital 5.1 lossy soundtrack rather than the studio's typical DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 presentation, which has graced every Justified Blu-ray release prior. Whether by accidental oversight or deliberate corner cutting, it's disheartening at best and a slap in the face to a loyal fan base at worst, a Justified and Sony fan base that has come to expect a higher standard from the studio, particularly on a top TV property that has for five previous seasons enjoyed lossless audio. As it is, the DD 5.1 track is acceptable but not up to snuff compared to its predecessors. The famed opening title music is noticeably less precise, lacking the heft, finer details, and easy aggressiveness of the same material on previous season episodes. The track does offer a fair bit of immersive detailing in the way of wide, enveloping natural ambience. The surrounds carry a nice variety of information throughout every episode, particularly street-level ambience, naturally muddy background music in a bar, or light environmental nuance. Other moderate effects like a helicopter slicing through the stage presents nicely enough, with well defined clarity and good stage presence. Larger effects, however, come up short. Gunfire sounds frequently puny. A large crashing thud heard during a heist in episode one falls flat. An explosion midway through the finale lacks oomph. Fortunately, dialogue enjoys an easy center flow and lifelike accuracy. In a general context the track is serviceably fine though in many ways underwhelming. It could have, and should have, been more.

Justified: The Complete Final Season Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Justified: The Complete Final Season contains a scant collection of extras included on discs two and three and deleted scenes for select episodes across all three discs, a stark contrast to the more robustly supplemented seasons one through five. Optional episode recaps are included. Inside the Blu-ray case, buyers will find a voucher for a UV digital copy.

• Directing the Show: Adam Arkin (1080p, 10:55): A look at Arkin's style, his work with actors, his history with the program, the detailed work he puts into each shot, his humor, and more. The piece also features a good bit of fascinating raw on-set footage.
• Hollywood to Harlan (1080p, 5:38): A look at the crew's annual pilgrimage to the real Harlan and the benefits thereof. Also included is a look at the local mining scene and working that angle into the season.
• Dutch Speaks (1080p, 11:40): Elmore Leonard discusses his writing process, his approval of Justified's pilot episode, the show's writing team, the origins of Raylan Givens' name, Olyphant's performance, Givens character details, and more. From June 2010.
• Deleted Scenes (1080p): "Fate's Right Hand:" Dewey's Release (0:28). "Trash and the Snake:" The Federals (1:27), Where's Wiz? (1:35), and Art and Rachel (3:20). "Sounding:" Ava's Being Ava (1:01). "Burned:" Art and Raylan (1:03) and Let it Burn (1:15). "Fugitive Number One:" Brief and to the Point (0:54) and We Made It! (2:01).

Justified: The Complete Final Season Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Justified's run hasn't been quite so storied as some of its top-rated contemporaries, but it's a standout nonetheless that has enjoyed quite possibly the perfect performance from its lead. It's a term that gets bandied about quite a bit, but Raylan Givens is a role Timothy Olyphant was born to play, and from his mastery of the character's broad strokes to his most inconspicuous subtleties alike, he's elevated Justified from interesting premise to top-end television. Season six offers more of the same but with greater attention on its foundational principles and broader character development. The writers and performers both have carefully taken the show to a place that satisfies not only the season but the broader arc that runs throughout the program while maintaining its core, honing its evolutionary spirit, and cementing its legacy as one of the finer character dramas in recent television history. It's a shame to see it go, but it ends on a perfect note that should satisfy longtime fans who have long appreciated the finer points of the show's -- read, the characters' -- evolution from "Fire in the Hole" to "The Promise." Justified deserved a better send-off on Blu-ray. "Adequate" best describes it in a vacuum, and "letdown" is probably the more likely response in the real world. It's almost a miracle that Blu-ray buyers are getting a 1080p picture considering all the other corners cut in this release. With lossy-only audio and a disappointingly brief collection of extras, it's hard to recommend a purchase on principle, at least not until it hits the bargain bin. The show is fantastic and the picture quality doesn't disappoint. Wait for a sale or, perhaps, a complete series collection that rectifies the concerns, though fans would rightly view a pricier set with an improved sixth season as an even greater slap in the face.