TV Review: Justified 3.11, "Measures"
It is just not Quarles' week...
rating: 4.5
Par for the course on Justified, Measures finds characters paying dramatic visits to one another culminating in more than one treacherous double-cross. Though Ive been saying this throughout the third season, this was another excellent episode that does as much to set up for the finale as it does deliver on the immediate action, if not more. The bottom line is that it continues to rain shit on Quarles and it seems his husky veneer might not be able to shine so bright after this latest down pour, and in a surprising turn, it looks like the puppet master himself, Ellstin Limehouse, may too be in desperate need of an umbrella. Ill also echo my own words from past Justified reviews that this series is more than likely a kind of holy grail for supporting character actors. In Measures we got to see not only another textbook definition of cool appearance from Lindsay the bartender whom was as quick with her words this week as she was with her shotgun last week, but also the always effectively intimidating Michael Ironside who played one of two top hit men from Detroit dispatched to Harlan to kill Robert Quarles. In the episodes open both these characters shared a scene with Raylan in which the newly single father-to-be further proves my theory that having your heart broken makes you at least three times as badass as normal as demonstrated by Raylans skillful maneuver of smashing the other of the two hit mens head into the bar. Though the epitome of why I love Raylan, his behavior is indicative of a recklessness which is derived not only from being dumped by the person he loves, but also from, according to Art, impending fatherhood. As both Tim and Rachel are preoccupied following Dickies exodus from prison (I really loved that both these characters not only played major roles in Measures, but worked together Justified packs so much into 43 minutes so Im not complaining, but Id love to see more of these characters, as Ive also previously mentioned), Art accompanies Raylan to bring in Quarles on the first federal charge they could get to stick to the slimy carpetbagger, threatening a federal officer. In one of the most touching scenes between the two characters, Art lectures Raylan on the importance of staying alive long enough to see his child born as the little bundle of joy is sure to be better off for it. This is a conversation which takes place in television and film often but what made it distinctive for me was Raylans acceptance of Arts wise words once he points out to Raylan after his ubiquitous, Youre not my father, line, Ive met your father. This exchange highlights whats always simply been implied of their relationship and it was refreshing to see it get some spotlight action in a manner that was neither hokey nor forced. Speaking of Tim and Rachel, the two each got to showcase their own brands of badassery while keeping tabs on Dickies post-release activities. The sole surviving member of the Bennett clan is eager to get his familys three million dollars back from Limehouse which he knows is going to take more than the average show of muscle and cunning. After turning down once more Limehouses offer of $46,000 and change, Dickie attempts to enlist the services of the Memphis crew whom were seen earlier in the season appraising Boyds stolen marijuana from Mags (led by yet another truly fine character actor whose name escapes me at the moment). Though Dickie succeeds in enticing the crew, the potential collaboration is spoiled by Tim and Rachels utterly professional intervention which not only featured a great surprise reveal from Tim, but an extremely well deserved nut-shot from Rachel to a particularly handsy member of the Memphis crew. This eventually leads them to confiscate the $46,000 from Dickie and Limehouses lieutenant, Earl, whom at the episodes close accepts Dickies proposal of a partnership to usurp Limehouse from his throne in Nobles Holler. The catch being Boyds crew will have to be included. Naturally this doesnt sit well with Dickie who is the object of Boyds crews homicidal desires. In the story of steadily declining Robert Quarles, the no longer so slick city slicker visits the on his way out Sheriff Napier for a refund of his campaign donation only to find that because its gone, Quarles has to rob a drug dealer under Boyds protection to compensate something I thought Quarles would force Napier to do. Im glad the sheriff didnt though, as the scene in which Quarles robs the speed metal loving duo of tweaked out dealers was a clear highlight of the episode being incredibly tense and action packed. Not only did we get to see Quarles awesome Taxi Driver quick draw mechanism in action, but there was the appearance of a katana which reminded me of Neal Stephensons classic cyberpunk novel, Snow Crash, specifically the story of how Hiro Protagonist acquired his sword. I loved this scene for many reasons, but especially for the expert performance of Neal McDonough, who has been simply an astonishingly amazing pleasure to watch this entire season, as he transformed seamlessly from being equal parts scared shitless and possibly curiously tantalized to full on executioner mode. Plus, Im pretty sure Napier wouldnt be able to pull off either killing a man whos armed with a samurai sword with the case for said sword or the line, What a dick! upon completion. Unfortunately this small victory for Quarles doesnt get him very far; in fact it puts him even further up the creek than he was before. With not only his Detroit boss, Theo Tonin (yup another small yet powerful performance this time from character actor Adam Arkin), whom we finally get to see (you know things are about to get real when the big boss man finally makes an appearance), sending hit men and tentatively hiring Wynn Duffy to also dispose of the troublesome psycho, Quarles is also denied shelter from Limehouse until he can turn the stolen drugs into cash and hes put back on the radar of Boyd Crowder whom looks to seriously compensate for his declining reputation by visiting Napier and getting him to lure Quarles into a trap which gets him tased, handcuffed, and stripped naked something I feel like Quarles might actually be into were it not Boyd who was responsible. Boyd and Duffy then form an allegiance of their own to turn Quarles in to Detroit for the $200,000 Tonin quoted. Though I cant really imagine Quarles getting out of this predicament, hes proven himself a dangerous and resourceful agent of destruction so Im very interested to see how he finally does meet his end, whether it is by the hands of Detroit, Boyd and Duffy, or Raylan. So in a matter of just a few episodes, Boyd, and to a lesser extent Earl and Duffy, three characters whove been stuck either on the losing side of various endeavors, neglected by a superior or in the back pocket of a psychopath, now seem to be firmly in control of the Harlan criminal underground as theyre poised not only to dispose of Quarles for a respectable payday, but also to rid Nobles Holler of Limehouse and reap all the benefits of leading such a united coup. Of course, even if the alliance of Duffy, Boyds crew, and Dickie and Earl and his disenfranchised members of Limehouses crew can topple Nobles Holler, its doubtful theyd be able to split the three million dollars amicably. Plus, this combination of forces is naturally going to catch the attention of Raylan and the Marshals so after an incredibly exciting and expertly executed season of building a mountain of dynamite, the real question is wholl survive the explosion and come out on top?