1. Timothy Olyphant as Deputy U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens
Originally I wanted to include a clip from the pilot of the show. This clip was the opening scene and in just a few moments completely introduced the character of Raylan Givens, his personality, and his demeanor. We were introduced to a modern cowboy for a brief moment we saw him in Miami, the scenery would change to his hometown of Harlan, Kentucky. But the audience wasnt just introduced to the character of Raylan Gives, the tough as nails and fearless U.S. Marshal; they were also introduced to Timothy Olyphants portrayal of the character. Right off the bat, Olyphant effortlessly transforms into Givens and his persona is a cross between Clint Eastwood and John Wayne. In one moment, Givens is a trigger-happy gunslinger, and the next he is also cool, calm, and collected. He doesnt take himself too seriously, and jokes around with his boss, colleagues, and even his enemies. When it comes to taking down crime, Givens is all business. His tough childhood raised by his criminal father Arlo (Raymond J. Barry) has made him the man he is today. Olyphant delivery as Raylan is the most important aspect of the show. He takes the character to new levels each season and it is a crime that he has not been awarded yet for his role. If you do start watching this brilliant show, Timothy Olyphants performance is what will keep you from changing the channel.