Overall
Episode: Fire in the Hole
Quote: "The airport's a good forty-five from here but I figure you'll be alright if you leave in the next two minutes." For me there was only ever one moment that could top this list and it happens within the first five minute of Justified's first episode Fire in the Hole. In this opening scene we are given so much information about the protagonist and his motivations while being treated to a brilliantly crafted and tense showdown. Raylan Givens' entire old-style morality and ruthless pursuit of justice are outlined in a sequence where he isn't the one doing most of the talking. He has told a criminal named Thomas Buckley that he has 24 hours to leave Miami or he will shoot him. Buckley scoffs at the idea until it is made very clear just how serious Raylan is. He demonstrates this by shooting him. This shooting is the impetus for Raylan's transfer back to his old stomping ground of Harlan and all that follows, but perhaps more importantly allows him to say the name of the show ("He pulled first, I's Justified") and get it over and done with in the first episode. Damn, what a man. So that's what I think. What do you think? Feel free to comment!