- The FX limited series drew to a close with a magnificent tribute to its source material, paving the way for future narratives. Creators Michael Dinner (Heaven Help Us), Dave Andron (Snowfall), and star Timothy Olyphant (Hitman) discuss how it all unfolded.
Justified
Wherever Raylan Givens goes, he must always be accompanied by a Boyd. For the vast majority of Justified: City Primeval, the Boyd in question was Boyd Holbrook, the actor who brought the menacing “Oklahoma Wildman” Clement Mansell to life. Following the villain’s violent death in the finale, City Primeval closed out by returning to the original Boyd: Boyd Crowder. Raylan’s old friend turned foe, turned friend and foe and back again. It was, unquestionably, complicated.
In the final sequence of the revival series, Walton Goggins (Vice Principals) reprised his renowned Justified role, picking up many years after the audience last saw him, but still in the same location: prison. Boyd tells his fellow inmates that he is facing a terminal disease and will be transferred to another institution as a consequence. However, as is frequently the case with Boyd, it is all an elaborate con. During the transfer, Boyd escapes with the help of an accomplice, a prison guard he seemingly seduced. The two of them hit the open road.
The breakout occurs mere moments after Raylan (Timothy Olyphant) retires from the U.S. Marshals service, vowing to spend more time with his daughter. However, news of Boyd’s escape reaches Raylan’s phone before the series ends. How will Marshal Givens respond when he receives that call? That is a potential future season of Justified, or it could be left up to the audience to speculate.
In an interview arranged through personal PR in line with WGA strike guidelines, Justified: City Primeval creators Michael Dinner and Dave Andron explain their reasons for bringing Boyd back into the mix at the final moment.
“When we first began talking, a lot of chatter centered around, ‘Let’s not feel obligated to bring anyone back,’ because we did not want to lean too heavily on the past in our adaptation,” According to The Hollywood Reporter. “But from the beginning, Dave said, ‘What about Walton?’ My initial reaction was: We can’t do the corny version, which is episode five, where Raylan is struggling with Clement, goes into prison, and says to Hannibal Lecter, ‘I don’t understand this guy.’ But it was the proverbial elephant in the room. Fans of the show who consider this Justified are going to want to know, ‘Where’s Boyd Crowder?’ It was a perilous notion to bring him in.”
Andron adds, “It feels like an Elmore Leonard finale,” admirably noting how the late author and originator of the Justified characters served as a guiding light on whether and how Boyd should return. “I think people will have a big grin on their face. You get to go on this journey with Raylan, and then you get to have this moment in time with Boyd. To me, it felt like this was the appropriate approach to the world if you didn’t want to be cheesy about bringing people back. Where is Boyd? What is he like now? Has he changed or remained the same? It felt appropriate to reintroduce him a bit.”
According to Andron, Boyd’s endgame appearance (which Goggins filmed in a 36-hour window due to other schedules) was built into the City Primeval premise as a Justified conduit very early on. Goggins immediately agreed to the idea of incorporating Boyd, making two main comments.
According to Tbe Hollywood reporter, “His first response was, ‘I love this,’” says Dinner. “His second response was, ‘You know what this means.’”
Indeed, Boyd’s return immediately raises questions about the future of the Justified franchise. Even without a sequel announcement, the City Primeval ending sets up another chapter in Raylan and Boyd’s story. As Dinner puts it, “The Joker is out there.” While there are no immediate plans for another season, there are ideas on the table if the characters do return. Dinner points out Boyd’s unfinished history with his ex Ava Crowder (Joelle Carter), saying, “It creates danger in the world, as somewhere in California, he has a child he is unaware of.