Justified: City Primeval

In every respect, Andron and Dinner’s show is an ideal blend of the then and now, and that proves true all the way through to its finale, whose late surprises are so perfectly, satisfyingly thrilling that one can only hope they’re confirmation that this reboot is the start of a new, long-running Raylan Givens return engagement.

Raylan Givens, perhaps the 21st century's coolest TV hero, came back to us at exactly the perfect time. I'd like to think that will continue to hold true moving forward.

The best ones [reboots and sequel series] take what’s great about the original and layer in something new. That’s just what FX’s “Justified: City Primeval” delivers.

It may not match Justified at its prime, but this fresh exploration of Marshal Givens works on a level that will serve to keep veteran viewers happy indeed. And yes, the mane is still intact.

The few [TV revivals] that work (like The Conners) do so because they acknowledge how the passage of time has changed the people onscreen, and those of us watching them. City Primeval very smartly does this, finding ways to recontextualize Raylan’s behavior, while still managing to tell an entertaining yarn about him and a colorful collection of supporting characters.

It turns out there was more to say about Raylan Givens, specifically about who he is as a father, so even if the crime element wasn’t the show at its best, there is still a purpose to City Primeval. And that’s more than can be said about some of the other revivals Hollywood has trotted out over the last decade.

Despite the work of a number of the old “Justified” crew, including the writer-producers Dave Andron and Michael Dinner, and an accomplished new cast, “City Primeval” — though handsomely filmed, well acted and ample in its emotions and its violent action — feels, ultimately, like a simulacrum. The body looks good, but a large part of the soul is missing.

In this Neo-Noir Crime Western Raylan Givens (portrayed by Timothy Oliphant) is pulled into the pursuit of psychopathic Outlaw Clement Mansell (portrayed by Boyd Holbrook) in the City of Detroit. For me this was a refreshing Change of Scenery from the original justified. While i didn't like all aspects and few even seemed improbable to me the Show still managed to entertain with a charasmatic Hero and a well played Villain. The climax was a bit weak but overall i'd recommend it for fans of modern day cop/crime shows.

None of the characters are likable. Not a single one. It moves glacially slow. What should have been a 5 episode season somehow bloomed into an 8 episode nap-inducing snail-paced series. This reboot is awful compared to the original.

Love to see Raylan back, but Detroit is a **** Aunjae Ellis-Taylor may have been an attractive and engaging actress at some point, but I just don't buy her character and Raylan in this. Not sure what the motivation was for that relationship, but they'd have fared better bringing back Erica Tazel for a romantic supporting actress. Story is boring and I just can't bring myself to care about any of the characters, except Boyd Holbrook, who does a good bad guy. Saw him in the Sandman first, and hope to see more of him. Oh, Adelaide Clemens is always a nice addition, but she seems **** of place in this.

We open with a black Judge telling us how he lives in a racist city within a racist system. I'd like to know how exactly he managed to become a Judge in this incredibly racist world of his. That's the level of writing you get in this dumpster fire that is not Justified at all.

Olyphant is great, as he was in the original awesome series, but this feels like a leftover city crime show plot that they needed to boost with some Raylan magic dust. It was leftover for a reason. The baddie is awful (why the underpants?), the overweight romantic interest is totally implausible, and thank heavens he put his daughter (his actual one, btw) on that plane home as her voice could bone herring at a hundred paces. Sorry guys, despite the great talent of Mr Olyphant this was a sequel that should have stayed on paper.