Swaig

As the finale got going, I think most of us expected a Tarantino-esque bloodbath. Instead we got Kill Bill Vol. 2, with Ava as The Bride. Well played, writers. Well played. Was the "four years later" - not three, not five - a sly tip of the (white) hat? I'd like to think so. Incidentally, I always felt a QT vibe from Justified, what with all its lavish respect for its characters and dialogue. Don't forget that his Jackie Brown was an adaptation of Mr. Leonard's "Rum Punch", so he's something of a kindred to the show.

This felt a little like a pilot to me. Like they had to set up a few different things for the last show. Do any two actors on this show have less chemistry than Wynn and Vazquez did? That scene was dead. Like pulling teeth. So Raylan's gone rogue simply because he's trying to protect Ava, who he's got a soft spot for? Makes sense, I guess. I remember it really bothering him when he shot that chick from the bathtub. And his weakness has always been the ladies.

I am loathe to use hyperbole but this has been the best season of one of my favorite shows, if not at least tied with Mags. The stars have really aligned here. Last year when I heard it was gonna be the final RvB showdown, I hoped they were gonna do this, in pretty much exactly this way (tight and tense, with their trademark amazing dialogue) but I just didn't see how they would given that S5 was so damn tortured at times. But they've done it. Congratulations, show. You have seen the abyss and you have spit in its eye (ok, you got me... I kind of like hyberbole). Anyway, congratulations most of all to a slew of incredibly talented writers who know and adore their characters inside and out. You done good.

Wow. An act of total desperation. All I can think is that Ava must have watched the "Ava in prison" storyline, too.

I would like to put a vote in for sending Ava back to prison. Preferably solitary with no cameras, lights or microphones around.

Choo Choo is a friend. He served with the other guy in Iraq, so there is a level of trust there. He also provides much needed (and apparently very effective) muscle. Don't forget that usually in these operations, especially on Justified, the people within are always looking to screw each other over because everyone's a lowlife. So trust is a big thing.

"Here Boyd... I made you a delicious breakfast. It's your favorite. Now go and sit in the death chair." Not suspicious at all. Well played, Ava. Well played. Oh, and while "aplex" may not be a word, Amtrak makes one hell of a verb. The things you learn on Justified.

Who else got flipped out by the covered plate? All I could think of in that split second was that it was a severed human hand or something. "This is what happens to snitches, Ava." That wouldn't have happened, but they did a good job of creating tension. Speaking of which, this season has already had more tension in it than five of all of Season 5. If they keep this up, I promise to forget all about the Crowes. Except you, Dewey. Except you.

After this week, the only thing I can't figure out is which one (Raylan or Boyd) I want to see kill Avery Markham. Every time I decide on one, my brain goes "yeah, but what about the OTHER one?".

To the guy who mentioned how good the dialogue was, I wanted to point out that it's Benjamin Cavell. All his episodes are written like this. He knows the characters backwards and writes them with a Tarantinoesque flourish. "Just because there were two of 'em doesn't mean there's two of 'em." Damn I'm a sucker for that stuff. I look for him every season. Listening to his dialogue is like eating a big bowl of ice cream (or something you like if you don't like ice cream, but who doesn't like ice cream?).