Reason Why One of Justified's Main Stars Isn't Back for the Sequel
The brilliant detective series is back, but without one of its central characters.
Premiering in 2010, Justified became a big hit and lasted for six seasons, following the story of Federal Marshal Raylan Givens, who was constantly targeted by criminals and colleagues alike due to his strict moral code and old-fashioned views on justice.
The series received positive reviews from critics and viewers, and in 2022, FX Networks ordered a sequel called Justified: City Primeval. The original show featured a large cast of fascinating characters, and one of the fan favorites among them was Boyd Crowder, played by Walton Goggins.
Many viewers hoped that Goggins would return for the sequel along with Timothy Olyphant, who played the lead role in the original Justified. That did not happen, however, and here is what Goggins himself has to say about his absence in the sequel:
"There's a season, kind of, for everything. This isn't the right place and time. But I can't wait to see it, and I can't wait to see Raylan Givens again. Tim [Olyphant] is such a wonderful actor and Boyd Holbrook — I love him. I'll be there. I'll be watching it to the bitter end."
In the original show, Goggins' Boyd Crowder was an old buddy of Raylan's and had a truly compelling character arc, going from a neo-Nazi group leader to the righteous head of a religious community. The actor's performance earned him a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in 2011.
The sequel, which premiered on FX on July 18, once again follows Timothy Olyphant's Raylan Givens, but the story is set 15 years after the original show.
Rayland now lives in Miami where he raises his daughter (played by the actor's real-life daughter Vivian). A car accident forces him to go to Detroit to track down psychopathic killer Clement Mansell, who managed to avoid prison thanks to his lawyer.
Of all the crime dramas of the past decade, Justified is probably the most ironic and heartfelt story, incorporating elements of different genres. In addition to the prevailing criminal intrigue, the show features great love stories, family conflicts, dark humor, and almost documentary-like sketches of life in the depressed American hinterlands.
Fans are hoping that the sequel will live up to the standards of the original show and deliver a decent story about Raylan Givens' crime adventures. Justified: City Primeval will air every Tuesday on FX and then appear on Hulu every Wednesday.
Source: The Wrap