Justified: City Primeval Season 1 Episode 8 Recap

The episode opens with the Albanians escorting Raylan Givens (Timothy Olyphant) and Clement Mansell (Boyd Holdbrook) at gunpoint into a warehouse. Clement expresses relief when he sees his attorney, Carolyn Wilder (Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor). He accuses Raylan of trying to bait him into confessing to Judge Alvin Guy’s (Keith David) murder because he does not have any evidence. Carolyn reminds Greg Sutter (Terry Kinney) of their deal. Greg says she wants Raylan and Clement taken care of before removing a gun from Clement’s front pocket. Clement is escorted to another room where an Albanian knocks out the power. When the Albanians prepare to shoot, Clement tells them that it is time for him to leave. Raylan pushes a button on a keypad to trap Clement in the soundproof room. Carolyn announces her departure. Greg assures Raylan that it works in both their favor, he kills Clement and Raylan gets his killer. If a tenant reports a foul odor, Raylan can say Clement was hiding out there. Greg hands Guy’s black book and Clement’s gun to Raylan before leaving.

While Clement tries to bust through the soundproof door, Carolyn and Raylan discuss what to tell the DPD about Guy’s book. She assures him that the world is better off without Clement. When she invites him back to her house, he claims to have some things to clear up.

Norbert (Norbert Leo Butz), Raylan, and Wendell Robinson (Victor Williams) arrive as Maureen Downey (Marin Ireland) is leaving her house. Bill Downey (Dominic Fumusa) asks if there is a problem. She assures him that it is okay. Norbert suggests she would like to take this somewhere else to protect her family. Wendell orders her to get in the car.

Lansing, Michigan – Rachel (Callie Johnson) escorts Carolyn to the Lieutenant Governor’s (Audrey Francis) office. Adriane offers condolences for Judge Guy. Carolyn suggests Judge Guy should have been a better Judge and man. Adriane asks if she is better than Judge Guy. Carolyn boasts of knowing Detroiters and Detroit because she has lived there her entire life. She assures her that she is perfectly fitted for the bench. Adriane warns that it is not an easy process. Carolyn vows to be her ally.

At the Detroit Station, an Internal Affairs Officer (F. David Roth) asks Maureen to explain her name in Judge Alvin Guy’s (Keith David) book. She asks what he thinks he knows before Norbert lays out the evidence against her. Laughing, she accuses them of being more corrupt than her while assuring them they only have scribbles on paper. The interrogation ends when she asks for her lawyer and union rep.

While taking a bath, Carolyn admits to detesting her house which was Jamal Wilder’s (Amin Joseph) dream. Later that night, Raylan visits Skender Lulgjuraj’s (Alexander Pobutsky) secret hideout. Skender’s body sparks a two-hour flashback.

Tired of his hospital bed, Skender joins Besnik Darke (Yosef Kasnetzkov) and expresses his desire to see Mansell dead. When Besnik remains silent, Skender demands to know what he’s hiding but he reveals nothing. When Skender vows to take care of the job himself, Besnik gives him his pistol. Mansell surprises Skender at the storage container and takes the pistol before beating him to death with it.

Realizing what’s happened in the present, Raylan phones and warns Carolyn as he races to her. On his way, he calls Norbert and tells him to get some people over to Venus. Toma scolds Besnik for letting Skender go after Mansell when they hear panicked screaming. Mansell makes his way to Toma’s office, gunning down everyone he encounters along the way. Once there, he kills Toma and Besnik as well.

Raylan arrives at Carolyn’s home to find it empty. He is in the dark kitchen when Mansell arrives wanting to speak with Carolyn. Mansell claims to be touched that Raylan returned to Skender’s hideout for him. Raylan assures him that he didn’t do it because they’re friends. After retrieving a beer from the refrigerator, Mansell reaches in his pocket for Raylan’s gift when Raylan shoots him. Carolyn calls in help.

6 weeks later in Miami – Raylan attends a retirement party for Dan Grant (Matt Craven). Greg Sutter (David Koechner) gives Dan a final sendoff before congratulating Kate (Brenna DiStasio) on becoming a Marshal. Later, Raylan turns in his badge.

Raylan is painting his house when a courier (Jevon White) drops off a package from Carolyn. He opens it to find a note promising to visit if it gets too cold in Detroit. He walks outside to greet Willa Givens and Winona Hawkins (Vivian Olyphant). Willa boasts of her new driver’s permit. Winona asks about his package which he claims to be a retirement gift. They discuss his rushed retirement. He says it was a decision that should have been made sooner. She admits to being glad he did it for Willa.

Tramble Penitentiary, Kentucky – Boyd Crowder (Walton Goggins) delivers a sermon on hate and his declining health. He informs the congregation of his impending transfer to a hospital. He assures them that everyone is capable of great change. Later, Officer Ramirez (Luis Guzman) and Officer Gerret (Ahna O’Reilly) search Boyd before escorting him to the van. During the transport, Boyd raises a ruckus demanding the officers to pull over. When the van comes to a stop, Gerret apprehends Ramirez at gunpoint. Locking him inside the van, she identifies herself at Boyd’s girlfriend. After changing clothes, she and Boyd flee the scene.

Willa and Raylan are boating when an alert regarding a prison escape pops up on his phone. When he ignores the alert, it is followed by a phone call which he also ignores. The episode ends.

 

Justified City Primeval Review

Seeing Boyd and Winona again was no doubt the highlight of the finale. The ending was clever because it could lead to another season, but at the same time, it would feel finished if it didn’t. Clement’s death was much more poignant than I would have expected although it felt somewhat anticlimactic. Clement’s revenge killing of the Albanians played out fairly decent. It would, however, have been nice to learn more about Sandy and Maureen. Not a bad reboot when one considers the complete change of scenery from the hollers of Kentucky to the slums of Detroit. I’d give the episode a 5.6 out of 10.

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