Justified (TV Series) Reckoning (2011) User Reviews

This thing's a powder keg

[Mr-Fusion · 10/10 · 30 November 2016]

Aunt Helen was the only bright spot in Raylan's upbringing, and her death has him going nearly blind with rage. His misery and Loretta's solitude all contribute to the somber tone of 'Reckoning', an episode that continues the fallout from the Black Pike deal, while still promising future eruptions. Tensions simmer in every character interaction here, and you can almost feel a war breaking out between the Bennetts, the Crowders and the law.

Fantastic performances across the board, and even the funereal vibe yields subtle hints of dark humor.

Outstanding drama.

10/10

Dark skies, and darker clouds on the horizon

[amsterdam-92719 · 10/10 · 22 February 2022]

How do you have an extraordinary episode that leaves you feeling utterly unsatisfied? "Reckoning" will leave you there until you remember "life ain't always fair." and any semi-realistic depiction of real life won't always leave you feeling happy, sated or satisfied.

Hellen's murder gets 'solved' in that everybody knows what happened (and almost as important, why it happened), and then is unsolved in the legal arena as more lies are told and the mastermind (to use that term in its broadest usage to include an idiot with little mind and even less mastery) weasels his way out of it - legally. But he will still have to reckon with Raylan, and almost as dangerous Arlo.

It doesn't end in so much as a cliffhanger as masterful bit of storytelling that leaves a lot of loose ends to be tugged on in the 3rd season.

The character of Hellen Givens will be missed... by fans and by the characters in the show. A small role played to the hilt and made bigger and better than anyone could have expected!