Going into Season 5 JUSTIFIED was one of the best written, acted, and overall "edgiest" shows on TV.
Season 5 turned out to be as much fun as a Whoppee Cushion, suffering from a surfeit of black birds; and a number of other structural problems to boot.
But, we fans hoped, there was always Season 6...? We were wrong.
In the opener of the Season, the writers make it clear that not only is Raylan overdue for quiet time with the Missus and the new baby, but he is staying on in Harlan Country only reluctantly and temporarily.
Talk about foreshadowing! Turns out, Raylan's situation was not unlike that of the producers who (to this jaded viewer) seem to have lost interest in the show and are busily rushing forward onto other projects...? It is like they are just filling in time to reach the number of episodes needed for syndication. Punching a clock, is all.
The "smoking gun" is the face time given to Star and (now) Exec Producer Olyphant. I did the math, and it is far less than prior seasons.
That is like benching the star quarterback...? Instead we have more Carter and Goggins, two brilliant supporting actors.
But -- here is a tip -- viewers don't tune in to watch supporting actors.
At least not in my house.