Justified Season 4 Episode 3 ‘Truth or Consequences’ Review

Justified Season 4 Episode 3 Truth or Consequences ReviewThe decision to go “mystery case” over “big bad” for Season 4 of Justified seems to have been a perfect call. The show has always been smart, but for the first time it’s requiring the viewer to be just as smart, or at least to try and keep up. This week’s episode, ‘Truth or Consequences,’ was filled to the very brim with plot points and machinations. This season is coming together like an elaborate chess game, building bigger with each and every move.

Raylan is proving that, no matter how good of a marshal he is, he’s still not very bright when it comes to a pretty girl. After Lindsay the bartender spills the beans about her and her ex’s past moonlighting as criminals, Raylan doesn’t even seem fazed. In fact he tracks down the guy and “tough guys” him with one of his patented “get out of town or else” bits which seems to work, until Raylan discovers that Lindsay is gone too, and they took all of Raylan’s hideaway money with them.


On the positive side, the Marshalls snag a lead in the Drew Thompson case by discovering his ex-wife, Eve, who happens to be a fairly spot-on psychic. It’s not long after Raylan and Tim show up to question her that an FBI agent randomly shows up, causing the pair to become suspicious and Eve to try and make an escape. Unfortunately for all parties involved, the FBI agent is aiding the wrong side; his arrival helping a creepy fellow named Goines kidnap Eve in order to find out what she really knows about her ex and successfully leaving Raylan and Tim empty handed.

It’s not long before Raylan catches on that the FBI agent is up to no good, just before said FBI agent decides to blow his brains out right in front of Raylan. Just before said brain removal, the agent did clue Raylan in on where Eve had been taken. The Marshalls show up just in time to stop some seriously terribly things from happening to Eve, and she comes clean about what she knows about her ex-husband, Drew Thompson. It would seem Drew witnessed Theo Tonin, head of the Dixie Mafia, murder an FBI informant and had given him up to the feds, hence his complete disappearance. Cue the “Marshall Stiffies.”

Justified Season 4 Episode 3 Truth or Consequences Review

Over in Harlan, Boyd is doing everything in his power to rid himself and his town of Billy the Preacher and his sister Cassie, who as of last week was discovered by Boyd to be the one pulling the strings. After doing his best to persuade Cassie to take her brother and their church and get out of Harlan, to no avail, Boyd is left with only one solution; snuff ’em out. Cassie proves to be a far bigger threat than Boyd thought, for as Colton and Jimmy show up ready to kill the brother and sister Christians, they stumble upon a tent full of loosed snakes, and Jimmy gets the short end of that stick. The fact that Jimmy doesn’t succumb to these snake bites, however, puts Boyd on the path to putting an end to the meddling church for good.

The following day Boyd shows up with a toolbox containing a snake of his own. See, Jimmy surviving his bites lead Boyd to the conclusion that Preacher Billy and Cassie have been milking the snakes of their venom, rendering them non-lethal. Boyd’s intention seems merely to make the pair break, which Cassie eventually does; citing their father’s death by snake bite and not wanting to risk Billy going through the same agonizing death. Billy, now feeling shame as a fraud, decides to take Boyd up on his offer and takes the snake, claiming that God will protect him. Boyd has an almost concerned look about him, knowing that Billy’s faith has blinded him to the true danger. In an almost nonchalant way, the snake bites Billy, and as the episode ends, Billy’s time of ministering in Harlan is at its end too.

Other notable moments and quotes:

  • Everyone in the cast notoriously turns in great performances, but of particular note was everyone involved in the church scene. Walton Goggins’ Boyd is always a force beyond words, and his range of emotions from devious bad guy to concerned human was incredible. He was nearly equally met by Lindsay Pulsipher’s Cassie. Her pride turned worry turned horror at the thought of losing her brother the same as her father was breathtaking. I’ve got a feeling we haven’t seen the last of her this season.
  • Between his Lebowski quote in the season premiere and a Dead Zone reference here, Raylan is proving to be quite the film buff. Could be the Netflix.
  • Tim, in regards to Raylan, gets the line of the night: “He does something stupid every day. Can you be a bit more specific?”
  • I can’t think of many situations worse than stumbling upon a den of snakes in the dark, being bitten by several snakes, getting bit by one of those snakes IN THE FACE, shooting said snake into pieces only for its head and fangs to remain right where they sunk in.
  • This season has already been exceptionally gory. Between the snake bite to the face and the up close suicide, the viciousness is continually being raised.
  • “Guest Starring Jere Burns” is one of the greatest things to read at the beginning of an episode.
  • “Way to go, assholes.” Art, never change.
  • The term “Marshall Stiffie” seems to be here to stay. I’m ok with that.
  • Raylan loves giving bad guys ultimatums.
  • I fear Johnny Crowder isn’t long for this world. Boyd’s already suspicious, and Johnny trying to turn Wynn Duffy on him doesn’t feel like it’s going to work out in Johnny’s favor.
  • If Justified has taught me one thing, it is to never ever stay in a hotel room in Kentucky.
  • Boyd’s moments in the church make me miss his preaching days from the first season.
  • RIP, Preacher Billy. I’m honestly sad we hardly knew ye.

Justified Season 4 Episode 3 Truth or Consequences Review

Justified, despite being one of the smartest shows on TV, normally has a very casual aspect about it. This week heavily relied on discussions of one character we still have yet to meet (Drew Thompson) and one we only caught glimpses of last season (Theo Tonin). Add to that Raylan being backstabbed, Boyd taking out one problem only to have another two brewing right beside him, something seemingly going on with Rachel, FBI agent showing up, being crooked and offing himself in front of Raylan, Thompson’s psychic ex-wife, Wynn Duffy existing; ‘Truth and Consequences’ has a whole lot going on for the casual viewer. For those of us that truly enjoy the show’s richness and depth, though, it was another excellent addition to what has so far been an incredible fourth season.

– Matt Hardeman

TheHDRoom may be paid a small commission for any services or products ordered through select links on this page.

TheHDRoom