Review: Justified - Season 1 (TV)

A Modern Day Western

Justified is my favorite show on TV at the moment. I would actually say this is one of the best shows that has been on TV in the past five years. I know I just got done praising AMC's Breaking Bad, but FX's Justified is a different breed of animal. The show revolves around a U.S. Federal Marshall named Raylan Givins. After a shooting takes place in Miami (the best opening five minutes of a TV show ever), he is sent to his birth-state of Kentucky. Hijinks ensue, all of which will leave you on the edge of your seat anticipating the next moment. The show is written well, full of action and witty dialogue. There is never a dull moment, whether it be a shootout or a conversation during a stakeout. This is due to one of the best casts of characters on a single show I have seen in a while.

Raylan is played by Timothy Olyphant, a badass actor who is just starting to get his due. You might recognize him from his role in Die Hard 4 or Deadwood. He plays on hell of a cowboy so it is fitting he is playing a modern day reincarnation of one. Raylan can be best described as a mix between Han Solo and John McClain. He has a shoot first, ask questions later vibe mixed with lots of whit and charm. After the first episode it is made clear the man knows how to handle pressure. Raylan has so many complex relationships in the show I cannot begin to describe them all but here is a short list:

Raylan vs. outlaw father Arlo
Raylan vs. Boyd Crowder (Who I will get into in a moment)
Raylan vs. His ex wife
Raylan vs. his current squeeze
Raylan vs. Boyd's Father Bo

Keep in mind this is just Rayland's major season-long relationships. Now the main antagonist of the show is Boyd Crowder, who goes through some major changes in the first few episodes that leaves you guessing the rest of the season on the character's intentions. This is done so well because of the fantastic acting of Walton Goggins, who some might recognize from The Shield.

Rating 5/5- "It's The Bee's Knees!"

The show is an easy recommendation to anyone who likes action, westerns, drama, or any good television period. The show does slow down a bit it the middle and sidetracks of the main story-line but only for three or four episodes, and they are still great ones to watch! FX just started Season 2, and it is looking to best Season 1 at the moment. Check it out next time you have a easy weekend or your sick with nothing to do, you won't regret it.

"Fire in the Whole!"

Quick-view: Chick-Fil-A Chicken Biscuit and Breaking Bad Season 2

I am going to first go over my absolute favorite breakfast of all time. I have been eating this breakfast for over a decade now and can honestly say it is just as good as it was the first time. I am of course talking about the


Chick-Fil-A Chicken Biscuit

So the Chicken Biscuit is one of those things that when I tried I thought "What the hell took so long for me to try this?!". It has since become a classic breakfast staple of mine. The biscuits are soft and flaky. They butter them just right, giving them great flavor. The chicken is always flavorful and juicy. The only problem is some people complain about the dryness of it all. It does not really bother me but one solution to this problem is to smother it in grape jelly. It adds some moisture and some sweetness to the saltiness of the biscuit. But literally I have put dozens of things on mine and have yet to not enjoy it. This thing is breakfast heaven and always will be.

Rating: 5/5 "It's The Bee's Knees"


Breaking Bad Season 2

So in my review of Season One I praised Cranston for his acting chops and raved about the shows mix of drama and humor. While both are still there is Season Two, a lot has changed. In Season Two, the main character, Walter White, gets into further trouble of various sorts. Whether it be with the law, local drug lords, or even his family, Walt's behavior makes every episode nerve wracking because you are anticipating when the Sh!t will hit the fan. The first season was a good mix of humor and drama, but the second is much more of drama with bits of humor here and there. This show once again proves AMC can make captivating shows. This show is also for mature audiences only. There are points where the show is extremely disturbing. After some episodes I literally was tossing in bed because I couldn't stop thinking how much it bothered me. The show also gets to a point where you do not know how you feel about certain characters. Some episodes you like them and others you are so frustrated with them. Anyways, this show is the definition of great television and I plan on getting into Season Three when it comes out.

Rating 5/5 - "It's The Bee's Knees"


I'LL BE BACK

Virgil's Root Beer, Breaking Bad, and Red Dead Redemption Quickys

Alright so here is something I will probably do every so often, especially with classes beginning soon. I call them quickys, they will just be quick reviews of various things. Tonight I am doing Virgil's Root Beer, Breaking Bad Season 1, and Red Dead Redemption.

Virgil's Root Beer

So I originally got Virgil's because I needed Root Beer to cook  some pulled pork in and wanted some good stuff to cook it in. Virgil's prides itself on being micro brewed, all natural, old fashioned root beer. If you look at the ingredients they list things like Anise, Licorice, Vanilla, Clove, Molasses, Nutmeg, and Cinnamon among others, and let me say they all come through strong. This stuff is the most flavorful root beer I have ever had. Now keep in mind you don't see High Fructose Corn syrup or sugar in that list. This stuff is all natural and taste crisp and fresh. It isn't too thick or creamy like some fake root beer. Also the carbonation level is perfect, just the right amount of bubbles.  The only downside I see of Virgil's is it is kind of pricy, I'm talking four buck for a pack of four, on sale. That is the price you pay for quality though.

Rating 5/5- "It's the Bee's Knees"

Breaking Bad: Season One

So I know I am a little late to the party on this one but I promised I would get to seeing this show someday and this holiday season I finally got to. AMC has been pumping out good shows for a while now and this was one of the first. In a nutshell the show is about a down on his luck chemistry teacher and father of soon to be two children (one who is handicapped) who finds out he had terminal lung cancer and 6 months to live. In a last ditch effort to provide for his family he decides to use his knowledge as a chemist to start producing the purest meth possible and teams up with a former screw up student to help him deal the drugs. This is a fascinating show that has a fantastic mixture of drama and humor. The pacing is fantastic and keeps the viewer on the edge every episode. Cranston in a marvelous actor throughout the whole show and really gives that attitude of a man who is over his head but still doesn't give a damn. Anyways this show is one of the most intriguing I have seen in a while and the fact it is on cable blows me away because this is an HBO caliber show. Check it out ASAP, you wont regret it

Rating 5/5- "It's the Bee's Knees"

Red Dead Redemption for the Xbox 360

Now I first have to admit this is a review without playing the multiplayer of this game, just single player. Rockstar games is known for it's Grand Theft Auto series and this is pretty much that same structure, just with a western cowboy theme. I might also mention its not quite as good either. Do not get me wrong, this is a good game, just not the best Rockstar has done. My biggest fault with this game is it just drags on way too long. As like the GTA series, the game has thousands of side missions and thing you can do, only now in a western settings, which is cool but they feel unnecessary. I literally did just the main missions and the game still took me 36 hours to beat. I like getting my moneys worth and all but that is a tad excessive for just one play through. The story is not as compelling as it could have been either, I liked the story of Neversoft's GUN better. I prefer cars to horses personally as well and it can get frustrating riding all across the west. Now they gameplay was fantastic. Shooting people with the dozens of guns in this game is satisfying and you can feel the power behind them. The leveling up system is well put together and helpful. Dueling people in the streets is compelling and nerve racking every time and using the dead eye feature to get six head-shots with six bullets never gets old. My only complaint with gameplay is shooting on horses can be frustrating because controlling yourself and the horse can be difficult. The environments and soundtrack and great and really match the game well but the character models look a bit strange. Anyways I still liked the game, but I feel like it doesn't quite live to Rockstar standards. I am excited to see what they do with LA Noir this year though.

3/5 Stars - "It's Just Meh"

See y'all on the flip side