Ep 2. Riverbrook

Deputy U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens is back in his hometown of Harlan, Kentucky, and he's not wasting any time. In the second episode of the first season of Justified, titled "Riverbrook," Givens continues his investigation into the criminal underworld in Harlan County.

The episode opens with Givens visiting a prison to meet with his old coal-mining buddy Boyd Crowder, who's serving time for blowing up a meth lab. Givens is skeptical of Crowder's claims that he's seen the light and is now a born-again Christian, but seems willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.

Meanwhile, Givens' boss, Chief Deputy Art Mullen, assigns him to a new case: investigating a halfway house called Riverbrook, where several ex-convicts have gone missing. The owner of the facility, Helen Givens (no relation to Raylan), is uncooperative with law enforcement, so Raylan decides to pose as a recently released prisoner in order to suss out what's really going on at Riverbrook.

As he immerses himself in the halfway house's community, Givens encounters a cast of characters, including a pair of gay ex-cons who are running a mini-meth lab out of their room, a former junkie who's trying hard to stay clean, and a tough-as-nails nurse who doesn't take any crap from anyone.

Givens also runs into his old high school flame, Ava Crowder (yes, Boyd's sister-in-law), who's still living in Harlan County and running her own bar. She's not thrilled to see Raylan at first, but the two quickly reconnect over shared memories and unresolved feelings.

As Givens continues to investigate Riverbrook, he uncovers a dark secret: the missing ex-cons are actually being killed and buried on the property. The culprit turns out to be Helen's own son, who's been carrying out the murders in an attempt to cover up the fact that he's been embezzling money from the halfway house's accounts.

Givens confronts the killer and a shootout ensues, with Givens emerging victorious (of course). He's hailed as a hero by the residents of Riverbrook, but he's left shaken by the close call.

In the aftermath, Givens returns to Ava's bar and they share a flirtatious moment, but he ultimately decides not to pursue anything further with her. As the episode ends, Givens addresses the camera directly, musing on the nature of justice and how sometimes it's not always black and white.

Overall, "Riverbrook" is a strong second episode for Justified, introducing new characters and a complex plot while also maintaining the witty banter and tense action that made the pilot so compelling. It's a great showcase for Timothy Olyphant as Raylan Givens, who effortlessly conveys both his tough-guy exterior and his inner conflicts and vulnerabilities. Fans of crime dramas and Westerns alike will find plenty to enjoy here.