It’s one of the oldest rules in showbiz: always leave them wanting more. An announcement from the creative team behind FX’s hit show Justified demonstrates that they have taken that old maxim to heart. The program will come to a close next year with its sixth season.
The decision was apparently made jointly by series creator Graham Yost and the man who brought the show’s lead character, Deputy U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens to life, Timothy Olyphant. The news was confirmed by John Landgraf, the president of programming at FX.
“We talked about it a year ago; they felt that the arc of the show and what they had to say would be best served by six seasons instead of seven. Regretfully, I accepted their decision.”
Justified, which premiered in 2010, has been a critical darling since day one and has amassed a very vocal and loyal fan base. A tale of American outlaws and lawmen in the modern world all with an Elmore Leonard (who created Raylan back in the early 90’s) twist in dialogue and pacing made Justified a show that never needed to try to be cool, it just was.
FX is to be commended here for allowing the show to end on its own terms and not trying to push the series further than the creators want to take it. While I’m sure the series could run successfully for multiple seasons yet, if the people who create and love the show think it is time to hang it up, then that is what should happen. As Graham Yost said when the story broke:
“There were financial incentives to keep going, but it really felt, in terms of story, that six years felt about right.”
Now before we lose perspective here, Justified is far from done, season five has just started so we have plenty more adventures with Raylan before he rides off into the sunset.The only difference now is that the end of the trail is in sight. The journey is more important than the destination however, and I bet it’s going to be one hell of an adventure getting there.
So what are some of your favorite Justified moments, and how do you think the show should end? Let us know in the comments below.