The Collection

Well, this series is moving right along. I had thought that while the opening two episodes were crackers, it might start to limp from there.

Today's episode, "Collections" while still retaining elements of the original idea, took it down new and very interesting pathways. First class script writing and good playing by the cast.

The newish and side characters are given plenty of room to grow and behave/misbehave, while Raylan does his thing without necessarily going all John Wayne over everything.

That there Winona Hawkins (Natalie Zea) is one handsome lady:) I look forward to the twists and turns to come.

brendan

I'm from Middlesboro, a city of 15,000 people about an hours drive from Harlan County. If any of you watched the History Channel Program "America: The Story of Us" Then you might remember one episode opened with a meteor tearing ass through the sky and hitting on the KY/TN/VA border. Well, the hole left in Earth is where I live. It is in all ways a hole in the ground, and it lives up to it. So, when my neck of the woods (literally) gets it's own show. I am beyond elated. Now take into account the fact the show is GOOD, and they do a fair job of portraying the local characters as both near half retarded hicks, and some highly intelligent southern ladies and gentlemen respectively, I can't get enough. The part that makes sure I will NEVER miss an episode is that my sisters name is Carrie Carnes, and this weeks program had a lady named Caryn, and for the better part of the show I couldn't hear the name being said clearly enough, so I assumed it was Carrie. She is also a 30 something blond girl of equal build. Who ironically is a man eater (My sister as well as Caryn from the show). I am proud to be from here,and will take the name hillbilly or redneck with no argument. Although, I don't present visually as either (my accent is a dead give away though) I don't think there is a prettier place on Earth, and wouldn't trade the people for any other group. It has as many faults if not more than where you live, but it has a charm that has to be lived to be understood. Kentucky - you don't have to do Meth or marry your cousin to live here, but it helps :D

For the most part, it's the three guest stars (Tony Hale, Peter Jason and Robert Picardo) that are the important part of 'The Collection'. IT's not the most interesting crime of the week for this show. But it's that one scene near the very end that really punctuates this tale of art appraisal and cheap "Double Indemnity" plot lines and gives it punch.

Bookending this episode are conversations between Raylan and imprisoned Boyd, both scenes tease a possibly reborn convict as well as give another taste of one of the series' hallmarks: the dialogue. Scenes are made and even electrified by simple conversation between the two, and they're rarely (ever?) boring; more often than not peeling away layers of each character and exposing similarities.

7/10