Fire in the Hole (Justified)

"Fire in the Hole"
Justified episode
Episode no.Season 1
Episode 1
Directed byMichael Dinner
Teleplay byGraham Yost
Featured musicSteve Porcaro
Cinematography byEdward J. Pei
Editing byVictor Du Bois
Original air dateMarch 16, 2010 (2010-03-16)
Running time51 minutes
Guest appearances
Episode chronology
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"Fire in the Hole" is the series premiere of the American Neo-Western[1] television series Justified. The episode was written by series developer Graham Yost and directed by Michael Dinner. It originally aired on FX on March 16, 2010.

The series is based on Elmore Leonard's stories about the character Raylan Givens, particularly "Fire in the Hole", which serves as the basis for the episode.[2] The series follows Raylan Givens, a tough deputy U.S. Marshal enforcing his own brand of justice. Following the shooting of a mob hitman, Raylan is sent to Lexington, Kentucky to investigate an old childhood friend Boyd Crowder, who is supposedly now part of a white supremacist gang.

According to Nielsen Media Research, the episode was seen by an estimated 4.16 million household viewers and gained a 1.5 ratings share among adults aged 18–49. It was the highest rated show of the night in basic cable and it was also FX's second highest-rated series premiere, behind The Shield. The episode received extremely positive reviews from critics, who particularly praised its "sharp" dialogue and acting.

  1. ^
    • Hale, Mike (January 19, 2015). "A Wry Comedy of Manners in Kentucky Coal Country". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved January 13, 2023. another gun-happy neo-western, 'Justified' has been true to its Elmore Leonard roots
    • Jensen, Jeff (April 14, 2015). "'Justified' series finale: EW review". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved January 13, 2023. The crackling neo-western pulp of Justified always wore its heft and depth as casually as Raylan Givens wore his Stetson.
    • Hibberd, James (May 5, 2010). "Walton Goggins upped on FX's 'Justified'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 14, 2023. The producers of FX's neo-Western crime drama "Justified" have elevated Walton Goggins to a series regular on the show.
    • Ettenhofer, Valerie (October 16, 2022). "Justified Is a Satisfying Neo-Western Anchored by Great Performances". /Film. Retrieved January 14, 2023. A soulful neo-Western at heart, "Justified" uses a near-procedural format.
    • Matthews, Liam (January 12, 2023). "Everything to Know About Justified: City Primeval". TV Guide. Retrieved January 13, 2023. Timothy Olyphant is getting his cowboy hat out of storage to play Raylan Givens, the witty, perpetually pissed U.S. Marshal he played for six seasons on FX's neo-Western crime drama Justified.
    • Klein, Brennan (January 7, 2023). "Justified Revival's Murderous Villain Teased By Executive Producers". Screen Rant. Retrieved January 13, 2023. The reboot series, which is coming to FX later this year, is a follow-up to the neo-Western show Justified, which is adapted from the stories of Elmore Leonard
  2. ^ Zogbi, Marina (December 1, 2009). "'Justified' on FX Premiering in March". AOL TV. Archived from the original on May 17, 2013. Retrieved August 16, 2021.