Raw Deal (Justified)

"Raw Deal" is the seventh episode of the fifth season of the American Neo-Western^[1] television series Justified. It is the 59th overall episode of the series and was written by co-producer VJ Boyd and directed by Bill Johnson. It originally aired on FX on February 25, 2014.

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. The series follows Raylan Givens, a tough deputy U.S. Marshal enforcing his own brand of justice. The series revolves around the inhabitants and culture in the Appalachian Mountains area of eastern Kentucky, specifically Harlan County where many of the main characters grew up. In the episode, Boyd and the Crowes fly South for a crucial drug score, while Raylan pursues a small-time grifter with big time enemies.

According to Nielsen Media Research, the episode was seen by an estimated 2.10 million household viewers and gained a 0.7 ratings share among adults aged 18–49. The episode received generally positive reviews from critics, with critics praising the closure to Johnny's storyline although critics criticized the pace, occasional aimlessness and Ava's storyline. Critics also expressed immense frustration at the progress on Raylan's and Art's storyline, with many signaling that the show hasn't made good use of it.