Justified "Measures"

"Raylan squares off with a pair of Detroit hitmen; the battle between Boyd and Quarles comes to a head."

"You ever get feeling God's laughing at ya?"

"Why? Just 'cus we shot the guy that's looking to kill the guy that you're just dying to see dead?" - Raylan and Art

"Measures" served as another episode that moved the ever so many pieces around the Justified chess board before the final two episodes bring loads of blood shed and chaos we know the writers love to bring.

Quarles is trying to pick up the pieces from losing his grip on the Sheriff's office while also losing his support from Theo Tonin (played by Adam Arkin, who you might remember as Ethan Zobelle on Sons of Anarchy). He decides to use the Sheriff for one last deal, looking for a place to get some quick cash and hurt the man who stole the Sheriff's office from him, Boyd. He ends up knocking over (killing) one of Boyd's dealers (who had a wicked katana; I hope I wasn't the only one lamenting the fact that Quarles didn't use it). This does not end well for him.

"I'm worried your going to get me shot." 

Raylan has his own "problems" so to speak with first his awkward conversation with Lyndsay, who isn't guilty enough to not allow him to heartlessly accept the gift of her feminine virtue (I like the Lyndsay character; she's got spunk). After that (or during) he gets to meet with two Detroit mobsters sent down by Tonin, mistaking them for coming to work with Quarles. He finds out later "work" isn't what they had in mind.

We also get to see some fun and some unlikely partnerships. Art finds it necessary to tag along with Raylan when they're going to confront Quarles (who no one can seem to find). This gives us some great scenes, especially in the car scoping out Wynn Duffy's RV about Raylan needing to stay alive long to meet his son's acquaintance. Tim and Rachel follow Dickey, who's out of jail thanks to Raylan's odd speech in front of the judge, to his mother's store. We get to see Rodney again (and Rachel kick one of his muscle in the testiculars), which leads to the Marshal's shutting down the meeting between Errol and Dickey (and the confiscation of the $46k and change). This begets the new partnership between those two, egged on by Dickey bribing and Errol's discontent with the way things Limehouse is running Nobles, with the condition that they partner with Boyd to get the money Dickey is owed. Of course, Boyd and Wynn may have themselves an accord for the life of Quarles (who Boyd tazed and chained naked to a bed; fair turnabout for Quarles, really).

Yes, the pieces have been put into place for an explosive penultimate and finale for Season Three. The question is who's going to be standing at the end.

Notable quotes:

"What do you think is in the cooler?" "Not a human head" "Mmm ... that'd be cool." - Tim and Rachel while scoping out Errol and Dickey outside the prison. Of course Tim would find a head in a cooler to be cool.

"I'm gonna kill Dickey Bennett, and when I do, I'm going to take my time." - Boyd, who hasn't let go of his festering need to avenge Ava's shooting (even though she's recovered and runs the whores).

"Ugh! What a dick!" - Quarles after beating the drug dealer to death with the katana sheath.

"Art, I've already got a daddy." "Yeah, I've met your daddy." "Fair enough. Continue." - Raylan and Art, who were just full of quotes tonight.

"Whatever your fails are as a father, I'm sure your child would be better off if you stay above ground long enough to make your acquaintance." - Art being fatherly to Raylan. That scene in the car (or really any scene with those two tonight) was perfect.

So, what did everybody else think?

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