The neo-Western genre has gained immense popularity on television in recent years, largely due to Taylor Sheridan‘s successful franchise. While Yellowstone is a standout, true fans will recognize that the genre has existed for much longer on both big and small screens, with one particular show significantly contributing to the rise of the neo-Western over a decade ago. Featuring Timothy Olyphant as U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens, FX’s Justified was so impactful that it not only bolstered his career but also launched others, culminating in its revival in 2023 with Justified: City Primeval, which established its own shared universe.
‘Justified’ Was Brought Back With a Limited Series
The story of Justified begins when Raylan Givens is reassigned to his hometown in Harlan County, Kentucky, after shooting a mob boss on a crowded hotel rooftop in Miami. Throughout the subsequent seasons, Justified follows Raylan as he confronts his personal demons, with most of his cases linked to individuals from his past, including former friends and family members. The gritty, decaying backdrop of Harlan mirrors Raylan’s struggles, and addressing these issues is a key element that enhances the original series.
Justified: City Primeval revolves around a similar premise, but takes a distinctly different path. This time, Raylan finds himself in Detroit with his now-teenage daughter Willa (Vivian Olyphant), where local authorities seek his assistance to apprehend the Oklahoma Wildman, Clement Mansell (Boyd Holbrook). In many respects, Raylan and Mansell represent opposing sides of the same coin; both are filled with anger, yet while Raylan strives to avoid harming those around him, Mansell revels in violence, becoming a hedonistic killing machine.
Unfortunately, there has been no news regarding another sequel following the conclusion of Justified: City Primeval. This is disappointing, particularly since the series concludes with a cliffhanger that connects back to the original Justified. While we await Raylan Givens’ potential rescue from this limbo, numerous other narratives exist within the same universe because Justified inadvertently initiated its own shared universe long ago.
‘Justified’ Was a Part of the First Neo-Western Shared Universe on TV
Image via FX
A neo-Western shared universe isn’t unfamiliar to Justified fans since the FX series adapts author Elmore Leonard‘s work. Leonard is celebrated as one of the finest crime novelists of the last century, and remarkably, his best characters intersected within each other’s narratives on TV due to Justified.
Justified: City Primeval explicitly acknowledges its ties to other Leonard stories. Raylan himself isn’t the original protagonist of Leonard’s tale City Primeval: High Noon in Detroit, which serves as the basis for the miniseries. That role belongs to Detective Raymond Cruz, who appears in both Justified: City Primeval and plays a significant part in Steven Soderbergh‘s 1998 film Out of Sight, portrayed by actor Paul Calderón.
The original Justified series features a subtle connection to Out of Sight. One protagonist from the film is Karen Sisco (Jennifer Lopez), an impulsive U.S. Marshal collaborating with Cruz to apprehend bank robber Jack Foley (George Clooney). Subsequently, in 2003, ABC developed a series centered around this character called Karen Sisco, starring Carla Gugino. Nearly ten years later, Gugino appeared in Justified, playing Karen Goodall, who is essentially the same character due to rights complications.
‘Justified’s Revival Proves There Will Always Be a Demand for Raylan Givens
The numerous connections and references among these adaptations of Leonard’s works signify the first neo-Western shared universe long before Yellowstone‘s inception. Regrettably, although Justified: City Primeval did not achieve deserved ratings, it clearly demonstrated that there will always be a demand for more content related to Justified, leaving the door open for future developments.
The character of Raylan Givens isn’t Olyphant’s first portrayal of a lawman, as he previously played Seth Bullock in HBO’s Deadwood. Fortunately, this character type suits him well; otherwise, Justified‘s success wouldn’t have led to its sequel series.. Together, both Justified and City Primeval narrate the journey of one of television’s most compelling protagonists. It is hoped that it won’t be long before we see him again since both series achieved success in their respective ways.
