Today I come to speak of Justified, favorite writers and dialogue

Last night I got to catch up with my second or third favorite show on television (since Friday Night Lights is about to air it's final season it still counts, but only partially). And to try and explain what it is about the show, and similar shows and movies that I love so much.

The show is Justified, a show on late night F/X network. It's centered on a U.S. Marshal who has returned to his home town in Kentucky and the various adventures and misadventures he encounters there. It stars one of my new favorite actors: Tim Olyphant. And is loosely based on a character and book written by Elmore Leonard.

There are 2 things I really like about the show, and also the books of Elmore Leonard: dialogue and real people and criminals. First, the dialogue in the show and the books is just great. It may bare little relation to how a lot of people talk. But that's okay, because it is the dialogue that draws me in. My absolute favorite line so far this season:

"I'm not afraid of heights, snakes or red-headed women"

Just a great tag line. Much of the talk and dialogue in the show is like that, eloquent but in a round about way. People using a lot of big words, but using them in such a way that it doesn't seem like they are actually educated. And all spoke with very authentic, slow Kentucky accents. It's just a joy to listen to, and appreciate how the characters interact.

Which brings me to the second part, and this is the element of all of Leonard's books and shows and movies based on his work that I love best of all. The people, and especially the criminals are very true to life. They can seem very smart and cunning, but in reality more often than not they are just making thing up as they go along, and the most common response to any problem is violence. And the total lack of self awareness is especially true. When a character is faced with a problem often as a result of their own behavior and choices their response is never 'oh I screwed up, that's why this bad thing happened' instead it's always someone else's fault. And like it or not that is a far more common response by people than you might want to think.

While the show is violent, and the language can get very real and profane I would recommend it to anyone who can get past those elements. Again, not for everyone, but if you like your characters heroic but flawed, and your criminals with plenty of gray to them, this is the show for you.