I think this series should be discussed on an individual episode basis and that the OP should request a moderator to rename this post as being for the discussion of episode 1.
I like the way that the Doctor Who episodes were handled this past season. Boxed spoilers until it ran on the US west coast, then open season. That rule was cited in every OP for each episode, and I knew to stay out of that thread if it took me a few days to watch.
That being said, I enjoyed the first episode of Justified, although I hate to see one of my favorite characters go. Is this going to be like Sons of Anarchy, where we see long-time characters killed off little by little?
Are Raylan and Boyd going to have a final knock-down drag em out showdown?
The OP doesn’t seem to care, so I say spoil on.
I’d say we can pretty much count on a final showdown of some sort. I also think the meeting on the bridge between Ava and Raylan was setting up a betrayal of Raylan by Ava. We’re being led to believe that because she could kill Bo Crowder without him seeing it coming, that she’s thinking she could also set up Boyd for a fall in the same way. But I think she’s going to bushwhack Raylan. Looks like Sam Elliot is going to be the Bad Guy of the Season.
Bring him on! One of the best at that sort of thing. And don’t rule out Garret Dillahunt getting in on some of the skullduggery, too. One of the sustaining features of Justified has been their ability to draw on the talents of some of the best heavies working today, often in simple, almost cameo, roles. I get the feeling that there’s a subculture of actors (both genders) who count on being used in small roles on popular shows like SoA, Breaking Bad, Justified, etc. It’s like a badge of honor for them to have appeared in the series that have lasted more than a season or two.
It can be a fun way to spend the time it takes to look through the cast lists on http://www.imdb.com/?ref_=nv_home for the longer-running shows to see who all has had a small part in them. It might even make for some super-trivia category to learn which show has had the most bit roles and extras shots for the “now famous” types. I’d be willing to bet that Gunsmoke might win such a thing. But what are some other shows of the past that excel in the use of big talent in small parts?
It is indeed fun to see those folks from Deadwood (2004–2006) cropping up here and there in other successful shows. It’s like a damned fraternity of sorts.
Probably a subject for a separate thread. But The Good Wife comes to mind.
I didn’t even see that as subtext. That she could betray Raylan seemed to me to be the direct subject and that she could betray Boyd was the subtext.
My prediction is that Ava is going to wind up killing Boyd, or vice versa.
The stalker moment at the end of the episode + the previous statement by Boyd (re: Dewey) strongly suggests versa.
Which is why I think it will be Ava killing Boyd. 
Refresh my memory on the stalker moment.
Boyd watching Ava sleep with an intense* look on his face.
*default for Boyd when he’s thinking.
As I was watching this ep I was wondering whether they’d kill off Raylan too. Immediately before the spoilered event I had decided that they would and that I knew just who would do it…so much for that theory.
Well, there was that discourse between Raylan and Art, wherein Art told him that his luck would run out at some point. It seemed a bit too heavy-handed and may be a red herring.
Everything from Art’s words of wisdom to the repeated use of “You’ll never leave Harlan alive” over and over has been beating us over the head with the idea that Raylan won’t get out of the town alive. Which is why I think it’s a huge fake-out.
Enjoyed the episode and enjoyed this article - thanks for linking to it!
Correct. I do not care. Sorry for the late reply.
Unless you’ve seen the show ahead of its broadcast in other areas, then what’s the big deal? 
I could see Boyd killing Ava, but if Boyd is going to die… I really think it needs to be at hands of Raylan.
Man, if they pull a Boardwalk Empire ending on this; I’m going to be really ticked off. I want to see Raylan ride off into the sunset… or at least make it back to his baby and Winona.
Oh yeah, and did anyone else catch the goof where they showed the pickup’s wheels spinning before they showed him slam the truck in gear? (the scene where truck was using its winch cable)
I really don’t think so, you saw Boyd do a double take the second mexico was brought up. If he hadn’t mentioned that he would probably still be around.