Justified: City Primeval's Biggest Plot Hole Makes Zero Sense, Literally
So, was it all justified?
This is the end of the sequel about everyone's favourite deputy, Raylan Givens. While we may be gearing up for Season 2, with the finale revealing Boyd Crowder's daring prison break, it was ultimately Raylan's heart-wrenching decision that broke the hearts of the many fans who had been following Raylan since the original Justified.
Raylan chose to leave his position as Deputy Marshal, a decision he wrestled with throughout the series. But how justified was this from a storytelling perspective? Regrettably, some fans viewed it as a significant plot hole.
Fans Believe It Was 'Sloppy and Inconsistent'
According to some fans, Raylan's decision to resign based solely on the events of City Primeval was hardly justified, considering his past experiences in the original show.
First, he spent his entire life in Kentucky, a state rife with unethical bureaucrats, corrupt police, and a host of criminals, including his own father, Arlo Givens. Thus, some questioned how the corruption in Detroit could have had such a profound impact on him.
Second, many perceived Mansell as too weak of a villain to provoke Raylan's resignation (even if it followed a murder). Unlike Boyd, the protagonist had no personal ties to him. Moreover, the fact that legal loopholes allowed Raylan to evade punishment could hardly have rattled him, given his past actions, which were often cruel and not always justified.
Third, Raylan had previously sacrificed much more of his personal life; he missed the birth of his daughter and neglected to visit Winona and his daughter in Miami for an extended period. That's why Raylan's sudden decision to prioritise fatherhood seemed completely out of character to many.
And Yet, One Thing Should Not Be Forgotten
Nevertheless, the crux of City Primeval is that Raylan is no longer the man he once was. He's aged, endured numerous traumatic experiences, and realised he can't maintain the chaotic lifestyle he once led. That's why the seemingly unjustified murder of Mansell had such a huge impact on him. It's also the fact that wherever he goes, whether it's Kentucky or Michigan, he encounters a bureaucratic and corrupt system that he feels he is powerless to change.
All of this can not only break even the strongest and most emotionally resilient individual, but it can also have easily prompted him to finally go through a decision he had been mulling over for years: to leave the service and finally dedicate himself to his daughter, after wasting the first 15 years of her life on a thankless job that has ultimately changed nothing.
Source: Reddit.