Fathers and Sons (Justified)

"Fathers and Sons" serves as the twelfth episode of *Justified*'s first season, and the twelfth episode overall. Dave Andron wrote it, Michael Katleman directed, and it aired on FX on June 1, 2010. The story, based on Elmore Leonard's "Fire in the Hole," follows Deputy U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens as he works his own brand of justice. After shooting a mob hitman, Raylan is sent to Lexington, Kentucky, to investigate his old friend Boyd Crowder, now leading a white supremacist gang. In this episode, Raylan wants his father Arlo to help expose Bo Crowder, but Arlo has other ideas. Erica Tazel is credited but does not appear.

According to Nielsen Media Research, an estimated 2.13 million households watched, earning a 0.8/2 ratings share among adults 18–49. Critics praised the episode, highlighting its writing and how it wove all storylines together ahead of the season finale.

**Plot** Arlo confesses to Raylan and Chief Deputy Mullen that he was involved in skimming operations for Bo Crowder. Raylan and Mullen want Arlo to inform on Bo in exchange for immunity, which Arlo reluctantly agrees to, though he refuses to wear a wire and lashes out at Raylan before leaving.

In Miami, Bo meets with drug kingpin Gio Reyes, who warns him to deal with Raylan, who has been a problem since killing Tommy Bucks. Bo buys a warehouse for his men. Ava leaves Winona's house and returns to her own, but Boyd's followers are staying there because it was Bowman's house. Winona visits Raylan at his hotel, and they have sex. Ava later takes a shotgun to Bo's club and threatens him to stop harassing her. Bo tells her to leave his club, but she refuses.

Bo is disgusted by Boyd's newfound religion and growing crew. At a VFW office, a man named Lucky threatens to detonate a grenade. Arlo talks him down. Meeting Raylan, Arlo agrees to wear a wire. But when he meets Bo, he warns him about it. They play along, and Bo tells Arlo to meet him the next day and to inform Raylan about Ava's threat. Raylan confronts Ava at her house; she calls him out for sleeping with Winona and says she won't leave Kentucky. Later, a truck carrying Bo's drug supplies is ambushed by Boyd and his men, who use a remote-detonated bomb to destroy it.