Ghosts (Justified)

The season four finale of *Justified*, titled "Ghosts," aired on FX on April 2, 2013. It is the 52nd episode of the series and the 13th of its fourth season. Fred Golan and Benjamin Cavell wrote the episode, with Bill Johnson directing. The story centers on Raylan Givens taking action against Nicky Augustine after a threat to Winona’s life, while Boyd and Ava try to stay ahead of the police following a murder.

The episode drew an estimated 2.25 million viewers and a 0.7 ratings share among adults 18–49, according to Nielsen. Critics universally praised the direction, writing, pacing, twists, and performances—especially Walton Goggins’—as well as the setup for the next season.

In the plot, Art suspends Raylan after taking Drew Thompson and Ellen May into custody, a move Raylan accepts. Boyd and Ava, worried about their future, try to retrieve Delroy Baker’s body with Jimmy’s help, but the police have already found it. Raylan visits Winona, held hostage by three of Augustine’s men who want him to lead them to Drew Thompson. Raylan and Winona kill the three men. Art warns Raylan he will be fired if he goes after Augustine, but Raylan secretly tells Winona he plans to find those responsible. Boyd uses leverage with Lee Paxton, who owns the funeral home holding Delroy’s body, to swap it before the autopsy, requiring a replacement corpse. That night, Boyd and Jimmy exhume a dealer’s body and deliver it to the bar.

Raylan, suspecting Boyd worked with Augustine on the hostage situation, threatens Boyd and Ava, though they know he is suspended. When Raylan mentions Ellen May’s confessions, Boyd agrees to take him to Augustine. At an airport, Raylan offers Augustine a deal: turn himself in and leave his family alone. Augustine refuses and vows to kill Raylan’s family after killing Sammy Tonin in Detroit. Raylan, having already called Sammy to Harlan, lets Sammy’s henchman execute Augustine. Meanwhile, Ava tries to swap the bodies alone but is arrested by Mooney, who engineered a scheme to imprison Boyd. Boyd attacks Mooney and is restrained. He vows to free Ava within 24 hours with the best lawyer money can buy, though Ava is skeptical. Raylan helps Winona pack to move for safety. Duffy tells Boyd he now controls heroin distribution in Harlan. Boyd breaks into the house he wanted to buy with Ava, then looks at the path he thought would lead him away from his roots.