Why Justified is the best cop show on television

The FX drama has mastered the art of adaptation

Justified
(Image credit: (Prashant Gupta/FX))

It might not be the best show on television, but I don't think there's any show I enjoy watching more than Justified, which premieres its fifth season on FX tonight.

Over the course of its four seasons (and the two episodes I've seen from season five), the FX drama has quietly emerged as the most riveting cop show on the air, distinguishing itself with a twisty narrative, a deep stable of characters, a unique rural setting, and an unmistakably original tone and voice. It is, beyond any doubt, the best adaptation of Elmore Leonard's work to date — which is all the more remarkable when you consider how few of its characters and plotlines originated in Leonard's stories.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up
To continue reading this article...
Continue reading this article and get limited website access each month.
Get unlimited website access, exclusive newsletters plus much more.
Cancel or pause at any time.
Already a subscriber to The Week?
Not sure which email you used for your subscription? Contact us
Scott Meslow

Scott Meslow is the entertainment editor for TheWeek.com. He has written about film and television at publications including The Atlantic, POLITICO Magazine, and Vulture.