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Jul 25, 2023 · Backstabbers: Directed by Jon Avnet. With Timothy Olyphant, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, Vondie Curtis-Hall, Adelaide Clemens. Raylan and the Detroit Police round up some promising suspects, provoking Carolyn's ire; Mansell and Sandy move on the Albanian mark; things with Willa reach a breaking point.
- (787)
- Jon Avnet
- TV-MA
- Crime, Drama
Justified: City Primeval. ) " Backstabbers " is the third episode of the American television miniseries Justified: City Primeval, a continuation of the series Justified. The episode was written by producer Eisa Davis and executive producer Chris Provenzano, and directed by Jon Avnet. It originally aired on FX on July 25, 2023.
- Episode 3
- Jon Avnet
- Eisa Davis, Cami Patton
- Overview
- Plot
- Production
"Backstabbers" is the third episode of Justified: City Primeval, a limited series followup to the series Justified. It was written by Elisa Davis & Chris Provenzano and directed by Jon Avnet. It first aired on July 25, 2023.
Summary
Raylan and the Detroit Police round up some promising suspects, provoking Carolyn's ire; Mansell and Sandy move on the Albanian mark; things with Willa reach a breaking point.
Recap
In Grosse Pointe, Michigan, Carolyn Wilder tells Jamal over the phone that she's sitting looking at a lien from the IRS for $106,516.74. She tells him it's his mess, not hers, and to fix it. She heads to the other side of her house, where Clement Mansell is outside, playing loud music. She tells him to turn it off, that her neighbors are sleeping. "Well, what do you think?" he asks, showing her the results of the beating he took from Raylan Givens. She tells him again to turn off the music. He does and asks if she wants to know who did it. "Not interested," she tells him and he tells her it was their friend, the marshal. She tells him he can tell her about it at her office. He continues that Raylan chatted up his girl, so he returned the favor and chatted up his. Carolyn asks if he means his daughter, saying that maybe he deserved it. He says that they should take pictures for evidence, suggesting he come inside. She tells him to stay away from the marshal, his daughter and her house. She says that she doesn't know what she thinks he's doing, messing with a U.S. marshal's daughter. "Whatever I want," he replies, and heads back to his car. Maureen Downey of the Detroit Police Department asks Raylan how his daughter, Willa, who is sitting nearby, is doing. He tells her to ask her, that she isn't talking to him. "You didn't take the bait?" asks Maureen and he admits he might have left some visible marks. Norbert Bryl asks what she would have done if it were kids and she tells him that she just wants to do some real police work, that the news stations are on their backs for still not having anything on the killings of Judge Alvin Guy and Rose Doyle 36 hours later. They discuss what to do next, Bryl suggesting that they find a tall building and see if Clement Mansell can fly. Raylan goes over to Willa, who asks him where they're going. He tells her it's the marshal's office. She asks where later and he tells her it's his concern. She asks if she has a plan she won't tell him or if he's making things up as he goes. He asks what she wants and she tells him that she wants to eat, and not from the vending machines behind her. He takes her to a restaurant, but when they get there, she only orders tea with lemon. She comments that he must have fucked up pretty bad, then says that it's a word when he stares at her choice of language. She suggests he use words and he replies that she's mad. She claims be in the "Green Zone" of the social-emotional chart. He replies that she saw him in the Red Zone, that Clement is a killer and enjoys it. He asks if she understands this. "There you go again, saying I'm mad," she replies, and sits down at another bench. At the casino, Wendell Robinson arrests Sandy Stanton. Her boss, Rick, comments that he knew this was going to happen sooner or later, and it was sooner. At Sweety's bar, Sweety arrives to find the place being torn apart, the police searching for the gun used in the killings. He lowers his head and sobs and Norbert Bryl shows him that they have a search warrant. "We got a wrecking crew too," he comments. Clement Mansell is arrested, the police tearing up his and Sandy's penthouse for the notebook that was on Judge Alvin Guy's person when he was killed. At the restaurant, Raylan tells Willa that it's time to go, that it's clear she doesn't actually want to eat and he has to get to work. "I'm slowing you down?" she asks and he tells her she didn't help with the stunt the night before. She tells him that she wishes he would just say it. He asks what they're talking about. She says that she got in the way, he got in trouble, and it would be easier for him if she wasn't around. He stares, then sits down, telling her that it's hard. She asks what's hard about his life, that he does whatever he wants. He tells her she's his life and she asks if she's even in it. He tells her he'll do better and she says she'll hold him to that, she'd better not go backstabbing her. "Or what?" he asks and she asks why he thinks she broke the girl's nose. In an interrogation room, Norbert Bryl comments to Clement Mansell that it's impressive how they once had him cold on four counts of second degree homicide, but he walked. He continues that he hid out for a couple of years in the Redneck Riviera, but then came back to do a judge and a girl, then go after a marshal. Raylan listens to this from outside Norbert continues that Clement is not what they call a criminal mastermind. He tells him he has an eyewitness tying him to the judge and that he's looking at life. Clement tells him his square beard doesn't make up for a lack of hair. Meanwhile, Wendell Robinson tells Sandy Stanton that he's seen her squeezed-to-death look before. He tells her that she had it all the way up to when she went into Sweety's Tavern, but not when she came out. Maureen talks with Sweety, saying that he's been someone that they could talk to for a long time now, understand the streets. She says she knows he doesn't snitch, but that he has the pulse of the community. He asks if she's singing his funeral song and she tells him he's in the hot seat on a double homicide. Norbert tells Clement that if he doesn't want to talk, they have Sandy, spilling their guts and that they've been tailing her. Wendell tells Sandy that they found the gun used in the murders. Maureen tells Sweety that Sandy just gave them the gun, that they have him cold. He replies that he wants to see his lawyer. Clement tells Norbert that there's no point in letting them tell it all. He asks him to get him a tape recorder. Norbert tells him he already has him covered, pointing at a camera, but Clement says it's just not the same. Norbert finally returns with a tape recorder, saying it took six rooms to find it. Clement then turns it on and starts singing the song "We're Going to Be Friends," hamming it up for the camera. Lou Whitman comments that it's a new one, and Raylan tells him it's like he knew he was there. Lou tells him he knew what to expect going in, but warns him that if he stays on this road, he will get indicted and then he'll miss getting Clement Mansell. Raylan asks just what he wants him to do. As Carolyn Wilder enters, Willa asks her if she liked the drink Raylan (she) sent. "Oh, that was you," comments Carolyn, saying the sprinkler was a nice touch. Raylan asks Carolyn to keep his daughter out of things, then, walking out of the office, tells Carolyn that she needs to get her client under control. "Excuse me?" she asks and he tells her that there are boundaries, that he crossed a line. She points out that Raylan put hands on Clement, and he tells her that Clement isn't just some misguided boy, that he killed two people. She tells him to prove it, to get him the right way. She tells him she'd be angry too, but that everybody doesn't get to be angry the way he does. Raylan is now with Willa at the home of Detective Maureen Downey and her family. He tells her husband, Bill, that he appreciates them opening their home to them. He and Maureen agree they're safer there than at some hotel. Raylan watches his daughter, chatting and laughing with the Downey children. Maureen tells him she brought him an extra pillow. When he doesn't answer, she tells him that she knows he's wondering just what it is that Clement Mansell has to do with Judge Guy. "Never came through his courtroom," agrees Raylan and Maureen agrees that he never crossed paths with Rose Doyle either. He says that this was while Sandy was out with some Albanian kid and that the Albanian has to figure in somehow. Maureen tells him that both he and Willa are welcome to stay as long as they want. Meanwhile, Sweety and his employee Trennell clean up the tavern. Trennell tells him he's sweeping up the shame, that it's not how it had to be, but it's how it is. Sweety tells him that he's been living there a long time and can't go back. Trennell tells him he'll go on sweeping and he says he doesn't have to do one thing he doesn't want. He pulls out a gun, the one used by Clement, and Trennell asks him if he stopped at an antique shop. Sweety explains what it is, saying that Clement thought he was slick stashing it there. Trennell advises him to get rid of it, but Sweety says Clement thinks he has an ace in the hole, but they'll see the look on his face when he gets got. The next morning, Clement tells Sandy it's time to get back on track. "My little Albanian?" she asks. He asks her what she did with the gun and she says she told him she put it in the river. He asks what an Albanian is and she tells him Albania is on the other side of Italy. She says the Albanians there are the really hard-ass ones who wouldn't live under the Communists or the Turks. He asks what's so hard-ass about them and she says that Skender Lulgjuraj says that if you do something to one of them, it's like you've done it to their entire family. Sandy tells him Skender said he has a secret room in case they get into a blood feud, a hideout. "Secret room," muses Clement. At the Downeys', Raylan stares at a sleeping Willa. In the courthouse, Carolyn sits with her laptop open, reviewing an Application for Appointment to the Office of Associate Judge. One of the questions reads "Has any federal or state taxing authority ever filed a lien against you for delinquent taxes?" She closes the laptop, weary, then walks inside the empty courtroom. She goes up to the judge's podium, sits behind it, and bangs the gavel, imagining something it seems she might never be able to have. Raylan visits a cafe called Tirana Dog, where Skender is at work. Raylan shows him his badge. He asks him what his relationship is with Sandy Stanton. He tells him that he doesn't want to talk about her. Raylan points out that he was with her the night Judge Guy was killed, asking why he's protecting her. He asks if they're a team and Skender says they're an apple cut in half. He says he came to the U.S. expecting certain things, only to meet Sandy and find out there was more. He tells him he bought a $27,000 ring. "You're marrying Sandy Stanton?" asks Raylan, incredulous, and he tells him it's TBD, that Sandy is very close with her brother, who wants to meet him first. Raylan walks off and puts in a call to Maureen, telling her that Skender is loaded, in love and not so bright. Maureen replies that he doesn't sound he's in on it and Raylan agrees that he's the mark. Clement, Sandy and Skender are now all hanging out together in a bar, listening to a live musical performance. Skender says it's pretty loud and Clement tells him that if his mother hadn't been carried off by a tornado, they'd be holding this meeting in Lawton, Oklahoma. He spins a story about his mother working outside, hanging laundry on a line, when the sky turned dark and ugly and a freak tornado carried her away, never to be seen again. Skender says he's pulling his leg, but Clement tells him he would never do that. He asks why a young stud like him would want to tie the knot with Sandy, if the domestic life wouldn't drag him down. He says that he just knows and that when Sandy becomes Lulgjuraj, she becomes family and will never feel hunger or pain. Clement tells him he has to look out for his sister. He asks how he keeps from getting taxed to death from his hot dog dynasty. "Cash?" he asks, saying that he probably has gold bars in his room. Skender tells him it's not like that. "What's it like?" asks Clement. Outside, Raylan and Maureen sit waiting, Maureen telling Raylan about the troubles she has sleeping and the strange dreams she has. He says it seemed to him like they were all pretty happy and he was wondering just how they've achieved such domestic bliss. She tells him this is easy, that you pretend. Wendell and Norbert pull up, Maureen telling them that Clement, Sandy and Skender have been inside nearly an hour. "Good luck with that other thing, with your kid," Wendell tells Raylan. At her office, Sweety tells Carolyn he has a hypothetical for her. He tells her that he might have a murder weapon, one that murdered a judge and took out several in the Wrecking Crew killings. He asks where it would leave him if the gun were to show itself. She says she's talking to him like she's just his lawyer, like she didn't do her homework sitting on his barstool. He asks if she has a take on it and she tells him to help himself, to turn it in. "Let's get this cracker off our backs for good," she tells him. He says that he would go to prison and she tells him she wouldn't let that happen, that she could talk to someone she knows and get her to guarantee immunity. He tells her to work her magic, that he'll be waiting. "I hope the hotel has a pool," comments Willa and Raylan tells her they're not going to a hotel, that she's leaving, flying home. She says that her mom is on vacation and he tells her not anymore. She asks why she has to get rid of him. He tells her just get in the car with no drama and she replies that he backstabbed her after saying he wouldn't. He tells her he cannot do his job and take care of her and that he won't put her or the nice family that's offering their home at anymore risk. She says that if he wanted her there, he would find a way to keep her safe. Back at the bar, Skender gets down on the ground, presenting his ring to Sandy. He tells Clement he would very much like to ask for his sister's hand. "I don't know," comments Clement, saying that he's not sure about the secret room story, that he thinks he might just be trying to impress him. "It's true!" shouts Skender, saying he'll take there right now and he'll see. They exit the bar and Wendell and Norbert pursue at a discreet distance. However, Clement has arranged a trick, getting into another car and stopping at a green light, causing a traffic pileup. He wants until the other cars have gone around him, then takes off at the red, arranging it so that Wendell and Norbert get slammed into. Clement catches up to Sandy and Skender, finding them making out in front of the building with the secret room. Skender leads them inside an expensive penthouse filled with art. He leads Clement and Sandy to a door protected by a keypad. Sandy calls it a sexy panic room, but Clement says it's like an "Albanian man-cave." Clement spots a safe, asking just what he has in. Skender tells him he's going to like it. He opens the safe, revealing several guns. "You keep 'em all loaded," points out Clement and Skender asks what use an unloaded gun is. Clement asks what else he has in there and he tells him there's nothing. "Money?" asks Clement and Skender says he has Venmo. Clement replies that everybody has a little cash stashed someplace and Skender comments to Sandy that Clement always to know about the money, that maybe they should get back to the ring. Clement tells him that everyone has a little sister to protect. Sandy tells Skender to just show Clement where the money is, that he has a temper. Skender asks him to put the gun back and Clement asks how they get out. As Skender points out a switch, Clement points the gun at him, saying that if he doesn't have cash, they have a problem. Skender curses, telling him to get out. At the airport, Raylan tells Willa they still have a little time, asking her if she wants another soda. She replies that they give to you free on the plane. There is an announcement that her plane is boarding. He tells her that her mom and Richard will meet her at the gate and to stay put if they're not there. She asks if this is it and he tells her to come on, that she has to know this is tough for him. He tells her that he'll be back as soon as he can. He asks her to at least give him a hug goodbye. "Please Dad?" she pleads, saying that they'll go to Memphis and Graceland. His phone rings and she tells him to stay there. Maureen tells him that she's at Skender's and there's some damage there. He turns, to see Willa walking off to board her flight, sniffling. "Raylan?" asks Maureen and he tells her he's on his way.
Cast
Starring cast •Timothy Olyphant as Raylan Givens •Aunjanue Ellis as Carolyn Wilder •Vondie Curtis Hall as Marcus "Sweety" Sweeton •Adelaide Clemens as Sandy Stanton •Marin Ireland as Maureen Downey •Victor Williams as Wendell Robinson with •Norbert Leo Butz as Norbert Bryl and •Boyd Holbrook as Clement Mansell Guest stars •Ravi V. Patel as Rick •Joseph Anthony Byrd as Trennell •Dominic Fumusa as Bill Downey •Kenn E. Head as Lou Whitman •Vivian Olyphant as Willa Givens •Alexander Pobutsky as Skender Lulgjuraj Co-starring •Bri Ranae Short as Alyssa Downey •Emma Kathryn Onderko as Kyra Downey •Rachel Sullivan as Mansell's Mama •Wild Earp as Band Memmber #1 / Singer •Doc Brown as Band Member #2 / Singer •Alan Mayne as Band Member #3 / Singer •Jed Taylor as Band Member #4 / Singer •Colin Mulhern as Band Member #5 / Singer
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Jul 25, 2023 · Courtesy of George Burns Jr / FX. [Editor’s Note: The following review contains spoilers for “ Justified: City Primeval” Episode 3, “Backstabbers.”. Read our review of Episodes 1 and 2 ...
- Ben Travers
Jul 25, 2023 · Clement’s allies and foes come into focus in an episode with a surprising character exit. A recap of “Backstabbers,” episode three of the FX miniseries ‘Justified: City Primeval.’
Jul 26, 2023 · Justified: City Primeval Season 1 Episode 3 Recap. It makes Clement a good villain, though. This is just as well since a good chunk of “Backstabbers” is powered by the tension that stems from him having chosen an Albanian mobster as a mark, and the inevitable chaos that is going to erupt when he lives up to his nickname of “The Oklahoma ...
Jul 25, 2023 · Betrayal is a tricky path to walk, yet several people choose it on Justified: City Primeval Season 1 Episode 3. Willa sees Raylan's decision as backstabbing when he's doing what a father needs to ...
