Justified is one of the great modern Western TV shows, boasting a stellar ensemble cast and plenty of drama and intrigue to keep the audience invested in the story. Led by Timothy Olyphant as the protagonist, Raylan Givens, a U.S. Marshal who doesn’t play by the rules, Justified rounds out its cast with Walton Goggins, who plays the villain Boyd Crowder, who comes against Givens many times. Throughout the show, one of the most compelling parts is watching the dynamic between Givens and Crowder evolve over the seasons.
Walton Goggins’ villain role in Justified is comparable to his more recent work in series like Fallout, demonstrating his range as an actor. Conversely, Timothy Olyphant’s breakout role in Deadwood seamlessly paved the way for his work in Justified. It’s unsurprising that Justified was such a success while it was on the air, and why it has so many dedicated fans to this day. However, since Justified: City Primeval won’t be coming back anytime soon, viewers who can’t get enough of the story’s world should check out a series that’s a lot more similar than it seems.
Paul Giamatti’s U.S. Attorney Takes On Damian Lewis’ Hedge Fund Billionaire In Billions
The Dynamic Between These Characters Is Comparable To Justified
Billions is an unexpected TV show like Justified, but after watching the series, audiences will see how much they have in common. Like Justified‘s focus on Givens and Crowder, Billions zeroes in on the relationship and competition between Bobby Axelrod (Damian Lewis), a powerful hedge fund manager who doesn’t hesitate to skirt the law, and Chuck Rhoades (Paul Giamatti), a U.S. Attorney who’s hot on his trail. The cat-and-mouse game between Chuck and Axe fuels the tension and excitement in Billions, as it’s interesting to see how the pair evade each other.
While the world of high finance might seem like a far cry from the grit and intensity of the modern West, the characters in Billions and Justified aren’t afraid to play dirty. The dynamic between an investigator/lawyer and a career criminal is one that has been explored many times throughout TV history. However, Billions still managed to make this trope fresh through the relationship between Axe and Chuck, which doesn’t remain stagnant, always evolving as the show changes.
Chuck & Axe’s Adversarial Relationship Evolves Over Time
The Pair Have An Interesting Journey Throughout The Series
While the pair come into conflict consistently throughout the show, Chuck and Axe aren’t one-dimensional characters, and Billions doesn’t rehash the same storyline with every season. Instead, the characters are allowed to grow and change, allowing their relationship to do the same. As their interests shift and their desires become more nuanced, even the staunchly opposed men find their way to hesitant partnerships over the years. Part of the reason their rivalry is so intense is that they have so much respect for each other and are driven by their intimidation.
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Of course, completely getting rid of the animosity they feel for each other would be impossible, and it rears its head many times over the years, especially when Chuck’s wife, Wendy (Maggie Siff), comes into play. However, Billions does a great job of making all of its characters nuanced and complex, and equally despicable at times. Since no one has the moral high ground, there’s no reason why they shouldn’t team up to take down their common enemies, which is part of the reason that Chuck and Axe are able to have such a layered relationship.
| Title | Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score | Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
| Billions (2016–2023) | 87% | 67% |
Why Justified Fans Will Love Billions (Even Though It Isn’t A Crime Drama)
Billions Is Still As Thrilling As Justified, Despite The Difference In Genre
On paper, it would be easy to compare Billions to a show like Succession, but the series does connect to the tone and themes of Justified. Despite its crime elements and illegal activities, Billions isn’t a true crime drama the way Justified is, as the Western series is focused on more dangerous, violent crime. However, the heart of both Billions and Justified is the characters and how they navigate the specific rules of their worlds. The drama and stakes feel just as relevant in these shows because the characters are so invested in their futures.
The writers of Billions and Justified aren’t afraid to dig into the shock factor of their stories.
Crowder and Givens have different motivations and needs in Justified, but their conflict and the one between Chuck and Axe feel just as textured. The writers of Billions and Justified aren’t afraid to dig into the shock factor of their stories and create borderline outlandish storylines to keep the audience invested. However, this high drama is what keeps us coming back to Justified all these years later, and the fact that these series boast such skilled ensemble casts will allow them to stand the test of time.
