Walton Goggins has explained what he thinks about Boyd Crowder’s line in theJustifiedfinale, “We dug coal together”.Justifiedis one of thebest modern westerns to appear on televisionin the last two decades, and as time has gone on, estimation of the FX series has only increased. There’s a twofold reason for this. For one, the series has become more widely available thanks to Hulu streaming FX series. The second reason is that two of the series' stars, Goggins and Timothy Olyphant, have exploded in popularity since the show premiered.
Walton Goggins' star in particular has risen to exceptionally high heights. The charismaticGoggins has become a mainstay of prestige televisionand movies, but for many viewers, they’ll always remember him as Boyd Crowder, the popcorn kernel stuck in Raylan Givens' (Olyphant) teeth for the entire series. A career criminal, Boyd is a royalty in the underworld, coming from a long line of thieves and murderers.He straddles the line between heinous antagonist and charming rogue, and he has a long history with Deputy U.S. Marshal Givens.
“We Dug Coal Together” Speaks To Raylan & Boyd’s Shared History & Mutual Respect
It’s Also A Literal Reminder Of Their Time In The Mines Together
In theJustifiedfinale, Boyd and Raylan have a final confrontation, though neither one is willing to pull the trigger against the other.Their time spent as rivals has formed a sort of begrudging respect between the twoand Boyd is hauled away to prison, allowed to live. About four years later, Raylan learns that Boyd’s girlfriend Ava (Joelle Carter) is alive, despite being declared dead by the authorities. Raylan also discovers that she has a son, Boyd’s son. to protect Ava and her son, Raylan promises to keep her existence secret.
Raylan visits Boyd in prison and lets him know that they found Ava, but tells him she died in a car crash. Boyd is saddened but also curious as to why Raylan would decide to tell him this in person. Raylan says Boyd knows why, and Boyd smiles and responds, “We dug coal together.” That’s not simply a metaphor; the pair literally dug coal together, and it’s bonded them in a way they can’t unbind. The two young men grew up together in Kentucky, and both worked in a coal mine together when they were 19, becoming friends.
They dug coal together in that they existed in the underbelly of their home, and learned to love and respect it, despite its danger and flaws.
However, it is still a metaphor, and references how the two have been together since they were young. They have a shared memory of Harlan County, and while they may not always like to admit it, their experiences are very similar, save that they operated on opposite sides of the law. They dug coal together in that they existed in the underbelly of their home, and learned to love and respect it, despite its danger and flaws. That’s a shared experience that even a jail cell can’t split apart.
What Walton Goggins Has Said About Boyd’s “We Dug Coal Together” Line In Justified
The Line Shows That Raylan And Boyd’s Relationship Was Not Just Adversarial
After the finale, Walton Goggins spoke withEntertainment Weeklyto discuss his thoughts on the final episode of the series. Regarding Boyd’s line, “We dug coal together,” Goggins said, “…his relationship with Raylan, was more than just adversarial, that they dug coal together, and that is a metaphor for the fact that they have lived this violent life together.” The relationship between Raylan and Boyd was definitely more than adversarial,it felt like each man was wrestling with a part of himself by wrestling with the other one.
The line also lessens some of the sting that comes from Raylan lying to Boyd about Ava and his son. Raylan only lies to Boyd to protect his family. He understands what happens with those who find themselves entangled with the Crowder family. If Boyd could look past some of his own failings, he would agree with Raylan. Goggins talks about this, saying, “For me, the reason why Raylan lies to Boyd isn’t because he’s fearful of what Boyd might do someday, but rather he is taking it upon himself to end the circle of violence with Boyd’s son.”
The relationship between Raylan and Boyd is one of the best parts ofJustified, and gives the cat-and-mouse chase between the pair much more emotional heft. Raylan is on the side of the law, and Boyd is on the side of the criminals, but Raylan does immoral things, and Boyd occasionally does the right thing. They’re opposite sides of the same coin and all the trouble they put one another through can’t break their bond. It’s all wonderfully summed up in that iconic final line, “We dug coal together” by Walton Goggins' Boyd Crowder.
Justified
Cast
Justified: Justified is a character drama series based on Elmore Leonard’s 2001 short story “Fire in the Hole.” Premiering in 2010, it follows U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens in Kentucky, as he navigates his high-stakes job and tumultuous relationships with his ex-wife and father.
