Raylan is an ass throughout the series, but especially so in S6.
Instead of being a hero, he's basically a bully that hides behind his badge and can't wait to draw on people so he can kill them
There ain't no pretending with Boyd. He's a bad guy and he knows it, but he seems more human to me
Maybe I'm wrong though
Raylan is the average cop, he cares deeply for those who are around him (even his co-workers in a sarcastic way), but mostly his relatives (even Arlo) or flawed people (he spared Dickie Bennett twice if I remember well). He's not a pussy behind a badge simply because he's not afraid to be in a fist fight and to take matters into his own hands, even though he loses most of them, not denying that he's somehow a douche though.
Boyd in a different circumstance would be a good person, hell, he tried in Season 2 but The I Of The Storm (episode 2x03 if I'm not wrong) shows that it doesn't matter what he tries to do, he will always be marked about who he was and being part of the Crowder kin doesn't help anyone that was ever part of the family, he's a criminal, an outlaw, adapted to the life he lives and knows, pure and simple.
Olyphant and Goggins made those characters so multidimensional that I hardly could root against one of them.
Boyd is more enjoyable to watch. But if this were real life, Raylan would be more likable because he's not a psycho like Boyd.
shareJust finished through season 6. I kinda liked Boyd up till season 6 - then I think he turned into a flat-out psycho killer. He killed Carl who had decided to spring him from the hospital, and also the guy who picked him up in a truck, and had praised Boyd - and did so with complete lack of conscience. No comparison to Raylan at all.
Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence - Carl Sagan
Yup, and also that at the end, Ava was so terrified to death that Boyd would find out they had a son that Raylan faked her death to protect her... that shows what kind of psycho Boyd was compared with Raylan.
Walton Goggins was incredible as Boyd, but what was great about the show was that the characters were not one-dimensional as "hero" vs. "bad guy." I don't think it's about personally liking the characters so much as enjoying the performances. WG and TO had amazing chemistry together and their complicated history and relationship was what made the show so special IMHO, as opposed to the typical "criminal of the week" storylines we usually see on cop shows.
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Higgins was right.
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They're both complex, flawed characters. The show had amazing characters like this with lots of layers. Personally I think Raylan is awesome, funny and a badass (when he tossed the bullet at the guy and said "next one's coming faster" is one of the greatest lines ever on TV). Raylan never shot anyone who didn't draw on him first, and Tommy Bucks (who he shoots in episode one) was a truly despicable psychopath who murdered an innocent man by stuffing dynamite in his mouth for no reason. And that was a justified shooting, whether or not Raylan enjoyed it.
Boyd is an incredible character too, and brilliantly played. They did an amazing job. I can't see why anyone would think a white supremacist who regularly shoots people in the head was more likable than Raylan, but maybe that's you.
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Higgins was right.
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I also liked Boyd better
shareI don't understand this assessment of Raylan, and it's one that sorta bothered me during the series. I get they're trying to portray him as somewhat of an anti-hero but I didn't really get the bad. Is he flawed? Of course. That's why he's so interesting. But like his problems with Winona seemed to suggest he's so "angry" and so much work to try to be with and there were even jabs about his chasing bad women. I didn't see any of that. I saw a guy completely disgusted with, and damaged by, the criminal lifestyle he was raised around. He wanted out and wanted to be different and he did just that. He wanted to eradicate that "disease" in his hometown and had little patience for really scummy people. I didn't see a bully or itchy finger, anymore than anyone else he worked with. He almost seemed exhausted by the exercise.
Anyway, he wasn't as entertaining as Boyd but I didn't think he was any less than a hero. And Boyd did have his moments where he tried to justify his criminal choices. I didn't find him more human because he didn't seem to have any remorse.
"She hasn't even read the books..." - OursIsTheQueenInTheNorth
Everyone loves Boyd, but I really disliked him throughout the series, despite having fondness for the character. As Johnny's explains in season 4, Boyd is like a child who never finishes what he starts; he's always looking for the next sceme. Not only this, but he constantly complains about nobody respecting him when he never showed appreciation for any of his men. Then he acts surprised when they betray them. He shot Carl in cold blood, and the man in the truck who spoke highly of Boyd and respected the fact he was going to die. Not only this, but Boyd gave the man no respect and didn't take him seriously. I honestly don't think he loved Ava either, or she loved him for that matter. She was just someone else he could use and manipulate, like Devil, Dewey, Carl, Johnny etc.
shareHave to agree.
Raylan's character wasn't wasted, but after about the third season I found myself saying "someone shoot this *beep* already"; the whole smooth-talking fastest gunslinger *beep* was getting old. That said, it's better to be hated rather than ignored, but a parallel to be drawn here with The Shield would be the desire to commit the reprehensible whilst maintaining moral superiority, ergo the badge and how the protagonist of the piece hides behind it and even has to surrender it to pursue his target.
My favourite moment of the whole show was the final showdown between Raylan and Boyd, I loved how Boyd just wouldn't raise his gun and give Raylan the thing he most wanted, that was in many ways Boyd's greatest triumph. It was obvious that Raylan despised Boyd because Boyd saw through him "just say it 'I wanna win'"
Have to agree.
Raylan's character wasn't wasted, but after about the third season I found myself saying "someone shoot this *beep* already"; the whole smooth-talking fastest gunslinger *beep* was getting old. That said, it's better to be hated rather than ignored, but a parallel to be drawn here with The Shield would be the desire to commit the reprehensible whilst maintaining moral superiority, ergo the badge and how the protagonist of the piece hides behind it and even has to surrender it to pursue his target.
My favourite moment of the whole show was the final showdown between Raylan and Boyd, I loved how Boyd just wouldn't raise his gun and give Raylan the thing he most wanted, that was in many ways Boyd's greatest triumph. It was obvious that Raylan despised Boyd because Boyd saw through him "just say it 'I wanna win'"