photo: fx
Long in the Tooth
Original Air Date: Apr 6, 2010
Tom R. – Sr. Staff Writer
tom@thetwocents.com
You have to love a show that features two mob flunkies debating the authenticity of Pulp Fiction. Kind of brings Tarantino full circle while bringing a rhythm and levity to the episode. Throw in actors from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off and The Mod Squad and you’ve really got something to watch. And then, of course, there’s the Christmas special reference…
Of course, these are not gimmicks. The screen does not flash, “Hey! Look! It’s…” The actors serve the story well, and both characters are pretty memorable. This is one bad*ss dentist!
The opening makes you wonder if you have the time right. We see a dentist’s office in Los Angeles, where we meet Dr. Oldham (Alan Ruck, Bueller’s friend Cameron). He’s a good-hearted sort of guy, taking tamales in lieu of payment and catering to those who cannot afford dental plans. But when a patient makes loud complaints in the waiting room, Oldham corners him in the parking lot and, without anesthesia, repossesses the dental work he has done. The story makes national news, but not just for the attack.
Turns out that Dr. Oldham is a fugitive named Rollie Pike. He escaped from Raylan on two separate occasions after skimming from laundered funds from a Miami drug cartel. After studying in Panama, he became a dentist, keeping off the radar by catering to illegal immigrants and the less fortunate. Back on the run from both the Feds and the mob, he has his receptionist Mindy steal the gold from the back room, and the two hit the road.
Raylan and Rachel are dispatched to LA, but Art makes it clear that Rachel is to take the lead. Raylan’s instincts, however, bring him to the forefront of the investigation. When she asks Raylan if the trust breach is racially based, he admits bluntly that it has more to do with confidence. In the final moments, she tries on Raylan’s hat, only to discover how badly it fits. It’s an obvious metaphor, but handled well by the dialogue and direction.
As he boosts a car from a parking lot, Rollie is spotted by an old man (Clarence Williams III, The Mod Squad). The old man agrees to keep silent if Rollie hands over the keys to his LeMans (another great automobile reference). The police pull him over when they ID the car, but the only person who can remotely talk to him is Rachel. The bond here is a nice counterpoint to Raylan’s techniques, showing that she is not completely incompetent.
In an interesting twist to a cliché, Rollie and Mindy must find a “coyote” to smuggle them across the border, into Mexico. They ask a couple of his patients for help. While the daughter is racially outraged (enough to call 911), the father realizes the doctor has been good to his family and makes a few calls. But the coyote (a creature that cannot be trusted in native mythology) increases his price halfway through the trip, since the Miami cartel and the Feds both offer rewards. Rollie is stabbed defending Mindy from the coyote, while Raylan dispatches the two Miami thugs. Pinned down by sniper fire, Rollie knows that he is the only true target. Bleeding from the stab wounds, he stands up to draw the shot, sacrificing himself for Mindy.
You can’t help but feel bad for Rollie, particularly after he tells Raylan that the dentistry turn came from watching Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, and Hermey the Elf wanting to be a dentist. Points as well for questioning Hermey’s sexual orientation. The whole conversation takes place during a lull in the sniper fire. Mindy is a well-drawn character as well, balancing Rollie’s secrets against the good work she has seen him do.
No shot count this week. It’s pretty heavy during the sniper scene. The scene with the Miami thugs is played much better from a gunfight standpoint. What did you think? Is the reference to The Mod Squad (1968-1973) lost on most readers? Drop in your comments or send me a note at: tom@thetwocents.com.
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TheTwoCents 
I love me some Raylan, but dude has got to stop shooting people. I loved the episode for the amusement factor, but I’ve seen Timothy Olyphant in plenty of shoot-outs on Dead Wood, so Justified could feel free to take a break from that anytime. Just sayin’.
All in all, I do adore this show and I really liked that they gave Rachel some screen time and that they addressed how Raylan’s a little too self-important, what with swaggering into the department and climbing up the hierarchy ladder all on his own.
I agree, Andi – I want them to continue to develop their secondary characters. I loved that Rachel made Raylan realize how he had sort of just coasted in, whereas she had to work her way up in that office. I really like this show and hope it stays on the schedule!
LOL. You got it, Tom — I was busy giggling my ass off at the comments about the elf’s sexual orientation. Way to defuse tension, guys. I guess that would distract me from being shot too. This show is growing on me.
Funniest episode so far.