Boyd Crowder is not a villain

I think Boyd is one of the best adversaries ever created. Not a villain, an adversary. The difference is the power dynamic. Usually, villains are always a few notches ahead of the hero. They have backup plans on top of backup plans. Because it has to be that way for the hero to have an underdog type win condition.

However, an adversary is different. The power dynamic is one of equality.

Raylan and Boyd are just that. Protagonist and adversary. There's never really a point where one is far enough ahead of the other to gain an absolute win condition, and I think that's why it works so well.

There's countless examples across the show. Raylan gains a few feet, Boyd gains a few feet.

Then there's the few times where they outright have to rely on each other to progress despite still being on opposite sides.

Regardless of the shows flaws, the dynamic between Raylan and Boyd is the one thing that never once loses its luster or becomes stale or annoying. Every single time their on screen together, it's fantastic.

Then if you throw in their personal history with each other, it amplifies everything.

Raylan does go against plenty of villains, characters that are just ahead of him constantly; Mags, Limehouse, especially Drew goddamn Thompson. These characters play the game at a higher level, and it makes sense, they're older, wiser, and have more experience. And in some way or another, they all beat Raylan. Mags drinking her own apple Pie, Limehouse knowing exactly who had the Benett fortune and also playing tf out of Raylan pretty much every time their together, and Drew for insanely obvious reasons.

Boyd however, stumbles, makes mistakes, has to recover, and winds up in cuffs multiple times.

Just like Raylan. He also makes mistakes. Even in the first season, the weed guy from the church says “It sounds like you messed up.”

And that's what keeps the show's steam. They're a perfect foil for each other in pretty much every way.

So yeah, just wanted to take a sec to gush about this shows fantastic and addictive writing when it comes to these two. Thank u for reading, and if u have anything to add or disagree with my points, feel free to start a convo. Cheers 👍