Two TV Series Depict a Wild, Unyielding America

Two unconventional TV series, 'Justified' and 'Outsiders', portray a fictional yet deeply rooted America reminiscent of John Steinbeck and William Faulkner. 'Justified', created by Elmore Leonard, aired from 2010 to 2015, following U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens (Timothy Olyphant) in Harlan County, Kentucky, as he confronts his past and the Crowder family, especially Boyd (Walton Goggins). The series explores the region's struggle with economic decline and corporate exploitation. 'Outsiders', created by Peter Mattei, debuted in 2016 on WGN and is still in production. It centers on the Farrell family in the Appalachian mountains, who defend their land and lifestyle against a powerful multinational corporation that incites local townspeople against them. Both series highlight themes of poverty, resistance to globalization, and the erosion of traditional communities.