First appearance of James Le Gros as Wade Messer. Le Gros had previously played Raylan Givens in the 1997 movie version of Elmore Leonard's book Pronto (1997). In Justified, he shares screen time with Timothy Olyphant's version of Raylan.
"Bloody Harlan" was the name given to a violent era in Harlan County, 1931 to 1939, when striking workers and union organizers were pitted against mine owners and law enforcement. Similar violence occurred in the 1970s, which led to the Oscar-winning documentary Harlan County U.S.A. (1976).
Michael Dinner, who established the look and feel of the series by directing the first two episodes of Season 1, returns to the director's chair for this second season finale.
The episode ends with a tribute to two real-life U.S. Marshalls who were killed in the line of duty in 2011. Deputy U.S. Marshal Derek William Hotsinpiller (badge 4595) was shot and killed in the line of duty on February 16, 2011, while serving a warrant with two other deputy marshals and members of the West Virginia State Police at a home on Central Street in Elkins, West Virginia. The suspect named on the warrant was wanted for possession with the intent to distribute cocaine. Upon making entry to the residence the three deputies were fired on by the suspect, who was armed with a shotgun, all three were hit by the blast, they returned fire killing the suspect. Deputy Hotsinpiller was struck in the neck and bled out at the scene, he had only been with the Marshal's service for one year.
Deputy U.S. Marshal John Brookman Perry (badge 3055) was shot and killed in the line of duty on March 8, 2011 in St. Louis, Missouri. That morning Deputy Marshall Perry, along with ten other Deputy Marshalls and St. Louis Police officers, were serving a felony warrant at a home on Osage Street. The suspect had warrants out for his arrest for drug possession and assaulting a law enforcement officer. The suspect was hiding inside the residence where several children were present, the St. Louis officers were able to safely remove the children while the Marshals searched the home. After the children were safe the St. Louis officers joined the search and found the suspect who opened fire striking one Deputy Marshal and one St. Louis officer, who were not seriously injured. Upon hearing the gunfire Deputy Perry entered the room and exchanged gunfire with the suspect, Perry was hit but managed to return fire killing the suspect. Perry was transported to a local hospital with serious injuries which he died from later that day. Deputy Perry had served with the United States Marshals Service for 10 years, first in Washington, DC, and then in St. Louis, and had previously served 16 years as a probation officer for the Madison County Probation and Court Services Department.
Deputy U.S. Marshal John Brookman Perry (badge 3055) was shot and killed in the line of duty on March 8, 2011 in St. Louis, Missouri. That morning Deputy Marshall Perry, along with ten other Deputy Marshalls and St. Louis Police officers, were serving a felony warrant at a home on Osage Street. The suspect had warrants out for his arrest for drug possession and assaulting a law enforcement officer. The suspect was hiding inside the residence where several children were present, the St. Louis officers were able to safely remove the children while the Marshals searched the home. After the children were safe the St. Louis officers joined the search and found the suspect who opened fire striking one Deputy Marshal and one St. Louis officer, who were not seriously injured. Upon hearing the gunfire Deputy Perry entered the room and exchanged gunfire with the suspect, Perry was hit but managed to return fire killing the suspect. Perry was transported to a local hospital with serious injuries which he died from later that day. Deputy Perry had served with the United States Marshals Service for 10 years, first in Washington, DC, and then in St. Louis, and had previously served 16 years as a probation officer for the Madison County Probation and Court Services Department.