I like Rapaport, but he just didn't work for me. That accent was super grating, and I don't think he was especially threatening. Only time I felt like he was actually imposing was that scene where he beat the shit out of that dude who was supposed to protect Ava in prison. His death was a pretty good payoff, but I just don't think it was a very strong performance overall. I've never really thought of who could've been better. I wonder who else was considered.
That said, I think season 5 is for sure the weakest season, but it does have some strong points, and works much better when watched close together instead of week to week. The Ava stuff definitely drags, and I think part of the weakness was that there was too much time out of Harlan/Kentucky. Some really great episodes and scenes though, like Dewey in court, the Alan Tudyk episode, Danny's death, the Eric Roberts episode (that awesome scene with the Harris brothers and the rest. "I'd call this a United Nations of assholes), and pretty much all the episodes after Raylan gives Kendall that money. I really liked the Raylan-Kendall interactions.
That said, I think season 5 is for sure the weakest season, but it does have some strong points, and works much better when watched close together instead of week to week. The Ava stuff definitely drags, and I think part of the weakness was that there was too much time out of Harlan/Kentucky. Some really great episodes and scenes though, like Dewey in court, the Alan Tudyk episode, Danny's death, the Eric Roberts episode (that awesome scene with the Harris brothers and the rest. "I'd call this a United Nations of assholes), and pretty much all the episodes after Raylan gives Kendall that money. I really liked the Raylan-Kendall interactions.