I thought that was a very good premiere.
I was a bit wary of the fact that they were bringing Dewey Crowe back this year after having satisfactorily wrapped his story up last year, but now I'm glad they did. I saw it coming (the "Look at the flowers..." kind of death has been done so many times at this point that it's no longer a surprise) but I still thought it was very well done. They're not messing around this year, that's for sure.
I always thought Dewey Crow was too dumb to die. Last thing I was expecting from that scene. RIP.
Haha, same here. Early on in the episode I was thinking about which characters could die this year and when I got to Dewey I thought "Eh, he'll probably outlive them all". XD
I already feel much better about this season than last season.
Same here. This season is off to a much better start than last year for sure.
I like that the episode simultaneously had a feeling of nostalgia (with lots of nice references to the first season) and a sense of finality. Characters reminiscing about the past and the way things were but also realizing that the end is near and they are ready to move on with the next chapter in their lives, but not before finishing off one last piece of business.
I liked that too - it's a very fitting mood for the final season. Though, what Boyd said to Ava about Harlan dying (jobs drying up, people selling their land and moving away, etc.) didn't quite land for me. The last time I've really felt that Harlan County was properly represented as a character was back in season two with the Bennetts and their town council meetings and whatnot. There was a palpability with regards to the county's characterization that I feel has fallen by the wayside in these later seasons. It would have been nice to have actually seen some of these developments taking place instead of just finding out about them via an expository line in the final season. As it is, it kind of feels to me like they killed Harlan off screen.
Honestly? I wouldn't be surprised. I don't think Ava will have a happy ending. She seems more like a tragic character to me. I'll be okay with it too, as long as it's done well. Plus, it's not like I'll be sad that she won't be around anymore (the primary reason one gets upset when characters die) because this is the final season. So.
Pretty ironic innit. Ava working at a beauty salon...
u r better than this
You were supposed to be the last man standing not the first man down. 
