The series revolves around the inhabitants and culture in the Appalachian Mountains area of eastern Kentucky, specifically Harlan County where many of the main characters grew up.
According to Nielsen Media Research, the episode was seen by an estimated 1.81 million household viewers and gained a 0.5 ratings share among adults aged 18–49.
Walker (Garret Dillahunt) meets with Seabass (Scott Grimes) and Choo-Choo (Duke Davis Roberts) to discuss their murder of Calhoun.
Due to the bear hunting season, authorities easily found his body, which had his wallet, Raylan's card, a clear impression of Choo-Choo's knuckles, footprints and tire tracks.
At a hotel room, Avery asks Katherine (Mary Steenburgen) to come clean about Grady's incarceration even as he proposes marriage, saying that he left Kentucky because he feared she would snitch on him next but has now made peace with it.
Art (Nick Searcy) visits the office and asks Rachel (Erica Tazel), who worked on the Hale task force as her first assignment with the Marshals, but she is unaware of any snitch.
"[3] The writers wanted an "ironic" death for Choo-Choo, whose named was suggested by actor Timothy Olyphant, and they settled on having his character die by being hit by a train.
"[3] In its original American broadcast, "Alive Day" was seen by an estimated 1.81 million household viewers and gained a 0.5 ratings share among adults aged 18–49, according to Nielsen Media Research.
"[8] Kevin Fitzpatrick of Screen Crush wrote, "Perhaps not the most memorable of the season, though 'Alive Day' certainly served to make the major conflicts more personal than the grand weed-scheming of previous weeks would suggest, now that Boyd, Ava, Raylan, Rachel, Avery and Katherine all have reason to suspect one another of duplicity.
"[10] Jeff Stone of IndieWire gave the episode an "A−" grade and wrote, "It's both sad and kind of hilarious, and it was nice to see Justified put the spotlight on one of its more colorful supporting characters.
"[11] Kyle Fowle of Entertainment Weekly wrote, "Justified has always done a wonderful job of limiting the interactions between its two big dogs, Raylan Givens and Boyd Crowder.
"[12] Matt Zoller Seitz of Vulture gave the episode a perfect 5 star rating out of 5 and wrote, "I'm going to miss the towering, slow-witted henchman with the literally killer punch.
He died this week in the ironically titled 'Alive Day', which also happens to be the name of James Gandolfini's 2008 documentary about physically and emotionally wounded soldiers trying to adjust to life after combat.
"[13] James Queally of Los Angeles Times wrote, "I doubt 'Alive Day' will be my favorite episode of Justified's final season when all is said and done, but for now, this was an incredibly strong offering that sets things up nicely at the halfway point.
"[15] Jack McKinney of Paste gave the episode a 9.1 out of 10 and wrote, "The plotting of a television show is similar to a combination of punches in boxing.