The series is based on Elmore Leonard's stories about the character Raylan Givens, particularly "Fire in the Hole", which serves as the basis for the episode.
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 2.32 million household viewers and gained a 0.9 ratings share among adults aged 18–49.
In the aftermath of the shooting, the Mexicans and Yoon are angry at Boyd (Walton Goggins) and the Crowes for getting people killed in the territory and threaten to abandon their partnership.
In prison, Penny (Danielle Panabaker) dislocates Ava's (Joelle Carter) shoulder, causing her to go the infirmary in order to get drugs but the nurse refuses to supply anything for her.
In February 2014, it was reported that the eighth episode of the fifth season would be titled "Whistle Past the Graveyard", and was to be directed by Peter Werner and written by co-executive producer Chris Provenzano.
[3] Series developer Graham Yost said that the writers originally didn't plan the revelation that Kendal was Wendy's and Jack's son but felt inspired to do it after the Drew Thompson reveal on season 4.
In its original American broadcast, "Whistle Past the Graveyard" was seen by an estimated 2.32 million household viewers and gained a 0.9 ratings share among adults aged 18–49, according to Nielsen Media Research.
Club gave the episode a "B+" grade and wrote, "'Whistle Past The Graveyard' benefits from that brief moment of honesty, because it provides a sense of stakes that aren't always present in Raylan's side of the narrative.
"[8] Kevin Fitzpatrick of Screen Crush wrote, "There must be something in the water over at FX, making Justified the second series in as many days to lose a bit of footing so deeply into its fifth season.
Justified's more one-off stories have historically run the gamut, last week's 'Raw Deal' at least affording more humorous character work as Raylan chased down a one-legged hacker.
This time around, we're at least tethered to the ongoing story with Wendy and Kendal Crowe, who turned out to have a bit more in common genetically than we thought, though with Raylan wearily slogging his way from scene to scene without the aid of the Marshals, it's hard to feel any thing of consequence arriving from their side of the story, even if Wendy chose the side of the angels in the end.
It increases the tension between Boyd and the Crowes, while at the same time suggesting an ever-so-slight thaw between Raylan and Wendy that could pay off in the season's concluding chapters, but as an hour of TV, it was something this show should never be: dull.
"[12] Holly Anderson of Grantland wrote, "This week in particular took Raylan away from his fellow marshals, whose reaction to his Nicky Augustine confession and its consequences is what we want to see the very most.
"[13] Dan Forcella of TV Fanatic gave the episode a 4 star rating out of 5 and wrote, "If the writers were going to leave Ava in prison for the season, they should have come up with a more original story for her.