What I like most about SundanceTV’s Rectify is how little it mimics other show’s formats. After all, it starts where most shows would end: with a release from prison (isn’t that how we all hope Orange is the New Black concludes?).
And while most shows are trying to be as digestible and consumable as possible to keep everyone’s attention (blame Netflix), Rectify feels almost like an old-school drama you might have seen on NBC in its hey-day (certainly not now). It takes its old Southern time, just like so many of the patrons at Murphy’s.
The season 3 premiere titled “Hoorah” takes place right after Daniel (Aden Young) is coerced into confessing to the killing of his girlfriend Hanna 20 years ago, on the contingency in the plea deal that he must be banished from his hometown of Paulie. Based on what viewers have seen in the last two seasons with Daniel’s trouble adjusting to regular adult life, this decision is a natural progression in his journey, with the dangling carrot of a new start in a new town. And yet, it’s a double-edged sword because Daniel’s psyche is so damaged and infantile that he may need his family more than ever, especially Amantha (Abigail Spencer), the only one that truly believes he’s innocent. Daniel has 30 days to leave town (and finish that damn kitchen!), but he may leave sooner than that.
“He still has to live his life,” says Jon (Luke Kirby), Daniel’s lawyer and Amantha’s on-again, off-again boyfriend.
“Don’t we all,” says Amantha. “Hoorah.”
And that’s mainly what this premiere episode (and frankly, the show) deals with: How are these family members dealing with this tragedy and the stigma that comes from being related to a once-convicted killer?
So far, a marriage has been ruined (Tawney is headed to Beth’s to think about her miscarriage with Teddy and presumably unwarranted feelings for Daniel). Granted, the marriage was pretty shaky to begin with. And Amantha may be just as stunted as her brother, since she’s dedicated so much of her life to freeing him and now it’s all over. What does that mean for her? Is she management material at Thrifty Town?
But did he or didn’t he do it? Not even Daniel knows, according to Jon.
Despite being a character study on what happens to a family inflicted with tragedy, that’s the real driving force behind this show. Is Daniel a misunderstood monster or a misunderstood martyr? (His assault of Teddy seems to speak to the former, but didn’t we all want to see that reaction?) While Senator Roland Foulkes (Michael O’neill) thinks the case is closed, George’s suicide may lurk and fester in future episodes to rip open the case all over again.
The filming in this episode, which was directed by Stephen Gyllenhaal (Jake and Maggie’s dad), is exceptional. So many shots look like poignant photographs, from Tawney sitting alone in a diner ala Night Hawks to an intense confrontation between Teddy (Clayne Crawford) and Daniel.
While creator Ray McKinnon doesn’t give in to binge-worthy formats, like many new shows, Rectify season 3 is a tight 6 episodes, which may be the perfect size for this brand of intense storytelling.
Rectify airs Thursdays at 10 p.m. EST.