I had the intentions of writing this first impressions post almost two days ago now. But I kept telling myself I'll watch just a little more to get more comfortable with the show and get a feel for it. Another episode turned into two, two turned into most of the first season. Well, now I'm halfway through the second season. Writing this first impressions post almost felt like a burden to begin, knowing I'd have to take a break from the show and get to typing. My sudden obsession with Rectify came out of nowhere, I have seen a particular out of context clip from the show for a few years now: a lone adult character sitting in their room at night playing Sonic, a slow tear coming down their face. This out of context clip was often used on the Internet for its self-deprecating and relatable humour, but I never really thought anything of it. Well, I saw it again the other day and figured I'd find out what the show was. Little did I know it would be so captivating, so deeply human. Slow and tragic in its approach.
The truth is, shows like Rectify don't come around often at all. Especially these days in which series are either made cheaply for streaming sites or made big and expensive with the intentions of being massive hits. Rectify seems to be a series that was made around the boom of streaming services, void of the teething problems they faced and free from the reigns of soulless production choices that strange potential. I could go as far as claiming the show is like an arthouse tragedy in the birth of the streaming age; back when Netflix dominated the space. One of its greatest appeals being that you likely haven't even heard of the cast, and you haven't quite seen a story told like this. I have been hooked by Rectify since the moment I started watching, and it's now constantly on my mind as I find myself thinking about how special certain elements of it really are. Finding new things to appreciate about it with each episode that passes.
Around halfway through the show, I already dread knowing it's coming to an end. But I am certainly incredibly curious as to how this show may come to a conclusion.
Rectify
Rectify at this point has a very simple central idea, and it is one that is deeply human and very engaging. Our protagonist, Holden, is released from death row having spent 19 entire years on it. From his late teenage years into adulthood, and believing each day is to be his last, he's suddenly released as DNA evidence of the crime seems inconclusive. Placed on death row for all those years due to the claims and eventual self-admitting crime of rape and murder. One thing I have noticed eve two and a half seasons in is that the show just does not tell us what really happened that night. We know the basic events that led to him being placed into death row, but we don't know the events that took place, but most importantly: the show never actually tells us whether he is really innocent or not.
The fact that we never really know what happened nor whether Holden is innocent makes for an incredibly engaging protagonist and story. With the release of Holden, we see him return back home to his family which believe he's innocent. But he's back in a town that doesn't believe he is innocent for the most part. The episodes follow Holden around as he integrated back into society, struggling to adapt to adult life and also life itself. With flashbacks to his time back on death row, we see how Holden grew accustomed to the life he had, one that could have ended at any day. Plenty of isolation, confinement, and time occupied Holden's day to day life, so the episodes soft of just follow him around as he still kind of lives in this manner. The directing has us watching from afar at points, which has us looking at him in a way that keeps him distant and alone.
This also means that it's incredibly easy to feel for Holden. We see a man that is alone, struggling, but not asking for help. Nor does he display any actions or dialogue that make us question his innocence. Instead, it is actually incredibly easy to assume he is innocent. We see a man, who is mostly still just a teenager mentally, making his way through the rural southern town trying to adapt, being kind to everyone and minding his own business. This is where that lack of actually knowing becomes so effective! Are we just falling for Holden's ways? Is he innocent and introverted, or guilty and just very manipulative? The show handles the mob mentality with this, showing us the other side of society as people aren't so welcoming to the idea of a previously convicted alleged rapist and murderer from death row now walking the streets again. Keep in mind that only we see the way Holden acts when he's alone, spending time just laying still in his room, playing videogames, or just following family around.
Each episode is like this. Just normal activities in Holden's life now he's free. It's done in such a poetic manner, visually beautiful and full of emotional cinemaotgraphy and music that pulls us in. It is so easy to feel the tragedy of Holden's life. It also speaks on the very real struggles of formerly incarcerated individuals as they are thrown back into society and expected to live normally again, a total contrast to everything they've adapted to inside. All that free time, the patience it brings, and the realisation of time spent. There's a very human look at what this all does to a person, through Holden. It makes you feel for the innocent and the guilty through this, questioning what is actually humane while not preaching anything in particular. It is a very empathetic look into very serious scenarios, ones that Hollywood often avoids or rejects entirely. This is no show that aims to please you with action and crime, but one that shows you life through the eyes of someone that hadn't yet had a chance to live, despite coming close to their 40s. And we have question that lingers on: do people deserve a second chance?
In the case of Holden, his character is incredibly reserved. Quiet and caring. He seems to have good intentions despite everyone believing he's guilty and treating him like some evil being due to the media attention his case receives. It makes you feel sorry for him, realising that the lack of privacy and the cruelty of society in itself should be considered a crime. However, that one other question returns every so often: is he really innocent? I honestly don't know, the show takes great lengths to you with your mind, at one moment you believe he placed himself into a poor situation as a result of his kindness or his own lack of knowing any better, and the next you almost feel like you're part of the mob, assuming things and for some reason backing a monster. I actually hope I don't find out the truth. I'd just be happy to see the show progress more and show his integration back into normal life as the question remains unanswered. And the show's simplicity through this only makes it more engaging!
I have a feeling I will be finishing the show almost as soon as it began, and it almost feels strange to have a more serious story be so immersive, to the point where you really do feel the melancholy of it all. I can't recall the last time a show really did make me feel something like this!
