Rectify

It has been a while since I have stumbled across a small show and found myself completely addicted to it, spending entire days watching through it and just not getting bored once bit, only more engaged with the story and the characters. I feel a lot of shows these days really miss the mark in holding your attention, mostly due to far too many seasons and episodes that aim to drag out stories with no real benefit to anyone other than the subscription services or production companies making them. It seems only natural that some episodes, or even entire seasons, sometimes fail to meet expectations and suffer in quality as well. Though, Rectify never really felt like that over its four seasons, of which consists often enough of less than eight episodes each. I have been really surprised by this little gem, blown away at how meaningful of a story it is, and how well it is told. I think it took me around four days to get through it as well!

Unfortunately, I believe Rectify was cut short of its intended story, ending at the fourth season. While loved by critics it seems, perhaps the viewership just wasn't quite there with today's insane standards. Though the ending to this fourth season does seem to have some sort of greater conclusion to it, and perhaps one more appealing than a true conclusion that is more direct, tying up the loose ends to really tell us of what happened to the main character so many decades ago. It is the mystery that seems so appealing here, being such a character-driven story, and one that spreads like wildfire causing ripples into the many lives that find their way somewhow part of the broader scheme of things. Even with this sudden ending, I don't feel the show was wasted like I usually would for shows cut short.

Either way, I'm really happy to have stumbled across this show, all because of a reference clip of a lonesome adult male playing Sonic alone at night with a tear falling down his face, posted online out of context for those who considered it relatable and perhaps some self-deprecating humour over how their own lives had turned out.

You may have seen my first impressions post just the other day, so forgive me for covering any basic concepts over the plot just here! Rectify is a show that gives perspective of those who have served time in jail, in this case, an innocent man that has spent twenty years of his life on death row, from the age of a teenager all the way into adulthood. Daniel Holden, played perfectly by Aden Young, is finally given a second chance at life as new evidence is revealed that he may not have actually been either fully or partially responsible for the death of a teenage girl one night. Holden was accused of, and admitted to, rape and murder all those years back, and had been suffering the consequences of it all since. As one would expect, a man of such allegations being removed from not only death row, but prison entirely and thrown back into world, not everyone would be so welcoming over the idea. One of the most important themes found throughout the show is that lack of confirmation as to whether Holden is really innocent or not.

This idea of Holden's potential innocence is played with throughout the show, as Holden is often pressed by legal entities in efforts for them to save face and hopefully have him sent back for their own political gain. Holden never seems to really stick up for himself, and easily submits to the blatant manipulation of others when they press the idea that he is actually guilty. The result of this is us, the audience, are left with that question of his innocence too. And this becomes more important as the show goes on and we see more of Holden's past interactions on death row, as well as how he seems to hold up in civilian life. The utter Hell of death row would certainly change a man, perhaps not anywhere near as much as civilians would understand, which only adds to Holden's almost weird and psychotic nature. His character is very intelligent and well-spoken, even dressed particularly well. He speaks with a very slow, well-thought tone that seems polite but again hiding the truth of who he is within. Monotone and emotionless unless probed to the point of anger.

For many this would be a sign of guilt, and the mob mentality we see as a result of his character's release brings conflicted emotion. Again, we don't know if he is innocent. Is he really just a monster roaming around the streets again? Part of re-integration into society is how Holden handles himself with day-to-day activities. There's a lot of time wasting and just sitting around thinking, often doing very similar patterns to which he did on death row, struggling to find places to go or things to do. Not quite sure what to do with himself now that he has freedom. It shows a very real look at how people released from prison struggle and most definitely do not get the right support needed, as loneliness and a lack of structure find its way into their lives, and only seen in a negative manner by those around them, pushing them more into isolation. There's a deeply human look into isolation with Rectify, and without us knowing the truth, it's highly effective in making us feel for someone that may very well have done horrific things in the past. To no surprise, a character like Holden is very beaten down, and so much throughout the years that the idea of him sticking up for himself has been removed. As society's punishment for his alleged actions is to submit himself into a mundane life within a small square box, doing precisely what he is told.

Much of the show is about Holden's integration back into society, showing how he roams around and slowly opens up to people, expressing his poetic stances on art and literature as a result of the many books read over the years. Finding himself stumbling across new and familiar people and into scenarios that seem highly unexpected. A lot of the episodes almost feel like a dream because of this. Very slow, with quiet dialogue. Though jumping every so often to other characters that are part of Holden's life, mostly family that have suffered throughout the years over this situation, with Holden's sister having struggled immensly to have her brother released. This means the show also displays the ripple effects of all these events has Holden's existence has an impact on others, only adding more to his own internal guilt and isolation; refusing to be a burden to others but actually really wanting to help and do good. Of course with the frequent threats of mobs and politicians trying to find reasons to send him back.

There's plenty of drama here, we get long speeches from Holden on the suffering he's experienced. The pain he's faced and the lack of trust he has in people as a result of the endless manipulation. Trying to see good in life and others but haunted by the fact that people only take. At one point his character even states that he felt more comfortable with the familiarity and safety of his cell compared to the outside world. Something other convicts also admit later on in the show. It really makes you think of how horrible something like serving time (especially on death row) can be, and the type of person it demands you to be in order to survive it. The story is incredibly empathetic towards how we treat each other, but also how we guide each other forward after hardships. Something faced more in the dramatic moments of the show in other characters, which in turn experience their own struggles and have to adapt to them.

I can see why this would be quite an expensive show to create due to the nature of it. It's very slow, poetic, and full of beautiful cinematography to match the themes. Airing on Sundance TV, it's no surprise that there's more emphasis on telling very visually beautiful and character driven stories, and Rectify is definitely one of the best I have seen in recent years. It certainly has its own way of pulling emotion out of you, having you feel isolated and empathetic yourself. Even with that ending, of which I feel being a bit more abrupt might work in its favour, I don't have any regrets watching this and getting so into it. The ending seems to have some idea of things turning in Holden's favour as some truth is starting to be revealed. A bit of a cliffhanger, but as mentioned before the show's strength is the fact that it never really does tell us the truth. And with this ending, we have some belief that Holden is still out there roaming around and finding himself.