Rectify
What would the world look like if you had missed the past twenty years? How would you react to all the changes that have happened since 1990? That is the premise of Sundance Channel's "Rectify."
As prestige drama matures and enters a new age, lots of scripted fare litters the television dial. And the television dial is changing fast. In fact, there is no longer a television dial, an anachronistic device that has been replaced by digital video recorders, elaborate menus, mouse clicks, and touchscreens. Sundance, that quirky "indie" channel that usually precedes the premium movie channels on most cable television dockets, has entered the "tv drama" game, and its offerings are some of the best shows you will find anywhere. Like Rectify.
The plot is simple. A man that has spent the past 19 years on death row is released after a DNA analysis does not support his "confession" 20 years ago. So he is a free man and re-enters the southern small-town world where he was born and raised. Except the world has changed over the past two decades, and not everyone is convinced of his innocence. Today's world of Playstation and XBox is foreign to a man who only knew Sega Genesis and Sonic the Hedgehog. A world of energy drinks, power bars, vitamin water, and big box retail can overwhelm the unconditioned senses.
Aden Young stars as Daniel Holden, the former death row inmate. Daniel was accused and convicted of the rape and murder of a 16-year old classmate. And he confessed to the crime, sealing his fate. But as this 6-episode series unfolds over its first season, the viewer gets a glimpse into the mind of this man. A guy that could possibly be coerced or convinced to confess to a crime he did not commit. A reserved man that is odd and strange, and not soley as a result of his incarceration. Young's portrayal of Holden's blank stare and wonder at weather, sunshine, and grass is a reminder to all of us, as he simply enjoys all the things that free people take for granted.
Abigail Spencer plays Amantha Holden, the co-dependent younger sister of Daniel who has maintained his innocence over the years and worked tirelessly to see her brother free. And she exudes sexuality and perseverence as she simmers in this role. Expect several award nominations to go her way this year.
The show is buoyed by strong performances from J. Smith-Cameron as Daniel's mother, Adelaide Clemens as his God-fearing sister-in-law, Clayne Crawford as stepbrother Ted, Jr., and Luke Kirby as his lawyer. The show is produced and written by Ray McKinnon, and McKinnon deserves a nomination for an Emmy for Outstanding Writing For a Drama Series.
Southern small-town values and politics are ridiculed as this show lumbers along at a glacial pace of a man that has no concept of time. And that, justice be damned, peoples' lives and careers are dependent upon whether Daniel is re-tried and convicted. The story is one of the most original that you will find this year. This show takes its time and is in no hurry to provide answers or resolution. Instead, it plods along and develops incredibly nuanced characters. McKinnon may miss the mark at times, but only because he is weaving such a multi-layered and raw tale.
This show is not for action and thriller junkies. Instead, it comes off as a glass of unsweetened tea, leaving a bitter taste as the viewer contemplates isolation and its effect on people. It will be hard to watch this show and not walk away rethinking what you know and feel about justice, the prison institution, and how you view the condemned.
Rectify is airing reruns periodically on the Sundance Channel and is available through Amazon on a per-episode basis.
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What did you think? Please, no spoilers.
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