Rectify: Thrill Ride

July 17, 2015 4:15 PM - Season 3, Episode 2

Daniel must adapt to his new circumstances. Amantha faces overwhelming personal and professional changes. Teddy tries to connect with Tawney.

"With mere weeks left in Paulie, Daniel finds himself banished from his home after Ted, Sr. asks him to leave. Janet learns the real reason behind Daniel’s leaving from Ted, Sr. and struggles to come to terms with it. Daniel finds a temporary refuge with Amantha, but her small apartment makes the new arrangement tense. Daggett discusses George Melton’s death with DA Person and reveals something that could put the investigation in jeopardy. Amantha deals with further issues at Thrifty Town, now that Peanut has returned from maternity leave. At the advice of her friend Beth Mitcherson, Tawney meets with a therapist, who quickly uncovers Tawney’s growing uncertainty about her marriage. Teddy, meanwhile, asks Ted, Sr. about his absentee mom and tries unsuccessfully to reconnect with Tawney, growing increasingly agitated by their separation. His day stretching out before him, Daniel decides to keep busy with a load of laundry and meets an old friend, Melvin. Jon visits Janet in hopes of wrapping up his work with Daniel and offers advice for Daniel’s looming relocation. Daggett gets some interesting information from George Melton’s father, Benji. Daniel makes dinner for Amantha and welcomes her home with the news that he’s found work, but she is too upset about her relationship to appreciate her brother’s enthusiasm. Still stung by his futile attempt to see Tawney earlier in the day, Teddy and Jared take an evening drive by the Mitcherson household. Over a few cans of beer, Teddy makes an unsettling confession to his younger brother." — Sundance's Episode Summary

posted by Ivan Fyodorovich (2 comments total)

This show is just so, so good. Every conflict and reaction feels earned. Amantha is a difficult person, but I understand why, so I empathise with her rather than resenting her. The quiet performances of every actor in the family speak volumes--even the youngest child, whose name I can't remember because he's had relatively little screen time and few lines, feels deeply fleshed out to me. The political and procedural stuff with the mystery is well enough realized to make that plot compelling, while not overshadowing the interpersonal drama that's in the foreground of the series.

Both of Teddy's scenes at the foster parents' house gave me chills: the scene where he is dropping off Tawney's things, where there is that palpable tension and you really sense the darkness in his character, and of course the "thrill ride" with his confession to his brother, who is still trying to sort out his place in this unraveling family.
posted by mama casserole at 7:08 AM on July 21, 2015

Clayne Crawford is amazing at portraying Teddy as a man constantly on the verge of snapping completely. I loved Tawney's confused guilt in admitting to her therapist that she was afraid of him, since he's never actually hit her. He is terrifying, though, and it's perfectly understandable why she would be so scared to stand up to him about anything, much less leave.
posted by something something at 11:47 AM on July 21, 2015