Hello,
Yes, the title is a little bit of a play on words, it's nice how they all fit together.
I'm writing this after seeing the first 4 episodes of "Rectify", the first 4 episodes of Season 3 of "The Killing", the first 3 episodes of Season 2 of "Longmire" and after I stopped watching Season 6 of "Mad Men" a few weeks ago.
"Rectify" is a show on the Sundance Channel and it's some of the most solid storytelling going on in TV right now. The main character is Daniel Holden, who has been in jail for 19 years. Although he was released due to DNA evidence, that doesn't necessarily mean he's completely innocent. (The first 4 episodes are very close in quality to the amazing "Homeland", which is the best show on television. In their stillness Holden and "Homeland's" Nicholas Brody remind me a lot of each other. Does prolonged captivity lead to a life of stillness?)
Although "Rectify's" six episode first season has concluded, I just barely started watching it. "Rectify" is the story of a prisoner, Daniel Holden, who was released because of DNA evidence. Holden is magnificently played by Aden Young Although Holden has been released, he still may go to trial for the murder of his child hood girl friend. The first four episodes shows Holden's first tentative steps following his release from jail. He notices how the area he grew up has changed, sees the Big Gulp type of drinks available, is amazed by a hot dog cooking machine and gets his first cell phone.
Holden is at turn perplexed, amazed and confused about all the changes that have gone on in the world since he was incarcerated. I got a laugh when the very laconic Holden buys a bottle of Smart water and asks the clerk "does this really work?"
He also has to deal with annoying news crew, people that think he's still guilty and even well meaning
people who may be misguided. His family the most part is supportive, especially his sister Amantha. Each family member has a journey to go through in order to find the kind of relationship they'll have with Daniel.
One way you can tell this is a fictional family is because Holden has incredibly hot relatives. First is his sister Amantha, played by the gorgeous Abigail Spencer. He also has an incredibly hot sister-in-law, Tawney, played by Adelaide Clemons. Sadly Tawney ended up marrying a clueless jerk, who's name is Ted Jr. She's slowly edging him out of her life. Meanwhile Ted Jr. has no clue what's going on. Ted Jr. feels threatened by Daniel as he's afraid Daniel may be taking his job.
At the end of the 4th episode Tawney and Daniel exchange an awkward hug, the hug seems to waken feelings in both characters. Tawney had invited Daniel out to her church, where she's a volunteer. They have a conversation and seem to have made a connection. Tawney is a goody too shoes, but Daniel seems to have some kind of opposite affect on her. What does the hug mean to the two participants?
Daniel runs into an old friend, who offers her body to him. The pleasurable touch of a woman has been unavailable to him for 19 years, he seems to be remembering how much he has missed that. The female friend is just a fling. What will happen with him and Tawney?
Ted Jr. is probably the first of many who'll learn never to ask a question of Daniel again unless they really want to hear the answer, no matter how disgusting. For instance, I have a feeling that Ted Jr. will never ask anyone again about prison conjugal visits. Young's answer and his body language is a marvel in acting.
"Rectify" will be back for Season 2 and it's scheduled to have 10 episodes.
"The Killing": I ripped on the first two seasons of the show for all the things wrong that Veena Sud et. al did with what seems to be such a good idea. However in Season 3 "The Killing" is starting to live up to it's potential. This third season has been an utter revelation.
It seems the producers have learned from the first two seasons. Dumping the boring Larson family and the whole political angle was desperately needed. Eliminating those story lines eliminated some of the weakest links of "The Killing". No longer does the show go through long stretches where nothing happens. The third season almost seems to be burying the past and please don't let the past come back.
Sarah Linden's (Mireille Enos) obsession works a lot better now, now that she no longer has her son to look after. Holder (Joel Kinnaman) is becoming a better detective and still has the great lines. His use of sarcasm is deadly.
Ray Seward (Peter Sarsgaard) has been jailed for killing his wife. He seems to have a connection to the case that Linden and Holder are investigating. Although he's a creep, he's a very charismatic creep. He can convince almost everyone to trust him, including the priest who comes to visit. I like that Seward can out smart the authorities occasionally, but he doesn't to outwit the police for long stretches of time. (That was one of the things that made "The Following" unwatchable after a few episodes.) I like the realism of Seward.
Sadly "Mad Men" keeps on going down hill. I watched the first two or three episodes of Season 6 and that was enough for me. I even deleted them off my DVR because I'm just so turned off. Once Don Draper slept with a woman other than his wife again, that was enough for me. It was at that point that "Mad Men" jumped the shark. What did Matt Weiner hope to get out of showing Draper cheating yet again? Why does he think going with this story line for at least the 10th time still be interesting?
The whole Bob Benson thing, what little I know of it, is annoying. Let's see a character, in this case Benson, represents himself other than how he really is. How very Dick Whitmanish of him. Matthew Weiner continually going back to showing how Whitman/Draper grew up is also tired. Sure he had a rough up bringing, but that's no excuse for his moral compass to be off so much. Weiner seems to want us to believe that Draper is a victim. Even if he is, it's time for him to grow up.
Also why did Weiner stick with the fat Betty? If you have one of the most beautiful women in the world on your show, you don't make her ugly. Let January Jones light up as Betty Draper. This may have already happened, but I wouldn't know. We'll always have the first 5 seasons.
Finally another good show is "Longmire" which is on A&E. Although this is a very solid show, I'm sure that many people aren't watching it. Those people are missing out on one of the best summer shows. "Longmire" is a show that follows a Wyoming sheriff. He solves a case each week as well as it has a couple of long-term story lines.
The first story line deals with Longmire running for sheriff against his deputy, Branch Connelly. The other long term story line is happened to the man who killed his wife. Both of those story lines have over extended their welcomes now. At the end of Episode 4, "The Road To Hell", another long term story line seems to be developing.
Another one of his deputies is Vic Moretti, a firecracker from Philadelphia. She receives some roses with a card that says "Happy Anniversary". However her husband didn't send her the flowers and it's not her anniversary for a few months. She tells her husband, "They found me", which is where the 4th episode ends.
"Longmire" doesn't need these long-term story lines, the show gets along well enough with the case of the week and the casts great chemistry. If the producer wants to enhance the show, then "Longmire" should focus more on Henry Standing Bear. It's so great to have Lou Diamond Phillips back, he plays Standing Bear with a great deal of skill and humor. He never lets Walt get away with anything.
I would highly recommend reading the series of books that this show is based on. It's well written by Craig Johnson, the Longmire of the books is both funnier and much more personable. Both Longmire's are great characters, Robert Taylor is fantastic as Longmire on the show.
themusicaddict
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