Rectify Review: Bob & Carol & Ted Jr. & Alice (Season 4 Episode 3)

Somehow, things for Daniel are feeling hopeful, and Rectify Season 4 Episode 3, “Bob & Carol & Ted Jr. & Alice,” is just the beginning.

One of the reasons Rectify has been, from the beginning, such an intriguing show is that the person we’re rooting for may or may not be a murderer and a rapist. I tend to lean toward feeling that Daniel is innocent, but we’ll likely never know if that’s true.

Regardless, we’ve seen Daniel do some horrible things, but it doesn’t change the fact that he’s ultimately a good person, whether he wants to believe that or not. This show is all about the gray area and about making us re-evaluate our own ideas. Probably, my hope that Daniel is innocent stems from he fact that I’m rooting for him, and that I see anyone who’s against him as a villain.

Teddy tends to feel more like the antagonist at times, but if you consider how Daniel’s presence has affected his life, that doesn’t actually ring true.

I say all of this because Daniel continues to show redeeming qualities and goodness on this episode. He’s showing effort. When the season opened, he was going through the motions — doing what he knew he was supposed to do in terms of doing his job, collecting a paycheck, and showing up to group even though his participation was minimal.

Once a problem with his actions was identified, he decided to try to work harder. It started with sitting down to play cards. Now, on “Bob & Carol & Ted Jr. & Alice,” he’s reaching out to his new roommate in the best way he knows how, and he’s trying harder to be part of the group.

It feels hopeful, not just because he has a group of men who are there to support him, but because he’s learning to adjust. And he’s genuinely trying, even though these things are incredible hard for him.

He also has the art group, which again, the guys in the house are generally supportive of.

At the center of that world is Chloe, who at this point may either be exactly what Daniel needs or exactly what he doesn’t. Her scenes are uncomfortable, though I think that’s the point. Her interactions with Daniel are these incredibly honest, human moments. I just hope she doesn’t become toxic for him.

Meanwhile, back in Paulie, the family seems like it’s falling apart. There’s that little detail that Janet never changed her name on the documents for the tire business, and which means the owner is listed as “Janet Matthews Holden.” That detail isn’t just a throwaway.

Janet is broken, and seems to be seriously considering selling the tire business once that offer comes in. I don’t know what that would mean for the rest of her family, but my sense is that she almost wants to let go of everything.

Jon Stern is back in town, still unable to let Daniel’s case go. He’s yet another person who has been consumed by Daniel’s situation, and now, he doesn’t quite know what do with himself.

Teddy and Amantha have also officially switched places, which puts Teddy living completely alone. It’s perhaps harder than he thought it would be, and he makes that heartbreaking call to Tawney — just grasping for some sort of connection with her.

If Janet does sell that tire business, which is about the only thing Teddy has been able to cling too lately, I can’t imagine what he’d do next.

As usual, it’s the characters and the small details that make Rectify unique, thought-provoking, and beautiful, and this episode is no exception. Man, I’m going to miss this show when it’s over.

What did you think of this episode of Rectify? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Rectify airs Wednesdays at 10/9c on SundanceTV.

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