Rectify Review: Happy Unburdening (Season 4 Episode 7)

Perhaps the most important part of Rectify Season 4 is that we’ve been given the opportunity to see Daniel’s character from different point of view.

We’re seeing him through Chloe’s eyes and through the eyes of new friends, but we’re also seeing him start to deal — through therapy — with the horrors he faced in prison.

Aden Young offers one of the most powerful performances of the season on Rectify Season 4 Episode 7, “Happy Unburdening,” in his recounting of every detail of being raped in prison. His words are captivating and horrific, and you can feel the pain in his voice as he relives the trauma.

Somehow, though, you can also see his strength. Daniel learned to survive prison — and life afterward — by not only putting up a wall around himself, but focusing on the beauty around him as an escape. In this case, it’s those water droplets. Hearing him talk about those as the only thing he could see or feel in that moment is nothing short of poetic.

Daniel shows his strength too by being in therapy in the first place. Yes, he’s struggled to adapt to this new life. He’s struggled to adapt to being around the guys in the house and forming necessary bonds. But he’s willing. He’s willing to do the work and to accept a challenge.

Chloe’s influence is important too, of course, because it’s certainly her who helped give Daniel that final push to go into therapy.

Speaking of Chloe, she continues to grow on me as she allows us to see a different side of Daniel — to look at him through a new lens. Doing so makes an already complex character that much more interesting. And in this episode, we see this soft, helpful, selfless side of Daniel, as well as a romantic side.

I’m not saying we haven’t seen that before — we saw it with Tawney, with his sister, with his mother. But somehow, seeing this version of him through Chloe’s eyes is different, and it makes me think Daniel might just be okay.

More significant, though, is how he’s formed friendships in the house. Pickle has become his new roommate, a gesture that is out of solidarity and compassion for Daniel. When Pickle shares the news that he finally got a job, Daniel is sincerely happy for him. They have this personal exchange — this exchange of friendship — that shows how Daniel really is growing as a person.

Back in Paulie, everyone else is figuring out new lives as well. Amantha, who I dare say we haven’t seen enough of this season, continues to figure out her world and her relationships.

Jon is back, still hellbent on getting proper justice for Daniel, and the man who nearly beat her brother to death apologizes to Amantha for what he did. She’s rightfully angry, even more so when she sees her mother bonding with Jared, and she feels jealous of their connection.

Janet is bonding with Jared as they work together to declutter their lives. To “simplify.” It seems like a necessary, human reaction to everything going on around Janet. Her life is changing, so it makes sense she would latch on to a way to control it while also bonding with Jared in the absence of Daniel.

Tawney’s life change is actually inspiring. While my heart breaks to see Tawney and Teddy get divorced, I’m excited for this idea that Tawney is free to do anything now.

That journey started with nursing school, and now she tells Teddy she wants to do Doctors Without Borders. That means abandoning her home and the small town life, getting out of Paulie to start a new chapter — almost mirroring Daniel’s journey, in a way.

Teddy has a hard time sharing the news with his father that he and Tawney are getting divorced, and Ted Sr’s need to get away and soak in a bath seems to indicate his own fear of losing Janet.

Janet goes to Ted, offers to wash his back, and tells him that she loves him. It’s as though she’s been given some clarity, and feels like a moment of closure.

Overall, this is one of the most powerful episodes of the season, and it’s setting up an end to the story that will no doubt be emotional.

I hate the idea that there’s only one episode left, but I’m also grateful for that, because it means the show is going to end with intention. I think that something to look forward to.

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 Sundance TV.

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