This 94% Fresh Gem Is One of the Most Criminally Overlooked Dramas You Need to Watch

In an era when viewers demand frantic pacing and rapid-fire editing from their shows, Rectify feels like an alien from another universe.

This slow, meditative drama, which premiered in 2013, tells the story of a man who spent 19 years on death row for a crime he didn't commit. Despite its age, it remains one of the most underrated works in TV history.

What Is 'Rectify' About?

Daniel was imprisoned as a teenager after being accused of murdering his 16-year-old girlfriend. He spent 19 years on death row awaiting execution. However, new DNA testing technologies proved his innocence when traces of another person were found on the victim.

Daniel was released and returned to a world that had changed beyond recognition, from the 1990s to the 2010s. He returns to a family where his stepfather has taken his place and his mother has given birth to another son.

Daniel must relearn how to live: watching sunsets, listening to music, and talking to people. At the same time, he searches for the real killer to prove his innocence to those who still doubt him.

'Rectify' Is Not a Detective Story, but Rather a Philosophical Drama About the System & Humanity

The creators of Rectify deliberately push the investigation into the background. Here, the focus isn't on the killer, but on how society copes with mistakes – even after learning of new evidence, the townspeople are reluctant to reconsider their views.

They're afraid to admit that they spent 19 years hounding an innocent man who literally rotted in solitary confinement and endured violence while awaiting the electric chair every day.

The writers pose a poignant question: does hounding an innocent person make people complicit in the crime? In this sense, Daniel is the second victim of the murder.

However, Rectify doesn't descend into total darkness – along with its reflections on injustice, it shows the man rediscovering the beauty of the world, such as the rain on a hot day and music from an old iPod.

'Rectify' Balances Between Tragedy and Peace

Rectify may be too slow for those accustomed to fast-paced content. Long scenes of Daniel sitting on a bench, conversations about the weather, and contemplation of nature can seem like a slowdown.

However, Rectify gives viewers the opportunity to escape the hustle and bustle and experience moments of true peace with Daniel. The show has its share of good people – Daniel's sister and his stepbrother have no doubt of the man's innocence and help him socialize.

Thanks to them, the show doesn't descend into hopeless gloom – rather, it reminds us that life is worth fighting for.

What Did Critics & Viewers Think of 'Rectify'?

• Rectify has 96% from critics and 92% from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes.

• On IMDb, the series has a score of 8.3/10.

Where to Watch 'Rectify'?

Rectify is available to stream on AMC+.