Ep 5. Drip, Drip

Daniel's tension is high at this point, especially with his family ambivalence to his release. The latest episode takes place as he returns to a world that's unrecognizable. His hometown is changing and his family is struggling to accommodate him in their lives. In the first few episodes, Daniel was getting adjusted to socializing and undergoing therapy. He was trying to reconnect with his family, especially his mother, with whom he'd had a tumultuous relationship. Now that Daniel has a job, he's met his step-brother, he's making strides, but there's still a lot of frustration. He's trying to find his place in the world. And with everyone making new friends and moving on, the pressure is on for Daniel to find some kind of normalcy.

In this episode, Drip, Drip, Daniel is dealing with a plumbing issue in his apartment, which leads him to spend a lot of time in the hardware store. It's during one of these hardware store visits when Daniel meets a kindred spirit, Tawney, who works at the store. There's obvious chemistry between the two, and they're both drawn to one another because they both feel like outsiders. Daniel and Tawney have something in common. They're both desperately looking for someone to belong to.

Meanwhile, Teddy, Daniel's step-brother, is going through some life-changing decisions. However, an unexpected visitor in the form of Tawney's husband does not help the situation. Teddy and Tawney have been on the rocks ever since Tawney called it quits with Teddy. But when Tawney's husband pays Teddy a visit, Teddy's world is rocked. Teddy becomes so angry with his family that he explodes at Amantha, and he breaks down under the weight of his emotions. Meanwhile, Janet is still on edge and is trying to come to terms with what's happening to her son and the fact that he might have actually been responsible for such a horrific crime.

As the tension builds and the plot thickens, tempers flare as the family tries to acclimate to having Daniel back in their lives. There are some surprisingly tender moments that manage to sneak in, like when Daniel and Tawney bond over their shared love of books, or when his mother Janet briefly allows herself to feel joy at having her son back in the house. And even when the characters clash, there's a deep sense of care and love there that's undeniable. But as Daniel tries to rebuild his life, he faces roadblocks everywhere he goes.

Rectify might be one of the most empathetic shows on television. It's moving and it forces you to question right and wrong. It asks you to consider what it means to be punished, and what it means to forgive. It's a powerful testament to the good in humanity, and it demonstrates the complexity of emotions with powerfully nuanced performances. When it comes to examining the human condition, the show is top-notch. It's the kind of series that forces you to confront the very nature of humanity.