What I’m Watching: Undone

Undone: Season 2, Episode 7 “Rectify” (B+)

This episode featured an unexpected deep dive into the other side of the family previewed only by Jacob’s use of his mother’s birth name, Ruchel, at the end of the previous installment. That was one of several indicators of her Jewishness, including her father’s yarmulke and her telling the woman who found her in America that she has no mispacha (Hebrew for family). While their persecution didn’t appear to be explicitly because they were Jewish, it’s sadly hard to find anyone living in Eastern Europe during that time who was able to survive and stay in their home. What Ruchel’s mother did was far more public than what Geraldine and her children were able to do in part because it was seen as a kind of magic, but unfortunately that was also her undoing. After they tried to navigate that trippy house of memories in the sky, Jacob put his all into trying over and over again to fix it and find a way to protect her family. While he didn’t ultimately succeed, Ruchel got the forgiveness she needed from her many future selves to be at peace and to connect with her identity. That led to an extremely powerful finish, one that showed Alejandro joining the family early and Becca ending up with an adopted child thanks to the successful changes they made. Jacob explaining that they were lighting the yahrzeit candle in memory of his mother was an emotional way to end the episode, and I’m so curious to see what is still left to be sorted in the finale and if there is anything broken that will require fixing.

What I’m Watching: Rectify (Series Finale)

Rectify: Season 4, Episode 8 “All I’m Sayin’”

Probably more than any show I’ve seen since “Six Feet Under,” this show has been preparing for its final episode all season long. That doesn’t mean a hastening of events, but instead a recognition that things are changing, something that on this show has been very tough. It could have been a complete vindication of Daniel – which happened as much as it could in a very public way – and a triumphant return home for the man who has finally been proven innocent. Instead, it was an acknowledgment from all of his family members that he could move on and be okay with the person that he is. He recounted the sadness he felt at Chloe leaving and had touching conversations on the phone with his sister and others in his family, but he can’t ever return to being the person that he was, an unrealistic expectation that was never going to come to fruition. It was really touching to see the closing of the store as such a momentous even that meant bringing the whole family together, including Amantha showing up with a date and Tawney showing up to a truly warm reception from people that were never going to leave her behind. Teddy and Tawney talking on the phone to Daniel was a nice bonus, and it’s good to see that they all ended up in a good place. Ending the show with a return to Daniel being on death row as his friend was about to be executed was a sobering, haunting way to go out, but it’s an important reminder that Daniel will always be stuck there in a way. This has been a truly thought-provoking and well-done show, and I hope that those actors we’ve already seen on other shows just this season – Abigail Spencer, Clayne Crawford, and J. Smith-Cameron – remember just how strong their performances were here and how much they can contribute to other shows that will never be quite like this one.

Series finale: B+
Series grade: B+
Season MVP: Clayne Crawford as Teddy
Season grade: B+
Series MVP: Abigail Spencer as Amantha
Best Season: Season 2
Best Episode: Until You’re Blue

What I’m Watching: Rectify (Penultimate Episode)

Rectify: Season 4, Episode 7 “Happy Unburdening” (B+)

This episode opened with a monumentally therapeutic but also highly disturbing detailed account of his sexual assault to his therapist. Hearing Daniel explain what happened sheds a lot of light on how he is the person he is, and it’s a sad thing to see that, even after the friendly invitation he got from his new roommate to go out and socialize, something he never would been have included in back home, he still spent the closing moments of the episode listening to the recording of him talking about his assault. It was almost as unsettling – and even more heartbreaking – to hear about the embarrassment of what actually happened with the investigation where no one even bothered to consider that Daniel might not be guilty after he confessed, going so far as to let other persons of interest go without checking their alleged activities. Jon setting up the meeting for Bobby to apologize to Amantha was a nice gesture even if it felt like an ambush, and it obviously set Amantha off enough for her to go off on her mother, who was busy selling off all of her stuff with her youngest son’s help. I like where Teddy and Tawney’s relationship is heading, as they still want to spend time together before things change and agree that mediation is probably the way to go, something that Tawney is going to look into. Teddy also got great reactions from both of his parents when he broke the news of his divorce. I liked seeing Daniel energetic about helping Chloe pack, and she’s a really good person for him who is going to help him end on a hopefully positive note in this show’s series finale, which is sure to be powerful and memorable.

What I’m Watching: Rectify

Rectify: Season 4, Episode 6 “Physics” (B+)

This show has never been fast-moving, and with just two episodes left, it’s not in any particular rush to get to its finish. As I’ve mentioned recently, this show has become less about Daniel and more about the way that he has affected the lives of those around him. Ted apologizing to Daniel for the way that he treated him was an enlightening moment, and then he just took a very expensive cab to do some local sightseeing instead of spending the day supporting his wife. Janet, after telling Daniel about the offer to sell the shop, put it very bluntly, explaining that she’s not sure that she’ll stay married to Ted because they see the world differently. Daniel’s earlier comment that he’s daunted by his mother’s expectations was equally insightful. A lot of this show is about accepting things the way they are, and that’s the response that Jon got when he tried to get Daniel’s name cleared once and for all. Chloe suggesting the idea of therapy to help Daniel move on from the place he feels he needs to stay was bold and important, and his reply indicates that he doesn’t think he deserves to be happy, a state that’s hard to get behind and accept for anyone with a more optimistic worldview. The most magnetic moment of the episode featured Teddy, not where he shot himself trying to take down that captivating inflatable man, but when he used reverse psychology on a customer by suggesting that he buy something at Walmart instead. At first, it seemed like he wasn’t even trying, but then it became clear that the most transformed character on this show actually knows what he’s doing, even in the depths of his loneliness.

What I’m Watching: Rectify

Rectify: Season 4, Episode 5 “Pineapples in Paris” (B+)

This show has always done a tremendous job of portraying Daniel’s struggle adjusting to life and getting to know him as a character, but the best thing that’s being demonstrated now is just how much it has informed us about all of the other characters and their relationships. We barely saw any of Amantha in this hour, so I do hope that we’ll revisit more of my favorite character in the show’s final three episodes. The conversation between Ted Sr. and Janet about not having expectations and enjoying the chance to fantasize was hypnotic, and it doesn’t seem that they really disagree about what the ultimate endgame should be, but Ted doesn’t appreciate Janet’s new lease on life and the way that she’s making brash decisions without him. Teddy proposing a divorce to Tawney after coming over for muffins and butter was a cathartic moment, though he obviously had some trouble letting go if his little break-in was any indication. Bobby’s visit provided some enlightening and transformative information about Daniel’s case that could change everything, but in the end we’re left with Daniel as he is now, starting out with a polite request to his roommate and resulting in him starting to get really angry. Fortunately, he found a new roommate who’s much more like him, and he even had what seemed to be a productive moment with his mom when she showed up. And Chloe is there for him in just the right way. Hopefully he’s headed towards a happy ending by the series finale.

What I’m Watching: Rectify

Rectify: Season 4, Episode 4 “Go Ask Roger” (B+)

Often, when shows are nearing their end, there’s a sense that the characters’ stories are wrapping up. I’ve noted the slow pacing on this show, so there’s definitely no rush in tying up all the loose ends, but it’s clear that, at least back at home, things are changing. The sight of Teddy in a suit was jarring, and he was all business during the meeting with the man who wanted to buy out the store. Finding out that the shop might get bought for $650,000 and that they could sell the inventory separately makes this all very real, and the bigger question is what would unite the family if they weren’t engaged in this business together. I enjoyed Janet verbalizing her hatred of the expression “ran the numbers,” and she, unlike Teddy, did a great job keeping her cool during the initial meeting. Ted Sr. offering to come with Janet to visit Daniel is a kind move, and hopefully that visit will be therapeutic. Chloe’s influence on Daniel is hypnotic, and her telling him to “completely surrender to the gelato experience” was exactly the kind of positive experience he needs in his life. That made it all the more discouraging and disturbing to see Daniel regress to the existence he had in prison when he returned home to the sounds of his roommate masturbating in the bed next to him. Amantha’s hunting trip was full of intriguing and enlightening moments as always. Jon isn’t ready to let things go, and, this because the show that it is, that means that he’s going to continue witnessing and commenting on how those left behind are living as compared to what Daniel could be experiencing.

What I’m Watching: Rectify

Rectify: Season 4, Episode 3 “Bob and Carol and Ted Jr. and Alice” (B+)

Typically, people respond to certain information in an expected way. When Daniel is told something, however, he really takes a moment to process what he has heard and to evaluate its meaning. Hearing from concerned parties that he is doing well but that he should still go see a psychologist to treat his PTSD and other issues seemed to faze him a little, if only because he’s managed up until this point by finding and isolating people in his life, like Tawney, who aren’t judgmental, and talking to them about what’s going on. His response to Janet’s phone call was also simple but contemplative, and I’m sure that the meal that they have together is going to mean the world to Janet, who has just been inundated by the burden of this sale offer. While his living arrangements are laced with tension, Daniel has found a fantastic calm in his developing platonic relationship with Caitlin FitzGerald’s Chloe, who Googled him but didn’t allow that to color her perception of him. Tawney’s therapy session was very therapeutic, and Teddy seems to have come a long way in terms of his attitude towards others. Amantha’s date was an interesting experience that had her think back to her past, and in the end this new romance might even turn out to be a good thing for her. Jon’s conversation with Carl was laced with aggression and defensiveness on both sides, and it seems clear that, in their own separate ways, they both just want to put all of this behind them.

What I’m Watching: Rectify

Rectify: Season 4, Episode 2 “Yolk” (B+)

I’ve written about how other shows, like “The Walking Dead,” are immensely frustrating because they don’t feature certain characters for entire episodes at a time. On this show, however, it works tremendously well, with an hour focused on the rest of the family after we saw only Daniel last week. I’ve always thought that this show had a great ensemble, and it’s an especially nice treat to see Abigail Spencer and Clayne Crawford, who have now taken on popular roles on new network shows – “Timeless” and “Lethal Weapon,” respectively – back in these great parts. The relationship between Amantha and Teddy has always been my favorite thing on this show, and I love that, after he gave her a ride back to her house, he proposed swapping living situations, which actually makes a lot of sense. Amantha talking to Ted Sr. and Teddy debriefing with Janet were nice moments, and their flapjack breakfast was a rare pleasant family moment. I also like that, on this show, Amantha getting into a car accident just meant a reality check and a late-night run-in with someone who knew her and then may or may not have been packing. Teddy has become a much nicer guy, and his date night at the restaurant with Tawney really showed a very kind side of him. Jared off camping in the rain and Jon trying to come back to pursue the case further were interesting subplots, and I’m much more intrigued by the news that Janet is going to go to Nashville since she really needs to see her son. Her breaking of the released suspect’s eggs was a small display of anger, but one that speaks volumes and is sure to haunt him.

What I’m Watching: Rectify (Season Premiere)

Rectify: Season 4, Episode 1 “A House Divided” (B)

I saw that the final season of this show got a score of 100% from Metacritic, a pretty impressive feat. I know that, even though many people still don’t know about this show, anyone who watches it tends to be in awe. I’ve been watching it since the beginning and do think it’s very good, but I also know that it can fall victim to glacial placing. What it did at the end of the season was bold and risky, and now we have an episode with just one of the show’s stars and the whole rest of the cast absent. Aden Young is more than capable of carrying an hour with his slow drawl, and he was joined by two extremely capable actors in this season opener. I’m a big fan of Caitlin FitzGerald, who regularly stars on “Masters of Sex,” and her artist squad member who compared Daniel’s time in prison to her time spent in a sorority as something neither of them are proud of is certainly intriguing. I also like Scott Lawrence, who I realize I must recognize from playing a judge on “The Grinder,” and his portrayal of Avery here conveys wisdom, generosity, and a determination not to judge anyone. This episode was all about the conversations, covering subjects like creating something and the value of a person’s life, and learning how to play cards at the end was an effective representation of second chances. I’d appreciate a bit more energy and plot development in episode two, but I sort of know what to expect from this show at this point.

What I’m Watching: Rectify (Season Finale)

Rectify: Season 3, Episode 6 “The Source” (B+)

This extended episode did some justice for a season that was far too short, and all of the content of this installment was informative and engaging. This episode achieved a particularly impressive balance between the appreciation of the beauty of nature and the world as Daniel sees it and actual things going on for him and for the rest of the world. Daniel’s goodbye with Jon seemed more emotional than his goodbye with his own sister, but that was much more due to Jon’s apparent investment in Daniel as a client and friend. Jon’s visit to Senator Foulkes was unexpectedly vicious, and the line that it didn’t much matter if he was dead or alive going forward was the perfect response to Foulkes’ slowly-uttered retort. Chris’ opening confession was intense and in-depth, and Trey’s reaction to his later arrest was far less forthcoming but seemed to indicate that there is more going on than it seems, even if Daniel is not the prime suspect as he has been for so long. Daniel connecting with a young kid on the beach was a nice moment, just about the only one that wasn’t unnaturally interrupted or less satisfying than usual during his trip, with his fish choice and the music timing ranking as lamentable developments. Daniel and Tawney meeting in a dream where she came to visit him in prison was an interesting scene because it seemed to show both of their true feelings, and, surprisingly enough, it was Tawney imagining it and not Daniel. The best interaction of the entire episode was Teddy and Amantha sitting down to eat Chinese food and play gin rummy, a truly worthwhile scene at the end of a solid season-ending episode. I’m not sure where season four will take us, but after these past two episodes, I’m invested.

Season grade: B+
Season MVP: Abigail Spencer as Amantha

What I’m Watching: Rectify

Rectify: Season 3, Episode 5 “The Future” (B+)

I had no idea that next week’s episode is this show’s season finale, and while a fourth season is already confirmed, it’s a shame that only six episodes were commissioned, especially after season two included ten. Sundance has done this with several of its shows now, and they could all use more than six episodes – I think that twelve and thirteen have become the industry standards for quality season length, with ten usually also clocking in as too fleeting. What’s even more lamentable is that this episode really showcased everything that’s good about this show, and to think that it won’t be back for a full year is unfortunate, mainly because I’m sure I’ll have all but forgotten it by then. What this episode crucially did was reframed Daniel and how others perceive him. The big bombshell was Carl calling him in to tell him that he’s not a suspect but a witness, which means that more and more people believe that he may not be the awful man most suspect him to be. Janet standing up to Ted to defend her son was great, and I like that she brought Jared along with her since obviously he’s feeling left out of the storyline. The whole scene by the pool was very powerful, and it’s a nice thing to see a good chunk of the Holden family together again. Teddy was noble to offer to move out of his house, but it appears that Tawney has a dark past that requires much more soul-searching than just a day or two back in her old surroundings.

What I’m Watching: Rectify

Rectify: Season 3, Episode 4 “Girl Jesus” (B+)

This episode picked up the pace a bit, but more crucially it offered some truly compelling interactions between its characters. I’ve also found Amantha to be the most fascinating character on this show, with Daniel and Tawney trailing somewhere behind her, and it’s great to see how being an assistant manager has made her feel. It’s hardly where she wanted to be, but she now carries herself with a certain confidence that came out in a big way in her lunch with Jon and then when Daniel showed up at her work to get his form signed. Offering him her car was a sweet and mature gesture, and the way he looked at the clock was so telling of how he still feels imprisoned. Barely even speaking to his probation officer when he handed the form emphasized that feeling of isolation since he didn’t even get to have a triumphant moment of successful delivery. Aimlessly painting the pool at first seemed like a symbol of dedication but then at the end of the episode seemed like all he had left to focus on. Carl is doing his very best to mount a case against Daniel, and things are not looking too good for him at the moment. Tawney admitting that she didn’t think she should be married to Teddy in therapy made for an enormously impactful scene, and I like that Teddy stuck by her afterwards and that they may not be as hopelessly set for loneliness as it initially appeared since the therapy was, for lack of a better word, extremely therapeutic.

What I’m Watching: Rectify

Rectify: Season 3, Episode 3 “Sown with Salt” (B)

This episode was a bit better than last week’s but it definitely isn’t in a rush to get anywhere, especially considering the fact that this show got renewed a couple weeks ago for a fourth season, meaning that it can take plenty of time to tell Daniel’s story. There’s a certain way that Daniel has about him that is fascinating, taking in everything about the world that he missed with a calm, judgment-free wonder, and that’s what makes this show most watchable. But then there’s a darker side of him, the one that comes up when others push him and manifests when they go too far. We saw a bit of that with Carl as he pressed Daniel about George’s death, and that’s where the question continues to come up of whether Daniel is actually guilty or if he’s truly the innocent person we and he all believe him to be. Amantha put it well in her honest scene that burst out of her during management training – she invested her entire life in getting her brother exonerated and then within weeks of his being released he admitted again to having done it, which is now on his permanent record. I was shocked to recognize Michael Vartan of “Alias” fame as Forrest, Amantha’s hotel friend, and it’s good to see him in something serious like this. This was the first time that we’ve seen Teddy and Tawney together in a while, and they’ve definitely grown so much apart even in just a short span of their lives. All this has clearly taken a toll on Janet and Ted too, whose relationship can never quite be the same anymore.

What I'm Watching: Rectify

Rectify: Season 3, Episode 2 “Thrill Ride” (B)

I'm not sure there's a more evocative image I can think of on television than the red inflatable man outside the shop dancing in the wind. Teddy just stared at it in this episode, and it brings up plenty of memories of this show's most intense moments, especially the one that compelled Daniel to move in with Amantha and has driven such a wedge between the members of this extended family. Teddy's drive with Jared was a prime example of how this show can be very effective in its content while being devastatingly slow in its execution. I like that Tawney got asked whether Teddy actually liked being called that simply because it was a distinguishing moniker from his father, and it's good that she's doing some soul-searching while being away from her very aggressive husband, who clearly needed some time and space to let loose. Carl and Sondra are definitely disagreeing on strategy, but it's good that this investigation is finally being conducted in the proper way after so many years. Ted telling Janet that he asked Daniel to leave was tough, and Janet had a difficult time grappling with the news Jon gave her as well. I love that Amantha responded sarcastically to questions about her name from her previously pregnant coworker and then shot right back at her with a mockery of her being named Peanut. It was great to see Daniel have a good day, enjoying being out in the world and doing normal human things like buying groceries and doing laundry.

What I'm Watching: Rectify

Rectify: Season 3, Episode 1 “Hoorah” (B+)

I completely forgot that this show was returning, mainly because I didn't realize that it had been almost a year since its second season finished. This has to be one of the subtlest shows on television, and this episode was the first that was really all about plot. Daniel did have one moment in which he imagined watching his own execution and a few times in which he flashed back to his time in prison, but mostly he was in the present, being absurdly polite as usual, particularly when his mom ordered a special meal for him that was definitely Teddy's favorite meal and not his. It's hard to watch Ted Sr. express such negativity and resentment towards his stepson, and to see Daniel receive that energy in his normal matter-of-fact way, accepting it as fact rather than trying to protest against it. Teddy's visit was certainly tense, and he brought up Tawney's miscarriage very aggressively, yielding it as a weapon to use against the stepbrother he never wanted to have. Amantha, this show's angriest character by far, has happened into some unexpected fortune, on track for a management position in a career she never could have imagined, and let's hope that she looks it at as such rather than rejecting it as not something on her path. I'm glad Daniel will be staying with her – those two could use some sibling bonding time. Senator Foulkes' heart attack comes as a shock, and I'm curious to see how that changes things for Daniel and company.

What I’m Watching: Rectify (Season Finale)

Rectify: Season 2, Episode 10 “Unhinged” (B+)

There were a number of times this season that I thought I was going to give up on this show, mainly because of what I would most accurately describe as glacial placing. It turns out that everything that happened this season was leading up to Daniel reexamining his life and realizing that maybe people weren’t wrong about him after all, and that he would be better off starting fresh somewhere where no one knows what he’s done. That deposition was tough to watch, especially when he asked Foulkes if he would let him go home this time. It’s good that what Ted confronted Daniel about with Janet in earshot didn’t get spoken aloud, and instead Daniel gracefully made his exit. This is hardly a finale full of closure, and it’s a good thing that this show was renewed for a third season earlier this week so that we don’t have to keep wondering about whether Daniel actually did it and know that we’ll never have the answer (though it’s still possible the show will never address it with certainty). It seems like all forces except for Tawney, Janet, Amantha, and John are rallying against Daniel, which is a shame. It’s good that Tawney’s moving on, while Amantha’s decision to dump John isn’t necessarily the best plan. Daniel is a fascinating character, to be sure, and so is Tawney. This show is full of great personalities, and I think that it just needs to be a bit more consistently enthralling in season two to keep my attention.

Season grade: B+
Season MVP: Adelaide Clemens as Tawney / Abigail Spencer as Amantha

What I’m Watching: Rectify

Rectify: Season 2, Episode 9 “Until You’re Blue” (A-)

What an intense and utterly devastating episode. We saw more of Ted Sr. than ever before, and I hadn’t noticed just how much he sounds like his son in terms of his manner of speaking. It was evident in the way that he looked at Daniel that he was seeing him in a new and unfortunate light but, to his credit, he didn’t react the way the Senator had expected him to, and instead marched right back to Foulkes and called him a vulture for preying on their family in what could only be considered a private matter. The notion of Daniel being banished from his home and forced to live in one small county far from his family is a dismal one, though he doesn’t seem to think it’s so awful. Flashing back to the priest reading Amantha’s letter to Daniel was very effective, and it was great to see more of their relationship when he stopped by her beloved workplace. Daniel’s conversation with Janet about the passage of time was mesmerizing, and she took the initial news well even if she didn’t quite grasp its magnitude. The emotional center of this episode, of course, revolved around Tawney and her losing the baby. At first, Teddy was relatively sweet, but then that kindness and empathy turned into complete cruelty, as he berated her for looking into school options to put her life back together by calling himself her hero and accusing her of wanting to run off and be with Daniel. The fact that she did call him is understandable because she needed someone to hold her up, which he did during their closing dance, while Teddy went and did something stupid and got into what appears to have been a very violent fight. Next is the finale, which should prove intense, and we’ll soon find out if this show will be back again for a third round and where Daniel might be during that time.

What I’m Watching: Rectify

Rectify: Season 2, Episode 8 “The Great Destroyer” (B+)

After watching Daniel take some time off from reality, we’re now getting back to the actual facts at hand as the end of this second season approaches. Daniel calling Tawney to pick him up presented another opportunity for complete stream-of-consciousness honesty from Daniel, and Tawney deserves credit for being honest right back about how she really feels about him. We got the rare chance to hear from the quietest member of the Holden-Talbot extended family, who stopped by to ask his big brother Teddy, of all people, why Daniel would admit to a crime he didn’t commit for a lighter punishment. I’m very concerned about the conversation that we didn’t hear between our friendly senator and Ted Sr., especially since he and Janet just got to a really good place. Daniel seemed more normal than ever before as he looked freshly and cleanly dressed, sitting and drinking a beer and raving about cooking steaks. It’s nice to see him doing so well and expressing a positive – and energetic – outlook on life, and it’s great to see Amanda embrace his attitude. What’s less comforting is Daniel’s interest in hearing the recording of his confession, which he apparently requested so that he could act out choking a pillow to see how it feels. Daniel is definitely a good person, but his inability to get a handle on what actually happened and what he may or may not have done suggests that he’s not nearly as innocent as I think we’d all like to think he is.

What I’m Watching: Rectify

Rectify: Season 2, Episode 7 “Weird as You” (B)

There was something undeniably hypnotic about this episode, that’s for sure. While part of it has to do with Daniel’s drug trip, it has more to do with Daniel trying to discover himself. I’ve found that more effective in the past when less has been said, but recently Daniel has been making plenty of friends and his life has started to look very different. What he got in this episode was confirmation of just one thing: that he really doesn’t know what happened. Hearing about how he couldn’t perform and that could have driven him into a murderous rage makes him have to consider what he could have been capable of, even though he really can’t discern what did or didn’t happen. Ultimately, his guilt isn’t relevant if Jon goes to trial and can’t wait. Serving ten more years in prison hardly seems like a fitting fate for Daniel, who would likely go nuts if he had to go back inside following his unexpected bout with freedom. Watching Amantha try to be polite while the customer was counting out cash trying to get to $41, only to come out twenty cents short, was both amusing and painful, and she seems to be ready to just about everything wrong in this position. Getting stoned with her coworker and going into the tire store to ask Teddy for the keys to the vending machine was an interesting idea, but it certainly was fun to watch Amantha and Teddy have their most pleasant yet truly bizarre interaction yet.

What I’m Watching: Rectify

Rectify: Season 2, Episode 6 “MazelTov” (B+)

It’s so interesting to watch Daniel ease back into society, disappearing from the lives of those who have so closely supporting him as he ventures out into his own life. Seeing him wake up in a woman’s bed was a surprise, though not entirely given the party he went to last week, but it was still gratifying to see him make such a human connection, brought on by the sentiment he described to Tawney during their conversation at his house later. Daniel’s speech at the funeral was actually quite touching, and it’s a shame that all it did was inspire Foulkes and Carl to conspire about how best to take Daniel down, with Carl telling the Senator what Teddy confessed to him. After that unfriendly run-in at the gas station, Daniel met up with Lezlie again, who isn’t actually such a bad influence, and was able to find him that stove that he wanted to get for his mother. Her reaction, influenced by his being so late to the party, was less than enthusiastic, but it was great to see Ted Sr. step in with an unexpected positive attitude, encouraging Daniel and his thoughtful gift. I liked how Teddy was so taken aback by Amanda being uncharacteristically nice to him, though of course that didn’t last too long. Tawney asking if Teddy wishing them a “Mazel Tov” was appropriate was a rare hilarious moment, and it’s a shame that Teddy had to go ahead and share their big news after he saw Daniel talking to Tawney and smiling, when Tawney had expressly asked him not to. The scene with the priest talking to Daniel and playing music for him was very powerful, though I was less impressed by the final scene with Daniel hearing a woman’s voice talking to him, since I’d like for this show to remain literal rather than having manifestations of Daniel’s demons materialize and help take him down.