I think Seasons 1 and 3 are the best too. Season 1 will probably always be the finest, just because it's such an incredibly strong arc, delivered in a near-perfect six episodes (Modern Times is the only S1 hour I wouldn't call a masterpiece, but it's still great). The world and characters are perhaps more compelling in S1, because everything is still new to the viewer and the creators; and the theme of Daniel's wonder at and adjustment to the world is compellingly dramatized whereas the subsequent seasons haven't been quite as focused or centered around any one "theme." S3 is in many ways just as good, though -- really beautiful storytelling and filmmaking and acting, everything is just very streamlined (in a good way) by that point. There's a terrific sense of purpose to both of those seasons, which S2 and probably S4 don't quite achieve.
S2 I agree is messy, mostly for the first two or maybe three episodes. The rest of the season is pretty much outstanding, though, especially from Weird as You to the end. It's kind of the most digressive season, but also the most conventional in the way that it leads to a bruising climax in both the penultimate and final episodes, an ending perhaps more "action-packed," if it can be called that, than is usual for this show.
I really love 4, and expect to rate it very highly unless the finale happens to be a gigantic letdown. It might end up being the weakest season, depending on how great the finale is, but it's still one of the best seasons of TV of recent years. I found Happy Unburdening to be one of the most moving episodes of the show to date, a real tearjerker. I also loved Physics, Pineapples in Paris, A House Divided, and thought Go Ask Roger was a great low-key episode. Yolk and Bob & Carol & Ted Jr & Alice were some of the show's weaker episodes, but for me that's not saying much -- they were still quality. I wouldn't call a single episode of Rectify thus far weak, or even just "okay." Even the more meandering episodes of S2 were still excellent, just not on the god-tier level Rectify usually occupies. In IMDb terms, Rectify's weakest episodes are an 8/10, while the rest of its run earns either a 10/10, or a 9 at worst. And I'm a pretty conservative grader, too.
As for the flaws of S4: I do agree with many that the use of music isn't always as inspired as previously (though I do not believe it is as loud as some say if your settings are calibrated correctly). Compare to the score for S1, which was simply gorgeous and the S4 score sometimes falls short. Also, Daniel feels oddly underused this season. Just a little. I feel we could have seen more from him, he's such a fascinating character and his development and redemption is the most important part of the show; but in a way it almost felt as if A House Divided set up an arc that the rest of the season hasn't followed up on as much as I'd like. Additionally, it's not a huge thing but Billy's character seems almost like a dead-end, even if he is in the finale, just because we haven't seen him since S4E4, Go Ask Roger. Just felt like they were building Amantha's story up more, but then dropped it.
Maybe this season isn't as cohesive as usual because the first four episodes were mostly build-up while the last 4 are all climax and falling action. I liked how Seasons 1 and 3 eschewed this more conventional way of structuring a season of serialized television; they didn't feel so obviously calculated to start off slow and finish with a bang, and almost kept the same beautifully hypnotic, simmering temperature throughout.
Basically it sort of seems like S4, particularly the first half, isn't quite as concisely and smoothly written/structured as earlier seasons, perhaps -- and I think it's all down to having such a short amount of time to wrap everything up. The writers have done a very admirable job with it, it's not an obvious rush-job disappointment like S5 of The Wire, but there are some problems that weren't present before. I basically think most of these minor problems with S4 would be solved if it were expanded to 10-13 episodes, or the show given a fifth and final season.
Still a really great season I think, though. I personally found Chloe and Daniel's dance to be one of the most moving moments of the series, even though I do have a couple problems with her character generally. At its best, S4 has been classic Rectify. Sure, it's more grounded/realistic than earlier Rectify -- but so was S3 and parts of S2. They're not going to return to the dreamlike, surreal quality of the first season or two, and it makes perfect sense the way the style has progressed as it's in perfect step with Daniel's own progression back into the realm of regular life.
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