Rectify continues to be a high-quality, thoughtful drama through Season 3

 Season 3 of Ray McKinnon's Rectify continues building on the strengths of the 1st two seasons of this under-the-radar series (now on Netflix), which follow the central character, Daniel Holden (Aden Young) on his release from prison, where he'd been held for 20 years (half his lifetime) for the rape and murder of a teenage girl. He's clearly innocent of the rape charge (exonerated by DNA evidence); there's still some ambiguity about the murder - but, as a 40-year-old man, he does not seem like a violent criminal. He's philosophical, witty, gentle, tender toward his family members, but at a complete loss as to how to live in a world he knows nothing of - a stranger in a strange land. The series is about his effect, for good and ill, of his return to society in a small but prosperous Georgia suburb, and in particular for how this new presence in their lives has created tension and havoc among the members of his conservative blended family. Season 3, only 6 episodes, develops the plot slowly and meticulously (aided by man long, almost theatrical dialogs a soothing score - though too many "cuts" in many of the dramatic scenes) and it adds a new twist as the local sheriff, at first a hostile character who gradually develops some depth of character, begins investigating the death of a man who was present at the rape/murder 20 years back; this plot element is particularly compelling and unusual because we know from the first episode that the man killed himself (guilt about his false testimony at the trial) and we watch the sheriff, trying to right a wrong, perhaps perpetrating a new and equal wrong. My only quibble w/ season 3 is w/ the final episode that pushes the drama over the edge into melodrama: long scenes of Daniel's farewell to his family (he's "banished" from Georgia for an admission of guilt), a lachrymos dream sequence, and a few other moments drawn out for one two many beats - but aside from these quibbles, it remains a strong series, which we'll watch through the final 4th season,.