RayRay on Marvel vs. Capcom Infinite:

This entire week has been filled with a broad range of opinions by several household names in the FGC. From Bum163 to Justin Wong, it should be clear that the series' true fans are eager to see how Marvel vs. Capcom Infinite will unfold. Many of them are intrigued with the new Infinity Stone-powered sub-system, while others are looking forward to seeing iconic characters make a return.

As Raynel 'RayRay' Hidalgo has been a notable force throughout the Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom era, we couldn't pass up the chance to hear his thoughts on what's on the horizon. 

Infinite looks like it will be the first crossover fighting game that’s more accessible for casual players. What do you think the game’s biggest challenge will be -- maintaining enough depth for veteran players?

I'm excited for it. With Street Fighter V, I truly believe they figured out how to make an "accessible" game while keeping the infinite depth that comes from the player vs. player aspect. More players. More competition. 

How much would you measure the importance that Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite includes a significant amount of characters that contain X-men and other popular mutants?

They have to be in it. They have to appeal to the current Marvel fans as well as fighting game fans. X-Men have been part of fighting games for over 20 years now.

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Give us your overall reaction upon seeing the announcement trailers last weekend.

Well, like most people, I spent the entire week prior to the announcement hearing about the rumors non stop. All it did was build up an insane amount of anticipation. I went crazy â€" literally slammed my desk and started shrieking! [laughs]

Do you plan to stick with Vs. titles exclusively, or will you still balance your time with Street Fighter V and other titles?

I plan to continue playing both games. With the competition at an all time high, I'm not sure if anyone will be able to be dominate without giving it their all.

Many seem concerned about the lack of X-Factor and the assist system. What are your thoughts on Infinite reintroducing the Gems to be used as a groove à la CvS2?

The lack of assists bothered me at first. Trying to be unbiased and thinking about it more, having both characters switch seamlessly is more like having one big character and the gems are like variations. Plenty of depth there!

What features do you feel Infinite must include in order to guarantee it will resonate with veteran players and new players alike?

Versus Mode [laughs] . . .that's always been enough for me. Maybe they can also include a more thought out ranked mode, where ranking up actually means something.

Are there any creative, special modes that you’d like to see included along with the confirmed Story and Mission Modes Infinite will be offering?

Obviously a 4-player 2v2 mode is always fun. 

Mega Man X and Captain Marvel are two of the newest additions joining the Vs. universe. What additional characters would you like to see added to the roster?

I'm a fighting game fan, not a comic book fan. I want to see all the classic fighters come back.

What insight would you offer for anyone that feels skeptical about Infinite's success?

Being skeptical with so little information makes no sense. It's that simple. With fighters evolving faster than ever, I say let's crack it open and make it our own again.

"

| RayRay | Marvel | Capcom | Infinite: | This | entire | week | been | filled | with | broad | range | opinions | several | household | names | From | Bum163< | Justin | Wong< | should | clear | that | series | true | fans | eager | how Marvel | Infinite < | em>will | unfold | Many | them | intrigued | Infinity | Stone | powered | system | while | others | looking | forward | seeing | iconic | characters | make | return | p> As Raynel | Hidalgo | notable | force | throughout | the Ultimate | Capcom < | em>era | couldnt | pass | chance to | hear | thoughts | whats | horizon | p> Infinite | looks | like | will | first | crossover | fighting | game | that’s | more | accessible | casual | players | What | think | game’s | biggest | challenge | maintaining | enough | depth | veteran | h3> Im | excited | With | Street | Fighter | truly | believe | they | figured | keeping | infinite | comes | from | player | aspect | More | competition | p> How | much | would | measure | importance | Capcom: | Infinite | includes | significant | amount | contain | other | popular | mutants | h3> They | have | They | appeal | current | well | part | games | over | years | p> [embedded | content]< | p> Give | your | overall | reaction | upon | announcement | trailers | last | weekend | h3> Well | most | people | spent | prior | hearing | about | rumors | stop | build | insane | anticipation | went crazy | â€" < | em>literally | slammed | desk | started | shrieking! | [laughs]< | p> Do | plan | stick | titles | exclusively | still | balance | time | h3> I | continue | playing | both | high | sure | anyone | able | dominate | without | giving | their | p> Many | seem | concerned | lack | Factor | assist | reintroducing | Gems | used | groove | CvS2 | h3> The | assists | bothered | Trying | unbiased | thinking | having | switch | seamlessly | character | gems | variations | Plenty | there!< | p> What | features | feel | must | include | order | guarantee | resonate | alike | h3> Versus | Mode | [laughs] | thats | always | Maybe | also | thought | ranked | mode | where | ranking | actually | means | something | p> Are | there | creative | special | modes | you’d | included | along | confirmed | Story | Mission | Modes | offering | h3> Obviously | p> Mega | Captain | newest | additions | joining | universe | additional | added | roster | comic | book | want | classic | fighters | come | back | insight | offer | feels | skeptical | Infinites | success | h3> Being | little | information | makes | sense | simple | evolving | faster | than | ever | lets | crack | open | again | p> |

Thank You Very Very Much for Visit this Blog

PR Balrog on Marvel vs. Capcom Infinite:

Several well-known members from the NorthEast kicked our first round of Marvel vs. Capcom Infinite interviews. Today, we head out to Cali with Evil Geniuses' Eduardo 'PR Balrog' Perez-Frangie, one of the West Coast's notable tournament players. PR Balrog was quite formidable throughout the Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 era, and achieved multiple first place tournament finishes.

Although he stopped competing in mid-2015, we were sure the news of a new Versus iteration would draw him back in. PVP Live caught up with PR Rog to hear his thoughts on Capcom's newest project.

Infinite looks like it will be the first crossover fighting game that’s accessible to casual players. What do you think the game’s biggest challenge will be in maintaining enough depth for veteran players?

If the game turns out to be like Tatsunoko vs. Capcom, then I can see the game being more accessible for casual players. But crossover fighting games (Marvel type) have always being fast paced and execution heavy and that's what veteran players look for.

What was your reaction to the announcement trailers last weekend?

To be honest, I never get super hyped about announcements until I play the game, but there's one thing for sure that I can say..... MAHVEL LIVES

How important is it that Marvel vs. Capcom Infinite includes the X-men and other popular mutants?

We've been seeing the same characters for a long time in Marvel vs Capcom series, so I don't think it'll be important if we don't have a few X-men and other popular mutants. You have to give the spotlight to the new generation!

Do you think Infinite will create the same following as its predecessors?

It's hard to say without touching the game, but if the game becomes an esport title, I feel that it has the potential to be even bigger than Street Fighter.

What are your thoughts on Infinite reintroducing the Gems to be used as a groove à la CvS2?

I think it's an awesome idea. People forget that there used to be gems in games like Marvel Super Heroes, which allowed for a lot of creativity.

What are the must-have features to guarantee Infinite will resonate with veteran players and new players alike?

Good combo system, no infinites, and fast paced.

 

What characters are you looking forward to play (returning or new additions)?

I honestly hope they bring Gambit and Sabretooth back. And for new additions, I would like to see Mystique, Emma Frost, and Mister Sinister.

What advice would you offer to skeptical players?

Always support the game that you like no matter what.

"

| Balrog | Marvel | Capcom | Infinite: | Several | well | known | members | from | NorthEast | kicked | first | round | Infinite < | em>interviews | Today | we head | Cali | with | Evil | Geniuses | Eduardo | Perez | Frangie | West | Coasts | notable | tournament | players |  PR | quite | formidable | throughout the Ultimate | 3 < | em>era | achieved | multiple | place | finishes | p> Although | stopped | competing | 2015 | were | sure | news | Versus | iteration | would | draw | back | Live | caught | hear | thoughts | Capcoms | newest | project | p> Infinite | looks | like | will | crossover | fighting | game | that’s | accessible | casual | What | think | game’s | biggest | challenge | maintaining | enough | depth | veteran | h3> If | turns | Tatsunoko | then | being | more | games | (Marvel | type) | have | always | fast | paced | execution | heavy | thats | what | look | p> What | your | reaction | to the | announcement | trailers | last | weekend | h3> To | honest | never | super | hyped | about | announcements | until | play | theres | thing | that | MAHVEL | LIVES< | p> How | important | it that | Infinite | includes | other | popular | mutants | h3> Weve | been | seeing | same | characters | long | time | Capcom< | series | dont | itll | give | spotlight | generation!< | p> Do | create | following | predecessors | h3> Its | hard | without | touching | becomes | esport | title | feel | potential | even | bigger | than | Street | Fighter | reintroducing | Gems | used | groove | CvS2 | h3> I | awesome | idea | People | forget | there | gems | Super | Heroes | which | allowed | creativity | must | features to | guarantee | resonate | alike | h3> Good | combo | system | infinites | p>  < | h3> What | looking | forward | (returning | additions) | honestly | hope | they | bring | Gambit | Sabretooth | additions | Mystique | Emma | Frost | Mister | Sinister | advice | offer | skeptical | h3> Always | support | matter | p> |

Thank So Much for Visiting this Article

PR Balrog on Marvel vs. Capcom Infinite:

Several well-known members from the NorthEast kicked our first round of Marvel vs. Capcom Infinite interviews. Today, we head out to Cali with Evil Geniuses' Eduardo 'PR Balrog' Perez-Frangie, one of the West Coast's notable tournament players. PR Balrog was quite formidable throughout the Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 era, and achieved multiple first place tournament finishes.

Although he stopped competing in mid-2015, we were sure the news of a new Versus iteration would draw him back in. PVP Live caught up with PR Rog to hear his thoughts on Capcom's newest project.

Infinite looks like it will be the first crossover fighting game that’s accessible to casual players. What do you think the game’s biggest challenge will be in maintaining enough depth for veteran players?

If the game turns out to be like Tatsunoko vs. Capcom, then I can see the game being more accessible for casual players. But crossover fighting games (Marvel type) have always being fast paced and execution heavy and that's what veteran players look for.

What was your reaction to the announcement trailers last weekend?

To be honest, I never get super hyped about announcements until I play the game, but there's one thing for sure that I can say..... MAHVEL LIVES

How important is it that Marvel vs. Capcom Infinite includes the X-men and other popular mutants?

We've been seeing the same characters for a long time in Marvel vs Capcom series, so I don't think it'll be important if we don't have a few X-men and other popular mutants. You have to give the spotlight to the new generation!

Do you think Infinite will create the same following as its predecessors?

It's hard to say without touching the game, but if the game becomes an esport title, I feel that it has the potential to be even bigger than Street Fighter.

What are your thoughts on Infinite reintroducing the Gems to be used as a groove à la CvS2?

I think it's an awesome idea. People forget that there used to be gems in games like Marvel Super Heroes, which allowed for a lot of creativity.

What are the must-have features to guarantee Infinite will resonate with veteran players and new players alike?

Good combo system, no infinites, and fast paced.

 

What characters are you looking forward to play (returning or new additions)?

I honestly hope they bring Gambit and Sabretooth back. And for new additions, I would like to see Mystique, Emma Frost, and Mister Sinister.

What advice would you offer to skeptical players?

Always support the game that you like no matter what.

"

| Balrog | Marvel | Capcom | Infinite: | Several | well | known | members | from | NorthEast | kicked | first | round | Infinite < | em>interviews | Today | we head | Cali | with | Evil | Geniuses | Eduardo | Perez | Frangie | West | Coasts | notable | tournament | players |  PR | quite | formidable | throughout the Ultimate | 3 < | em>era | achieved | multiple | place | finishes | p> Although | stopped | competing | 2015 | were | sure | news | Versus | iteration | would | draw | back | Live | caught | hear | thoughts | Capcoms | newest | project | p> Infinite | looks | like | will | crossover | fighting | game | that’s | accessible | casual | What | think | game’s | biggest | challenge | maintaining | enough | depth | veteran | h3> If | turns | Tatsunoko | then | being | more | games | (Marvel | type) | have | always | fast | paced | execution | heavy | thats | what | look | p> What | your | reaction | to the | announcement | trailers | last | weekend | h3> To | honest | never | super | hyped | about | announcements | until | play | theres | thing | that | MAHVEL | LIVES< | p> How | important | it that | Infinite | includes | other | popular | mutants | h3> Weve | been | seeing | same | characters | long | time | Capcom< | series | dont | itll | give | spotlight | generation!< | p> Do | create | following | predecessors | h3> Its | hard | without | touching | becomes | esport | title | feel | potential | even | bigger | than | Street | Fighter | reintroducing | Gems | used | groove | CvS2 | h3> I | awesome | idea | People | forget | there | gems | Super | Heroes | which | allowed | creativity | must | features to | guarantee | resonate | alike | h3> Good | combo | system | infinites | p>  < | h3> What | looking | forward | (returning | additions) | honestly | hope | they | bring | Gambit | Sabretooth | additions | Mystique | Emma | Frost | Mister | Sinister | advice | offer | skeptical | h3> Always | support | matter | p> |

Thank Very Much for Read this News

PR Balrog on Marvel vs. Capcom Infinite:

Several well-known members from the NorthEast kicked our first round of Marvel vs. Capcom Infinite interviews. Today, we head out to Cali with Evil Geniuses' Eduardo 'PR Balrog' Perez-Frangie, one of the West Coast's notable tournament players. PR Balrog was quite formidable throughout the Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 era, and achieved multiple first place tournament finishes.

Although he stopped competing in mid-2015, we were sure the news of a new Versus iteration would draw him back in. PVP Live caught up with PR Rog to hear his thoughts on Capcom's newest project.

Infinite looks like it will be the first crossover fighting game that’s accessible to casual players. What do you think the game’s biggest challenge will be in maintaining enough depth for veteran players?

If the game turns out to be like Tatsunoko vs. Capcom, then I can see the game being more accessible for casual players. But crossover fighting games (Marvel type) have always being fast paced and execution heavy and that's what veteran players look for.

What was your reaction to the announcement trailers last weekend?

To be honest, I never get super hyped about announcements until I play the game, but there's one thing for sure that I can say..... MAHVEL LIVES

How important is it that Marvel vs. Capcom Infinite includes the X-men and other popular mutants?

We've been seeing the same characters for a long time in Marvel vs Capcom series, so I don't think it'll be important if we don't have a few X-men and other popular mutants. You have to give the spotlight to the new generation!

Do you think Infinite will create the same following as its predecessors?

It's hard to say without touching the game, but if the game becomes an esport title, I feel that it has the potential to be even bigger than Street Fighter.

What are your thoughts on Infinite reintroducing the Gems to be used as a groove à la CvS2?

I think it's an awesome idea. People forget that there used to be gems in games like Marvel Super Heroes, which allowed for a lot of creativity.

What are the must-have features to guarantee Infinite will resonate with veteran players and new players alike?

Good combo system, no infinites, and fast paced.

 

What characters are you looking forward to play (returning or new additions)?

I honestly hope they bring Gambit and Sabretooth back. And for new additions, I would like to see Mystique, Emma Frost, and Mister Sinister.

What advice would you offer to skeptical players?

Always support the game that you like no matter what.

"

| Balrog | Marvel | Capcom | Infinite: | Several | well | known | members | from | NorthEast | kicked | first | round | Infinite < | em>interviews | Today | we head | Cali | with | Evil | Geniuses | Eduardo | Perez | Frangie | West | Coasts | notable | tournament | players |  PR | quite | formidable | throughout the Ultimate | 3 < | em>era | achieved | multiple | place | finishes | p> Although | stopped | competing | 2015 | were | sure | news | Versus | iteration | would | draw | back | Live | caught | hear | thoughts | Capcoms | newest | project | p> Infinite | looks | like | will | crossover | fighting | game | that’s | accessible | casual | What | think | game’s | biggest | challenge | maintaining | enough | depth | veteran | h3> If | turns | Tatsunoko | then | being | more | games | (Marvel | type) | have | always | fast | paced | execution | heavy | thats | what | look | p> What | your | reaction | to the | announcement | trailers | last | weekend | h3> To | honest | never | super | hyped | about | announcements | until | play | theres | thing | that | MAHVEL | LIVES< | p> How | important | it that | Infinite | includes | other | popular | mutants | h3> Weve | been | seeing | same | characters | long | time | Capcom< | series | dont | itll | give | spotlight | generation!< | p> Do | create | following | predecessors | h3> Its | hard | without | touching | becomes | esport | title | feel | potential | even | bigger | than | Street | Fighter | reintroducing | Gems | used | groove | CvS2 | h3> I | awesome | idea | People | forget | there | gems | Super | Heroes | which | allowed | creativity | must | features to | guarantee | resonate | alike | h3> Good | combo | system | infinites | p>  < | h3> What | looking | forward | (returning | additions) | honestly | hope | they | bring | Gambit | Sabretooth | additions | Mystique | Emma | Frost | Mister | Sinister | advice | offer | skeptical | h3> Always | support | matter | p> |

Thank You So Much for Visiting this Blog

PR Balrog on Marvel vs. Capcom Infinite:

Several well-known members from the NorthEast kicked our first round of Marvel vs. Capcom Infinite interviews. Today, we head out to Cali with Evil Geniuses' Eduardo 'PR Balrog' Perez-Frangie, one of the West Coast's notable tournament players. PR Balrog was quite formidable throughout the Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 era, and achieved multiple first place tournament finishes.

Although he stopped competing in mid-2015, we were sure the news of a new Versus iteration would draw him back in. PVP Live caught up with PR Rog to hear his thoughts on Capcom's newest project.

Infinite looks like it will be the first crossover fighting game that’s accessible to casual players. What do you think the game’s biggest challenge will be in maintaining enough depth for veteran players?

If the game turns out to be like Tatsunoko vs. Capcom, then I can see the game being more accessible for casual players. But crossover fighting games (Marvel type) have always being fast paced and execution heavy and that's what veteran players look for.

What was your reaction to the announcement trailers last weekend?

To be honest, I never get super hyped about announcements until I play the game, but there's one thing for sure that I can say..... MAHVEL LIVES

How important is it that Marvel vs. Capcom Infinite includes the X-men and other popular mutants?

We've been seeing the same characters for a long time in Marvel vs Capcom series, so I don't think it'll be important if we don't have a few X-men and other popular mutants. You have to give the spotlight to the new generation!

Do you think Infinite will create the same following as its predecessors?

It's hard to say without touching the game, but if the game becomes an esport title, I feel that it has the potential to be even bigger than Street Fighter.

What are your thoughts on Infinite reintroducing the Gems to be used as a groove à la CvS2?

I think it's an awesome idea. People forget that there used to be gems in games like Marvel Super Heroes, which allowed for a lot of creativity.

What are the must-have features to guarantee Infinite will resonate with veteran players and new players alike?

Good combo system, no infinites, and fast paced.

 

What characters are you looking forward to play (returning or new additions)?

I honestly hope they bring Gambit and Sabretooth back. And for new additions, I would like to see Mystique, Emma Frost, and Mister Sinister.

What advice would you offer to skeptical players?

Always support the game that you like no matter what.

"

| Balrog | Marvel | Capcom | Infinite: | Several | well | known | members | from | NorthEast | kicked | first | round | Infinite < | em>interviews | Today | we head | Cali | with | Evil | Geniuses | Eduardo | Perez | Frangie | West | Coasts | notable | tournament | players |  PR | quite | formidable | throughout the Ultimate | 3 < | em>era | achieved | multiple | place | finishes | p> Although | stopped | competing | 2015 | were | sure | news | Versus | iteration | would | draw | back | Live | caught | hear | thoughts | Capcoms | newest | project | p> Infinite | looks | like | will | crossover | fighting | game | that’s | accessible | casual | What | think | game’s | biggest | challenge | maintaining | enough | depth | veteran | h3> If | turns | Tatsunoko | then | being | more | games | (Marvel | type) | have | always | fast | paced | execution | heavy | thats | what | look | p> What | your | reaction | to the | announcement | trailers | last | weekend | h3> To | honest | never | super | hyped | about | announcements | until | play | theres | thing | that | MAHVEL | LIVES< | p> How | important | it that | Infinite | includes | other | popular | mutants | h3> Weve | been | seeing | same | characters | long | time | Capcom< | series | dont | itll | give | spotlight | generation!< | p> Do | create | following | predecessors | h3> Its | hard | without | touching | becomes | esport | title | feel | potential | even | bigger | than | Street | Fighter | reintroducing | Gems | used | groove | CvS2 | h3> I | awesome | idea | People | forget | there | gems | Super | Heroes | which | allowed | creativity | must | features to | guarantee | resonate | alike | h3> Good | combo | system | infinites | p>  < | h3> What | looking | forward | (returning | additions) | honestly | hope | they | bring | Gambit | Sabretooth | additions | Mystique | Emma | Frost | Mister | Sinister | advice | offer | skeptical | h3> Always | support | matter | p> |

Thank You Very Much for Reading this Article

“Rectify” Is a Quiet Marvel

> Daniel was convicted of a brutal but ambiguous crime. Now that he’s out of prison, everyone wants clarity. Credit Illustration by Tomer Hanuka In the first episode of “Rectify,” Daniel Holden (Aden Young) is released from death row, and he gives a speech to journalists and protesters gathered outside the prison. Rather than assert his innocence or talk about justice, he offers a zigzagging meditation on the nature of fatalism. “I had convinced myself that kind of optimism served no useful purpose in the world where I existed,” he explains, in an underwater monotone, as the protesters look on, baffled. “Obviously, this radical belief system was flawed and was, ironically, a kind of fantasy itself.” Humbly, as if ending a philosophy seminar, he concludes, “I will seriously need to reconsider my world view.” For three years, “Rectify” has been a small marvel, an eccentric independent drama, filmed in Griffin, Georgia, and airing off the beaten track as well, on Sundance. With its skewed insights into carceral cruelty, “Rectify” took the slot that “The Wire” used to occupy: it’s the smart crime drama whose fans have trouble persuading others to watch, because it sounds too grimâ€"or maybe too good for you. It’s a frustrating dynamic that has haunted other dramas without cowboys or zombiesâ€"“The Leftovers” and “The Americans” come to mindâ€"but “Rectify” ’s reputation for difficulty is misleading. The show’s dreamy pace makes it a satisfying high, like a bourbon-soaked bob down a river on a humid day. It’s a show about the way that time gets distorted; it’s one that distorts time, too. As with many structurally daring series, it’s joyful, because its insides match its outsides. It’s also, more straightforwardly, a gothic mystery about small-town secrets. When Daniel was in his late teens, he was convicted of the rape and murder of his sixteen-year-old girlfriend, Hanna. He served nineteen years, most of them in solitary confinement. The crime itself was a foggy, ambiguous incident that involved psychedelic drugs; two boys testified against him, and, under pressure, Daniel confessed. DNA cleared him of the rape but not of the murder, so plenty of localsâ€"and, at times, Daniel himselfâ€"suspect that he did it, because he was found cradling Hanna’s naked corpse, which he’d decorated with flowers. But Daniel’s younger sister, Amantha (Abigail Spencer), never lost faith in his innocence, and she’s been sleeping with the liberal Jewish lawyer she lobbied to work on his behalfâ€"the big-city Reuben to her Norma Rae. Everyone involved wants clarity, now that Amantha’s faith has paid off. No one gets it. The murder case is reopened and leads down alarming paths. Few people want to face the uglier facts, including the knowledge that Daniel was raped in prison, multiple times. While he was on death row, his father died and his mother remarried, so he has two new stepbrothers, Ted, Jr., and Jared, who is still in his teens. In some ways, Daniel is himself an adolescent, prone to self-indulgent, self-destructive whims. In isolated Paulie, Georgia, he’s a distinctly odd figure, a socially awkward autodidact who meditated and read obsessively in his cell. He speaks in an off-kilter, whispery style, making even sympathetic neighbors uncomfortable. His mannered intellectualism marks him as an outsider, queer in several senses, as much as any suspicions of criminal guilt do. The one person who truly gets him is Ted, Jr.,’s wife, Tawney, a sweet born-again Christian who is desperate to save Daniel, and with whom he develops a dangerous chemistry. Their flirtation takes place, however, largely through elevated conversation about Thomas Aquinas and Buddha, forgiveness and humility. And, in fact, a lot of the pleasure of the show is in the dialogue, which favors the stuff that Daniel jokes is not “gallows humor” but “lethal-injection humorâ€"it’s more humane but less funny.” “It felt good to use the telephone that wasn’t smarter than me,” Daniel tells his sister, about a pay phone. His companion on a road trip tells him, “Everything that happens between men and women is written in mud. And butter. And barbecue sauce. Paula Deen said that to me in a dream I had one time.” Ted, Jr.,’s boozy koan: “First you hate it. Then you like it. It’s called beer.” While the talk takes its time, the plot moves fast. The first season covers six days in six episodes, and climaxes in two crimes, one committed by Daniel, one against him; by the fourth and final season, currently airing, only a few months have passed. Several of the best episodes are one-offs, featuring characters we never meet again. In one, Daniel drifts into the orbit of an antique dealer named Lezlie, a Pan-like anarchist, who invites anyone who is not a gentrifying yuppieâ€"the class he regards as ruining Paulieâ€"to party at his ramshackle house. In another, Daniel gets a ride from a stranger and steals some goats. There’s a strong sense in “Rectify” that, when your memory has been rendered spongy and your safety shattered, each event might last forever or be gone in a flash. Perhaps the standout episode is “Donald the Normal,” from Season 2. In it, Daniel finally leaves town. He takes a bus to Atlanta, then puts on nice clothes and goes to a museum to see a beautiful painting that he knows only from a book. Throughout “Rectify,” the claustrophobically close-knit Paulieâ€"where the local waitress sleeps with both Daniel and the politician who framed him, and where Hanna’s brother glares at Daniel’s family in the supermarketâ€"is portrayed as near-enchanted in its isolation. Any mention of a larger Southern city (even from the former Atlantan Amantha, who has a liberal hipster’s condescension for her home town) makes it sound as distant as Mars. At the museum, Daniel is approached by an attractive older woman, played by Frances Fisher. “What do you think?” she asks. “I think I’ve looked at this painting in a book for so long that somehow my brain has trivialized it,” he says. “And as I stand here in front of the real thing I feel, if anything . . . disappointed.” She’s charmed by the alien quality that others find so creepyâ€"his formal speech, his lack of boundaries. She invites him to lunch with her book-club friends. These are sleek, rich city women. He tells them that his name is Donald and that he owns a bookstore in Alabama. This experiment in reinvention falls apart fast. Daniel has cuts on his forehead and cheeks, the remnants of a beating that put him in a coma. And, bright as he is, he can’t improvise a life he never had. He finds himself faking a conversation about a book he hasn’t read, something with a “pitiful” protagonist. “This bread, um, is excellent,” he says, trying to change the subject. “The panini bread?” one of the women asks. “Yes, um, the pallini bread,” he responds. “It’s . . . unusually fresh.” It’s a heartbreaking slip, a class error that locks him out of a whole world. The book-club women get into a conversation about a story that Daniel >has read, Tobias Wolff’s “Bullet in the Brain,” and which he’s memorized. His lunch companion can’t believe it: “It would be torture to memorize.” No, he explains: it was a calming task, back during “a period in my life when I was having some difficulty dealing with the passing of time in a traditional sense.” Because Wolff’s story deals “with the bending of time,” memorizing it helped him bend time as well. References like this get at the show’s fearlessness in taking art seriously, not merely as a distraction but as a bridge between strangers, a way of reframing the world. Still, it would be an exercise in solipsism without the larger, more grounded ensemble, particularly Daniel’s opposite number, Ted, Jr., who becomes both his bully and his victim. As played by Clayne Crawford, Ted is a strutting, insecure shit-kicker, a high-school tough kid gone to seed. A salesman at the family car dealership, he’s the yuppie type Lezlie disdains, or, at least, he aspires to be: he and Tawney share a McMansion decorated in pastels. When the bank won’t give him a loan for a sketchy scheme involving leasing auto rims to black customers, he mortgages the house, despite Tawney’s resistance. When things fall apart, he gets scary. In another story, Ted might be a cartoon villain: the abusive husband who, at one point, confesses to something so close to date rape that it’s a distinction without a difference. (Crimes on “Rectify” are like that: violence so ordinary that no one reports itâ€"and, when someone does, the justice system makes it worse.) But the show sees Ted’s side, too. Like Daniel, he is a man humiliated by loss of control, with few coping skills when he’s been abandoned. In “Rectify,” anyone who feels something for others, however painful, must be redeemable. In the final season, Tawney and Ted, Jr., go to therapy, heading toward divorce. Daniel, who has been legally “banished” to Nashville, lives at a halfway house and gets an artist girlfriend. The crime is on the verge of being solved. If “Rectify” has a flaw, it’s one that so many humane shows develop in their final stretchâ€"a Tawney-like desire to save everyone, simply because these are characters we’ve loved for years. In one scene, Amantha, recognizing that an old enemy is helping solve the mystery of Hanna’s murder, asks, “Is there anyone left to hate?” Daniel wryly refers to himself as Humpty-Dumpty, but he’s often more like Kimmy Schmidt: he’s strange not because his capacity for wonder has been shut down but because it’s almost too open. As the finale approaches, it’s not the show’s problem that I’ve found myself wanting some ugly to stay ugly. Perhaps I will seriously need to reconsider my world view. >♦ "

| “Rectify” | Quiet | Marvel |

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