Dexter Season 8 Episode 12 "Remember The Monsters?"

          At first, I was filled with an interesting combination of rage and sadness by the series finale of Dexter. I felt betrayed by the writers who made Dexter grow and struggle with being "human." The ending I had hoped for was the opposite of what really happened. However, I realized several things in this episode that made me understand the choices behind this final episode of Dexter.
          From the very beginning, Dexter was all about a man who couldn't fit into society. He struggled with girlfriends, his wife, his kids, his sister, and his job because he was a serial killer. He longed to be like everyone else. Slowly, he began to make progress on becoming normal. He had a girlfriend, got married, and had a kid. Dexter began to look like a normal human being. However, the grass is always greener on the other side. Dexter could not handle being normal. It is much easier to not care about others than to love and lose. SPOILERS! Dexter has lost everyone he loves. He killed his brother in season 1. Rita was killed by Trinity at the end of season 4. His step-children wanted nothing to do with him in season 5. Deborah finds out about Dexter at the end of season 6. She then kills LaGuerta and saves Dexter at the end of season 7. At the end of season 8, Dexter mercy kills Deb so she won't be left in a coma, he abandons Harrison and Hannah, quits his job and moves to an isolated location where he cannot hurt anyone else. It is easy to say based on these characters that Dexter has ruined many lives. By learning to be human, he cared for people, made sacrifices for them, and hurt many. This is what he realizes as he drives into the hurricane. Being with Dexter is like being an alcoholic. While it feels good now, the pain will come.
          While I understand the reasons behind the writer's decisions, I am not sure how they should have ended it. I would have enjoyed watching Dexter move to Argentina with Hannah and Harrison and watching Deb finally have a successful relationship with Quinn, but that would have been hard to do while keeping with the themes of the series. I feel like the fans deserved better and while it may have not fit with the rest of the series, the audience would have wanted it to end happily.
          In my mind, there are 3 ways this show could have ended: happily, a big bang, and the mercy kill. For it to end happily, Dexter would have gotten away with Hannah and Harrison, Deb would be with Quinn, and Saxon would be caught or dead. I feel like this is what the audiences wanted. For the big bang ending, Dexter would have gotten caught by Miami Metro, gotten into a huge battle with Saxon, or ended up in prison on the death penalty. While this seems to be the realistic ending, it wouldn't have gone over well. How the show ends is like a mercy kill. The kills weren't satisfying, but they were understood. Everything makes sense mentally, but isn't emotionally satisfying. When it comes to writing stories, I guess I have learned that emotions are more important than facts. If the ending feels good, the audience will learn to get over the flaws and missteps of the writers. However if the show ends with poetic character arcs and logical conclusions, but fails to meet the emotional needs of the audience, then nobody is happy.

Dexter Season 7 Episode 2 "Sunshine & Frosty Swirl"

          Well episode two starts directly after the conclusion of episode one where Dexter tells Deb he is a serial killer. Dexter follows Deb after she runs from his apartment to vomit in the street. What a perfect reaction. I first noticed that once they started talking to each other, Deb was disgusted by Dexter. She was absolutely horrified that her father taught her adoptive brother how to kill people. This scene must have taken forever to write because it is absolutely flawless. Deb punching Dexter was the perfect reaction to Dexter’s sassy, “well what are you going to do now,” question. It was definitely something Deborah would do.

          I was pleasantly surprised when Deb brought up the topic of rehab. I didn’t expect the episode to head in this direction to happen which made it even more enjoyable. While Harry tried to channel Dexter’s killing toward evil people, Deb is trying to stop it all together. This is perfectly seen when Deb asks Dexter, “If you can channel your urges, why can’t you control them?” We have seen Dexter attempt to stop killing in the past, but he didn’t try hard enough. Now that he has Deb to keep him accountable, maybe he’ll succeed. However, forcing Dexter to enter Deb’s rehab could backfire. Addicts need to enter rehab for themselves otherwise its a lot harder to stay clean. 

          What probably stuck out to me the most was when Deb said she still loved Dexter. She is a Lieutenant at Miami Metro Homicide that loves her serial killer brother. Can you think of anything more genuine and ironic? Sibling love: nothing is better.

          LaGuerta is getting dangerously close to finding out that Travis was murdered. It seems like this happens almost every season. I’m starting to wish that LaGuerta was killed in season one like in the books.

          Deb seems to be replacing Harry and his teachings. The “Code of Deb” has already started with the first two rules: be honest and tell Deb when the Dark Passenger is tempting him.

          I’m not 100% sure what Louis’ role is in the show but he is definitely creepy. I’m pretty sure he knows Dexter’s secret and he’s not afraid of him. Maybe because he’s a serial killer too! Anyway, I hope that LaGuerta will catch onto Dexter but Louis will get caught instead. Its basically the exact same situation that Doakes was in.

          Dexter has taken it upon himself to stop Louis. Instead, he should be honest with Deb and Deb will stop him. Then all of his bases will be covered. However, this obviously wont happen because its the easy way out and it won’t thrilling.

          Well Dexter obviously didn’t choose to go that route after he drugged his sister. Not a smart move dude. Somehow, you managed to not kill Louis and called your drugged up sister for help. I’ve got to say I’m proud. I’m rarely (if ever) proud of Dexter but I am excited that I am. I would say that Dexter is changing but in reality, I highly doubt it. Throughout the whole show, Dexter has barely changed. The code is the same, his method and routines are the same, the only thing that changed was in season four when he realized he could have a family and be a serial killer. Well that ended well didn’t it? I thought Dexter might become religious in season six, but Brother Sam was killed off halfway into the season and things went back to normal. It is a little late to see a radical change in Dexter, but I am completely open to the idea.

          For the first time, we see Ray Stevenson as the main antagonist. He’s charming, business oriented, charismatic, a great actor (unlike Colin Hanks), and a brutal killer. I can’t wait to see where his character goes and how he becomes more evil.

          Overall, Randall the prisoner seemed to hold a lot of the core beliefs and values of this episode. Dexter thought Randall was able to change from being a killer to a normal human being. However, we learned that he just wanted to have a few days of happiness before he killed himself. This could be foreshadowing the ending of Dexter, but it could also be a false ending. Either way, I am excited for this season and what it will bring.

Dexter Season 7 Episode 1 "Are You...?"

  Ok so I enjoyed the beginning but I figured that there would be a lot more screaming and confusion from Deb. Dexter did a really good job at playing the “I’ll lose my job, life, and Harrison” card in order to get Deb on his side. And just like Dexter always does, he wiggles his way out of impossible situations through lying and manipulation. 

   I’m so happy the writers included Dexter’s getaway pack. Every smart person in this situation has got to have one. The fact that he hid it in the drywall shows just how much he wanted to keep his apartment in season 4.
  I found it kind of strange that the writers killed off Mike Anderson. There was no emotional connection to the character and I don't understand why he was killed instead of a random cop. Maybe we will find out later.

  So right in the heat of this episode, Dexter decides to go hunt for another victim. Really? Of all the times to hunt for another killer, its after your sister caught you murdering the last one? Its when your sister is constantly digging in your past and questioning you on how and why you killed him? Yes, I understand the need to kill is strong, but you’re going to need to hold off for a while.

  At first I thought Dexter was crazy to fly to Budapest to catch some random guy, but then I saw that he hadn’t even left the boarded the plane yet.  Also, I’m pretty sure that you can’t just walk through airport security with syringes. Well maybe you can considering a woman accidentally brought a concealed gun on a plane without the TSA noticing last week. For some crazy reason, Dexter decides to kill a man in one of the most watched public places in America. Either he’s insane or reckless.

  One of my biggest problems with seasons 5, 6, and now 7 is that Astor and Cody aren’t in the show. Two major supporting characters are poorly written off of the show and are never mentioned by their Aunt Deb or Step Father Dexter? Disappointing.

  While I have criticized and torn this episode apart, I believe that everyone deserves forgiveness and a second chance. This season is going to be amazing. The last scene of this episode has redeemed all of my hard feelings. Dexter. I’m sorry I doubted you. I was wrong and you were brilliantly right... Again.

Dexter Season 6 Episode 12 "This is the Way the World Ends"

          I don’t know what to say other than how awesome this episode could have been. The tension steadily rose throughout each episode, but my hopes for the conclusion were shattered. 

          The opening scene begins by showing Dexter drifting in the ocean on a piece of the boat until it becomes waterlogged and sinks. He than is rescued by a spanish fishing boat and taken to shore. One thing that I am thankful for is that he did not “simply” swim back to the mainland. This would have been extremely unrealistic and rather disappointing, but I figured that the writers wouldn’t be this cheap.

          For one of the few times in this season, the relationship between Dexter and Harrison is actually shown. Usually the two only appear in a scene casually as Dexter arrives home, but Dexter was seen spending quality time with Harrison playing and talking. Being the last episode of the season, their relationship must wrap up somehow to begin again in the next year.

          One by one, the pieces and questions in this enormous puzzle are finally being put in place and answered. The 3 most prominent examples of this is when Dexter covered up his relationship to Travis by punching a hole in the painting of him, Deb finding out she loves Dexter, and finally witnessing him kill Travis.

          Of all the things I have seen in Dexter, Travis kidnapping Harrison was quite predictable, but also incredibly creepy. However, as all this was happening I felt a level of anxiety that has disappeared since season 2. Dexter playing with Harrison one moment, losing him the next, than almost witnessing him being sacrificed made for an incredible build up that made my blood pressure rise and my mind go blank. This being said, the conclusion to this drama was incredibly disappointing. Not only was Travis not instantly murdered by Dexter for nearly killing his only son, but Travis was gone. One thing that I realized in this scene is that it subtly represents the story of Jesus. Dexter plays the role of God, watching his only son be sacrificed by his nemesis (Travis). Luckily, this episode doesn’t conclude like the bible, where the innocent son dies. 

          Now that I think about it, it only makes sense for Dexter to kill Travis in the church where many of the rituals were performed. Except now, a guilty person is being killed instead of an innocent one. For the first time in a while, Dexter performs his ritual on Travis 

          The religious banter flies between the mouths of Dexter and Travis as we watch and soak in the profound quotes. So far, the best quote of the season happens here. While making the sign of the cross, Dexter says, “I am a father, a son, and a serial killer.” While this is an incredible quote, it is also one to summarize the season. These are the 3 things that really matter to him. He does not believe in a god, and leaves him out of his life. Just as I said earlier, Dexter has started right where he left off, not knowing if God is real or if he should believe in him. It is for this reason that I think that Brother Sam’s character was virtually meaningless. 

          As viewers, we not only see Travis twisting the bible, but also are aware that Dexter is doing it as well.  I am incredibly disappointed by this seemingly unnoticeable act because it feels like Dexter has forgotten all that Brother Sam had taught him. He has stooped to the level of Travis, while committing a murder. Dexter and Travis may have more in common than they thought: they both kill based on principle and beliefs, they speak to their victims before they are murdered, and they both believe that they are doing the right thing.

          While the ending was good, I also found it unbelievably disappointing. It was blatantly obvious that Deb would walk in on Dexter as he was killing Travis for several reasons. First, Deb told Dexter to go there that night and finish up the blood work. Second, Dexter told Jamie Batista that he was going there in order to finish a task. Third, if you have been watching for 6 seasons, you should be able to notice how the writing works and make reasonable predictions. Fourth, doesn’t it seem like it would be the perfect twist? Yes. That is why it wasn’t the perfect twist, because we could see it coming. A twist like Rita’s death in the end of season 4 was perfect because it came out of nowhere and surprised us all. Fifth, this was hinted at in the finale of season 5, except Deb let Dexter and Lumen go. In this episode, Dexter (and the writers) failed to create Dexter’s kill room, which would have provided cover for Dexter (just like last time). The ending of season 5 could have easily been the same if the plastic wrap were to be missing. 

          As I watched the episode drawing to a close, I became furious. Lewis’ character was never explained. His creepiness around Dexter turned out to be a meaningless red herring that wasted time. While it felt like something cool could come out of it, nothing arose. Showing Dexter his serial killer game was bizarre, but buying the Ice Truck Killer prosthetic illegally and writing things on it was meaningless. While these things could be explained in season 7, I find that unlikely because people aren’t going to be focused on that at all compared to the new drama with Dexter and Deb.

          The “surprise ending” will make for an incredible 7th season, but in retrospect, season 6 was only slightly above average. Dexter didn’t change any of his beliefs, Deb realized she is in love with her brother, and all of the cute relationships (Deb and Quinn, and Batista and LaGuerta) were destroyed. This season had an enormous amount of potential and it was simply ruined. My love and respect for the writers of Dexter is virtually nothing now. 

          In conclusion, the only word I can think of right now is disappointed. 

Dictionary definition:

disappointed     disəˈ point id  

adjective

(of a person) sad or displeased because someone or something has failed to fulfill one's hopes or expectations

Thesaurus:

Upset, saddened, let down, cast down, disheartened, downhearted, downcast, depressed, discouraged, displeased, dissatisfied, frustrated, disgruntled

Dexter Season 6 Episode 11 "Talk to the Hand"

          While the show Dexter usually doesn’t effect me, I find that Travis’ religious rantings are disturbing. Hearing him talk about being called by God to kill people is beyond messed up. This is one of the reasons why he is an extremely effective villain to this season.  Having emotions toward a character is usually the result of good acting and writing. If you love or hate a character, it is most likely because you have some sort of emotional tie to the character. This can be seen in Dexter’s third season. In season 3, the Skinner played a small role compared to that of Miguel Prado. Much of the storyline was directed in Prado’s direction, leaving the Skinner behind. In the beginning, Miguel was a likable character but later became detestable due to his hatred for Ellen Wolf. The Skinner was just background music and became another show filler.

          As Beth was walking into the homicide department with Worm Wood, I realized that this is a repeat of what happened in season 4 when Arthur Mitchell entered Miami Metro looking for Dexter. Luckily, the situations ended entirely different which is a wonderful sign that the writers still haven’t lost their abilities.

          Once again, I am loving the communication between Deb and Dexter. It adds a wonderful emotional aspect to the seemingly emotionless show.  What I think many people don’t realize is that these emotions play a major part of the show. Dexter is a serial killer who kills murderers who have escaped the justice system, but it surprisingly has a great deal of deep and emotional content. So far, my favorite scene in season six is the conversation between Dexter and Deb after Beth activates Worm Wood. The love is nearly palpable yet Dexter is keeping his emotional armor tight. Deb on the other hand realizes that despite his dark times, Dexter will always have his sister’s back.

          Another thing I am enjoying about this season is the incorporation of Tom Matthews. While he usually plays and extremely minor role, he has moved up to a lesser known major role. I find his character interesting, especially with the call-girl case. Despite persuading Deb to call of her investigation of him, I find him honorable. I hope Deb will do the right thing and turn him in. Sadly, my two hopes for his character are contradictory. I want to remain a series regular, but I also want him to get caught.

          Just like the Skinner in season 3, Mike Anderson has been on the back burner for this season. I understand that there are so many character additions to be made, but I also find his character to be a filler. It almost would have been better if they would have just left his character out for this season.

          Part of me wants to scream “I told you so” when it comes to Lewis. I had always figured he was up to something, but I had never known what. His intentions are not yet clear, but they seem devious. Because little has happened recently with his character, I am assuming that there will be a major plot twist with him in the season finale.

          Probably the most awkward scene of the season occurred when Deb was in a session with Dr. Michelle Ross’. Implying that Deb has “feelings” for Dexter both makes sense and is outrageous. A great deal of respect for the writers would/will be lost if Deb falls in love with her brother. This is one circumstance where emotions can ruin a show. This being said, I found the scene humorous due to Deb’s fury at Dr. Ross’ idea, and the fact that Jennifer Carpenter (Deborah) and Michael C. Hall (Dexter) were married for a time until they recently got a divorce. The dream that Deb had definitely supports this theory of Deb’s love for Dexter but it is a terrible theory. Why on earth would the writers even propose this? They should know that the viewers will become furious if this actually happens. Honestly, it may keep me from watching the show, which is saying a lot!

          For the most part, Dexter is well written. However, I always find things that don’t make sense. For example, Dexter sending a video message directly to Travis is an incredibly dumb decision.  Dexter’s face has now made an appearance on Travis’ incredible paintings (which will probably be found by the police).  Just as expected, the show has become extremely complex and it is impossible to determine the outcome from here. Much like Lock, Stock and Two Smokin Barrels, Dexter’s multiple plots intertwine to make the tension unbearable.

          While this episode started out extremely strong, the final ten minutes were terrible. Dexter became extremely arrogant and sloppy while trying to kill Travis, he also failed by not going to the emergency room, and Deb seems to be falling in love with her adoptive brother. As much as I love Dexter, this is one of the most disappointing episodes I have ever seen. If this continues, (which I have faith that it won’t) my respect for the writers will be close to nothing. A lot is riding on the next episode so they better not screw this up!

Dexter Season 6 Episode 10 "Ricochet Rabbit"

          Within the first few minutes of this episode, it is revealed to us that Travis has been the Doomday Killer all along.  This whole time, we thought that Professor Gellar was the one who was influencing Travis but we were misled. Travis stole a sword and gave it to Gellar which became the reason why Gellar was fired. Gellar thought that Travis was delusional and that he needed help. To prove that they are the chosen ones, Travis stabbed Gellar to show him that they cannot be hurt. Gellar obviously died and was turned into a subconscious projection in Travis’ mind. While the situation makes sense, it seems a bit funny. Travis stabs Gellar in the chest saying, “See you can’t die,” and than he dies. I wish that Gellar’s death would have been out of rage instead of an accident. Murdering Gellar over not accepting his beliefs seems to fit in with Travis’ psychotic personality.

          One of my favorite quotes of the episode is, “Travis’ dark passenger is apart of him. He can’t be saved from it any more than I can from mine.”  This statement broadens a great deal of Dexter’s motives. He thought he could get rid of Travis’ Dark Passenger by killing Gellar because Gellar seemed to be alive and manipulating him. Little did he know, that Travis’ Dark Passenger had already taken hold of him. I find these words quite depressing because it makes me feel like there is no hope for Dexter. He wants to be rid of his demons but finally realizes that it cannot happen. The closest he had gotten was with the help of Brother Sam, but with Sam dead, the Darkness has reemerged.

          While I am not sure why Deb was freaking out at the crime scene, I must say that I like it. One of the things I love in stories is unique character development and so far, Deb has been emotional, but very strong at work. The change seems subtile, but feels like it could lead to further positive development.

          I also loved the references to room 103 in the first season. This may be because the first season is my favorite, but I loved how Dexter referenced his past and emotionally connected to Deb for the first time in a while. I’m hoping their friendship will grow even farther. Once it get strong, Deb may finally find out Dexter’s secret.

          It seems strange that Dexter is throwing everything he has learned about religion out within one or two episodes. I feel like if he doesn’t go back to it, than my hopes for the season will be crushed. In every season, Dexter starts out living normally, learns somethings new and changes his behavior. Than by the beginning of the next season, he reverts back to his old ways. Season 1 was all about family and connecting to people. Season 2 was about his ritual and not getting caught. Season 3 was about friendship. Season 4 was about being a killer and a family man. Season 5 was about revenge and helping others. Finally, season 6 seems to be about faith. Very little of the themes intertwine between seasons which makes me sad. Looking back, Dexter is the virtually the same person he is in season 1. He kills because of his Dark Passenger, he can’t connect to Deb, and he wants to get rid of his need to kill. Nothing ever changes. The biggest change was obviously the death of Rita, but in the long run, everything is the same.

          One thing that I noticed within this episode is the clever cinematography used whenever Harry is in a scene. To give the feeling of Harry not being real, he is “transported” throughout a room. Here’s an example: When Dexter breaks into Holly’s house, Harry is behind Dexter, but as they enter the house, the camera pans to show Harry standing beside a closet inside the house. Finally, I noticed that Harry is rarely seen moving. He is always standing still, than seen standing somewhere else. This lack of movement also helps the viewer feel like Harry is a ghost or mental projection of Dexter.

          One of my favorite dialogue moments is when Deb is talking about the relationship between Travis and his sister. She says, “Its so weird. His sister seemed so convinced he was a good guy.” Dexter chimes in and replies, “Maybe she didn’t know.” Walking away, Deb concludes by saying, “Anything’s possible.” This conversation screams for attention because this is exactly what is going on between Dexter and Deb. I have a feeling that Deb may die because of the similarities between Dexter and Travis. This is the last thing I want, but it could happen.

          Along with this, I loved Dexter’s narration saying, “I AM the Bay Harbor Butcher!” It was comedic and quick witted. I was amazed that Dexter hated Lewis’ game idea of being a serial killer. For the first time, I feel like we have the perfect insight into his life. Dexter doesn’t want to be a killer, but is forced to by his Dark Passenger. He didn’t choose to be a serial killer and nobody else should be able to choose that either.   Lewis believes that the game is a “vicarious thrill,” but Dexter strongly disagrees. I think that Brother Sam and Christianity have finally taken hold of Dexter wether he likes it or not. Because Dexter rejected Lewis’ idea, I’m pretty sure something is going to go majorly wrong with Lewis. The fact that Lewis bailed on his plans with Jamie because he was upset provides evidence to my theory that Lewis was using his relationship with Jamie just to get close to Dexter.

          I found it fascinating that Dexter called the police for a greater cause, but what intrigues me more is that Batista’s life is on the line and that Worm Wood is going to be planted at Miami Metro Homicide. How this is going to be stopped, I don’t know. I’m hoping that Batista will survive because he is an amazing character with an infectious personality. The intensity is significantly increasing and is almost becoming unbearable.
          I would love to hear opinions and theories on what is going to happen so let me know what you think!

Dexter Season 6 Episode 9 "Get Gellar"

          One of my favorite things about this season is the emphasis put back on Deborah. Jennifer Carpenter’s acting has come a long way since the first season, which helps in her frequent emotional breakdowns.  Seeing a shrink is something that she has needed to do for a long time and it is good to see her trying to fix her relationship with her brother. Later on, her shrink tells Deb that she can fix her messed up life by changing her habits. This is something totally new for her character and I cannot wait for it to happen. I’m somehow getting a “sixth sense feeling” and I guessing that Deb will somehow tie into this religious theme.

          This season has revolved around religion from the first episode. Through Brother Sam and Prof. Gellar, Christianity has been pushed onto the viewers in a normal way (Brother Sam) and a psychotic way (the Doomsday Killers). For the first time, the opposite position has come into view. Dexter believes that Gellar’s next victim is going to be a devout atheist who is also a professor at a university. 

          Like many people, Dexter is trying to live his life through Travis. By killing Travis’ Dark Passenger, Travis will be free from the burden that Dexter has always faced. What Dexter doesn’t realize is that this isn’t going to make him feel better. The exact same situation occurred with Lumen in season 5. She wanted to kill the men who raped her just as Travis wants to kill Gellar for murdering his sister. After Dexter and Lumen finished off Jordan Chase, Lumen’s Dark Passenger was gone. This left Dexter alone once again.

          After Quinn and Batista retrieve Quinn’s belongings, they get in a fist fight over personal matters. Surprisingly, this is the first time this has come up. In the beginning of season 6, they were seen smoking weed together and now they’re fighting. I guess that’s what weed does to people. From there, Quinn and Batista appear at the next crime scene together and do not talk. At first, I thought this was a plot flaw but than realized that since Angel’s car broke down, a day has gone past.

          While Prof. Gellar’s next kill seems simple, the bowls of wrath make the scene gruesome. Much like the room 103 in season 1, blood was spilled all over the homicide team. I must say that I called this one as soon as Dexter mentioned the draining of the victim’s blood (another homage to Brian Moser). The kill was way too simple and the bowls of wrath was not explained in any way. That being said, I had no idea what what going on with the severed hand (another Ice Truck Killer reference) until it ended up in Travis’ sink.

          So far, one of my favorite scenes with Deb happened in this episode. She finally breaks her pattern of accepting LaGuerta’s demands and stands up for what she truly wants. This scene is total proof of the saying confidence is attractive. In the beginning of the elevator scene, I thought Deb’s hair and clothing were odd and not very attractive. A few minutes later, things changed. 

          Once again, the writers blew me away with the involvement of Captain Matthews. I had no idea that he would be the one who performed CPR on the girl who overdosed. Now that Deb is reopening the case, LaGuerta and Matthews intend on stopping her. The drama within the homicide department is becoming tangible and is adding to the intensity to the show.

          Not to toot my own horn, but if you have been reading my Dexter reviews, I stated that Lewis had a major crush on Dexter. By possessing the stolen piece of the Ice Truck Killer investigation, he proves that he is either obsessed with Dexter or serial killers. I would like to reemphasize my theory that Lewis will turn out to be a killer. I’m even going to guess that he is going to take over for Professor Gellar.

          I thoroughly enjoy the tie in to the previous theme of Dexter trying to be a good father. This concept has not been prevalent in the recent episodes and I am pleased that it has returned. These deep themes of trying to be a better father, being religious, and Deb changing her habits make for a wonderful show.  The deeper the context and story is, the easier it can connect to the viewers. While shows and movies with mindless violence can be easier to write, things with deeper meanings usually turn out to be more popular.

          One of my favorite things about Dexter is how the writers can throw a left hook out of nowhere. My mind is still trying to wrap around the entire twist. I find it incredibly interesting that Dexter has his vision of his Dark Passenger (Brian) and Travis does too (Gellar). They both killed their loved ones, possibly for the same reasons, and now they’re coming back to haunt them. One thing that I don’t understand is how Travis went along with Dexter’s idea of killing Gellar. Wouldn’t Travis realize that Gellar is dead because he killed him? He could be playing along, but if he was trying to get rid of Dexter, he could have done it at various times. I’m almost positive that he is actually crazy, and less like Dexter than I originally thought. I believe that much more will be explained in episodes to come and I cannot wait for the next episode. This feeling of excitement and anxiety is one I thoroughly enjoy. 

Dexter Season 6 Episode 7 "Nebraska"

          Wow. Each episode this seasons continues to top the last. With Brian Moser (Christian Camargo) back in the show, my excitement has skyrocketed. I am absolutely ecstatic because the writers included Brian and the Trinity killer.  I love it when they incorporate previous seasons like in seasons 4 and 5.

          After killing Nick (Brother Sam’s murderer) Brian shows up as the Dark Passenger.  This is the first time we have seen the physical presence of the Dark Passenger since season 1.  About halfway into the episode, I thought I wanted Brian (Christian Camargo) to be a series regular instead of a guest star. Although only a few minutes later I retracted that. Brian started out being the happy brother who was encouraging Dexter to kill innocent people, but later began trying to force Dexter into this decision.  At Dexter’s breaking point, he had random sex with a grocery store clerk, stole a gun, and went on a street sign shooting rampage.  It was a little bit over the top, but I’ve had bigger problems with the show.

          Prof. Gellar and Travis Marshall have been on the back burner in the last few episodes due to the problems occurring with Dexter and Brother Sam. Hopefully these next few episodes will show more of them. 

          I am very happy that the rivalries between LaGuerta, Quinn, Deb, and Batista are dissipating.  While Deb and Maria smoothed out a little, Deb and Quinn finally patched things up between them. I am still hoping that they end up back together because they were such a cute couple. Their characters seem to be written perfectly for them to be together.  

          I noticed a couple great camera shots throughout the episode. My favorite one was when Dexter is talking to the pot farmer and Brian stabs him with the pitchfork. The camera rotates behind the farmer and reveals Dexter holding the tool.  I thought this was scary because Dexter seemed to have almost no control over the situation. Brian (the Dark Passenger) quickly possessed Dexter’s body and took over. Normally, the Dark Passenger encourages and tempts Dexter, just like Jordan Chase in season 5.

          The situation with Jonah was extremely captivating and thought provoking. I assumed that Jonah didn’t take on the persona of Trinity due to his hatred of his father. Also, it seemed way to obvious. After watching the Dexter seasons repeatedly, I have managed to figure out how the writers work, and have realized that usually the first guess is the wrong one. I am still hoping that Dexter will somehow adopt Jonah into his life. Despite being a killer, I can see Jonah acting like Dexter’s son. At that point, Dexter would train and mentor him just as Harry did.

          I’m glad that Dexter’s rebellious streak has dissipated, and Harry is back in his life as the Light Passenger.

          Lewis (Masuka’s intern) seems to be getting even creepier. If you didn’t notice, Lewis managed to get into Dexter’s house with permission by going out with Jamie Batista.  I’m guessing he only did this to snoop around. Maybe he’s another apprentice of Prof. Gellar, maybe he’s in love, or maybe he’s just looking for a role model.  It doesn’t matter. Lewis is creepy.

          Great episode. The season is getting better and has already surpassed my rating of season 5. 

          What did you think of it?

Dexter Season 6 Episode 6 "Just Let Go"

          I must say, I was slightly disappointed in this episode. I feel that there would have been more drama with Brother Sam getting shot based on how the last episode ended.  Everyone, especially Dexter, was upset about Sam but I felt that there was no tear jerking breakdown when he died.  As viewers, we were strongly connected to Brother Sam and his death seems too emotionless.

          Also, I was sad to see Deborah lose her friendships with her coworkers because she is now their superior.  Throughout the seasons, it has been Batista who she goes to for comforting and advise, and Masuka who provides the comic relief. Instead, she is now getting rejected and has only Dexter and her councilor to go to.

          So far, I feel like Jamie Batista has no real purpose in the show other than to watch Harrison. I feel like her story needs to be pushed and explored a little farther. I’m hoping the writers will add some drama around her in the upcoming episodes. Who knows, maybe she’ll get kidnapped or killed.

          It was a little strange to see Anderson playing “bad cop” at that drug hideout. So far, he has been hard working but not ruthless. Also, the flamingo handcuff scene was well done and quite entertaining.

          Lewis (Masuka’s new intern) has developed a major crush on Dexter. He’s constantly talking about him, asking if he can watch, and acting like a school girl with a crush. I’m sure this will pan out to be something else, but he could turn out to be a killer just like Dexter. In this scenario, Dexter would be the victim and Lewis would be the predator. This probably won’t happen though.

          This episode was more focused on Dexter and Brother Sam instead of the Doomsday Killers. They had their appearances but very little was accomplished other than Travis letting the next victim go. 

          On his deathbed, Brother Sam tells Dexter that Nick shot him and to not kill him. Instead, Brother Sam wants Dexter to tell Nick that he is forgiven. Since killing his brother, this is probably the hardest situation Dexter has been thrown into. Everything within him wants to kill Nick, but Dexter knows he should obey Brother Sam’s death wish and let him live. Dexter successfully gives Nick the message where Nick was baptized.  In an act of rage, Dexter than drowns Nick in the ocean. This symbolizes the rebirth and relapse from crime that Nick experienced. This is also the turning point in Dexter’s life.  Dexter could have chosen to let go of his Dark Passenger or to continue embracing it. He chooses the latter and is greeted by late brother, Brian Moser (Christian Camargo).  Brian now represents Dexter’s Dark Passenger while Harry has taken the form of the Light Passenger.

          I am really excited to see where this season is headed. I love Christian Camargo and have been hoping that he would make a reappearance into the show. As viewers, I feel like we all want to see Dexter stop murdering people, but we know that once he stops, so will the show.

Dexter Season 6 Episode 5 "Angel of Death"

          Once again, the writers produced a wonderful episode. Even though there wasn’t very much action, it remained interesting because it was filled with character and plot development. I feel like the entire episode is building up for a large climax later on.

I am absolutely loving the plot line of the Doomsday killers because many of the topics are relevant to real life.  Many people view Christians as a little crazy, judgmental, and hypocritical. This is easily displayed by Prof. Gellar. He twists the facts of the Bible to suit his own murderous desires. Seeing himself as above the rest of society, he judges those below him and is dedicated for “God to speak through him and teach them a lesson.” Even though he claims his actions to be “God’s will,” he fails to see that he is breaking one of the ten commandments. 

On the other hand, Brother Sam is portrayed as the Christian that everybody should be like.  Years ago, Sam fell deep into a criminal life. While attempting to murder a man in a prison chapel, he felt God speak to him and he chose to turn his life around and become a minister.  Because he has led both a criminal and a spiritual life, Brother Sam understands various types of people and can successfully connect to people such as Dexter. 

Masuka’s morals are finally showing through when he fired his last intern. The new guy he hired feels right for the show. He’s smart, witty, a bit of a nerd, but lovable.

I feel like the countdown to the end of the world that Miami Metro is theorizing about is giving a hint of foreshadowing towards Dexter’s demise.

I feel like everybody is secretly hoping that Deb and Quinn get back together.  They’ve been so cute recently and would make a cute permanent couple, just as Batista and LaGuerta did.  Than the writers ruined that and made them break up.

Prof. Gellar keeps on repeating the phrase “thats why you’ve been chosen” to Travis a lot. I’m secretly thinking that he will be one of Gellar’s victims. Or maybe there is some other significance in that statement.  

Once again, I’m glad that Dexter seems to have found a true friend. Brother Sam really cares for Dexter in a way that Brian, Lila, and Miguel could never do. Hopefully he won’t be a guest star and will return for season 7 (if it happens).  Sadly, halfway through the episode I wrote down, “I love Brother Sam... that’s why I think he will die.” It seems that I may have been right. Him getting shot 3 times in the end of the episode seems to hint at his oncoming death, but I’m praying he won’t.

It is because of Brother Sam that Dexter goes over his pre-season one history. This hasn’t been done in a while and it was nice to hear it all again. Also, Sam helps Dexter realize that he may have a light passenger to fight his dark one. I’m absolutely loving Dexter’s character development in this season.

I think that this season is better than season 5, and for that I am very grateful. I love talking about Dexter so PLEASE share some thoughts.

Dexter Season 6 Episode 4 "Horse of a Different Color"

Within the first few scenes of Dexter S06E04 “A Horse of A Different Color,” I realized that this season is going to be incredible

Mike Anderson (Deb’s new choice to fill her Detective position) is an undeniably great addition to Miami Metro.  While analyzing the four horses crime scene, he realizes that this murder is a showing of the end of times. The four horsemen represent the four horsemen of the apocalypse that are mentioned in the book of Revelation. Along with this, he correctly analyzes the snakes killing. With these skills, he will easily succeed in Miami Metro.

In the four horsemen murder, the fake body parts were highly detailed and well constructed. It is these small details that subconsciously convince the viewer that what is happening is real. 

In the beginning of the episode, LaGuerta was very moody when talking to Matthews about Deborah. Later, when talking to Deb, LaGuerta was pleasant, understanding, and helpful. Why did she have this sudden change of heart? Was it something not shown on screen? Either way, it didn’t seem like she was being herself because since season one, she has hated Deb.

Travis seems like he’s becoming a liability to Prof. Gellar. When preparing to kill the victim for the four horsemen, it seemed like he was questioning his actions. From previous experiences, we see that he is also very emotional. Instead of leaving his sister to prepare for a kill, Travis stayed with her all night. Also, he fell in love with a girl, took her on a date, than took her back to his place and slept with her. Prof. Gellar is becoming frustrated and I can sense that Gellar is thinking of getting rid of Travis.

Furthermore, Travis has got to be one of the dumbest serial killers alive. First, he brought the girl he liked home with him. When he was sleeping with her, he didn’t close the door to his room, allowing Prof. Gellar to watch the act. This caused her to become the next victim. What on earth was Travis thinking? Did he really think he could get away with it? Did he think that Prof. Gellar wouldn’t care? Second, Travis stood at the crime scene for the “angel of death” victim. This is probably the easiest way to get caught. It happened to Dexter in season three when he killed Fred “Freebo” Bowman, and Christine Hill (Trinity’s daughter) in season four. Luckily, Dexter spotted Travis and sensed a Dark Passenger within him so our problems with Travis should end soon.

The writers seem to be focusing on the story instead of only murders. This instills a deeper connection between the viewer and the characters. This connection provides a more emotional experience and can easily lead to a more satisfying show. 

I am happy that Dexter is slowly relying on his friendships instead of Harry’s ghost. These true friendships are more entertaining to watch and they usually accomplish more than Harry’s harsh critiques of Dexter’s life. Also, it seems like Dexter is starting to replace Harry with God. One of my favorite quotes of the episode was when Harry said, “Hey no judgement, you already talk to an imaginary father figure.” After four weeks of waiting, someone finally mentions Astor and Cody. Dexter’s step children have been series regulars and were given a very small role in seasons five and six. Hopefully they will make an appearance soon.

The writers are also making the other characters “break out of their shells.” Masuka finally shows some morals when he becomes furious over his intern stealing evidence and selling it. Batista also smoked some weed with Quinn, which was interesting and amusing.

Brother Sam is turning into a wonderful character. He is the only person who understands Dexter and can also help him. Strangely, Dexter is submitting to Sam and is tolerating his religious views. Dexter even prays for the first time because of Brother Sam. 

Based on what I have seen so far in season six, there seems to be an imaginary religious/morality scale. Prof. Gellar and Travis are on the far left side. They take the Bible, and twist it to meet their own apocalyptic views in order to justify their murderous decisions. On the far right side is Brother Sam, who accepts people for who they are as he tries to help them. While being influenced by both sides, Dexter is in the middle, trying to decide what path to choose. Luckily, everyone on this scale has murder in common. Prof. Gellar, Travis, and Dexter are all serial killers who answer to an inner calling, while Brother Sam witnessed a murder at a young age and entered into the criminal world (also like Dexter).

In this season, Dexter has acknowledged the fact that he will get caught at some point. He now only worries about how it will effect Deb, Harrison, and his coworkers.

The “angel of death” kill is by far the best kill I have ever seen in Dexter. It was highly creative, absolutely repulsive, and highly controversial.  For once, Miami Metro witnesses and causes the victim’s death. The Doomsday killers are once again creating an interaction with society just like they did with the four horses.

So excited for the new episode. Waiting is becoming unbearable!

Dexter Season 6 Episode 3 "Smokey and the Bandit"

Episode 3 (Smokey and the Bandit) of Dexter truly redeemed the previous two episodes. Tons of inconsistencies and flaws were redeemed by the once again phenomenal writing. 

I was upset that Deborah and Quinn ended up breaking up. They seemed like such an awesome couple, but things became interesting when Deb took the position of Lieutenant and became Quinn’s boss. The awkward tension is almost tangible and makes very interesting situations. Also, I was furious about LaGuerta and Batista getting a divorce so early, but once again, the writers prevailed and created a glorious rivalry. Even after Deb “took” Batista’s job, they are on good terms. Unofficial sides have been taken and the teams are Deb and Batista vs. Quinn and LaGuerta. Both teams have their partner’s backs and hate their former lovers. 

One of my favorite parts of this rivalry was when LaGuerta was trying to persuade Deb to hire someone. After some convincing from Batista, Deb stood up to LaGuerta and hired who she thought was best. This reemphasized that the characters are changing over the course of the show. In season 1, Deb would have been way to afraid to stand up to her boss.

Adding Walter Kenney was a great idea for the show. For this episode, it felt like we were reliving season 4 with the Trinity Killer. This is because The Tooth Fairy (Walter Kenney) had been killing for years and was now confronting Dexter. For once, the writers changed up Dexter’s ritual and made Kenney want to be with Dexter instead of Dexter stalking him under the radar. Brilliant and inventive!

Kenney keeps trophies of women’s teeth in a box, very similar to Dexter’s blood slides. When Dexter see’s the box of teeth, he questions his own mortality and says, “Is this what happens to serial killers at the end of their lives?”  Dexter later realizes that all life ends in death and even the greatest people can end up as worthless old men. I’m beginning to sense a bit of foreshadowing in this scene.  This could mean two different things: either Dexter gets caught or killed at the end of the season, or he dies a worthless old man. Another scene that hints at this is the final one where Dexter drops his box of slides and loses his sense of order.

Kenney’s death was another change of pace for the show. Dexter decided to take away the Tooth Fairy’s legacy and forcing him to die as an ordinary old man by forcing him into cardiac arrest.

The Doomsday killers are becoming more and more similar to Dexter.  Both killers kill for a higher calling (Dexter and his Dark Passenger along with the Doomsday killers and God.) These similarities are popping up everywhere and I don’t yet understand the connections between the two groups.

Masuka’s new intern started out as “just another hot girl” on the show but quickly became more than that when she showed her obsessiveness over the Ice Truck Killer. She is now very interesting because she stole the prosthetic hand from the first season!

There were some awkward and poorly constructed shots within the episode but things like that happen. Colin Hank’s acting is terrible and I’m sad that it probably won’t be getting better. Also, I was lost for a second between Dexter’s car crash with Kenney and the kill room. I wish there would have been  a slight transitional scene there. Finally, the nudity was a huge shock to me because we haven’t seen anything that graphic in a long time. However, it was very important because it showed Quinn’s lack of interest in the girl and he was probably missing Deb.

Overall, it was a wonderful episode and I’m very excited for more!

What "Blood" Means to Dexter

The River of Life

Of all the serial killers ever recorded, Dexter Morgan is by far my favorite. Before you start freaking out and assuming I am some sort of lunatic, let me assure you that he is entirely fictional. The character Dexter Morgan is the star of the Showtime TV show Dexter.  The show is currently on it’s sixth season and it is doing very well.  So far, every season has outperformed it’s predecessor and has incorporated copious amounts of blood. Season One of Dexter revolves around the idea of blood and what it means to a serial killer. The viewer is thrown into a gruesome dilemma where they don’t know if they should cringe or applaud Dexter’s behavior.  After a while, Dexter fans begin to view blood in a new way.  Dexter has changed the ways people view blood, helping viewers see it as a profession as a bloodstain pattern analyst and as an inner calling to a serial killer. 

Many real life serial killers claim to have an “inner calling” that tells them what to do and how to do it. Real life serial killers have an M.O. or Modus Operandi (latin for Method of Operating) and Dexter has one as well. He binds his victims to a table with cling wrap and “teaches them a lesson” by telling them the monster that they are by hurting innocent people. Next, Dexter slices his victims’ right cheek with a scalpel in order to collect a blood sample for his collection.  Finally, he kills his victim (usually with a single stab to the chest). After the victim is dead, Dexter cuts the victim into pieces, wraps him or her in garbage bags, and dumps them into the ocean. The most crucial part of this ritual is the collecting of the blood. Dexter collects the blood so that he can later look upon the slides and remember all of his intimate moments with his victims. These slides are his trophies and without them, he can become hostile.

For example, in the book Darkly Dreaming Dexter, the book that the first season was based on, Dexter impulsively kills a man who rapes and murders women. In order to escape his own crime scene undetected, he is unable to complete his ritual and take a blood sample as a trophy. Dexter’s becomes hostile, uneasy, and extremely anxious because he doesn’t have that blood sample to add to his blood slide collection. He becomes so uneasy without that blood slide that he ends up stealing a sample from his workplace. Many of Dexter’s actions are directly related to blood, fueled by bloodlust, ending in bloodshed. 

Dexter’s bloodlust sometimes puts me on edge. As his inner calling to kill becomes stronger, the show becomes more intense. After the tension becomes unbearable, Dexter kills another guilty victim, and the climax drops off into peaceful bliss. In these situations, the flourishing of blood becomes crucial. As the tension rises, less blood is shown so that your immunity to it decreases. Than all at once, a grisly bloody scene shock and horrify you. Surprise bloody twists sometimes happen as well. In the end of the fourth season, the climax occurs as Dexter kills his nemesis serial killer, and I felt relieved. Then in a bloody twist, Dexter comes home to find his wife brutally and shockingly murdered. After watching that scene, I was so confused and furious. No television show had ever made me feel that way. If these scenes were made to be family friendly without any blood, the shock factor would significantly diminish.

Dexter’s profession happens to be perfect for a serial killer. As a bloodstain analyst for the Miami Metro Police Department, he has access to suspects files and records. With these files, Dexter can find and kill the guilty people who have successfully escaped the justice system. This allows him to feed his inner demon which keeps him satisfied. When he is at work, he analyzes different murders. The camera always focuses on the gruesome murder and the surrounding blood. This can make the show hard to watch at times when the murders deal with amputation or skinning people alive.

Dexter benefits from being a bloodstain pattern analyst because he is able to work with and talk about blood all day without seeming strange.  Although the show does not say this, but Dexter would be a less efficient serial killer without his job. Without dealing with blood every day, I think that Dexter would feel a stronger need to kill, thus increasing his chances of getting caught.  Instead, he temporarily replaces his need to kill by working with blood and catching murderers with the police department.

The first time I watched the show Dexter, I was horrified by the concept. I could not imagine enjoying a show that glorifies a serial killer. After a few episodes, however, I slowly began to change my mind. The violence seeped its way in and numbed me to the horrific murders that took place.  While I still may be horrified sometimes by the thought of blood, Dexter will always be fascinated, consumed, and compelled by it. In the first season, a serial killer know as the Ice Truck Killer kills prostitutes, drains their blood, cuts them up into pieces and leaves them out in public. When the I first saw this, I was horrified while Dexter on the other hand began to get excited. Someone is killing prostitutes the same way he kills the guilty citizens of Miami. Only this person kills without any blood. Dexter’s head starts to spin and he says, “No blood. No sticky, hot, messy, awful blood; no blood at all. Why hadn't I thought of that? No blood. What a beautiful idea!” 

Dexter Season 6 Episode 1 "Those Kinds of Things"

Ok... so it wasn't the most mind blowing 1st episode of Dexter, but it was wonderful nonetheless. 

The high school reunion was very creative on the writers parts. Although I feel uneasy about how quickly Dexter accepted that blow job. He's rarely been sexually focused and this just didn't fit. Season 1 he was timid with Rita, season 2 he went crazy for Lila, but 3, 4, and 5 he was calm. 3 and 4 was regular sex with Rita and in season 5, he only had sex with Lumen after they were "dating." It just seemed odd... although it proved useful because he was able to grab her phone (which was not the smartest because if the cops found the body, they would trace his texts, find Trisha, question her, and she would point the finger at Dexter. So in that sense... not too smart.)

I was totally surprised by Quinn thinking about proposing. I mostly find it dumb that the writers ended season 5 with them starting a healthy relationship and opening the next episode with a near proposal. Things have been left out and I feel that the viewers need more in between time for the relationship to truly come together. As viewers, we did just get over Quinn being an asshole to Dex. He went from a character we were annoyed and frustrated with to a boyfriend, almost fiancé who were supposed to care about in 6? episodes?

I feel the same way with Batista and LaGuerta. They're divorce was unannounced, not explained and simply dumb. I loved them as a couple and in the end of The Big One, (Season 5 episode 12) they agreed that they would give their relationship another shot. What are the writers thinking?  Its the same thing as before. We become used to a new personality in a character than they change it in a heartbeat. 

Matsuka would have hired the babe for sure... or at least made some more jokes about the situation.

The murders and religious plot line are brilliant. Most seasons so far have developed and tested Dexter's sexual relationships. Rita, Lila, and Lumen all show this. Its nice to get away from that and focus something that many people can relate to. Everyone has a stance on religion and its good to know Dexter's. I'm hoping it will change due to the radical nature of the killers this season, and Dexter's nonchalantness about the subject. Its almost as if were seeing a new side of Dexter. 

Every season so far, the killer's identity has remained a secret to the audience which has created the mystery and intrigue. The trinity killer was an exception but that mystery was replaced by the suspense of Arthur and Dexter becoming "friends." I am interested how the writers will keep the show fresh and unique this season. I do not know how they will make the show more intense. It better be good.

One of my favorite parts was the quick shot of the blood red moon. In Darkly Dreaming Dexter, (the first book) it opens and closes with the glowing of the red moon symbolizing the Dark Passenger urging Dexter to kill again. I'm pretty sure this is the first time we've seen the red moon in the series. I'm not to sure. Maybe its a sign of the beginning of the first season. Or maybe its showing the end of the glorious series.

Overall: After watching this episode and finding all of the inconsistencies within the story, I am starting the think that the best days of Dexter are behind us. Don't get me wrong... I'm a fan til the end and as fitting as it is for this season, "I have faith" that it will get better. The fact is that after this season, the actors' contracts will be up and they will probably want a raise due to the widespread success of the show. This could cause more plot holes and we could lose some characters.

It always has and always remain my favorite show.

Jason