“Dexter” — Dex, Lies and Videotape
Sunday’s episode felt a little all over the place, but ultimately successful. Again, the side-characters are still the biggest problem, but it has almost gone to the point of being just a pesky annoyance instead of something that proves to be detrimental to the series as a whole. Except for maybe Doakes. I could really do without his endless hunches. After nearly eight years of the current administration hasn’t everyone in America learned a thing or two about hunches? More after the jump…
In terms of plot development, Dexter’s endless skirting of the Bay Harbor Butcher investigation isn’t as significant as how his recent emotional awaking has affected his relationship with, namely, Rita. She was a perfect match for him when he felt dead inside, but now he’s really outgrown her and I’m glad the series has dealt with this. Lila may not be the one for him when all is said and done, but she certainly has far more meshable attributes than Rita. Of course Rita is a much more sympathetic character. Then again maybe that is precisely the reason why dating a serial killer could be something of a problem.
Speaking of serial-killing, something that is often forgotten while discussing this show, the “New Dexter” (”New” versions of people seems to be really vogue this fall) doesn’t feel the need to kill anymore, and yet he’ll do it. This creates an interesting dynamic for us, the audience. When we signed up for this series the character killed because he had to and lived by something of a code. This gave us enough distance to embrace him without embracing him. Now that the “Code of Harry” has been somewhat lessened with revelations about his mother and her role in his foster fathers life, and Dexter’s new touchy-feely, humanistic outlook, we’re now embracing a killer who no longer feels compelled to do the things he does, but does them anyway. There is a nihilism to this that is perhaps more frightening than a man who feels he is on a mission to do work that is completely out of his control. Instead we’re left rooting for a killer that is far more like the rest of us than most are probably comfortable with. It certainly makes a compelling hour of television all the more layered.
November 6th, 2007 at 10:58 pm
i’m gonna pitch the idea for folks to run to their nearest netflix queue and watch every episode of “six feet under” (ahem– in order, please), ’cause i think the very best thing about this show is marveling at the fact that dexter morgan and david fisher are played by the same person. i can’t think of another television actor that has so totally owned two completely different characters on the small screen, let alone within the span of a few years. just throwing the suggestion out there, in case america’s suddenly lively labor movement opens up viewing schedules or nyc gets too cold for outdoor basketball.