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Dexter: Left Turn Ahead

Dexter: "For such a neat monster, I'm making an awfully big mess."

Not a jaw-dropper, which was sort of what I was expecting of the penultimate episode of the season. But it still explored a compelling topic: Dexter seriously considering turning himself in. Very seriously. To the point of power of attorney for Deb and giving his car to Rita. He was actually going to do it.

And it felt pretty good, too. Maybe it really was the prospect of getting some sleep after days of running around trying to fix an impossible situation. (Even the nearly superhuman Dexter has physical limits.) And, of course, the prospect of not being torn apart by the demands of his Dark Passenger anymore. I'm sure Dexter's desire to just give up had something to do with Harry's suicide. Dexter had lost that acceptance he always had at his core, the knowledge that Harry approved of him.

I really liked how Dexter, who is always generous with the people he cares about, spent his "last day" preparing to give away everything he owned, taking Rita and the kids out on the boat to fish instead of dump bodies, having a farewell dinner with Deb. My favorite scene was him fantasizing about telling Deb the truth. Too funny. But of course, I'm also glad that what Deb said changed Dexter's mind. If Dexter gave himself up, he would be miserable in jail, and Deb and Rita would be utterly destroyed. And most importantly, how could they continue with this show?

Drug dealers. Dexter. Rock. Hard place. Poor Doakes got out and immediately got into deadly trouble. It was almost like the stars were against him. And now Lila has found the cabin. Since Dexter apparently can't bring himself to kill Doakes, Maria has gotten proof of Doakes' innocence to Lundy, and Doakes will most certainly point the finger at Dexter, how can this possibly end? The only solution I can think of is that Lila will kill Doakes, because how can Doakes possibly continue as a character? He has essentially been written out. If Doakes doesn't die and take the blame for the Butcher murders, Dexter is toast. I don't want Doakes to die, but I certainly don't want Dexter to be toast.

It's really too bad Dexter can't frame Lila for the Butcher murders. How could she frame sweet, cuddly Angel for rape? She's despicable. Doakes doesn't deserve to die, but Lila certainly does.

Bits and pieces:

-- This week's Most Obvious Symbolism: While he was talking to Doakes about giving himself up, Dexter was lying down on his own kill table. Sacrificing himself, as it were, killing his darker self.

-- Dexter said that if he were a "real person," he would want to be like Angel. I get that.

-- Lundy's boss has shown up: Deputy Director Adams, played by Jonathan Banks from Wiseguy.

-- Lila's real last name is West. She was using the alias Lila Tourney.

-- I almost don't even want to talk about Deb and Lundy. Boring. Although Deb was a lot of fun yelling at Adams on Lundy's behalf, and telling Lila to get out of Dodge. Although that again made me worry that Lila would hurt Deb.

-- During the dinner at Dexter's apartment, Deb's beer was obviously water. Too close a close up.

Quotes:

Doakes: "That shit about your father. You want to talk about it?"
Dexter: "About what? That my life is one tragic mistake?"
Doakes: "We've all felt that at one time or another. I know I have."
Dexter: "Did you happen to be stuffing a human leg into a garbage bag at that point?"

Dexter: "If I got to choose a person, a real person, to be like... out of anyone, it'd be you."
Angel: "I'm not really sure what that means. But thanks, Dex."

Dexter: "I'm the helpful handy man. How evil can I possibly be?"

Dexter: "I think we made some alligators very happy." Was it the dead bodies or the dope? :) Probably both.

Dexter: "I really enjoyed our conversations, James. I lie to everyone I know. Except my victims, right before I kill them. It's hard to establish much of a rapport there."

Deb: "You know, it's your fault he's in this mess. If you hadn't fucked Elvira..."

Vince: "Tequila's all the same."
Deb: "Not when it's made from pumpkins."

Another excellent episode. Four out of four stars,

Billie
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Billie Doux loves good television and spends way too much time writing about it.

1 comment:

  1. I have no time for women who cry rape when it hasn't happened. Lila deserves to rot. I hope that big old alligator (how scary was that!) gets her.

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