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Dexter: Turning Biminese

Miguel: "I'm with you. I'm behind you. And I respect you."

As far as I'm concerned, season three just ramped up and jumped on the freeway.

Miguel knows the truth about Dexter. That was an omigod moment. Miguel just graduated from being an ambiguous and occasionally creepy nuisance into huge, huge trouble for Dexter.

As far as Miguel goes, there are pros and cons for Dexter. If (or when) Dexter marries Rita, he's going to lose a lot of his privacy and autonomy. Miguel could provide cover for Dexter; Dexter could conceivably be out "playing golf" with Miguel while he's killing. Miguel could also fill a huge need of Dexter's – someone who knows and approves of what Dexter really is, a more accepting and less controlling version of Harry. Miguel could even provide Dexter with the right victims, like he just did on purpose, to draw Dexter out. And that was frighteningly clever of Miguel.

But there are obvious cons. Dexter has already learned from his experiences with Brian and Lila that he can't share his real self with anyone. And Miguel is not Harry. He's an unknown quantity; his degree of shadiness is just too difficult to determine. How many of you reading this review think that Dexter will end up killing Miguel? Does anyone think he won't?

As Dexter's secret life just imploded, his life with Rita may have imploded as well. Dexter showed some uncharacteristic... no, I'm going to change that sentence. Instead of his usual perfect boyfriend persona, Dexter actually showed Rita how he really felt. No, I don't want to buy a house. No, I don't want to be at your beck and call every minute of the day. No, I don't want to give up my freedom. Rita didn't take it well, even before she started possibly miscarrying. It's hard to tell what will happen to their relationship at this point.

What all of this proves is that "lives alone, keeps to himself" has its benefits. All this wouldn't have happened if Dexter wasn't with Rita. Let's face it. Dedicated vigilante serial killers shouldn't marry and have kids.

Meanwhile, Deb was still taking lessons from Quinn on how to be a more sensitive cop. Unfortunately, I think she just got that teenage boy killed. She might have gotten her snitch honey Anton in trouble, too. Snitch honey. Those aren't two words you usually see together.

Bits and pieces:

-- The episode title is usually a take on a movie or song title. I'm pretty good with the literary references, but "Turning Biminese" is incomprehensible. I'm assuming it was just a reference to the bad guy's preference for Bimini, and Dexter going there to get him.

-- Masuka's little subplot continued, or possibly climaxed. He knows that his co-workers really do care about him, even if he is repulsive at times. He also showed that he can be a consummate professional. And I can just hear the comment he'd make about the word "consummate."

-- As expected, Angel asked Detective Gianna out to dinner, and she said no. This time. Maybe he shouldn't have approached her while she was working the street and dressed as a hooker.

-- Another Harry fantasy. We've been getting fantasies instead of flashbacks this season. And how about Dexter's real mother popping up in that second fantasy? What did it mean? That putting a woman first in your life doesn't turn out well?

-- Deb wants Dexter's apartment. Not a surprise. Central air? What will Dexter do with his trophy box?

-- Ramon was trying to butt in on the latest skin case, and he did not make any friends in Miami metro homicide. I wonder if Dexter and Miguel's inevitable clash to the death will be over Ramon? Well, and of course, I was forgetting that Dexter killed Miguel's little brother.

-- Dexter has often talked with Rita on the phone while he was dismembering someone or mopping up blood. Why not this time? Because it was convenient for the plot?

-- This week's Most Obvious Symbolism of Dexter's basic conflict was in his pocket. He had the slide with his latest victim's blood on it in the same pocket as the baby ultrasound photo.

Quotes:

Miguel: "All that stuff, that's not for men. Right, Dex?"
Dexter: "Lying naked on a table, helpless? No, thanks."

Miguel: "Every man needs his privacy. Some more than others. But that's why God created golf."
Loved Dexter hiding his kill kit in the golf bag.

Deb: "Like there's room for Rita and the kids at your place. And no offense, but you're the last person who needs a fuck pad."

Deb: "Yes! Thank the baby fucking Jesus."
Angel: "You do know I'm Catholic, right?"

Deb: "You know, I can take inappropriate Masuka. I can take porn-loving Masuka. I can even take flatulent Masuka. But this dress-shoe-wearing please-and-thank-you zombie Masuka is fucking creeping me out." Masuka has feelings. Who knew.

Masuka: "Your victim was smothered. That's not opinion. That's science. And science is one cold-hearted bitch with a fourteen inch strap-on."
Deb: "And he's back."

Dexter: "And here I am, paradox personified. Taking life. Creating life."

Three out of four stars,

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

8 comments:

  1. You know, I didn't think of it as Miguel setting Dexter up. I thought he was just venting frustration talking about the wife killer and then put the pieces together later (Dexter being out on his boat, not at the place he'd said he'd be fishing, and the guy turning up missing). But it's totally possible that he did. It just hadn't occurred to me. Hmm.

    That puts a different spin on things. I really want Miguel to be on the up and up so to speak, and not just manipulating and setting up Dexter. I like the idea of Dexter having someone he can trust, because he really is so alone on this. But it could just be my wishful thinking.

    Either way though, when/if Miguel finds out Dexter killed his brother, the shite is going to hit the proverbial fan. That's the big problem with this scenario - even if Miguel is actually going to back him up and not condemn, he's certainly going to turn on him if he finds out Dexter killed his little brother. And Dexter is now far too exposed; Miguel could ruin him.

    Also, I read in an interview that they wanted to keep the actor that plays Harry involved in the show, but they didn't want Dexter to be constantly looking back. The end of the 2nd season was about him moving on, so they decided to use Harry in flash forwards/fantasies as a method of showing what Dexter is thinking.

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  2. Concerning the Dexter-Miguel-situation, I would like to quote one of my favorite movies of all time - Airplane: "No, that's just what they'll be expecting us to do". All jokes aside, I'm pretty certain Dexter will have to kill Miguel - but wouldn't it be fun if the writers don't go down the road we expect them to? To me, that's what sets this series apart from...well...ALL the others - that we can expect the unexptected. For instance - I did NOT see Miguels drawing-out of Dexter coming, brilliant!
    What if Miguel finds out about Dexter killing his brother and somewhere, somehow, accepts the fact that Oscar was a bad man?
    I'm hoping that'll be the peak of this season - and that Miguel and Dexter either find their common ground or go their separate ways. Each knowing to much bad stuff about the other to dare expose them.
    Miguel might be just like Dexter and need Dexter to be his blunt instrument in killing bad people who get away from justice - if that's the fact then Miguel doesn't fit Dexters code and therefor shouldn't be killed. Like Doakes in the previous season - I don't think Dexter could have ever killed Doakes. Actually, if Doakes had been caught instead he would have eventually proven to be innocent and given them Dexter. But that's a whole different story.

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  3. Kelly -- Miguel did imply that he had deliberately seeded the idea of killing the guy with Dexter. It was subtle, but it was definitely there; I watched for it when I watched the episode a second time.

    Henrik -- I think you're right. It would really be interesting if it didn't end with Dexter killing Miguel. And they do tend to do the unexpected with this show. Which is one of the big reasons I watch it.

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  4. The episode name is probably a reference to "Turning Japanese", a song supposedly very popular in the UK sometime in the 80s.

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  5. Ah thanks, Billie. Yeah, I should watch it again sometime and watch for that.

    And yes, I agree with Lummox. I think the title refers to the song "Turning Japanese." Not sure what the reason for choosing that was though, besides the obvious reference to Bimini.

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  6. I liked this episode, fairly solid.

    Nice to see Dexter slip his facade and lecture Rita about not wanting to move in with her.

    Really glad Rita didn't lose the baby, though it certainly got Dexter thinking. Nice to see Harry and Laura Moser in fantasy sequences. We're getting a lot of them this season.

    Masuka realised that his friends do care about him at times or at least prefer him to Ramon.

    Deb had some interesting moments with Anton and Quinn. I think she might have put Wendell in danger though.

    Angel asked Barbara out on a date. Good for him.

    Dexter and Miguel, yes, trouble's gotta ensue, 8/10.

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  7. That was an omigod moment. It certainly was! But, I am more convinced than ever that Dexter has met his match. Miguel is as manipulative as our "hero" who will, of course, have no choice but to kill him. What I found so interesting was that , as obvious as the set up was, Dexter didn't see through it. Is it just that he needed a fix?

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  8. Turning Japanese was a big hit here in the US, too. Original MTV stuff. I started singing the song in my head when I saw the title.

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