Dexter 2.08
Nov. 19th, 2007 07:25 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
selenakZOMG.
Which probably means an episode from now on will cover no more than a day...
Anyway. The noose certainly tightens. Not only is Lila able to make the Dexter-Jimenez connection but Dexter has left Jimenez' body at the scene of the crime in order to hurry to Rita. (Though I suspect considering the four more episodes to go, that one will actually turn out to be not true, and next episode we'll learn he set the house on fire before he left, which wouldn't take much time). And since Dexter hasn't killed her right away, she has time to tell someone else. Meanwhile, Doakes found the blood slates, complete with names of victims, and Deb, Angel and Lundy have proven the killer has to be from this particular department of Miami's police force.
Speculation right now: Doakes will make the fatal mistake of not delivering this evidence to Lundy right away but wait because he wants revenge on Dexter for his public dismissal, he'll want an equally public unmasking. This will give Dexter time to frame Doakes, who has all but framed himself already with his recent behaviour. Deb, however, will figure out the truth and will then have to decide what she does with it, though if it's not just Dexter versus Lundy but Dexter versus an innocent man she knows being condemmed for Dexter's crimes.... Which is why I think at the last moment, Lila will become an alternate suspect, though how that could wash since she's obviously not a member of the department I have no idea.
Now, character stuff: this was one for the Freudians again, not just with Lundy and Deb, and Lundy being unexpectedly manipulative in the way he gets Deb to take the assignment, but with Lila and Dexter as well. As in the night after he didn't kill Jimenez, the way he cradles to her is more of a child seeking comfort with his mother than like a lover. But the role of the avatar of Dexter's mother has already been taken, and not by Lila. Last season I commented on the physical resemblance between Laura Moser and Rita, and their circumstances (two children, an ex who's a convict). This season, Dexter had a brief fantasy of being able to save his mother, and of course that's impossible, but put Rita in a position where he thinks (not unreasonably) that she's in danger, and it's bye, bye, restraint and caution. (For further examples, see also Paul's head meeting the frying pan.) The moment earlier in the episode when Rita asks Dexter not to keep dropping by, because it's "like Paul all over again", Michael C. Hall does a great bit of acting because the look on Dexter's face is vulnerable in a way we haven't seen since Brian/Rudy died. It's a parallel that clearly hadn't occured to him before but he has to realise is true, nonetheless. And he never wanted to be Paul.
Dexter becoming disenchanted with Lila due to close proximity and the suspicion she created the situation via burning her apartment down was predictable, her stalking Rita when Dexter wasn't around wasn't completely unexpected, either, but Lila having called Jimenez in order to recreate the moment of emotional intimacy between herself and Dexter caught me by surprise. It's definitely Glenn Close in Fatal Attraction territory. Which is a bit sad, because that particular role was too much of a "worst male nightmare" kind of stereotype for my taste, and this show didn't need it, but otoh, I suspect the point of Lila was also to play out that "embrace your inner darkness" idea fanfic and some pro fic is so fond of and show how hollow and self-absorbed it can be.
Lastly: interestingly, Dexter didn't look satisfied or at peace after the killing of Jimenez even before Rita called; if anything, he looked drained almost like he had done after killing Brian.
Oh, and son of lastly: in the previous episode, Dexter still feeling something for Rita's children was a point; this time, the point is made about his feelings for Rita herself, as it's Rita he thinks of ("my... ex girlfriend who hates me?") and Rita, not the Rita-and-the-kids family conglomorate, he warns Lila away from.
Which probably means an episode from now on will cover no more than a day...
Anyway. The noose certainly tightens. Not only is Lila able to make the Dexter-Jimenez connection but Dexter has left Jimenez' body at the scene of the crime in order to hurry to Rita. (Though I suspect considering the four more episodes to go, that one will actually turn out to be not true, and next episode we'll learn he set the house on fire before he left, which wouldn't take much time). And since Dexter hasn't killed her right away, she has time to tell someone else. Meanwhile, Doakes found the blood slates, complete with names of victims, and Deb, Angel and Lundy have proven the killer has to be from this particular department of Miami's police force.
Speculation right now: Doakes will make the fatal mistake of not delivering this evidence to Lundy right away but wait because he wants revenge on Dexter for his public dismissal, he'll want an equally public unmasking. This will give Dexter time to frame Doakes, who has all but framed himself already with his recent behaviour. Deb, however, will figure out the truth and will then have to decide what she does with it, though if it's not just Dexter versus Lundy but Dexter versus an innocent man she knows being condemmed for Dexter's crimes.... Which is why I think at the last moment, Lila will become an alternate suspect, though how that could wash since she's obviously not a member of the department I have no idea.
Now, character stuff: this was one for the Freudians again, not just with Lundy and Deb, and Lundy being unexpectedly manipulative in the way he gets Deb to take the assignment, but with Lila and Dexter as well. As in the night after he didn't kill Jimenez, the way he cradles to her is more of a child seeking comfort with his mother than like a lover. But the role of the avatar of Dexter's mother has already been taken, and not by Lila. Last season I commented on the physical resemblance between Laura Moser and Rita, and their circumstances (two children, an ex who's a convict). This season, Dexter had a brief fantasy of being able to save his mother, and of course that's impossible, but put Rita in a position where he thinks (not unreasonably) that she's in danger, and it's bye, bye, restraint and caution. (For further examples, see also Paul's head meeting the frying pan.) The moment earlier in the episode when Rita asks Dexter not to keep dropping by, because it's "like Paul all over again", Michael C. Hall does a great bit of acting because the look on Dexter's face is vulnerable in a way we haven't seen since Brian/Rudy died. It's a parallel that clearly hadn't occured to him before but he has to realise is true, nonetheless. And he never wanted to be Paul.
Dexter becoming disenchanted with Lila due to close proximity and the suspicion she created the situation via burning her apartment down was predictable, her stalking Rita when Dexter wasn't around wasn't completely unexpected, either, but Lila having called Jimenez in order to recreate the moment of emotional intimacy between herself and Dexter caught me by surprise. It's definitely Glenn Close in Fatal Attraction territory. Which is a bit sad, because that particular role was too much of a "worst male nightmare" kind of stereotype for my taste, and this show didn't need it, but otoh, I suspect the point of Lila was also to play out that "embrace your inner darkness" idea fanfic and some pro fic is so fond of and show how hollow and self-absorbed it can be.
Lastly: interestingly, Dexter didn't look satisfied or at peace after the killing of Jimenez even before Rita called; if anything, he looked drained almost like he had done after killing Brian.
Oh, and son of lastly: in the previous episode, Dexter still feeling something for Rita's children was a point; this time, the point is made about his feelings for Rita herself, as it's Rita he thinks of ("my... ex girlfriend who hates me?") and Rita, not the Rita-and-the-kids family conglomorate, he warns Lila away from.
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no subject
Date: 2007-11-19 07:04 pm (UTC)That was pretty much exactly my reaction...
Doakes vs. Lila as patsy: I think it has to be Doakes, since while I can see Deb keeping silent for Dexter's sake, Doakes would never do that. It also has a lot more emotional impact for the characters, if it is someone so very close to them, and Lila wouldn't provide that.
Lastly, although I personally don't care the least about Doakes, Lila is such a broadly drawn antagonist, I would find it cheating if the show used her as a culprit - I would want to be able to feel at least a little sorry about whoever ends up taking the fall for Dexter, and that would be rather difficult with her. I have decidedly mixed feelings about this, too, since I felt pity for Brian at least on a "poor kid" level, and I don't think the show is giving Lila even half as much understanding. I intensely dislike her, but I definitely also feel manipulated into disliking her, without this being balanced by anything. Doakes at least has his screwed up past and his relationship with La Guarta which make him human.
Interestingly enough, this was the first episode where I was seriously scared of Dexter.
And I found Lundy and Deb hot. I need help.no subject
Date: 2007-11-19 07:20 pm (UTC)I think it has to be Doakes, since while I can see Deb keeping silent for Dexter's sake, Doakes would never do that. It also has a lot more emotional impact for the characters, if it is someone so very close to them, and Lila wouldn't provide that.
I know, but I'm not sure Deb would knowingly let an innocent be executed (they have the death penalty in Florida, right? Given this is a Bush-ruled state?). Which is more than just keeping quiet to save her brother, or even fake evidence to save her brother, all of which I can see her do. It's basically allowing a murder to happen. And as you say, she knows Doakes; she had dinner with his family once, and she worked well enough with him last season.
Agreed that the show doesn't give Lila any redeeming graces, and Doakes has those, but then I don't think of Doakes as a villain to begin with; the comparison with Brian is better, but again, I didn't feel any pity for him at this point last season, either. Feeling pity for the child Rudy was is something that couldn't occur before the last episode, remember - until then we didn't know about him being Dexter's brother, we just knew he was the ITK and currently first manipulating Deb and then putting her through hell. So who knows? We might find out something about Lila that makes us understand her if not like her, too, at such a late point.
no subject
Date: 2007-11-19 07:40 pm (UTC)It is indeed! I finally found some Life icons.
I know, but I'm not sure Deb would knowingly let an innocent be executed (they have the death penalty in Florida, right?
I think they do have the death penalty, but I wouldn't bet on Doakes surviving even to an arrest. It might be easier for Deb to implicate an innocent man if he's dead.
Re: Lila/Brian as opposed to Lila/Doakes - Lila being drawn as a villain could actually be the problem that I have, since I don't see why she has to be one. Granted, a sponsor who wants to sleep with her charge is hardly positive, but does she have to be a deranged stalker as well? But you're right, there might still be some sort of redeeming information in the last few episodes. (Regarding Rudy being Dexter's brother, that was something I actually guessed about halfway through, since he was so incredibly interested in him, it seemed to go beyond friendly competition. And all that soap experience has to be useful for something...)
no subject
Date: 2007-11-20 04:09 pm (UTC)Rudy as Dexter's brother: I didn't guess; this being a cable show, I thought the extaordinary interest was due to him having fallen for Dexter...
no subject
Date: 2007-11-19 09:41 pm (UTC)Lila's a psycho who apparently has having Dexter as her end motivation. It paints her as needy and dependent -- which, well... addict, yes, but to tie it all together with a sexual relationship on top of that makes the portrayal fall squarely into very, very sexist territory.
no subject
Date: 2007-11-20 04:05 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-12-04 09:25 pm (UTC)♥
Uh, have I recently pimped LIFE? Need to.
Excellent review, Selena. As always.
no subject
Date: 2007-12-05 05:31 am (UTC)Thanks!
no subject
Date: 2007-12-05 10:44 am (UTC)http://monanotlisa.livejournal.com/658431.html
no subject
Date: 2007-11-20 05:09 am (UTC)I'm having a real problem with sorting out what's at stake in this season; it's basically impossible to be rooting for anybody -- I liked Deb, Lundy, and Angel best, by far, in this episode, but I don't even want to think about them closing the case because that's going to be such a clusterfuck. I'm sympathetic to Rita, but it's hard to want her to get back with Dexter, considering the circumstances. I'm really wondering if the writers have gotten themselves into a corner they won't be able to get out of this season without some kind of major copout. But I'm reserving judgment and hoping there are some possibilities that I'm missing.
I'm absolutely pro Deb/Lundy, though, granted that his actions do have some manipulative aspects. I guess, in the context of this show, a dysfunctional relationship is relative.
no subject
Date: 2007-11-20 04:02 pm (UTC)Good point about all the relationships...
no subject
Date: 2007-11-20 12:16 pm (UTC)I am thrilled, however, with everything they've done with Rita and Dexter-Rita.
no subject
Date: 2007-12-17 03:08 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-03-08 09:56 pm (UTC)Post not requiring reply but to record a theory in case it turns out to be right: Doakes is being quiet about his suspicions of Dexter because he intends, either because of his personal loathing or to spare the police department public shame, to satisfy himself privately of Dexter's guilt and then kill him. It would be a good parallel between the two, and we know Doakes is capable of it given his strongly-implied murder of the Haitian war criminal in that S1 ep.