Dexter 3.04 All in the Family
Oct. 21st, 2008 10:46 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
selenakA quiet episode, in which much manipulation is going on, and Dexter strains a theatrical metaphor.
After what happened with Rudy/Brian, it's no wonder that Deb reacts more than badly to being played by guys affecting sensitivity and understanding. I like that they're not letting Quinn do something morally objectionable per se, which would make it easier for her to go for Yuki's suggestion, but something that hits some particularly bad spots while being entirely within the perimeters of his job.
Meanwhile, we have Miguel Prado using LaGuerta's grief for Doakes for the second time to distract from his less than moral ignoring of evidence, but it doesn't work. This entire subplot made me happy on two fronts - a) the emotional continuity, i.e. Maria is shown to be still grieving, as she should be given their closeness, and b) this does not stop her from doing her job. (I still have issues about last season's silly early subplot, you know.) Angel gives her an easy way out by saying "you did all you could", but she obviously decides no, she did not. Best of all, this really is about the issue at hand - that Miguel Prado is ignoring real evidence that exculpates someone, who might be a criminal (and I also like they established this, because it keeps Miguel shades of grey instead of making him one dimensional) but isn't guilty of this particular crime); about doing the right thing instead of the convenient thing. Loved her going to the lawyer at the end.
Astor and Cody reacting not with immediate cheer to the baby news but with uncertainty and in Astor's case jealousy was something I'd expected; it's pretty realistic. They're close in age, and Astor probably doesn't remember when Cody was born. But the new baby is going to be something else. Poor Rita getting fired for snapping at a hotel guest, on the other hand, I find deeply worrying, because I don't want her to be entirely dependent on Dexter for her support. The scene where Dexter proposes to the entire family, consciously paraphrasing the words of a crazy stalker/murderer, was that mixture of creepy and affecting this show does so well. Because he isn't lying, he does care for them deeply, he does think they make him real, but at the same time he's manipulating them, and lying by omission every time they are together.
I find it fascinating that Dexter after the father exchange continues to genuinenly open up to Miguel - this time about marriage proposals - while at the same time manipulating him as well. Basically, he does to Ramon the same thing he did to that other hot-tempered cop, Doakes. It wouldn't work with Ramon wouldn't have genuine flaws and make genuine mistakes of his own, but Dexter is using them and when he says this is surely better than "my usual alternative", this casual statement is hugely significant. In earlier times, he wouldn't have even considered killing Ramon because Ramon isn't covered by the code. But now the code is broken, and not killing Ramon is a favour to Miguel instead of his duty. For all the deceptive quietness and cheer of this episode, this is arguably Dexter in a far darker place than playing the selfish adolescent with Lila last season.
After what happened with Rudy/Brian, it's no wonder that Deb reacts more than badly to being played by guys affecting sensitivity and understanding. I like that they're not letting Quinn do something morally objectionable per se, which would make it easier for her to go for Yuki's suggestion, but something that hits some particularly bad spots while being entirely within the perimeters of his job.
Meanwhile, we have Miguel Prado using LaGuerta's grief for Doakes for the second time to distract from his less than moral ignoring of evidence, but it doesn't work. This entire subplot made me happy on two fronts - a) the emotional continuity, i.e. Maria is shown to be still grieving, as she should be given their closeness, and b) this does not stop her from doing her job. (I still have issues about last season's silly early subplot, you know.) Angel gives her an easy way out by saying "you did all you could", but she obviously decides no, she did not. Best of all, this really is about the issue at hand - that Miguel Prado is ignoring real evidence that exculpates someone, who might be a criminal (and I also like they established this, because it keeps Miguel shades of grey instead of making him one dimensional) but isn't guilty of this particular crime); about doing the right thing instead of the convenient thing. Loved her going to the lawyer at the end.
Astor and Cody reacting not with immediate cheer to the baby news but with uncertainty and in Astor's case jealousy was something I'd expected; it's pretty realistic. They're close in age, and Astor probably doesn't remember when Cody was born. But the new baby is going to be something else. Poor Rita getting fired for snapping at a hotel guest, on the other hand, I find deeply worrying, because I don't want her to be entirely dependent on Dexter for her support. The scene where Dexter proposes to the entire family, consciously paraphrasing the words of a crazy stalker/murderer, was that mixture of creepy and affecting this show does so well. Because he isn't lying, he does care for them deeply, he does think they make him real, but at the same time he's manipulating them, and lying by omission every time they are together.
I find it fascinating that Dexter after the father exchange continues to genuinenly open up to Miguel - this time about marriage proposals - while at the same time manipulating him as well. Basically, he does to Ramon the same thing he did to that other hot-tempered cop, Doakes. It wouldn't work with Ramon wouldn't have genuine flaws and make genuine mistakes of his own, but Dexter is using them and when he says this is surely better than "my usual alternative", this casual statement is hugely significant. In earlier times, he wouldn't have even considered killing Ramon because Ramon isn't covered by the code. But now the code is broken, and not killing Ramon is a favour to Miguel instead of his duty. For all the deceptive quietness and cheer of this episode, this is arguably Dexter in a far darker place than playing the selfish adolescent with Lila last season.
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no subject
Date: 2008-10-21 11:21 am (UTC)Rita losing her job - I'm also worried. Having her be dependent on Dexter wouldn't be good for their dynamic, and I don't think Dexter has really considered the consequences of moving in with her and the kids - he's acting on impulse again. Lack of privacy won't just test the relationship. If Dexter can't operate as freely, then frustrations could easily spill over from his inability to continue his 'hobby' as easily, into fights and worse with the family.
Having a baby is going to be stressful, getting married will be even more so (if the writers carry it forward), and living with a family again is going to strain Dexter's emotional/mental resources thoroughly.
no subject
Date: 2008-10-21 12:04 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-10-21 04:48 pm (UTC)The writing on this show is brilliant and it shows no sign of continuously repeating itself.
no subject
Date: 2008-10-21 07:44 pm (UTC)