Dexter 3.05 Going to Bimenese

[selenak]

I knew it, and have the earlier reviews to prove it: Miguel Prado moves into the Harry position of lawman deciding to use Dexter as his own personal vigilante/executioner. (Plus the Rudy/Brian position of brother, but I'll get to that later.) If I were Dexter, I would start to wonder whether Miguel hadn't been playing me from the moment he first mentioned the cruising wife killer, but Dexter has a tried and true record of being blind to being manipulated by a) Rudy/Brian and b) Lila until it was really glaringly obvious. To clarify: I do think the guy was guilty - Miguel didn't make any of this up - but I also think Miguel, if not already knowing Freebo was far from Dexter's first kill, had a very strong suspicion and tested it by telling Dexter about the case. The fact that he apparantly didn't consider the possibility Dexter could just kill him to get rid of a witness either points to overconfidence (a la Lila) on Miguel's side or on him having another ace in his sleeve in case Dexter turns against him.

Now, given that Miguel at the end has positioned himself as the answer to Dexter's prayers if he ever made them - the lawman who instead of committing suicide like Harry (and it's interesting yet entirely sense-making that the knowledge of this and the way this feels like rejection to Dexter wipes out the previous comforting awareness of trust), the brother and friend who isn't a threat to the other people Dexter cares about like Brian but helps them - it's a given that there is a snag. The most obvious and dissappointing possibility would be if Miguel were revealed as the new serial killer in town, the skinner. So I hope and have some confidence the show won't make it that easy. (On the other hand, I've started to suspect Deb's nemesis, our new IA-suspected cop might be. Because it has to be someone already introduced in another identity, and the third option is Anton, and they wouldn't do that to Deb again, would they?) And will instead after positioning Dexter and Miguel like some bizarre version of Batman and Jim Gordon do more of the dissection of vigilantism they already started in s2. Confronting the audience with their own approval: with their rooting for the "death to pedophiles/wife killers/ other criminals" principle by showing just where it leads, them and the characters. The LaGuerta subplot already showed the audience, though not Dexter, that Miguel is ready to ignore evidence if it doesn't support someone's guilt: how long before either he or Dexter decide death is warranted on suspicion alone?

There is also the ticking time-bomb of Dexter having been the one to kill Oscar, not Freebo, and someone - Ramon? - watching Wendell (who can place Dexter chez Freebo before Oscar Prado died). It occurs to me that given Dexter killing Brian as the climax of s1 , we have something of a mirror structure of siblings here; just as Dexter then was positioned between a brother and a sister - with his biological brother regarding the bond to his sister as fake and ursurping - Miguel Prado now has a biological real brother on a quest and a declared brother in Dexter. Hm.

I still find it amusing that now that he's embroiled in filial bitterness of the "you rejected me by killing yourself, so now I'm rejecting you!" about Harry and no longer seeking refuge in sepia-coloured flashbacks, Dexter has given himself a Head!Harry to argue with in the present. (Go, writers, for finding ways to keep James Remar on the show.) This episode coming complete with Head!Laura Moser, to show that Dexter is also still seething about the adultery issue and to make an interesting point. Head!Harry, who is, after all, not Harry but Dexter himself compares Dexter's serial killer existence and his life with Rita to a wife and a mistress, without assigning positions as to which is which, though stating that Dexter is "cheating" on Rita by killing people implicitly already makes Rita the wife. At the end of the episode we get a namechecking of the not metaphorical but literal mistress, Lila (though I suppose Dexter tells himself he didn't cheat then because technically he didn't have sex with Lila until Rita kicked him out the first time, ignoring that his reaction to learning about Harry/Laura was to immediately go and have sex with Lila which definitely makes an equation there), but Dexter could literally dispose of Lila. It's arguable whether or not he could dispose of his kiling urge. (Last season proved he could interrupt at least, though it didn't exactly result in a personality improvement.) He's definitely big time in denial if he thinks giving up his apartment is solving the basic problem his inner Harry pointed out.

The Masuka subplot: made the running gag of his article into a genuinenly affecting character point. Go, show. Meanwhile, what's his name (why can't I ever remember? Quinn?) makes himself increasingly suspicious by sabotaging Deb's investigation with Wendell while she's charmed enough by Anton to be disappointed to discover he has the proverbial woman in the shower. While Agel gets the prospect of a date with the woman from Vice. This makes me absurdly happy, on the principle that Angel deserves some happiness and I liked her debut last week. And LaGuarta handing over material to the lawyer apparantly has already results, since Miguel mentions offhandedly having to deal with "some fire" she caused. I like all these people so much that the announcement Dexter will have two more seasons really has me torn, because on the one hand I don't think they can credibly keep up the basic premise for that long and on the other I really, really love this ensemble. (If not Dexter himself. Sorry, Dex. Still no change there since last season.) And don't want to leave them. Hm.

Comments

[viggorlijah.livejournal.com]

Watched it last night and at the hospital scene, turned and said to my husband (we are obsessed with Dexter as our one joint show to watch) and wailed "I want her to be happy, but not with him!"

Then it hit me. Rita and Angel. They need to run away to Hawaii or something.

[selenak.livejournal.com]

:) I was about to make a comment about Angel the vampire and his romantic track record especially with people who resemble Darla when I realised whom you meant.*g* But you know, it's true. Rita would probably even manage to work something out with Angel's ex so he could see his daughter more often.

[greenpear.livejournal.com]

There have been very few shows that I wait this anxiously for each week. Both the characters and the writing is superb.

Quinn is still a question mark. I think they're making him a red herring. I think they "want" the viewers to think he's sabotaging Deb and was the person spying on Wendall. Just my opinion...

And did they get the idea of Head!Harry from watching too much BSG???

But now you make me wonder whether they can keep it up for another two years. What other tangents can they take the characters on?

[veritykindle.livejournal.com]

how long before either he or Dexter decide death is warranted on suspicion alone?

Well, while I agree with you that Miguel does believe that the guy he told Dexter about was guilty, I found it rather significant that Dexter *himself* didn't seem to do much checking at all into whether or not the man was guilty. I mean, he paid lip-service to the fact that he should do some checking, but when it comes right down to it, all we actually *saw* Dexter find out was that the guy likes cruises and talking to pretty women, and isn't exactly grieving for his dead wives. Not exactly conclusive evidence. So I think you are right that there is a definite trend on Dexter's part to do less and less checking into whether the people he kills are actually guilty of anything.

He's definitely big time in denial if he thinks giving up his apartment is solving the basic problem his inner Harry pointed out.

Oh, I think it's pretty clear that he's in denial, about a lot of things. It's interesting -- unlike you, I do still like Dexter (or, well, *like* might be too strong a word... There are still times when I feel like I can connect to him?), and yet this season has done a really good job of making me root for him to be caught, or at least for him to experience *some* kind of consequences for all the killing he's done. Dexter has really been creeping me out this season, the way he seems more and more lost in his own little world, and less aware of the real world around him.

At the same time, this show has definitely impressed me with the way they are not afraid to make their lead character so fallible, and ultimately unsympathetic. As you said, they definitely seem to be intentionally challenging the viewers' willingness to emphasize with a serial killer. The fact that they *are* willing to go there gives me some hope that maybe this show *can* survive long-term. (Although I have no idea how they can end this season without Dexter getting caught. I mean, he's being more and more careless. How can he *not* get caught soon?!)

[kernezelda]

I have few thoughts more complicated than, "Wheeee! Exciting!" about Dexter lately. I'm intensely interested in seeing how this plays out, and unlike you or Katya, I find myself having gone from mixed, mostly negative feelings about Dexter to more than half-hearted approval of the idea that he can make a life with Rita & kids, and still keep up his night life.

I thought of the Batman & Gordon similarity, too, and how that works into Dexter's previously imagining himself as a caped crusader - except he's just so busy lying to himself and being careless and frenzied, addicted to his kills instead of finding them a pleasurable hobby, that he's going to get himself caught and never understand why.

I do love that Miguel so clearly set him up, and would hope that Dexter sees it, too, but as you say, he's blind to being manipulated - so busy manipulating those around him.

[vitruvian23.livejournal.com]

If they ever brought back Buffy as a live action, they'd almost have to give her a Head!Giles, wouldn't they? Just because it would be so amusing to write that in commentary all the time.

[greenpear.livejournal.com]

"Head" characters make having conversations with yourself so much fun...

And it can keep dead characters on a show for-evar...

[vitruvian23.livejournal.com]

Didn't get the (little, I admit) joke there?

Hint: Who plays Rupert Giles?

I will now disappear again before somebody smacks me...

[greenpear.livejournal.com]

Yeap, I missed it. Went right over my "Head". :P

[abigail-n.livejournal.com]

I love the comparison between Miguel and Jim Gordon, especially given the Batman-esque Dark Defender persona Miami imposed on Dexter last season.

Whether or not Miguel was actually testing Dexter by siccing him on this week's victim, he seems to believe that Dexter is a creature of his own making - he says something to that effect in the episode's final scene. Which, of course, isn't true. Miguel might think he's Harry, but Dexter is a far greater monster than he can imagine or control (you'll note he hasn't made the connection to the Bay Harbor Butcher, though given the number of times he's brought Doakes up with LaGuerta and his awareness of her doubts about Doakes's guilt it may be that he'll get there eventually). Remember, Harry thought Dexter, the killer of evil men, was a fine and dandy idea right up until he got a close look at Dexter's handiwork, which Miguel has yet to be confronted with.

[selenak.livejournal.com]

The Jim Gordon comparison was irresistable. Given the writers of this show are geeks who had their characters have a DS9 discussion at one point (or am I misremembering this?), I completely believe that's what they were going for, too. If Miguel uses some kind of light to call Dexter, you heard it here, first.

True about Miguel not actually having seen the visceral result of Dexter's work the way Harry did. Though in Harry's case, I think the fact this was his son who was happily butchering away to please him was a huge factor in why the reality of the lethal vigilante concept turned out to be unbearable. Miguel might believe Dexter turned to killing only via Freebo, but he doesn't feel responsible for his entire existence the same way. Still, how he'll react to an actual dead body has yet to be seen.

The number of times he brought Doakes up: I think that's a hint that he will figure out that LaGuerta's department didn't produce two killers of killers, just one...

[selenak.livejournal.com]

I found it rather significant that Dexter *himself* didn't seem to do much checking at all into whether or not the man was guilty.

True, that. All he has is hearsay; the days where Dexter spared the young teen when finding out why the boy killed for the first time are far gone.

Dexter has really been creeping me out this season, the way he seems more and more lost in his own little world, and less aware of the real world around him.

He's not paying much attention to the new serial killer in town, either (who as opposed to the guy Miguel sicced him on would have needed to be found via careful investigation, which might take weeks at least, instead of offering instant gratification by being available to be killed), or to what is happening in the department other than in as much as it concerns himself. In addition to the increasing carelessness, I really can't see how they can avoid a pay-off with an actual capture. And that would end the show...

[selenak.livejournal.com]

Given the writers include Melissa Rosenberg who had her first big break in Star Trek: The Next Generation and given that there was a DS9 discussion last season on screen, you can bet they're all watching BSG.*g*

Oh, I don't think Quinn was the one to spy on Wendell (my money is on Ramon), but whether or not he's intentionally sabotaging Deb is another matter.