Dexter 3.13 Do you take Dexter Morgan?

[selenak]

This was an amazingly low key finale, after the dramatics of the previous two, and yet I'd argue it's far more powerful than the second one. And it's all about the inside. The one scene of action and physical danger, Dexter captured by the Skinner, plays that physical danger, what goes on between Dexter and the Skinner, as almost incidental. The writers don't insult their audience: "Will Dexter escape?" isn't a real question. Of course he will. The show just got two more seasons, and anyway, the Skinner isn't someone who'd kill off the show's central character for good, not having any kind of connection towards him other than their mutual hobby. No, what makes this scene an emotional climax of the season for Dexter is what goes on inside his head; the season-long conversation with Harry - a Harry made out of memories, resentments and needs - culminating in Dexter saying "I forgive you". My favourite detail about this scene is the exchange after, with Dexter remarking on Harry's tears and Head!Harry replying "they're not my tears, Dexter; they're yours". Dexter is talking to himself, and yet he's not; not because Harry is physically present - this show doesn't deal in the supernatural - but because Harry was and is such a big part of Dexter. He started out by standing on a pedestal - "the only god I've ever known" - , the pedestal came crashing down as Dexter found out how flawed he was, we got the second season of belated adolescent rage and rebellion as a result, and the s2 finale where Dexter was at his most inhuman, rejoicing at his renewed safety at the expense of Doakes' life and reputation, and killing Lila almost as an afterthought. By contrast, this finale has him at his most human (without losing sight of the fact that yes, he's still a serial killer). The peace he makes with his dead father goes hand in hand with the coming to terms with his own father role, yes, but it also comes with setting the last surviving Prado brother, Ramon, free in more than one sense. Ramon was in a way a parallel to Doakes - the suspicious cop who went too far and destroyed his credit with his fellow cops through his own methods and obsessiveness, but who actually had the right instinct as far as Dexter was concerned - but this time, the resolution was no frame job, and no convenient second-hand killing; not even the blackmail that was Dexter's first idea. The twist his conversation with Ramon takes, from angry confrontation (on Ramon's part) to a kind of mutual absolution is believable at this point solely because Dexter himself has grown up enough to let go, and to see similarities when he finds them without using them to make things worse. Instead, he makes things better. For a while; there is no guarantee that Ramon won't slide back into drinking, anger and vengeance, of course. But that's the risk you take if you don't kill; if you give people the benefit of the doubt and a chance at redemption. It was an odd moment of grace, that conversation.

Deb and Maria LaGuerta finding their moment of emotional resolution on parallel ways but at the same time was something I could see coming as soon as Angel said LaGuerta had final say re: Deb's shield, but it still felt right and fit. Their antagonistic relationship, occasionally punctured by brief flares of empathy (as in the s2 opener and ending), has always been ruthlessly honest, and I don't think Deb's decision to risk the relationship with Anton and Maria's decision to live with the secret truth about Miguel and Ellen instead of making it known, now that Miguel was dead, couldn't have played out as effectively with any other character in the room. No doubt they'll piss each other off again in the next season, but I also don't doubt that wasn't the last Cuban delicacy they shared.

The two ticking time bombs for next season are the one I predicted, Laura Moser's file (though Deb might decide not to look at it now that she made up her mind about Anton and, as Dexter, has come ot the conclusion she can still love Harry even though he was flawed), and a new one, Rita's teen marriage, revealed by her spiteful mother (indirectly, but no doubt she intended something like that with her card). In this particular episode, Dexter deciding that Rita has a right to her secrets, too, fits the overall theme, but I don't think the next season will leave it at that; we'll probably hear what became of Mr. Ackerman, and why Rita doesn't want to talk about those few months when she was 16. The final image is a strong hint to that, and to the precarious nature of Dexter's family peace, his double existence as serial killer and family man; the blood from his hand, covered up but bleeding through, dropping on Rita's white bridal dress and irrevocably staining it.

Lastly: given how sure Dexter is Rita's and his child will be a son, I really hope it's a girl.

Comments

[greenpear.livejournal.com]

Not many shows have the capability to hold that amount of tension like this. Plus make each season so different by evolving the characters.

I figured there would be a face-off between Dexter and the Skinner. I just didn't think he'd kill him quite like that.

The happy marriage will definitely come into play next season. It's all happy, happy now but Dexter will have to get back to doing what he does best.

I do think that Deb will continue to poke around about the Moser thing. I think your ideas of Deb figuring out things could be a prime theme for next season. If so, how will that affect Dexter and Deb's relationship?

Really loved the blood on the white wedding dress. Very symbolic of problems to come in the relationship.

Nine months - we gotta wait nine months to find out???

[selenak.livejournal.com]

Those are going to be nine hard months, indeed. How Deb will react to the "Dexter was Laura Moser's son, and so was Brian" news (I don't think she'll figure out the "Dexter is a serial killer" part until the last season, and there are two more, not one), I have no idea, but I really want to know! I think she might feel a mixture between guilty (he killed his brother for her) and angry (because he never told her something as important as this).