tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post3216299929039878023..comments2024-03-28T18:01:28.997-04:00Comments on What's Alan Watching?: Dexter: Variations on a themeAlan Sepinwallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03388147774725646742noreply@blogger.comBlogger33125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-46236260518778332892008-12-08T14:55:00.000-05:002008-12-08T14:55:00.000-05:00This is really, really late because I don't have S...This is really, really late because I don't have Showtime, so can't watch Dexter in realtime; thus, I just watched Season 1 and Season 2. This also means that I haven't watched any of Season 3 yet, BUT I really enjoyed reading these postings and I wanted to throw in my two-cents, which at this time probably isn't even worth that.<BR/>So here goes: <BR/><BR/>In this season, I really liked the 12 step program device because it totally fits. Dexter does need help, it’s not normal what he is, which, I think, was what happened to lead to the dad’s suicide. As best he could, Harry tried to teach Dexter to deal with who he was, probably because he felt responsible for what he went through as a boy, but when Harry actually saw it (kind of like Doaks’ reaction), he realized that Dexter is truly awful and needs help, but Harry couldn’t see how to get Dexter help that wouldn’t land Dex in jail. So the hopelessness got to Harry (and I totally agree, Alan, that I seem to remember some shots of near-death Harry in Season 1, but would have to review if those were during the time he was getting poisoned by the evil nurse). <BR/><BR/>I liked a lot of the stuff going on in Season 2, like Dexter’s identity crisis and the stages of him working out who he is, and how it manifested itself in his two love interests who are, in my opinion, both bad choices. <BR/><BR/>I thought the stuff with Lundy and Deb worked, although I was hoping there were some skeletons in Lundy’s closet. Definitely the Doaks/Dexter relationship development was great, and even though I understand why they got rid of Doaks, I’m going to miss him. <BR/><BR/>I never liked the power struggle stuff with the police heads changing, started in Season 1. I wonder if Laguerta’s ruthlessness will come into play later, or if it’s just a red herring (I’m thinking the latter). <BR/><BR/>It’ll be interesting to see what they do with the Season 3 Dexter character because the last moments bring up lots of questions of who he will be and how he will be dealing with his serial killerness. I think he treaded on murky waters with killing Lila. While crazy and not the best person, she was doing what she was doing to be with Dexter and she was in a cloud of jealousy. I don’t even think a court of law would have sent her to jail; more likely she would’ve been sent to a mental institution. I don’t think what she did fit the Code of Harry, and I think Harry would agree, but I guess that doesn’t matter to Dexter anymore since he feels free to not live by that anymore. I think killing Lila was more serving his needs than doing society a favor, and that’s dangerous. I wonder if his killings will become more questionable in Season 3...and unfortunately, I'll have to wait to find out when the DVD comes out.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-79605864737536571862008-09-08T02:02:00.000-04:002008-09-08T02:02:00.000-04:00I thought the way the season ended was particulary...I thought the way the season ended was particulary lame, like the way he could just kill Lila after screwing with her head tell her they will go away together, she who was in love with him and saved his ass, he killed her without a second thought. pretty disapointingAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-10974928202542949432008-07-05T22:40:00.000-04:002008-07-05T22:40:00.000-04:00Before Dexter sneaked out, he said that he was goi...Before Dexter sneaked out, he said that he was going to his "new marina." He must have found a new marina which wasn't one of the three that the task force placed under surveillance.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13865166189462364424noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-53503976975590279152008-06-18T14:21:00.000-04:002008-06-18T14:21:00.000-04:00I went through the first two seasons through Showt...I went through the first two seasons through Showtime on demand. A question from season 2. When Dexter had FBI protection and had to sneak out his back window, didn't he take his boat to the everglades? Wouldn't that have shown up on the hidden cameras? Love the show, Michael C. Hall is very good.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-28907933227553599062007-12-23T00:04:00.000-05:002007-12-23T00:04:00.000-05:00Jill: I think Harry realized Dexter was a sociopat...Jill: I think Harry realized Dexter was a sociopath, and from what I understand, sociopaths can't be "cured." Is that correct? If so, it would make sense that Harry would tell Dex that Dex would never change.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-39962348522647083262007-12-18T09:01:00.000-05:002007-12-18T09:01:00.000-05:00So...do y'all think it's a little weird that I hav...So...do y'all think it's a little weird that I have made Dexter's opening theme my cell ringtone? :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-67253571570872360462007-12-18T06:24:00.000-05:002007-12-18T06:24:00.000-05:00Dez: I loved the bit with the donuts. Because De...Dez: I loved the bit with the donuts. Because Dexter is so good at "hiding in plain sight", these little hints that he really is clueless about social cues continue to hold the entire premise together. And I loves me some Masuka, who is far more interesting than this show has let him be so far. (Also loved the cool bug-eyed shots of him with the hood last week.)<BR/><BR/>The loose end that I think is likely to carry through to next season is the relationship between Deb and LaGuerta, who now (think they) have the bond of misjudging guys who turned out to be serial killers. This has always been an interesting relationship, but I'm looking for that to be developed more next season, along with LaGuerta continuing to try to clear Doakes' name, almost to the point of obsession. (No spoilers here, just speculation based on nothing.)<BR/><BR/>But here's something that still doesn't work for me, and I'm hoping this is developed more next season: The scene with Harry telling Dexter he's going to be like this forever bothers me. I know that it's essential to the very premise of the show, but as someone who works in the mental health field, I simply cannot imagine a parent not named "Barbara Bush" deciding that it's perfectly OK that a kid kills animals. And I can't imagine said parent telling said kid that he's going to always be a killer. So far we've seen that Harry has a nasty vigilante streak in him (despite his revulsion when faced with the reality), but I want to know more about Harry and why he went this route instead of getting this kid some help.Jillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03865082576641051315noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-75814713715644393682007-12-18T02:48:00.000-05:002007-12-18T02:48:00.000-05:00I think I would have been more surprised by a few ...I think I would have been more surprised by a few things in the finale if I hadn't seen those obnoxious spoilers two friggin' weeks ago (or the previews last week, for that matter), especially the way Doakes died.<BR/><BR/>Still, it's the little touches that made the whole episode (and the season, for that matter), such as the new beginning for Dexter (different angles of the credits, as you brought up, Alan), or Dexter being so emotionally tone deaf that he brings donuts to the office the day after Doakes dies--and finding his *true* soulmate in Masuka, who is the only one to grab a donut.<BR/><BR/>Also, I don't think Dexter was looking specifically for the GPS, just for anything that would prove Lila was at the cabin. I was really hoping he was going to frame her for framing Doakes as the BHB, and making everyone think she was the real BHB, but I guess they need LaGuerta obsessing on cleaing James next season and maybe, finally, catching on to Dex.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-29142823925004308602007-12-17T15:25:00.000-05:002007-12-17T15:25:00.000-05:00As long as we're pointing out sloppy writing, reme...As long as we're pointing out sloppy writing, remember early in the season when such a big deal was made of the algae found on the rocks and how it made clear that the Bay Harbor Butcher must have access to a boat from certain specific docks? Did anyone ever check to see if Doakes owns or even has access to a boat?<BR/><BR/>I agree with everyone else that the episode was too tidy. And having Lila kill Doakes was such a shameless copout. And no, having Dexter narrate about how lucky of a break it is for him does not make it any less of a copout. <BR/><BR/>These last few episodes where we've been able to see Dexter from someone else's perspective have been quite illuminating. It'll be interesting to see how I view the show now that I'm actually hoping he gets caught. It hasn't effected my enjoyment of The Shield at all, so I wonder if this show will do.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-38225257164658826422007-12-17T15:14:00.000-05:002007-12-17T15:14:00.000-05:00Disappointed with the last 2 episodes. Smacked of ...Disappointed with the last 2 episodes. Smacked of sloppy writing. They just decided to kill Doakes...pretty easy way out.SJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01245472084190224186noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-58601393834046463732007-12-17T15:10:00.000-05:002007-12-17T15:10:00.000-05:00Agreed with most of what's been said - I wasn't di...Agreed with most of what's been said - I wasn't disappointed exactly, but it did all feel inevitable and a bit cursory. One thing that really bothered me was the jumps in reasoning that Dexter had to keep doing to stay one step ahead of Lila. First he looked at the bags of evidence and immediately knew to look for his GPS unit? Then he heard from the Captain that Lila had called in a tip about him, and he immediately figured out that she'd targeted Rita? Maybe not a huge leap to make, given Lila's past behavior, but it still took very little time for Dexter to make these jumps - Lila could have just as easily targeted Deb or Angel or Dexter himself, but it would have slowed down the plot for Dexter to go searching all over town for her. <BR/><BR/>I'll miss Doakes, and the relationship that he and Dexter eventually developed while he was in the cage. But it was clear from several episodes back that he had to die. I also wish Lila had died in typical BHB fashion - taped down to the table, the blood slide, etc. It seemed like it would have been a perverse thrill for her to go through what all of Dexter's other victims had gone through, but Dexter was in a rush, so we got a quickie. Perhaps it's a foreshadowing for next season, when all of Dexter's methods have to change. <BR/><BR/>Also, those were some pretty happy, non-traumatized kids there at the end, given that they had narrowly escaped a fire and almost saw their father figure killed.<BR/><BR/>But todmod, totally agreed on those moments. I loved Lila's horror at actually seeing the proof that Dexter had come to kill her. And I loved Dexter at Doakes' empty memorial service, a great counterpoint to the "I love Dexter" parade fantasy he had earlier this season.Susanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02239086941985919886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-7590563968537772452007-12-17T14:57:00.000-05:002007-12-17T14:57:00.000-05:00Per an interview Rob owen did with the producers, ...<A HREF="http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07351/841111-352.stm" REL="nofollow">Per an interview Rob owen did with the producers</A>, they sent a skeleton crew to Paris to film those scenes. <BR/><BR/><I>And, in either case, if a show like Dexter is able to pull it off, why does a big budget show like Heroes always look so laughably unrealistic when they're supposed to be in a foreign city?</I><BR/><BR/>It's one thing to spend, like, an afternoon doing some fast guerilla-style filming of a character walking around and another to film actual scenes with people talking and interacting. The "Heroes" green screen work often looks cheap, but I would guess the cost of filming those outdoor scenes with Lila comes out as less than, say, a few "Heroes" scenes with Mohinder in India. (Those would be filmed with a full crew, require studio space, the FX work, etc.)Alan Sepinwallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03388147774725646742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-70263145597626631772007-12-17T14:45:00.000-05:002007-12-17T14:45:00.000-05:00Putting all the plot stuff aside, I was actually r...Putting all the plot stuff aside, I was actually really impressed by the stuff with Lila in Paris. Either they really did go to Paris to film a few scenes or they did some of the best green screen work I've seen in a long time. Do you know which it was, Alan? And, in either case, if a show like Dexter is able to pull it off, why does a big budget show like Heroes always look so laughably unrealistic when they're supposed to be in a foreign city?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-12493982917707369432007-12-17T14:27:00.000-05:002007-12-17T14:27:00.000-05:00Example...What happened to Dexters "tool" kit???Example...<BR/>What happened to Dexters "tool" kit???Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-30386063177789252032007-12-17T14:24:00.000-05:002007-12-17T14:24:00.000-05:00Glad todmod mentioned the scene in Lila's apartmen...Glad todmod mentioned the scene in Lila's apartment. That entire scene was outstanding, with Dexter almost accidentally jabbing the needle into Deb's neck, Lila arriving and realizing that Dex's promise to leave together was just a trap, Lila threatening to open Dex's bag-o-knives in front of Deb--excellent stuff. That whole scene was easily the high point of the episode.My Alter Egohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14484617407092345298noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-85507220552557436152007-12-17T14:23:00.000-05:002007-12-17T14:23:00.000-05:00Many have said "...the resolution was so inevitabl...Many have said "...the resolution was so inevitable..."<BR/><BR/>May I remined everyone of an oh so long ago episode of another series... Pine Barrens.<BR/><BR/>Not everything must be tied up in a neat little Christmas bow...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-23381511376821196732007-12-17T14:05:00.000-05:002007-12-17T14:05:00.000-05:00I agree the finale was somewhat predictable - but ...I agree the finale was somewhat predictable - but I have to comment on a great moment that even crazy Lila had. I thought the scene where she realized Dexter had come to her apartment to kill her was absolutely perfect. It was hard to believe you'd feel for Lila there, but I really did. Going from a fantasy of leaving town with "your soulmate" to realizing the same guy was planning to kill you was sad enough to put Dexter in another bad light. Along with Doakes' empty funeral (destroying Dexter's fantasy of the public loving his life's work) - I thought the episode did an excellent job in keeping Dexter too clean.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-84616089252624107602007-12-17T13:43:00.000-05:002007-12-17T13:43:00.000-05:00I was disappointed that they had Dexter go to Pari...I was disappointed that they had Dexter go to Paris to kill Lila. Not that I necessarily wanted to see her come back in the future, but the way it was handled was too cursory--"Oh, by the way, Dex goes to Paris to kill Lila."--as if that scene were there only to tie up a loose end.<BR/><BR/>I agree with Alan that the main problem with this season, or at least the second half of it, was the way Lila was handled. I would have liked to have seen Lila really force Dexter to question himself in the way Doakes did, but with her it would be from the opposite end of the moral spectrum. She did this to some extent earlier in the season, but that was before she knew the full truth about him. Also, its disappointing that in the end she was characterized as "just" crazy and amoral. I say "just" because this show is at its heart an exploration of the root causes of why people are who they are and why they do what they do. What made Lila be the way she is? Sure, there are lots of crazy people out there, but not so many who, upon learning that the object of their desire is a serial killer, feel more strongly than ever that they've found their soulmate. What was it that caused her to turn out this way? Now that she's dead, we'll never find out. A Lila who behaved exactly the same way as the one we saw would have been much more interesting if she were more three-dimensional.<BR/><BR/>My broader disappointment with the final episode is that it seemed rushed. I think this was a structural problem. There were so many interesting storylines and interpersonal dynamics this season--the Lundy/Deb interaction, the Dexter/Doakes interaction, Dex and Rita, Dex and Lila, Deb and Lila, LaGuerta and Doakes--I could go on and on. The problem is that the writers chose to leave all those threads unresolved until the final episode, and so all of them had to get resolved in under sixty minutes. I would rather have had some resolved in previous episodes, or have some remain unresolved and left for next season, than to have them hastily concluded. One of the things I love so much about this show is the way it takes its time with things, so I get disappointed when they do that. However, I'm hopeful that some of these threads will get a more complete resolution early next season, in the same way that Paul and Brian/Rudy were revisited at the start of this season.<BR/><BR/>But again I agree with Alan that these are relatively minor complaints given that the second season as a whole was so outstanding. It is only because everything else was so perfect that anything less that perfection becomes reason to complain.My Alter Egohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14484617407092345298noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-5482867849051585642007-12-17T13:36:00.000-05:002007-12-17T13:36:00.000-05:00I'll chime in with the "disappointed/predictable" ...I'll chime in with the "disappointed/predictable" comments here.<BR/>So many ways to go- and the easy way out was taken on every occasion. Most have already been enumerated, so I won't repeat them- but the deaths of Doakes and Lila were just cop outs, plain and simple.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-45075312030177336892007-12-17T12:35:00.000-05:002007-12-17T12:35:00.000-05:00I really like this show, but share Alan's disappoi...I really like this show, but share Alan's disappointment that the resolution was so inevitable. Still, inevitability is the stuff of tragedy. This wasn't tragic because Lila, was, well, Lila. I would have enjoyed it more had Dexter developed true feelings for her over the course of the series and murdering her was murdering his best chance to feel. That, and it seemed like lazy writing to have the plot hinge on b-movie villainy -- the lock 'em in a burning building while you head to the airport bit smacked of Dr. Evil's unnecessarily slow dipping mechanism. To me, anyway.<BR/><BR/>Still, a very very good show.Tomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15582136184196524214noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-17417160449514388592007-12-17T11:46:00.000-05:002007-12-17T11:46:00.000-05:00Thanks, Alan, I don't know how I missed that. I a...Thanks, Alan, I don't know how I missed that. I always wondered what happened there.Candyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10546104277194021976noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-87795175527368845522007-12-17T11:16:00.000-05:002007-12-17T11:16:00.000-05:00I'll admit, I was kind of surprised (and relieved)...I'll admit, I was kind of surprised (and relieved) that Dexter hunted down Lila. I thought they would leave her plot open-ended, only to predictably return next year in some rip-off of a Nip/Tuck storyline. So I'd rather them do a predictable kill-off of her character and be done with it rather than have the predictable return next season when they can't think of anything original to do.Bobmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01604050338240551711noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-67827799161610569362007-12-17T10:54:00.000-05:002007-12-17T10:54:00.000-05:00Candy, that was a major plot point in the very nex...Candy, that was a major plot point in the very next episode, where Dexter has to pull a fire alarm so he can delete the footage from the FBI computer.Alan Sepinwallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03388147774725646742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-38102623715291633182007-12-17T10:52:00.000-05:002007-12-17T10:52:00.000-05:00After reading Curious George's comment, I just tho...After reading Curious George's comment, I just thought of something. Remember the scene where Dexter went to clean his boat, and then we saw that there was a security camera on the dock? I always expected that to come up at some point, but it never did. This makes me wonder if the BHB case will be reopened next season....Candyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10546104277194021976noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-37342018463521034312007-12-17T10:30:00.000-05:002007-12-17T10:30:00.000-05:00did anyone really want to sit through a long trial...<I>did anyone really want to sit through a long trial next season? And, yeah, having Lila turn out to be just plain crazy was easier and more predictable, but did anyone really want to see more of that character?? </I><BR/><BR/>My point isn't that I thought they should have gone in a different direction at the end, but rather that the season had progressed in such a way that Lila killing Doakes and then Dexter killing Lila was pretty much the only direction it could go.Alan Sepinwallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03388147774725646742noreply@blogger.com