Dexter Ends Season

Showtime's Dexter has had a season different from any that came before it. Each major character had some serious shakeup to who they were and how they saw others. Dexter (Michael C. Hall) worked against a gang of bad rapists instead of individual killers. He had some help. Not only that, he discovered he isn't devoid of feeling. Angel (David Zayas) spent most of the season at odds with his new wife. Laguerta (Lauren Vélez) continually upset almost everyone, and was sort of villainized for awhile. Thank goodness that was corrected in the finale. Deb (Jennifer Carpenter) got some major depth, while Quinn (Desmond Harrington) finally became sympathetic and likable. Plus, an amazing array of guest stars, including the delectably dark Peter Weller!

And Dexter finally found someone that truly understood him in Lumen (Julia Stiles), a girl who didn't see him as a monster and refrained from judgment. His partner in this year's main killing spree, she gave Dexter something he has needed for a long time: hope. Not a fan of Stiles, her soulful portrayal of the women gang-raped and out for revenge won me over. The fact that she healed and softened in the end made it even better. While I certainly understand why she couldn't stay with Dexter, I was highly disappointed that she left, and hope she comes back to the show in some capacity. Maybe even to help Dexter find his eventual peace, which is my hope for a series finale.

The Lumen situation does present some interesting food for thought, though. It was revealed that Dexter actually did love Rita (Julie Benz) early on this year as he struggled through her death and his guilt, while not directly responsible, from his part in it. However, he was able to move on very quickly to Lumen, whom he also developed loving feelings for. Sure, Lumen was someone truly unique in his life, but there still should have been some hesitation. Unless, and this is very possible, he almost immediately felt stronger for Lumen than he ever did for Rita. I don't want to detract from Rita, as she has plenty of fans, myself included, but Lumen's acceptance of Dexter's true nature surely allowed more honesty between them, and a better understanding.

Lumen's attackers were played by a wonderful group of male actors, but none better than Jonny Lee Miller as Jordan Chase. The former star of Eli Stone took the believing man he had built for the title character in that series and amped him up into a twisted, evil figure. His performance was chilling and authentic. While he was eventually dispatched with fairly easily, very anticlimactic, he was more a tool to help Lumen and Dexter than a true nemesis, anyway, so it worked. There were times he was a genuine threat, but mostly he was a plot device, and a killer good one at that.

The other new character who quickly wormed her way into viewers' hearts was Sonya (Maria Doyle Kennedy, The Tudors). She is Dexter's nanny. Yes, there needed to be some sort of plot device to free single dad Dexter up to do his dark deeds, but she is so much more than that. The writers were smart by giving us an actual character, rather than just an excuse, and Kennedy was surely the right woman to do it. Hopefully she will be even more visible as Astor (Christina Robinson) and Cody (Preston Bailey) return to stay with Dexter, which I very much wish will be during next season, and not between episodes.

Part of me thinks that Astor and Cody leaving to stay with their grandparents was a convenience trick this year. Part of me thinks it was good storytelling. The answer is probably some combination of the two. There was a purpose for their absence, and Astor's mid-season appearance showed that splendidly. It wasn't that they didn't care about Dexter, but of course Astor needed to get away from where her mother was killed and anything that reminded her of Rita for awhile. Robinson has grown as an actress, and it showed. Bailey, who took over the Cody role in season two, has obviously grown physically from beginning to end of this season, so maybe he'll get some actual plot next year, too.

I have always liked Dexter's sister (and the actor's real life spouse), Deb. Originally she was there as comic relief. Her growth into super detective has been extraordinarily satisfying. Her skills finely honed, she had so much shine in this finale. Carpenter's acting was nothing short of brilliant as Deb caught Dexter and Lumen red handed, then let them go without seeing their faces. An earlier Deb wouldn't have had the emotional maturity to do that. Nor would she have ever been able to forgive and stand by Quinn. It is so satisfying when a character is evolved so perfectly, and this is a grand example. Can we get her an Emmy nomination already?

One last thing, can Masuka (C.S. Lee) have a story? He's been an awesome supporting player for five years, but I can't recall him ever having a plot of his own. It's time he got one. He has certainly earned it.

Dexter has already been renewed for a sixth season, and will return to Showtime late next year.

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Article first published as TV Review: Dexter Ends Season on Blogcritics.

Dexter, now with real emotions!

    Showtime's Dexter and it's title character have faced many challenges and changes over four seasons. Dexter (Michael C. Hall) the man grew into his role as a husband and father, and started using the ghost of his dad, Harry (James Remar), as a conscience-slash-debate partner. Dexter has gone from a psychopath with no emotions, to a devoted, caring provider. It has been so rewarding to watch the developments, and so it was disturbing when everything in Dexter's life was thrown so out of whack.

     The disappearance of Harry until late in the episode also raises some interesting questions, as it has never been clear why Dexter talks to his dead father, though since he started only after exhibiting the first signs on humanity, I believe that probably has something to do with it. His missing human side, until the breakdown in the bathroom, coincided with the absence of his father. It's a great replacement for the flashback scenes Remar used to be in, which had grown stale.

     Last season ended with Trinity (John Lithgow, in an Emmy winning performance) killing Dexter's wife, Rita (Julie Benz). Dexter returned home to find his baby son sitting in a pool of Rita's blood. Last night's fifth season premiere "My Bad" is an emotional drama, taking Dexter into inner struggles he wasn't aware existed. With real emotion comes the risk of real depression, and he feels that and more with the loss of Rita. Swallowed up by guilt at not having killed Trinity sooner, regretting that darkness he thinks he brings to people's lives, and feeling inadequate in his place in life, Dexter goes through things his character certainly never expected to experience. It was a truly memorable performance for Hall the actor, who was superb.

     It also leaves Dexter at a major crossroads. Clearly, he has to stop killing if he's going to keep his family safe. He now understands the consequences to other people if he ever gets caught, and he doesn't like it. As season four neared the end, it seemed that he might even try to give up his bad habits, though he insists that he has no control over them. His Dark Passenger won't go away, and he has to deal with it somehow. He clearly is a much better person than Trinity, but he may soon have to choose between the two personas he maintains. I think it might be pretty intriguing to see a non-killer Dexter at some point.

     Dexter truly loved Rita, and only in her death could he confess everything to her, and show her what he truly was. I found myself wishing that she took over as the ghost he speaks to. She will be missed, and her departure from the show will be painful to audiences, just as it is to Dexter himself. She brought out the best in him, and now that role will have to fall to someone else. It won't be easy to replace her.

     The rest of the cast got some meat to work with, too. Dexter's sister Deb (Jennifer Carpenter) has to deal with the brunt of the arrangements for Rita. At least that distracts her from her investigations, which had turned up Dexter's blood relation to the Ice Truck Killer from season one. Deb is too smart for her own good and if anyone does eventually catch Dexter for his murders, my money is on her. Love can only blind a person so much.

     With Dexter checked out, Deb is left helping with his baby, planning a funeral, and trying to get Dexter to speak with the F.B.I., which is investigating Rita's death. Dexter is numb from shock. He never has to process feelings before, and is overwhelmed by them, leaving Deb to worry at the lack of emotional display. It's no wonder that she has a bit of a break, culminating with her rolling around on the kitchen floor with her partner, Quinn (Desmond Harrington).

     Quinn joined the cast in season three, and I've viewed him mostly as a dull, unworthy replacement for his predecessor, Doakes (Erik King). That started to change late in season four, and Quinn actually has something useful to do this year. No one has really suspected Dexter of any misbehavior since Doakes was killed and blamed for the bodies Dexter had dropped into the ocean. Now as everyone in the department seeks to comfort the blood spatter analyst, Quinn is taking a hard look at him as a suspect. This is one murder that Dexter hasn't committed, but it can't possibly be a good thing for the serial killer to be investigated.

     There are plenty of other subplots, from the flashbacks to Dexter's terrible first date with Rita, to Rita's daughter, Astor (Christina Robinson), having to display acting talent, with her mother dead. While it isn't clear what will become of Astor and her brother, I'm assuming Dexter will take them in, as he has shown plenty of protectiveness towards them. But these are minor parts that enhance the whole, not drive the story.

     All in all, "My Bad" is a surreal experience of an episode, taking a break from ongoing story lines to delve deeply into a truly unique character's head. Taken as a stand-alone piece, it is truly a remarkable hour. Added to what's come before, it provides a splendid showcase of the best parts of a great series, as well as stretching the actors in new and exciting ways.

     Tune into Dexter Sunday nights at 9 p.m. on Showtime. If you haven't discovered it yet, it's one of the best shows currently on television. It provides more varied shades of gray than an old black and white television set

Article first published as TV Review: Dexter, Now With Real Emotions! on Blogcritics.