Join THE ASTRONAUT WIVES CLUB

Article originally published as THE ASTRONAUT WIVES CLUB Review on Seat42F.

The “Launch” of ABC’s THE ASTRONAUT WIVES CLUB is just around the corner. Based on the novel by Lily Koppel, which is subtitled A True Story, the series follows the wives of the Mercury Seven, America’s first astronauts. Set at the beginning of the 1960s, this program focuses on the women behind the now-famous men who ventured above our planet and out into the unknown.

The Mercury program is well-known, but how much people know about the individuals involved may vary. Being from Ohio, I definitely know who John Glenn (Sam Reid, Hatfields & McCoys) is, and I’m also vaguely familiar with Alan Shepard (Desmond Harrington, Dexter) and Gus Grissom (Joel Johnstone, Getting On). But how many know the names Deke Slayton (Kenneth Mitchell, Ghost Whisperer), Scott Carpenter (Wilson Bethel, Hart of Dixie), Gordon Cooper (Bret Harrison, Reaper), and Wally Schirra (Aaron McCusker, Shameless)? (Unless you’re Matt Myra, of course.)

THE ASTRONAUT WIVES CLUB isn’t really about the men, anyway, though, so while they do appear, they aren’t the focus. Instead of telling us a history story, it strives to show us the personal side, zeroing in on the wives who stayed home. They are as eclectic a bunch as their husbands, if not more so, but they are going through a shared experience no one else could possibly quite understand. And so, despite the varied personalities who wouldn’t necessarily be drawn to one another without this major influence, these woman come together to be profiled by Life magazine and to support one another.

The group is interesting, though it’s hard to get to know them all in a single hour. There’s flashy Rene Carpenter (Yvonne Strahovski, Chuck), who doesn’t pay much attention to the rules set out for the group. Trudy Cooper (Odette Annable, House M.D.) is hiding a divorce put on hold for the sake of her husband’s career, and is a pilot in her own right. Louise Shepard (Dominique McElligott, Hell On Wheels) doesn’t want her past to come out, likely part of the reason she resists the forced bonding. Annie Glenn (Azure Parsons, Salem) seeks to keep her severe stutter out of the public eye. Betty Grissom (JoAnna Garcia Swisher, Better With You) is loving the new attention. Marge Slayton (Erin Cummings, Detroit 1-8-7) and Jo Schirra (Zoe Boyle, Downton Abbey) seem less well defined in the pilot, “Launch,” but there’s plenty of time to get to know them later.

It’s very hard to do period pieces, and THE ASTRONAUT WIVES CLUB struggles much of the time. When showing momentous events, it excels at capturing the gravity and the emotion, and makes one feel what the characters feel. But it’s very easy to take for granted the costumes and settings, which appear decent enough, and because of the way the roles are played, it doesn’t feel all that different from today, other than some surface, superficial, stereotypical things.

While this could be a good thing, helping an audience relate to what they’re watching, that’s not how it comes across here. THE ASTRONAUT WIVES CLUB feels much more like Mistresses, or a lesser Desperate Housewives, than anything that would come from this era. There is much bickering and drama, conflict appearing to pop up just for the sake of conflict, rather than to advance the story. Maybe this is how things were between these gals, competing to sell their family as the best, and thus earn their husband a top spot; I couldn’t say for sure. But it feels purposely bent towards modern sensibilities, to its detriment.

Perhaps that’s why ABC is burning it off during the summer. While cable keeps chugging along with solid offerings year ‘round, the broadcast networks tend to use the warmest months to get rid of their junk they don’t think anyone wants to watch. Despite a few good qualities, I do feel like THE ASTRONAUT WIVES CLUB just isn’t good enough for the regular season, and so belongs where it is.

THE ASTRONAUT WIVES CLUB premieres Thursday, June 18^th at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.

DEXTER's Last Murder

Article first published as DEXTER's Last Murder on TheTVKing.

It's always sad when a beloved, long-running television series comes to an end. This is the case in Showtime's Dexter, with this week's episode, season eight's twelfth, "Remember the Monsters?," serving as the last episode ever. In it, we see the final chapter of the story of the serial killer with a moral compass. Sadly, the last thing to be killed is fans' hopes for an amazing conclusion.

Dexter is about a psychopath with no emotion. In the final year, the titular character (Michael C. Hall) finds feelings for his family and friends, to his great surprise. It's been a slow build to this triumphant moment, the point where his lack of empathy has been cured and he can actually love and miss and grieve and have compassion. What a fantastic note to go out on!

Except, Dexter doesn't enjoy these things. It may be because he finds his heart just in time to have it broken, as Oliver Saxon (Darri Ingolfsson), the Big Bad of this year, murders Dexter's sister, Debra (Jennifer Carpenter). Faced with losing her, Dexter rethinks what he wants out of life, and decides the best thing he can do is end it.

Dexter's death is seen coming from a mile away. He begins acting erratically, killing Oliver in police custody, turning off Debra's machines and stealing her from the hospital. He's always been so careful and so sneaky. To act irrationally, out in the open, is a turn for him, and that's why it telegraphs the sad climax.

The fact that nobody notices Dexter's behavior is "Remember the Monsters?"'s first mistake. I don't expect Quinn (Desmond Harrington), who has just lost the woman he loves, or Angel (David Zayas), rationalizing the behavior of a friend in pain, to pick up on Dexter's coldness in the video of him slaying Saxon, barely putting up a tiny bit of effort to make it seem like self defense. But surely someone notices his actions of killing Debra, stealing the body, and sailing out to sea in the middle of a hurricane.

Mistake number two comes when Dexter undoes the sacrifice. As much as I hate to see Dexter commit suicide after dumping his sister's body, deciding that Harrison (Jadon Wells) and Hannah (Yvonne Strahovski) are better off without him, there is a way to understand Dexter's twisted reasoning. It doesn't quite gel with what the show has been building towards, but people do weird things when they're upset, and while this installment doesn't really spend much time on Dexter blaming himself for Deb's death, it is mentioned.

Then we get a glimpse of him working as a lumberjack. There is no explanation as to how Dexter escaped his wrecked boat in the middle of the storm, nor do we find out anything about his new life, such as if his dark passenger and Harry (James Remar) have returned and he has gone back to killing. A look in his eye says that might very well be the case, but it's left ambiguous.

What is the point of that final scene? To let viewers know that Dexter is alive? If so, why doesn't he show remorse for abandoning his son? Or something that proves he has stopped caring? Are we expected to believe all of the emotional stuff earlier in the hour was an act? It really doesn't make sense.

Not to mention, there is no closure for Quinn, whom is told by Deb she loves him just before she dies, no wrap up of the Masuka (C.S. Lee) and his daughter (Dora Madison Burge) arc, no revelation about Dexter's secret life by Miami Metro, not even of a glimpse of how Harrison might take the news when Hannah breaks it to him. There's just no ending to speak of for most of the show's players.

Now, there are a couple of wonderful bits in the finale. I love Dexter beating his instincts at the end of the penultimate episode, and how that carries into the last one. I love the flashbacks of Dexter and Deb shortly after Harrison's birth. I love seeing Hannah outwit Elway (Sean Patrick Flanery) and escape. I love that both Eric Ladin (The Killing) and Amy Pietz (Caroline in the City) guest star. I love seeing Matthews (Geoff Pierson) not act like a total jerk.

But those things aren't enough to make up for a terrible handling of the main character. I totally agree that a show runner has the right to end their series the way they'd like to, without worrying what fans will think. On the other hand, I do think it should be fitting for what has come before it, and "Remember the Monsters?" is not. In the end, Dexter's finale is one of the worst series finales in recent memory. If that's not sad enough to make a serial killer cry, I don't know what is.

"A Beautiful Day" Not Destined For DEXTER

Article first published as DEXTER Season 8 Premiere Review on Seat42F.

Grade: 93%

The title of Showtime’s DEXTER’s final season premiere is “A Beautiful Day,” which is misleading because there is nothing beautiful about the days in which the episode takes place, six months having passed. Dexter (Michael C. Hall) is in the darkest place he’s arguably ever been in, with Deb (Jennifer Carpenter) out of touch, off the grid as a renegade private investigator, taking the tough, dangerous cases. And from there, it only gets worse.

It’s not surprising that Deb has taken off. After killing La Guerta (Lauren Velez) to protect her brother, Deb finds she has trouble living with those decisions. The people that do kill in DEXTER tend to be psychopaths, and since Deb is a ‘normal’ person, she can’t find it in herself to accept such heinous crimes. As such, she flees from Dexter and her life as a cop, unable to move past what she has done.

Dexter, on the other hand, is a psychopath. He is someone who doesn’t value life or the feelings of others. He has been able to fake it all these years, but has never learned to truly care, except in very rare cases. With one of those exceptions, Deb, gone, Dexter has a hard time getting by.

Could it be that Deb is the one person that is holding Dexter together all along? Because he values his sister, the girl he is raised with, Dexter keeps himself in check to spare her. Last season, when he ditches the code that Harry (James Remar) taught him, it’s to protect Deb, proving that his feelings for her override pretty much everything else.

Now, with her gone, Dexter is going off the deep end. He snaps at work, says incriminating things, and even puts his son, Harrison (Luke Andre and Evan George Krunthcev), in harm’s way to save Deb’s life. His behavior is erratic and dangerous and he will get himself caught if Deb can’t forgive him and come back sometime soon.

It’s pretty unfortunate that just as Dexter is slipping up, Dr. Evelyn Vogel (Charlotte Rampling, Melancholia) comes onto the scene. Unlike past investigators, Vogel knows right away who Dexter is and what he is capable of. By the end of the first hour, she makes a move that may be either very smart or very dumb, but viewers and Dexter alike will not be kept wandering how close she’ll get all year. Instead, what remains in the dark is her motivation and what she wants.

It’s very likely Vogel has ties to Dexter’s past. She is acquainted with Captain Matthews (Geoff Pierson), and has relics from Dexter’s childhood. What is her connection to Harry, how long has she known about Dexter, and why is she doing what she is doing now?

Also, there is yet another serial killer in town. I can’t help but feel, giving Dexter’s penchant for twists, the fact that this is the final season, and the absence of seeing the killer in “A Beautiful Day,” that this particular murderer just may be someone we’ve seen before. Doakes and the Bay Harbor Butcher are elements of DEXTER that won’t just go away. Perhaps it’s all part of the same plot.

La Guerta’s death has shaken up the department in more ways than just running off Deb. Both Captain Matthews and Batista (David Zayas) have canceled their retirements and returned to the force in order to fill in gaps in the ranks. For Matthews, who was forced out, this makes total sense. But for Batista, who leaves the job after careful consideration, it’s kind of disappointing. I get what the writers are doing, wanting to keep him involved in the show, and given the way he is taking La Guerta’s passing, it makes sense. Yet, it also feels like an unnecessary step backward for him.

As many might have expected by the end last season, Quinn (Desmond Harrington) and Jamie Batista (Aimee Garcia) are now regularly hooking up. It seems mostly about sex, but they are definitely very into one another. I’m not really sold on this relationship, feeling like she can do better, and he should pick someone more age appropriate, but I’ll try to reserve judgment until we see how it all plays out.

We have a couple of new faces around in “A Beautiful Day,” too, as usual, but unlike past years, none of them stand out as well-known casting coups. That’s good, keeping the focus on the central players in the last year, which is important to end the series properly. There’s a good guest turn by Entourage’s Rhys Coiro, but he won’t be sticking around, so it doesn’t detract from this.

It’s too soon to tell if DEXTER’s eighth season will be more like its fantastic seventh or its lackluster sixth. However, with only a dozen episodes left to tell the story, there will definitely be closure. DEXTER feels like it’s moving into its final act, exploring the last corners of Dexter’s personality, making him desperate right before his triumph or downfall, depending on which direction the show goes in. It’ll be interesting for invested fans to find out which choice has been made.

DEXTER airs Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on Showtime.

The last post of Gossip Girl

The CW aired the final Gossip Girl episode this week. Entitled "New York, I Love You XOXO," the episode wraps up the Bart Bass (Robert John Burke) storyline, reveals who is behind the titular character's website, and gives a glimpse into the future for all the main characters. It's an hour of cameos and romance.

Gossip Girl has always been scandalous and overly dramatic. And yet, I feel like some parts of this episode go just a little too far. One can be shocking without the plot holes, and this series usually is. The scene where Bart falls to his death is not helped by the hokey music, and making the finale A plot about some scheme to quickly wed Blair (Leighton Meester) to Chuck (Ed Westwick) so that she doesn't have to testify against him, when he did nothing wrong in the first place, is kind of ridiculous.

That being said, anything that gets a ring on Blair's ring, instead of around her neck, is good stuff. Fans of the series have been waiting for Blair and Chuck to finally get together for a very long time. Knowing they were promised to one another, but having to wait because of their careers, is sheer torture. "New York, I Love You XOXO" has to see them them walk down the aisle, and it did, with enough style to satisfy.

The wedding scene itself is touching. Do I wish the other drama wasn't forced upon it? Yes. But at least all of the characters pull together, and manage to make it happen before the police can show up to arrest Chuck. We get to see everyone celebrating and happy.

I also have mixed feelings on the outing of Dan (Penn Badgley) as Gossip Girl herself. He is a writer, sure, and has the talent and motivation to accomplish such a feat. However, there is a vague feeling that it doesn't quite add up. I would have to go back and re-watch the series to pinpoint when it doesn't work, and at some point, I will. But my first impression is, while this serves this particular point of the story very well, it may not add up in earlier seasons. And I think the flashbacks are mainly present in this episode to try to give a feeling of continuity.

The other characters' reactions to Dan's outing are completely in character and fantastic. Nate (Chace Crawford), who is already established as a good guy at heart, of course will forgive Dan when he is handing the story to Nate, saving Nate's beloved Spectator. Serena (Blake Lively) has also always been understanding, and her clear affection for Dan, at an all-time high after reading the nice things he wrote about her, make her susceptible to letting it slide. Chuck can appreciate a game well played, and Blair is, well, Blair.

Rufus (Matthew Settle) handles the news the best of anyone, because his concerns are real, and, I assume, the show's way of trying to address any past inconsistencies. Being mad at Dan about everything that happened with Jenny (Taylor Momsen) is exactly what Rufus should be, and allows someone to be angry, since Dan's friends can't be.

I love, love, love that everyone from Mayor Bloomberg (cameoing as himself) to Blair think that Dorota (Zuzanna Szadkowski) might have been Gossip Girl. After all, what fan hasn't suspected Blair's handmaiden is the guilty party from time to time, even though her apparent loyalty would make this the ultimate betrayal? And her wonderful bits that pepper the series continue through "New York, I Love You XOXO" when she has a very surprised Jack (Desmond Harrington) make her a drink.

The other reaction shots are great, too, as the secret is exposed amid a wave of appearances by past characters. These include Juliet (Katie Cassidy), Lola (Ella Rae Peck), Vanessa (Jessica Szohr), and even an almost unrecognizable Jenny. What a great way to fit the faces of earlier seasons in, without shoehorning them into a story in which they wouldn't fit! It's satisfying for the fans, makes sense for the series, and provides a great way to mark this major revelation.

One thing that is being talked about is the teasing cut scene where Kristen Bell, playing herself, delivers some of the same infamous phrasing she has been speaking for years as the voice of Gossip Girl, narrating Gossip Girl. It's fun little bit with another CW star, Rachel Bilson (Hart of Dixie), also playing herself, and a tongue in cheek reference for fans. This is all well and good, and I very much enjoyed it, until Bell turns and winks at the camera at the end. That takes it just a step too far, making what could have been an amazing scene only a very good one. We get the joke without the wink. No need for ham.

Then there's the ending, set five years later. There is a lot to praise this scene for. Knowing that it takes Dan and Serena five more years to get married is a bit disappointing, but not exactly surprising, considering. Given their track record, they probably broke up three times before getting hitched. I also greatly enjoyed seeing Chuck happier than he's ever been, glimpsing Dorota playing with the next generation, and Nate being successful, even if he hasn't found a girl yet.

The other elements of that scene, the ones that didn't make sense to me, such as Georgina (Michelle Trachtenberg) and Jack being invited (though I adore the thought of the evil duo as a couple), and Lily (Kelly Rutherford) ending up with William (William Baldwin), can be overlooked. After all, we know that relationships shift, and without seeing what happens in the intervening five years, these are plausible circumstances. They just aren't ones that are really telegraphed in the episodes leading up to "New York, I Love You XOXO."

Does anyone else want a two hour TV movie leading up to Dan and Serena's big day? Because I sure do!

Gossip Girl is a series that broke new ground, set trends, and was a highly addictive prime time soap for a good many years. I greatly appreciate the work everyone involved put in, and found the vast majority of it extremely entertaining. Even if the series finale stumbled a few times, it hit the needed emotional beats, and did not spoil my love of the show. For that, I thank it, and will definitely miss my Gossip Girl.

XOXO

Want to read some of my fiction? It's on my website, JeromeWetzel.com! Also, for the latest updates and article links, as well as commentary on episodes I don't fully review, please follow me on Twitter!

Article first posted on TheTVKing

Dexter travels to "Nebraska"

     In "Nebraska," this week's entry on Showtime's Dexter, Deb (Jennifer Carpenter) tells Dexter (Michael C. Hall) that the Trinity Killer has returned, murdering his own wife and daughter. Knowing that Trinity is actually dead, and egged on by the ghost of his brother, Brian (Christian Camargo), Dexter travels to Nebraska to dispatch the likely killer, Trinity's son Jonah (Brando Eaton, The Secret Life of the American Teenager). But the truth is more complicated, and Jonah admits only to hurting his mother during a fight, after his sister kills herself. Determining that Jonah feels guilt, and is not a monster, Dexter refuses to do the deed, leaving Jonah pleading in the rearview mirror for Dexter to end things.

     It is neat that Dexter revisits a former recurring character, which stems from a very dark period in Dexter's life. And while Trinity is one of Dexter's best foes, the current story applies very centrally to Dexter's life as it is now, rather than just dredging up the past for nostalgia's sake. Following his murder of Brother Sam's (Mos) killer, Dexter is poised on a precipice. Should he follow in his brother's footsteps, embracing his inner psycho, and killing anyone that he wants? Or should he remember the teachings of Brother Sam, a better Brother than Dexter's real brother, finding mercy for those who have done wrong, and searching for inner light?

     At first, Dexter goes fully over to Brian's side on his trip to "Nebraska." He steals a gun and screws a convenience store worker. Confronted by a potential blackmailer (Scott Michael Campbell, The Event), Dexter takes him out, breaking his own code, as the blackmailer has not killed anyone. Dexter is also very tempted to take out Jonah without satisfying his need for proof that Jonah deserves it. This is Dexter on the edge, rebelling against the kinder, gentler man he is these past few weeks with Sam's friendship. A backlash is natural and expected. Brian is the perfect manifestation of such feelings.

     But then, Dexter is a very complicated guy, and Sam has touched something inside of him that cannot be ignored. Dexter tries to deny having any light to combat his darkness, but seeing Jonah, and thinking of his own son, he realizes that is simply not true. Without light, there can be no darkness. Dexter isn't going to stop killing all together, as Sam surely would prefer. But he will remember the code that Harry (James Remar) taught him. And he compares Jonah to Harrison, both kids of serial killers, and can't help but feel sorry for the lad. Fittingly, as Dexter returns home, his mission reavowed, it is Harry that climbs into Dexter's car, replacing Brian, whom Dexter has run over. Wonderful ending to a really cool plot.

     Too bad Dexter spends four days in "Nebraska," though, especially right now, because Deb could really use him. Throughout Dexter's road trip, excused to babysitter Jamie (Aimee Garcia) and Deb as dealing with the grief that Trinity's "reemergence" triggers, Deb can't afford to allow him the break that he seeks. Not that Dexter gives her a choice. Maria (Lauren Velez) is coming down hard on Deb to find the Doomsday Killer, or DDK. This is make it or break it time for Deb as the new Lieutenant, a position she is struggling with, and without Dexter's expertise, her job becomes much harder. It may not be completely out of character for Dexter to not be there for Deb when she needs him, despite their "closeness," but it's unfortunate under these circumstances.

     Maria goes back and forth between being a good or a bad character. Fans will have trouble finding much to like about her this season, though. With her promotion to an office not situated in the department's main area, she becomes much of what she despises in her boss. She turns her back on now ex-husband, Angel (David Zayas), and worries more about politics and public image than actually catching bad guys. It's deeply regrettable, and while Maria is never the most likeable character to begin with, it seems as if she will not recover from the latest changes.

     Quinn (Desmond Harrington), on the other hand, is trying very much to divert from the bad path he is on. Sleeping with random women and making a fool of himself at a party, Quinn goes to Deb in "Nebraska" to apologize for his recent behavior. Unlike Maria, Quinn has a good excuse: he is suffering over the loss of his relationship with Debra. Now that Debra is his boss, she cannot go back to being with him. But they do seem to find some sort of peace and balance in the closure-filled conversation, leading to the impression that Quinn will clean up his behavior, and go back to being a pretty good guy.

     The key to catching DDK may just lie in a new character, Louis (Josh Cooke). Vince's (C.S. Lee) third intern this season so far, Louis shows Jamie, whom he is dating, a video game he is creating based on the homicide department. He also writes some code to help Debra narrow down the list of suspects for the DDK's student. With DDK himself known, but seemingly vanished, Deb turns her attention to finding his assistant. Louis is valuable in that effort. Viewers know, though, that he has other motivations, given his video game career. Will he remain helpful, or end up causing more trouble than he is worth?

     This plan only works if DDK, a.k.a. Professor Gellar (Edward James Olmos), can lure the student, Travis (Colin Hanks), back to his side. Travis releases their potential sacrifice, and tells Gellar he is done with their dark deeds. But Gellar shows up outside Travis's sister's (Molly Parker, The Firm, Swingtown) house, and leaves a picture of himself and Travis in the kitchen. Travis appears wavering, returning Gellar's things in person in "Nebraska," bringing him back to the lair. How strong is his vow to resist "God's will?" Can Dexter take out Gellar and Travis before Deb catches them? A race to the finish is brewing, and will break out soon.


     Dexter's latest season starts slow, but is now quite excellent, raising some interesting philosophical questions. Don't miss any more episodes, airing Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on Showtime.

     If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter!

     Please click here to watch streaming episodes or buy DVDs and Blu-rays of Dexter.

Article first published as TV Review: Dexter - "Nebraska" on Blogcritics.

Dexter doesn't worry about "Those Kinds of Things"

     Showtime's Dexter begins season six last night with "Those Kinds of Things." Dexter (Michael C. Hall) attempts to get Harrison (Evan George Kruntchev and Luke Andrew Kruntchev) into a great pre-school. The one he chooses happens to be religious, so Dexter finds himself wondering about faith, something he's never really thought about before, and something he has a very hard time comprehending. Dexter also attends his 20th high school reunion, finding his new-found popularity makes it harder for him to accomplish his real mission: a kill. 

     Dexter and Dexter tackle many things over the years, a great number of them issues of morality. It seems appropriate, after six years, to finally get around to faith and religion. After all, the way that many people live their lives by often has something to do with their religious beliefs. Dexter has Harry's (James Remar) code, carefully taught to him so that he will only murder the right people. Sure, the crucifix symbol may appeal to Dexter's dark side, but for Dexter to start to consider sin, that would open him up to guilt and reflection upon what he is done. Thankfully, it does not appear the series will be going down that road, as it could ruin the character.

     Instead, Dexter explores religion from the standpoint of a father. He worries that Harrison will not have a normal childhood without some religious base, and hopes that this pre-school might fill that need. Dexter is honest about his need for help in this area with the admissions director (Michael Hyatt, The Wire), and the truth, combined with a sincere desire to do right by Harrison, is likely what leads the program to accept Harrison. Go Dexter!

     Dexter's other main story, attending his reunion, is more fun than deep, a welcome relief from the great, but dreary, storytelling of last season. Dexter has a great job, is in wonderful physical shape, and has a sad story involving the death of his wife. As such, he finds himself the center of attention, an unusual situation for him. It's hard to tell if Dexter enjoys it all, though he doesn't seem to be too annoyed by it, even though it means delaying the kill. An old classmate, Trisha (Kristen Miller, She Spies, That's My Bush), gives Dexter an extra special present, and as unrealistic and out of place as that scene comes across, it's nice to see Dexter get some female-induced pleasure.

     Dexter attends the reunion in order to take out Joe (John Brotherton, One Life to Live), an abuser who killed his wife, a girl who was nice to Dexter in high school. Joe pleads with Dexter to spare him, arguing that God will get even. It's a silly claim to make, considering that if God does take vengeance for the murder of innocents, Joe would already have suffered such retribution. Unless one considers that perhaps Dexter is an instrument of God, a stretch to be sure, and thus his selective killings are the universe's way of balancing the scales. Harry could even serve as the way that God speaks to Dexter. If nothing else, this is something to ponder, and heads into controversial and murky moral areas.

     Of course, Dexter is never the only one out taking lives. This season's new killer duo, Travis (Colin Hanks, The Good Guys, Roswell) and Professor Gellar (Edward James Olmos), are introduced in "Those Kinds of Things." For unknown reasons, they slaughter a fruit vendor, leave his intestines on his scale, sew snakes into his stomach, and leave a Greek Alpha / Omega pattern on the victim's chest. There are religious undertones to what they are doing, which allows viewers a brief glimpse of another new character, Brother Sam (Mos, formerly Mos Def, The Italian Job), but what they are up to is unclear. Gellar is clearly teaching Travis, but to what end? Future episodes will have to reveal that. What they contribute to the premiere is to leave Dexter a tasty mystery to begin to unravel.

     There is some shake up in the police department in "Those Kings of Things." Maria (Lauren Velez) blackmails Tom (Geoff Pierson) into promoting her, making her future on the show unclear, since she will no longer work in Dexter's department. She recommends Angel (David Zayas) to replace her, which he does, at least on a temporary basis. Why not go ahead and make Angel's position permanent? Does that mean Maria will soon be demoted? Blackmail can have consequences, and it's regrettable that she resorts to such tactics to get ahead, no matter how much Tom deserves it for treating her so poorly.

     Also strange is Angel's whole demeanor. He is growing comfortable again working with Maria, now his ex-wife. But he is also on edge around young women. All of the sudden, he is very nervous that people will think he is dating a much younger girl. He even freaks out when his sister, Jamie (Aimee Garcia, Off the Map, Trauma), Dexter's new babysitter, looks too sexy in a restaurant. What are we to make of this? Surely he isn't just worried about appearances costing him a promotion. Something else must be going on here.

     Masuka (C.S. Lee) is now a teacher, and is tasked with picking an intern from among his motley class. Perhaps surprisingly, he chooses based on academic standards, rather than hotness, a sign of maturity from the somewhat sleazy forensics guy. But when his first pick, Peter (Christopher Frontiero), faints at a crime scene, Masuka is only too excited to tap the next in line, hottie Ryan (Brea Grant, Heroes). At least Masuka can say he tries, right?

     Finally, the biggest shake up on the horizon is Quinn's (Desmond Harrington) forthcoming proposal to Deb (Jennifer Carpenter). He is acting nervous, tipping off Deb that there is something going on, though she likely doesn't suspect him to pop the question. He is prevented from doing so this week when a gunman comes into the restaurant where they are eating. This is the second unrealistic, out of place event in an otherwise solid episode. But the delay will only be temporary, and he will try again.

     The question is, how will Deb take it? She deserves happiness, and Quinn seems like a good guy. However, the last time she gets engaged, back in season one, the man turns out to be Dexter's half brother, a serial killer with less scruples. The experience badly scars Deb emotionally, and will probably make her resistant to attempting such a union again, if the previews for next week are any indication. Can Deb defeat her biggest obstacle, herself, to find a happy ever after?


     Watch Dexter, already starting season six fantastically, Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on Showtime.

     If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter!

     Please click here to watch streaming episodes or buy DVDs and Blu-rays of Dexter.

Article first published as TV Review: Dexter - "Those Kinds of Things" on Blogcritics.

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.

For frequent mini-reviews and occasional tv news, follow Jerome on Twitter.


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.