catalyst2 | Dexter S2e03 - An Inconvenient Lie

It is so good to see Dexter in action again - and this was a good example of how this season is throwing new and unexpected obstacles and twists into Dexter's life.

I loved Dexter's cynicism at the NA meeting. When the woman said "I'd kill for a Vicodin", I laughed at Dexter's response - "Lightweight!". I also liked the "wooden" doughnuts. (ETA: both the change from Percodan to Vicodin and the quote marks for the doughnuts are from feedback from

electrcspacegrl.)

I'm not sure what is up with Batista but he sure spouts that nonsense: "She's not co-creating her own reality" - and again Dexter's reaction was priceless.

Batista and Deb both got onto Lundy's team - WOOHOO, as did Masuoka later on.

When the car sales man was doing his spiel, I could just see the thoughts going through Dexter's head about the benefits of the van! "I can see how that might come in handy": indeed - I have the feeling that Dexter was thinking of something else - and then he bought the Mommy-mobile, much to my surprise. Wouldn't that violate one of Harry's rules - Dexter is there on the day (day before?) that the guy goes missing and there's a paper trail to show it?

The entire Masuoka thing with "Whose your Daddy?" was squirmingly funny especially when Dexter ruined it for him :
Dexter: You're my Daddy
Masuoka: Sounds weird when you say it!

I hadn't even thought of the new car throwing Doakes off the scent - was that deliberate on Dexter's part or was that just an added bonus?

When Dexter and Lilah went to the diner after the second NA meeting, all I could think was completely OT - the colours in that diner are spectacular - nothing but black red and white. Lilah's opening question ("So tell me, just how full of shit are you?") was a real surprise for Dexter because I don't think he's used to people seeing through his facade so quickly.

The conversation about The Dark Passenger was fascinating - was she describing drug addiction or something much darker? Is this a set-up for a much bigger reveal later in the season? A curious parallel too - in the books, Dexter often talks about his shadow, just like she did so that makes me wonder twice over.

I'm glad that Rita continues to grow stronger - she really played hard ball with pizza night!

Lundy's talk to Deb was very touching but he did seem to know a lot about her. If that really was his reason, it will be interesting to see what payback he gets out of that move. Having said that, Deb may already have broken it with the "bad guys" scenario - but not that many of Dexter's recent victims do have a criminal record do they? A few sure but most don't, I think, and that's exactly why Dexter has to do it his way rather than conventionally.

Kudos to LaGuerta for her loyalty to Pascal, however misplaced, given that I don't think Pascal would hesitate to do the opposite if their positions were reversed.

I liked when Dexter reminded the car salesman (I don't know why I can't remember his name, I'm usually fairly good at that) with the "You were right about the ample cargo space" line.

The conversation on the 'slab' between Dexter and what's-his-name was fascinating. I think even Dexter is beginning to realise that he is genuinely connecting with Rita (and Cody and Astor too), in spite of his best efforts initially to pass it off as a cover.

That second NA speech was both touching and frightening - cleverly written because Dexter could talk publicly and openly about being a serial killer and experience all the catharsis that that entails and yet still be quite safe with it all. When I saw Doakes there, I suddenly had to think back on what Dexter had said in his speech but everything could be interpreted in the addiction sense. That's certainly my take on Doakes' interpretation of it at any rate. In fact, I think Doakes thawed quite a lot in his "realisation" that Dexeter was just another cop pushed to (and possibly) over the edge. I had a feeling that Doakes was relating to something quite personal in there too.

Just in case we thought Doakes had thawed too much though, his last line went back to the usual: "You owe me a new Michelin, motherfucker!" I liked that line a lot!

Seeing the expression on Rita's face when she saw who Dexter's sponsor was was just priceless. I think that may well pay out soon!

Overall? I loved it - Dexter had so many things thrown at him and responded well - and yet he only did that by getting in touch with at least some of his emotions. Is this turning over a new leaf for him?