Oh wow! Oh wow! Oh wow!
Dec. 7th, 2006 09:20 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
catalyst2S110 of Dexter - what more can I say? Lots apparently
To see Dexter freaked out over blood was simultaneously sad, given all the things, legal and illegal, that he does with it, and funny. Given the impact it had on him, and the increasing amount and types of emotion he shows each week, I wonder if, in later seasons, he will start to get insight into the impact of his actions on others? A self-cured sociopath?
Anyway to the episode, the bits I liked (not in episode order)
- the ass is gone - I knew Dexter would deal with him! For a few moments, particularly when I saw him with the needle standing over Paul, I thought he had dealt with Paul but no, he restrained himself and kept the Code of Harry intact. Would I have ever thought Dexter was capable of that kind of restraint even a few eps ago? No - which just goes to show how much he has changed (and how good the writing is on this show that that happened and I barely even noticed?).
- Rita's anguish and then joy (before and after the above event, respectively) was just exquisite to watch. Damn but Julie Benz is talented, if I haven't already said that a number of times!
- It looked like Dexter's biomum was killed by a chainsaw killer but I couldn't see who. It couldn't have been Dexter's biodad could it? Wouldn't Harrry have told Dexter when he was older and then Dexter could have dealt with him? I thought it could have been Rudy - and that's why he knows so much about all of this (including the amazing setup in 103) - but then he looks about Dexter's age. I know what the books say about the connection between Dexter and Brian but I am not assuming that that will be followed. Whatever it, it will be an interesting take, I'm sure.
- Angel got stabbed, I assume by Rudy, which just shows the difference between Rudy and Dexter. The Code of Harry separates these two - even when Dexter thought that Masuoka was getting just too close in S106, he never struck back at him. Rudy, if it was him, appears to have no such restraints and interestingly, this may have been a serious mistake for him.
- How sad was that final scene as the memories flooded over Dexter? I wonder if he will be able to recall more details - like who wielded the chainsaw?
- Funniest bit was the expression on Dexter's face when he "panned" Paul in the kitchen. That, and the line that followed:
"Harry's first rule was don't get emotionally involved. I think this is why." So, Dexter is emotionally involved - that's a big change from his earlier comments about how he feels around Rita!
- LaGuerta absolutely shafted her boss - just like he did to her a few eps back. Mind you, he was so, so pissed that expect some major consequences for somebody, whether LaGuerta or her boss, I don't know.
- Deb continues to have "family" issues with Dexter, now with him not opening up to her and preferring the company of Rudy. If only she knew why Rudy approaches Rudy .... Poor Deb, it is going to break her heart when she does.
All around, just a wonderful episode that explored all kinds of issues, gave us a few answers and posed even more questions - again! My one request is that the ITK arc is wrapped up one way or another this season - otherwise it may drag out just too long. Having said that, I realise that every single time I have a concern about the way something is done, it is answered - even my comments about S103, though I still think it is a little weaker than other eps, no longer really apply since we did see that paid off later on in S107.
To see Dexter freaked out over blood was simultaneously sad, given all the things, legal and illegal, that he does with it, and funny. Given the impact it had on him, and the increasing amount and types of emotion he shows each week, I wonder if, in later seasons, he will start to get insight into the impact of his actions on others? A self-cured sociopath?
Anyway to the episode, the bits I liked (not in episode order)
- the ass is gone - I knew Dexter would deal with him! For a few moments, particularly when I saw him with the needle standing over Paul, I thought he had dealt with Paul but no, he restrained himself and kept the Code of Harry intact. Would I have ever thought Dexter was capable of that kind of restraint even a few eps ago? No - which just goes to show how much he has changed (and how good the writing is on this show that that happened and I barely even noticed?).
- Rita's anguish and then joy (before and after the above event, respectively) was just exquisite to watch. Damn but Julie Benz is talented, if I haven't already said that a number of times!
- It looked like Dexter's biomum was killed by a chainsaw killer but I couldn't see who. It couldn't have been Dexter's biodad could it? Wouldn't Harrry have told Dexter when he was older and then Dexter could have dealt with him? I thought it could have been Rudy - and that's why he knows so much about all of this (including the amazing setup in 103) - but then he looks about Dexter's age. I know what the books say about the connection between Dexter and Brian but I am not assuming that that will be followed. Whatever it, it will be an interesting take, I'm sure.
- Angel got stabbed, I assume by Rudy, which just shows the difference between Rudy and Dexter. The Code of Harry separates these two - even when Dexter thought that Masuoka was getting just too close in S106, he never struck back at him. Rudy, if it was him, appears to have no such restraints and interestingly, this may have been a serious mistake for him.
- How sad was that final scene as the memories flooded over Dexter? I wonder if he will be able to recall more details - like who wielded the chainsaw?
- Funniest bit was the expression on Dexter's face when he "panned" Paul in the kitchen. That, and the line that followed:
"Harry's first rule was don't get emotionally involved. I think this is why." So, Dexter is emotionally involved - that's a big change from his earlier comments about how he feels around Rita!
- LaGuerta absolutely shafted her boss - just like he did to her a few eps back. Mind you, he was so, so pissed that expect some major consequences for somebody, whether LaGuerta or her boss, I don't know.
- Deb continues to have "family" issues with Dexter, now with him not opening up to her and preferring the company of Rudy. If only she knew why Rudy approaches Rudy .... Poor Deb, it is going to break her heart when she does.
All around, just a wonderful episode that explored all kinds of issues, gave us a few answers and posed even more questions - again! My one request is that the ITK arc is wrapped up one way or another this season - otherwise it may drag out just too long. Having said that, I realise that every single time I have a concern about the way something is done, it is answered - even my comments about S103, though I still think it is a little weaker than other eps, no longer really apply since we did see that paid off later on in S107.
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no subject
Date: 2006-12-07 12:55 am (UTC)The final scene with Dexter's mom saying "Close your eyes, Dexter. Mommy loves you" just killed me. It feels like that's what Dex has been looking for all his life, and if he just had his Mommy, everything would be ok. It hurts because I want that for him. I loved her so much in that moment, and I loved Baby Dexter, and I wanted Dexter to be healed by that memory. Oh, it's just so sad.
Did you notice how much Dexter's mom looks like Rita?
no subject
Date: 2006-12-07 06:57 am (UTC)I also wondered what the recall of those memories would do to Dexter. I have known them to destroy people (when they haven't been able to deal with or integrate the memories) or for people to experience the most profound catharsis (when they have been able to process and interpret the memories).
What will it do for Dexter? I have no idea - but I am starting to have enough faith in the writing of this series that whatever they do will be OK (and Joss is the only other writer I ever say that about!)
Even as I was writing that post this morning, I was thinking that I need to watch the episode again because there was so much happening. The other thing I forgot to mention was the look on Doakes' face when Deb went to Rudy (when Rudy stepped out of the lift with the white roses) rather than to the party with Doakes.
If (when?) Rudy breaks Deb's heart, I suspect that Doakes may step in to the pick up the pieces.
It is funny though - despite how much I love this series, I have watched each ep once and once only. I think it is because every other series that I do that to (other than BtVS, AtS and Firefly) I get so hyper-critical that I don't enjoy it so much. I think I will watch Dexter again because it is good enough to sustain that critical a viewing. Even S103 no longer seems so flawed - in fact, given the pay-off later, it is a good ep now.
no subject
Date: 2006-12-07 04:58 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-12-08 12:13 pm (UTC)I will definitely go back and look for those themes - I have very poor analytical skills though so often just miss stuff wholesale.! Even watching BtVS as many times as I have, I still have moments where I go "Ah, that's why Xander said...." or whatever.