I'm never bored watching Dexter - I still think it's the best show on TV at the moment (this coming from a diehard Whedonite). I agree that the subplots are never as interesting as Dexter's story and I feel cheated by Angel and Maria's relationship. I don't care too much about it at the moment. Now if one of them were to get shot.............
Did you notice how little Harry appeared in this episode? He always pops up in Dexter's mind to play Devil's Advocate etc but hardly appeared at all here. He was doing a lot of invesigating into Trinity, but no Harry. I'm assuming the reason being that Dexter was fully focused on his family life, where that 'Dark Passenger' has no place. Great how the lack of a stock element can mean so much!
I don't think Dexter will reveal his secret to Trinity - let's not forget that he still thinks the guy tried to kill his sister! (as you say) But then will curiosity get the better of him? He wants to know how Trinity keeps up his disguise (of being a family man over his *true* self of a killer). The point being (I imagine) is that the family man is in fact the true Arthur and the killer is the unnatural side.
Nevertheless, I don't think Dex will reveal his dark side.
Dan
· 2 months ago
@Neil: Yes, I've also been wondering if Dexter's going to eventually realize the key difference between himself and Arthur -- that Arthur's a family man compelled to kill, whereas Dexter's a killer compelled to be a family man.
bob
· 2 months ago
No Harry = a much better written episode. Really, there is no excuse for him. Having Harry around seems to me to go against all that Dexter has learnt in season 2. He's just someone to voice Dexter's inner thoughts, it seems. Except Dexter voices them anyway and when Harry is not there, his inner thoughts are far more humorous and less cringe-worthy.
I thought the writing here was great. Dex was written well- back to being the man incapable to grasping feelings which is just where I like him. It felt realistically done and not Dex-by-numbers as many writers do.
I liked that we had some attention paid to the fact that Rita married someone she knew was highly unsuitable. However, the couple still feel horribly stale to me. Favourite line of the night does go to Rita though... "We're always out of milk too. Are you going to buy me a cow?!"
Deb's story was nice- not as powerful as last week but it is good to see her recover at a believable pace and struggle with the choice between following Harry's methods and carving out her own. Quinn was a good partner here.
Angel and Maria seemed okay to me. I know it's a huge lull in the episode when they appear but I still care about them. I actually read the ending as them lying to Matthews- I bet they are still together.
Finally, Arthur. He was brilliant. I loved him singing in church. His methods are fascinating. I liked how everything was out on display. As noted though, Dexter just isn't that person... So I don't see how he can find Arthur all that helpful but we'll see. Arthur's perfect family annoyed me a touch but maybe that kind of family really exists and I am too much of a cynic. The bath scene was nicely creepy.
Overall, I thought it a classy play on the typical Dexter template of him having problems with Rita followed up with him stalking prey and learning something to help him deal with Rita in the final confrontation. So I enjoyed it a lot for the quality of the writing but regretted how uninspired the broad plot felt.
As for the directing and lack of soundtrack, it felt a bit distracting by virtue of being different. But then, the music is so overused in this show that I also find its inclusion distracting. The directing felt a little more raw, more natural and less stylised. There were lens flares and just touches that made things feel closer to home. I can't explain it any better but apart from the aforementioned distraction, I did kind of like it.
Dan
· 2 months ago
Have you seen Mr. Brooks? The Kevin Costner serial-killer movie from a few years back? The film was clearly inspired by Dexter, but Dexter has itself taken a few ideas from Brooks (notably in how they're using Harry now, but also in how Miguel was taught how to dispose of a body in a cemetery last season, and Arthur has a few similarities to Brooks and his family.)
Re: Dexter's soundtrack. It's wonderful, but the tracks have become very noticeable in how they're used. Maybe this episode was a trial run in lessening how much the show leans on Licht's score for its emotional cues. It would be nice if a few new tracks were written, to freshen things up.
bob
· 2 months ago
I've not seen Mr Brooks.
And really I don't understand why they can't afford to get more score recorded... Other shows seem to have a new score every episode and yet Dexter is still reusing things from season 1. I noticed some new pieces this season but not enough.
Dan
· 2 months ago
Yeah, there are a few tracks that remind me VERY strongly of incidents from season 1 and 2. It's never ruined a season 3 or 4 moment, but I'd love to see Licht compose several new tracks. I haven't spotted any new tracks in season 4, actually -- does Trinity have a "theme"?
Re: Mr Brooks. Recommended for Dexter fans, as there are obvious parallels between the two, so you'll enjoy it. Imagine if Harry were Dexter's evil Jiminy Cricket (played by William Hurt) and Lundy was Demi Moore ;)
All Comments
Did you notice how little Harry appeared in this episode? He always pops up in Dexter's mind to play Devil's Advocate etc but hardly appeared at all here. He was doing a lot of invesigating into Trinity, but no Harry. I'm assuming the reason being that Dexter was fully focused on his family life, where that 'Dark Passenger' has no place. Great how the lack of a stock element can mean so much!
I don't think Dexter will reveal his secret to Trinity - let's not forget that he still thinks the guy tried to kill his sister! (as you say) But then will curiosity get the better of him? He wants to know how Trinity keeps up his disguise (of being a family man over his *true* self of a killer). The point being (I imagine) is that the family man is in fact the true Arthur and the killer is the unnatural side.
Nevertheless, I don't think Dex will reveal his dark side.
I thought the writing here was great. Dex was written well- back to being the man incapable to grasping feelings which is just where I like him. It felt realistically done and not Dex-by-numbers as many writers do.
I liked that we had some attention paid to the fact that Rita married someone she knew was highly unsuitable. However, the couple still feel horribly stale to me. Favourite line of the night does go to Rita though... "We're always out of milk too. Are you going to buy me a cow?!"
Deb's story was nice- not as powerful as last week but it is good to see her recover at a believable pace and struggle with the choice between following Harry's methods and carving out her own. Quinn was a good partner here.
Angel and Maria seemed okay to me. I know it's a huge lull in the episode when they appear but I still care about them. I actually read the ending as them lying to Matthews- I bet they are still together.
Finally, Arthur. He was brilliant. I loved him singing in church. His methods are fascinating. I liked how everything was out on display. As noted though, Dexter just isn't that person... So I don't see how he can find Arthur all that helpful but we'll see. Arthur's perfect family annoyed me a touch but maybe that kind of family really exists and I am too much of a cynic. The bath scene was nicely creepy.
Overall, I thought it a classy play on the typical Dexter template of him having problems with Rita followed up with him stalking prey and learning something to help him deal with Rita in the final confrontation. So I enjoyed it a lot for the quality of the writing but regretted how uninspired the broad plot felt.
As for the directing and lack of soundtrack, it felt a bit distracting by virtue of being different. But then, the music is so overused in this show that I also find its inclusion distracting. The directing felt a little more raw, more natural and less stylised. There were lens flares and just touches that made things feel closer to home. I can't explain it any better but apart from the aforementioned distraction, I did kind of like it.
Re: Dexter's soundtrack. It's wonderful, but the tracks have become very noticeable in how they're used. Maybe this episode was a trial run in lessening how much the show leans on Licht's score for its emotional cues. It would be nice if a few new tracks were written, to freshen things up.
And really I don't understand why they can't afford to get more score recorded... Other shows seem to have a new score every episode and yet Dexter is still reusing things from season 1. I noticed some new pieces this season but not enough.
Re: Mr Brooks. Recommended for Dexter fans, as there are obvious parallels between the two, so you'll enjoy it. Imagine if Harry were Dexter's evil Jiminy Cricket (played by William Hurt) and Lundy was Demi Moore ;)