Has Dexter Finally Met His Match? —
After having read the first of Jeff Lindsey’s Dexter novels a few years back, I was excited about it being made into a televised show, and when I finally seen the first episode I was amazed at just how Dextery Michael C. Hall was. He nailed Dexter perfectly (Strangely, I’ve never rated Michael C. Hall and I still don’t but he owns Dexter Morgan) appearing to have read how Lindsey had him behave and act in the book, and really making it his own. Now Lindsey’s books on Dexter haven’t made for great reading after the third (to quote Johnny Depp’s Mad Hatter, he used to be “much more muchier”), but the show never let up, by giving us nothing but good solid episodic stories, and exemplary performances by practically every cast member.
Debbs (Jennifer Carpenter) has shot Maria LaGuerta (Lauren Vélez) dead, trying to protect Dexter from the Captain’s relentless investigating. She is guilt ridden, and even after six months can’t face what she’s done, and is nowhere to be found. She quit the police and now works as a Bounty Hunter, but she appears to only want the worst cases as a way of punishing herself. Dexter has tried over and over to get her to talk to him, but after what happened, she can’t bring herself to do it. She is shacked up with a guy she’s supposed to be bringing in and Dexter has found out she is in danger.
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Debs has always been a very strong and dynamic character but we get to see her very vulnerable now, and taking crazy risks. She is clearly unhappy and Dexter wants to help, but every time she sees him she’s reminded of what she’s done. She didn’t go to LaGuerta’s service, which was held in a a park. A nice park bench has been placed in her honor but it isn’t all that popular among fellow officers. At work Dexter has a new temporary boss, in the shape of Dr. Evelyn Vogel (Charlotte Rampling), who seems to be studying our favorite serial killer, but why would she be doing that? Quinn (Desmond Harrington) is hiding in bedrooms from Angel Batista (no relation), and has to climb out of a window to avoid bumping into him, tsk tsk.
The acting in this particular episode was easily among the best of the entire series, with a scene towards the end, between brother and sister very powerful. Perhaps as it’s the final season they intend to give their all. I hope so as this was an excellent start to the finale and I hope the story continues the way it has started. You can feel something special in this one so I do expect great things to happen, but this is TV, where anything can, and usually does happen. Not to be missed.
Grade: A
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