(S01E10) Wow... I am just so in awe of this show. It does everything that good TV is supposed to do. I'm not quite sure how to talk through all of this, but let's get one thing out there: Malcolm-Jamal Warner gained a ton of weight. As much as I enjoyed seeing him guest star as Dexter's lawyer buddy, every time he was in a scene I couldn't stop picturing him tap-dancing in the opening sequence of The Cosby Show. That guy is forever Theo Huxtable.
Moving on, let's talk about blood.
I loved when Deb and Doakes first approached the hotel room and rather than show us the gruesome scene (at first I didn't think we would get to see it at all), all we saw was the glow of red on their faces. The room was disgusting though. When Dexter went in it and fell in the pool of goo... nasty. I have to admit I called it right away. Ever since we saw Rudy's freezer with those big jars of blood, I kept wondering what he'd do with them. So once we saw all this blood, I had a good feeling I knew where it was coming from.
So obviously the blood matched all five of Rudy's victims which prompted LaGuerta to reopen the Ice Truck Killer case during an unannounced press conference. I really like how this story is progressing. She's completely turning on the captain. He put her where she is, and rather than bend over for loyalty's sake, she's doing the right thing. I think it's noble and despite her bitchiness towards Deb, I've got a lot more respect for Maria than I did at the beginning of the season. It'll be fun to watch Matthews flounder in a press conference when he tries to explain the Neil Perry blunder.
Angel's predicament is something I didn't see coming. His random encounter with the hooker and her nails of various colors (remember those?) was pretty creepy. Everything is starting to fall into place though. How great was it when when Angel went to question Rudy about amputee fetishes and we saw Rudy's drawer, filled with nail polishes of assorted colors? I didn't expect Rudy to go after Angel though. But I guess it is his standard reaction if you think about it. Angel got too close and Rudy had no qualms about taking out the old lady that lived across the street from Joe Driscoll. I just hope Angel lives. He's a great asset to this show. (Note: The previews for next week clearly give this away, but let's ignore that for now.)
I'm glad that Dexter finally decided to do something about Paul. That guy was a total ass. Clever how Dexter took care of him though. The heroin. Calling the cops. Paul back in jail. Very simple, very effective, and no blood spatter to worry about. The only issue this creates is that it might bring Rita even closer to Dexter and his "lifestyle." I like how Dexter now seems to be OK with breaking Harry's first rule: don't get emotionally involved. He definitely is. Would Rudy go after Rita under certain circumstances I wonder?
Back to the hotel room. First off, have there been any clues indicating the significance of 103? The hotel room number. The radio station set to 103. And the Bible, opened to Leviticus 10:3? The passage reads: "Then Moses said to Aaron, "This is what Yahweh spoke of, saying, 'I will show myself holy to those who come near me, and before all the people I will be glorified.'" Aaron held his peace." So Rudy/ITK wants his message to be heard? To be glorified to the masses? I don't know, I was never good at Bible interpretations.
The room itself held significance though, especially to Dexter. Rudy did it for Dexter and if you ask me, it supports my "they're brothers" theory. First off, the two of them had a conversation about repressed memories and Rudy claims his mother was hit by a truck. Dexter's mother, we found out, was butchered by someone with an electric chainsaw. Rudy knew this (was he in the room too?) and used an electric chainsaw to splatter his five victims' blood all over the room. The patterns are what triggered Dexter's memories. Crazy, huh?
Who killed Dexter's mother though? I don't think it was Joe... he never would have gotten out of jail and more than likely would have received the death penalty. But how would Rudy know this so intimately? In Dexter's flashback, we never saw the whole room. Is it hard to imagine that he had a brother sitting next to him? Rudy easily could have lied about his mother's death because he shared the same memory as Dexter.
Two other things I wanted to talk about. First, does it bother anyone else that Masuka apparently has an easy time picking up women? Second... this is more of a predication. There's been flirtation between Doakes and Deb all season. He clearly likes her. It's a safe bet that Rudy will harm Deb before the finale. So I'm guessing Doakes will save her and something clicks with them. Anyone else have some guesses? Only two episodes left for Dexter to figure out who he's dealing with.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
12-05-2006 @ 12:01AM
Stigmata said...
i hope this show wins an emmy. its in my top 3 (in no particular order) along with BSG and Lost.
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12-05-2006 @ 12:04AM
Tim Dorr said...
Yeah, this show is in my top ones of all time. Especially for the writing. It's up there with Arrested Development in that area, as much of an odd couple as that makes. They've kept up the progression of the story so well. Each week we feel like we're moving along so far, but the rabbit hole goes quite deep.
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12-05-2006 @ 12:04AM
Erik said...
This show is crazy good. It gets better every week, which is saying a lot because it STARTED great. It's a better suspense thriller than any thrillers I've seen in the movie theaters for years. I am so worried for Deb, she better survive the season because the actress is amazing. Best show on TV right now.
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12-05-2006 @ 12:04AM
Junior said...
perhaps the blood that Dexter got wasn't from his dad, but from Rudy, if we're assuming they're related.
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12-05-2006 @ 12:04AM
Menachem said...
The chainsaw in the flashback was gas powered. You can see the guy pulling the cord. The chainsaw used in the room was electric (as Rudy pointed out to Dexter).
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12-05-2006 @ 12:04AM
Devin said...
Does anyone remember what hotel the blood spattered room was in?
I do remember it was 103, but was it the meridian hotel? If it was, then that's the same name as the therapist dexter killed.
also did anyone notice that the apartment # dexter lives in is 10B, maybe that could have some significance, maybe it's just a stretch.
one last thing, rudy told deb, when they had their first date, that his mom was in an accident, and lost her legs, or couldn't walk, so the story he told dex doesn't match up.
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12-05-2006 @ 12:04AM
amy said...
The scene of Dexters mom screaming for him to "close his eyes", and pleading with her killers not to kill her in front of her "baby" was HORRIFYING!!! I have already read the books, but this show is fantastic at keeping my attention. Slight variance, but nothing to take away from the story. Michael C. Hall DESERVES an Emmy ( He should have got one for Six Feet Under, too)
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12-05-2006 @ 12:05AM
amy said...
P.S.-#6 Devon If you take the line off of the B in 10B, you've got.....103, thanks for pointing that out (hadn't noticed)!!
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12-05-2006 @ 12:05AM
La-di-dah said...
I am still not sure I am buying that Dex and Rudy are brothers, but if they are and were in the same room when their mom was killed, then I can see the scenario where Rudy is a psychopatic killer because he thinks mom loved Dexter more than him. She kept telling Dexter "Close your eyes. Mommy loves you." If Rudy was in the same room, and 'mommy doesn't love him', he'd be pissed. It would be why he is so obsessed with Dexter. Great episode - I love that Dexter became unhinged (and uncool) on seeing the room. I love Doakes - I hope he saves Deb; I know he wouldn't try to kill her.
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12-05-2006 @ 12:05AM
Diane said...
I called it from the begining-this show always gets it right. There has not been one episode that has disappointed me at all. Very well written and most importantly-well acted. Every episode pulls you in more and more. Listen up CSI:Miami-this is how you act and do TV and show how Miami really is (no hummers here)!! I have taken you off my TIVO and put Dexter on it instead.
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12-04-2006 @ 11:50AM
prize beagle said...
I'm always sad when the episode ends on Sunday nights. It seems cruel to make us wait a week for more. My $0.02 - I don't buy that they're related, but I think Rudy's dad/parents killed Dexter's mother. They're roughly the same age, it would give Rudy access to a lot of info that Dex doesn't have/know (Rudy would perhpas know the victim, that a child survived and been able to track him from there) and the questions he was asking Deb hint at his curiosity of how Dexter was created, how he lives with that trauma, and the bond he sees them sharing through that event. It would also explain why Rudy is a killer, having a dad that hacks people up with saws. He may be jealous that Dexter has such control over his 'gift.' Six days is too long to wait.
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12-05-2006 @ 12:05AM
TomB said...
Is any of this series on DVD? I don't get Showtime - I'd love to watch this. I loved Michael C. Hall on Six Feet Under - which I watch on Bravo.
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12-05-2006 @ 12:05AM
MacGuffin said...
This, my friends, is what is called GREAT TELEVISION.
Kudos to Showtime for bringing us such original programming. And shame on you HBO for losing your touch and not having anything lately that is 1/10th as good.
I could go on and on (and on) about how terrific this show is, but the comments expressed by others echo my thoughts.
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12-05-2006 @ 12:05AM
Jennifer said...
It's not out on DVD yet, but Netflix indicates one shall come out...sometime.
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12-05-2006 @ 12:06AM
joedexter said...
does any of this match up with the book?
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12-05-2006 @ 12:06AM
homerj312 said...
Great episode. Sometimes I feel that they are telegraphing what is going to happen too much but then I remember that twist ending usually suck, and that they are doing a hell of a job developing the characters.
Dexter has really made me realize how disappointed I usually am with network television. This series is like a 12 hour movie that has time to really get to know and make you feel with the characters.
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12-05-2006 @ 12:06AM
zuza said...
I'm almost certain they're not brothers, Rudy's just too much of a jerk. But why does he lie about his mother? First he claims her accident and losing both her legs made him want do what he does, then he says she died.. And does the legless skeleton found in the wannabe's yard have anything to do with it or is it just a weird coincidence?
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12-05-2006 @ 12:06AM
Gloria said...
I love this show! Great acting! I agree with many of your theories, but I'll take a "wait and see" approach. I love it so much, I watch it back to back...
then I watch it one more time during the week before Sunday comes around again. Everytime I watch it, I pick up on something different.
Michael C. Hall is amazing! Yes, I'm watch Six Feet Under again!
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12-05-2006 @ 12:06AM
Teresa Hall said...
I have a question...since Doakes has a "sixth sense" about Dexter and what he is really all about...when he passed by Rudy bringing roses to Deb...was that a "look" like he may have picked up that something is not right with Rudy? I have to say I love Doakes character -- he is great!
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12-07-2006 @ 4:38PM
miranda said...
I'm obsessing over this episode. The line from Leviticus can also be read as "I will be sanctified...." To be sanctified is to be made legitimate, so here is my theory-
Dexter (yummy) and Rudy (equally yummy) ARE brothers, but they share only a tie through their mother. I believe the man we see as the mother's killer is Rudy's father. Perhaps he kills her b/c of jealousy that she has another lover? So here is the situation- he kills the mother, and then kills himself. This leaves Rudy orphaned. He blames Dexter's father for being the reason his parents are dead. This gives him a perceived reason for vengeance, as well as a connection to Dexter. I don't think I'll be able to wait til Sunday!
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