(S03E08) OK, so I am sitting here, trying to figure out how I can actually write a review of this episode of Dexter when the bloody preview left nothing from next week's episode a surprise. WTF, Showtime? So, let's move past that huge spoiler that is next week's coming attractions and talk about the damage done by Dexter, Miguel and Quinn in "The Damage a Man Can Do."
Dexter talks of the Butterfly Effect, in which one event sets off a chain reaction of other events. This is essentially what happens throughout this episode, and in every case, things go downhill fast.
What was Dexter thinking about when he taught Miguel the intricate details of how he kills? Yikes, dude. I know you want a friend, but I'm with Harry on this one. At first, I really thought Harry was going to be all wet, and we were going to find out that Dexter can break Harry's code and become more human and live a pretty normal life. I thought we'd find out that Harry was controlling and made Dexter into the social deviant that he is.
Well, I've taken a 180-degree turn on that opinion now. Miguel stopping by Ellen's was a huge red flag that his newly released "darkness" was going to spin out of control, and the previews showed me I was right on that point. Next week's episode promises to be a doozy. It looks like we are leading towards Dexter having to kill Miguel, which will probably bring Dexter closer to the first season Dex we knew -- no friends, no relationships, protected from the world by The Code. He'll need to do this to repair the damage he caused by setting the Butterfly Effect with Miguel into motion. Listen to Daddy, Dex.
It makes me feel sad for Dexter, because I really thought breaking away from Harry a bit was going to be a good thing. Now onto Quinn ....
Quinn's Butterfly Effect and all the damage it caused started with him never doing the paperwork to make Anton a proper CI. Deb tells Anton, the Skinner gets Anton (yeah, thanks again, previews) and it's all bad, bad, bad. It makes me think that Miguel has absolutely nothing to do with the Skinner; he was far too busy being serial killer guy to bother pulling any tree trimmers' strings. So is it coincidence that Anton was taken by the Skinner as soon as Deb tells him Quinn never really had him as a CI?
Other things:
- It's painfully awkward watching Angel and Barbara blossom into the love thing. I'm happy for him and all, but they are a little creepy.
- The Rita storyline was lame and stereotypical; hormones, blah, blah, blah. We get it; she's pregnant.
- So, was Maria expecting more than just chummy girl stuff when she asked Ellen out on a date? I thought they were going there, but when Ellen slobbered all over the bartender, I wonder if Maria felt disappointed.
- Loved Miguel's Unibomber look.
- Oh, the green Miguel so needed the serial killer's starter kit. That's what friends are for, right Dex?
- "Your brother's kind of a dweeb, huh?" Quinn to Deb about Dexter.
- It's important that Quinn's situation is challenging Deb's black and white view of the world. I wonder, if like Dexter, that her original view will be solidified when she finds out that Quinn's a bad dude, or if she'll be able to accept shades of gray because of Quinn. Which way do you think Quinn will go?
- So is King the Skinner? Mario was certainly terrified of him for some reason. I'm excited to know where they are headed with this, because there has to be something big behind it, doesn't there?
- Poignant line of the episode goes to Harry: He says anything Miguel does now is connected to Dexter, because Dexter "coached" Miguel into releasing his "darkness." It was too much for Harry to bear with Dex, ultimately leading to Harry's suicide (he couldn't take the damage he caused, and he couldn't watch Dex cause his damage) and he hopes Dexter is a stronger man.
TV Squad Ten: Top Ten ESPN shows from worst to first
Andy Richter: The TV Squad Interview
Have any questions for Vik Sahay of Chuck? Ask them here!
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
11-17-2008 @ 1:27AM
bruce said...
HOW can Miguel not realize that Dexter is the Bay Harbor Butcher (or at least ask Dexter if he is)? It's clear Dex has been doing this a while, and his actions fit the BHB's M.O. - killing people who are murders themselves, is on the inside of the police department. The fact that Doakes took the blame shouldn't settle the issue - Miguel should realize that Doakes was not the guy, rather, it's Dexter. How is it that the name Bay Harbor Butcher hasn't even been mentioned by Miguel Prado yet... especially in this episode?
Reply
11-17-2008 @ 2:33AM
MJG said...
Why would you watch the previews if you want to go into the next episode completely clean? It's not like you're undecided about whether or not you're going to watch and need to be swayed. Not trying to be an ass; as someone who avoids previews like the plague for exactly the reason you were miffed at this one, I'm honestly curious.
Reply
11-17-2008 @ 9:35AM
K.V.C said...
I don't watch the previews, because they give away too much, thanks for including them in your review!
Bruce, the Bay Harbor Butcher was Doakes as far as they know. Why would they think otherwise? Unless I missed something (and I might have..) Dex didn't show his slides, or that he chops up the bodies and dumps them in the ocean. Miguel believes he buries them in open graves.
Reply
11-17-2008 @ 11:21AM
scott said...
agreed here, you even complain about the previews giving too much away then hint at what they showed... that makes no sense. I never watch them for the reasons this one irritated you, so leave them out of the recap/review of the current episode.
11-17-2008 @ 11:35AM
Steve Young said...
Seriously, you complain about the previews revealing too much but then you go ahead and do the same in your recap of the current episode??? At the very least, indicate this with a spoiler warning and people who care to be surprised can then avoid reading the rest of the recap.
11-17-2008 @ 10:15AM
Key Rick said...
I believe Jimmy Smits solidified his Emmy nomination last night. The dire lack of expression couples with his elated answer to Dexter's "how do you feel" - that's acting. He'd get my vote. So haunting
Reply
11-17-2008 @ 4:14PM
Dan said...
I agree that Jimmy Smits deserves an emmy nomination. He has been phenomenal this season and his storyline is the most riveting one for me so far in the series. That being said, I'm loving the Anton-Deb-Skinner-Quinn storyline as well. I have no complaints about the show other than the overly revealing previews. How anyone can watch an episode of this and not want to see more is beyond me, so why bother showing so much detail?
11-17-2008 @ 12:14PM
samodernist said...
I do not know anything about how this season will end, but I wanted to make a comment...In one of the early episodes they introduced the tree trimmer (now known as Mr. King) and I immediately recognized him as actor Jesse Borrego...and then I told my wife I bet that he would be the skinner. While Jesse is not as well known as he was a few years back, I thought it would be odd to cast him as a one episode minor character. Maybe because I live in San Antonio and I am friends with Jesse Borrego I was able to spot him...again this could turn out differently than I anticipated, but based on how predictable this show has been in the past, I doubt it.
Reply
11-17-2008 @ 12:14PM
samodernist said...
Also, how could Deb not be concerned about Anton's safety when he was not responding to her calls at first...She was more worried that he had left her, not that he may have been captured by the skinner (which was her original fear a couple days earlier when they wanted him to be bait) - While a good season, poor writing still plauges this show - esp. for the female characters.
Reply
11-17-2008 @ 12:21PM
Debra McDuffee said...
I've honestly never had a problem with any preview of any show until last night's Dexter, that's why it bugged me so much. They never give that much away in a preview! I didn't actually realize there were people out there neurotic enough not to watch the previews! ;-)
Reply
11-17-2008 @ 12:37PM
yatesy said...
jesse borego played jesse on fame. man, im old.
Reply
11-17-2008 @ 12:56PM
bruce said...
The BHB was someone inside Dexter's Miami Metro PD, someone who killed murderers, and someone who was good at what he did and had been doing it a long time. At first Miguel was under the impression that Freebo was Dexter's first kill - a freak accident. But now Miguel knows that Dexter has done this before, and still does it. In tonight's episode, Miguel realized that Dexter is a pro and flat out asked him how long he's been killing people, and how many he's killed. That should have been followed up with the next logical question - are you the BHB? I know they all think it was Doakes, but they don't know what Prado knows about Dexter. And that knowledge begs the question - Are you the BHB, Dexter? And if so, what happened re: Doakes being framed and being killed?
As for the preview, it was abundantly obvious that the Skinner had Anton. But it was not obvious that Miguel would go kill the defense attorney. I thought he'd gotten past that in the last episode - he condeded Dexter was correct, that she was not a proper target. We all knew Jimmy Smits' character was only here for this one season, so one way or another he'd be making an exit. But until tonight's preview, Prado being killed by Dexter was not my most likely departure scenario. Dexter's gonna have to kill Miguel Prado beacuse Prado's gone nuts .... interesting, somewhat surprising, and not what I expected. If that is, in fact, what happens in the season finale, then yes this preview did give away too much. But I've never been one to hate spoilers - I actively seek them out. So I didn't mind at all.
Reply
11-17-2008 @ 2:19PM
doug said...
Im loving how this season is ending and setting up the arc for Season 4. If, as anticipated, Dexter chooses toreverse the butterfly effect and kills Miguel, it would make Dexter's 3 biggest kills his brother(ITK), his newfound best friend(Miguel), and as a result of his father commiting suicide over what he created, Harry. So what do I see for season 4? Deb, after nabbing the skinner, gets her shield and her first case is to solve the Miguel Prado murder with Maria's backing (i here she KNOWS the Prado family).
One thing about tonight's episode, I was shocked that it was Ellen, Miguel went to see. Call me dumb but I just had a vision that it would be Miguel's wife opening the door. She has mentioned him being cold, distant, and detached for the 3 previous episodes. Glad to see I was wrong becuase she is totally MILF-material.
Reply
11-17-2008 @ 2:41PM
JoyceN said...
I also love previews because they only pique my interest all the more as to how thngs will play out.
I agree that Jimmy Smits should get an Emmy nomination for this season of DEXTER. He has always been underrated as an actor. His range of emotions throughout this season has been phenomenal. Last night was exceptional. I can't wait for the next episode.
And wasn't this the scene where during filming, he accidentally used a real knife instead of the prop knife on the stunt guy?
Reply
11-17-2008 @ 3:45PM
collin said...
Wait, are you saying that there was an on-screen accident with Jimmy Smits and a stunt double?
That's interesting! Please provide some info if you could! Thanks.
11-17-2008 @ 10:05PM
Liss said...
http://www.contactmusic.com/news.nsf/article/jimmy%20smits%20stabs%20stuntman%20for%20real%20in%20tv%20scene-gone-wrong_1082418
Reply
11-17-2008 @ 7:41PM
JoyceN said...
Liss, thank you for the response to Collin's question.
Collin, it happened during rehearsals. Jimmy Smits was pretty shook up about it.
Reply
11-17-2008 @ 10:08PM
pumpkinhead said...
Okay, maybe it's just rationalization, but I think Prado knows that Dexter is the Bay Harbor Butcher but doesn't want to know, because then he'd have to deal with the question of the dead cop, and he doesn't want to think that Dexter may have done in Doaks, because that would be against Prado's "code." I thought I caught a hint of this thought when he confronted Dexter about the fact that he must have been doing this for a while, then decided he didn't want to know.
I've tried, but I really can't rationalize Deb thinking Anton was avoiding her rather than in trouble. Uh... she's a female in love, and they all lose their good sense...?
And yeah, Smits has been giving his best performance ever here.
Reply
11-18-2008 @ 8:14AM
Tweeder said...
Things I've noticed. May or may not have been talked about yet. I'm still watching it, so I haven't read the post or comments.
- What's up with Quinns hair? Has it got significantly longer? How much time has passed since last episode?
- When they opened the pizza box. The pizza was not pre-sliced and needed to be cut. If I ordered a pie and it wasn't cut, I'd be a little upset.
- Anyone notice when Dexter entered the house. There was a PBA (Police Benefit Association) sticker in the upper right hand corner of the glass door?
- I'm sure everyone noticed this.... I'd like to frigging kill Rita. Seriously. Too over the top crazy. But, I've never dealt with a pregnant woman who's planning a wedding... Is it really like this gents?
- I will admit this whole time I thought Prado was setting up Dexter. After the knife to the chest... I guess those thoughts are over.
- Oh man, what a cliffhanger at the end. Until next Sunday...
Reply
11-18-2008 @ 11:03PM
Teese said...
Did you ever stop to think that some of us don't watch the spoilers because we do want to go to next weeks episode clean? Nice work asshole.
Reply