(S0408) "Born in blood, both of us." - Dexter on his and the Trinity Killer's creation of their "dark passengers" Dexter and the Trinity Killer aren't the only ones on the show who have been paying back their anger for the pain the world has dealt them. The audience is in on the same game.
We've been sitting through weeks of boring and dry subplots about secret affairs and office romances that we couldn't care less about if we were actually one of their co-workers. But now we've been rewarded for our patience with some seedy and very interesting details about Dexter's main prey, the Trinity Killer, a man held in a very weak cage of despair and anger.
I've raved before about John Lithgow's portrayal of this very cold and calculating man, but this episode really helped him shine, both as the character and the actor. Lithgow has one of the most varied acting careers in any medium, but he really gets the opportunity to show that range in his run on Dexter. And it's more than just being a ruthless killer to a family man with something to hide. Now that he's opened up to Dexter, er, Kyle, he can take his character to all sorts of interesting places, and he does so successfully. It's never over the top or too laid back. It's just about perfect. Something tells me he's not only giving Dexter some lessons to learn, but Michael C. Hall, as well.
The writing seems to be getting a little better as a new angle (no forensics pun intended, this isn't an episode of CSI) on Debra's shooting. Shooting Frank and Debra never seemed to be Trinity's style both before and after we learned the killer's true identity. It's a great and interesting twist on a story that seem doomed to fall apart without much to direct it. And we finally get to see Debra in her bra for the first time since the first season. Heinz was right, good things do come to those who wait.
Even Quinn's relationship with Christine the reporter has gotten better with age. It's finally starting to diverge with the plotlines we actually care about and could be setting itself up for an interesting showdown if the previews of next week's episode are any valid indication. Too bad it didn't feature one of Batista and Laguerta breaking up for good, or it would have me biting nails for all seven days leading up to the episode instead of six.
[Watch clips of Dexter on SlashControl.]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
11-16-2009 @ 3:21AM
bruce said...
This seemed to be a transition episode for this season - moving along all the plots at once. Did anyone notice how long the "previously on Dexter" recap was? Probably the longest recap in Dexter's 4 seasons.
It's also worth noting that DNA dragnets like what they are doing here are almost uncertainly unconstitutional, though as far as I know the Supreme Court has not ruled on it yet, as they're rarely done (it costs a lot more than $24,000 or whatever batista and laguerta cut out of the budget). Most people don't give a flying fuck about their rights and their privacy and would gladly allow the government to sample their genetic makeup to "catch a serial killer" and this is why the Bill of Rights has been watered down to nothing over the past 80 years or so. To me, however, the concept is still highly offensive, intrusive, and according to current 4th Amendment law DNA dragnets fall under no legally accepted exception to the 4th Amendment (and if there were a "really, really bad guy" exception, then the 4th Amendment would vanish overnight). That's blatantly unreasonable.
Anyway, I just don't like it when TV shows make stuff like this look like a clever idea from a popular, well-liked character.
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11-16-2009 @ 10:24AM
Christian H. said...
"We've been sitting through weeks of boring and dry subplots about secret affairs and office romances that we couldn't care less about[...]".
Well, I for one do not feel this way. But I have been sitting through weeks of boring and dry Dexter reviews I couldn't care less about.
Your reviews don't give any insight to the story. Hell, they barely touch it. I want someone to review this show who actually likes it. This is nothing personal against you, you are probably a nice guy. But I am sick of it, that the "reviews" are just a placeholder for the far more interesting comments that follow...
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11-16-2009 @ 12:58PM
dan6pitcher said...
I agree with you Christian.
What a terribly written review. You really gave no information on the episode and you really didn't give to many opinions on the episode itself.
This season has been incredible and it's drawn in many of my friends as fans of the show. We don't want some stupid procedural like CSI where Dexter works alone with his kill of the week and no plot development outside his serial murders. There are more characters than just Dexter and his villan of the season (ITK, Doakes, Miguel Prado, Trinity) and his kill of the week.
TV Squad is notorious for having lazy writers who have driven the quality of this website down exponentially since they decided to become another TMZ.
You get paid to write these reviews, so act like it. As a teacher, I would have given this a D if a student turned in a Book Report like this because it shows a lack of attention paid to detail and a lack of effort. Honestly, it almost seems as though you were simply "watching" the show while doing something else. When it's your job to do something, you need to do it right.
11-16-2009 @ 1:56PM
Xenoxide said...
I was wondering if it was just me that felt this way.
This season of Dexter has been my favourite so far, there's just something about Dexter that makes me feel every season is better than the last. None of the so-called "boring" romances or "dry" storylines have left me bored in any way. Dexter constantly keeps me on the edge of my seat with engaging storylines.
On the other hand, none of the Dexter reviews for this season have made me want to read any more of them. If it wasn't for the fact they were in my RSS reader I would stop reading them.
No offense, but can we have someone else write the Dexter reviews now?
11-16-2009 @ 2:24PM
yofadahead said...
I've been thinking about unsubscribing from TV Squad in my RSS reader because of these poor reviews. I think I finally will.
11-16-2009 @ 11:24AM
MacGuffin said...
Great episode. Would have been neat and tidy to kill Trinity, but now we see yet another dimension of both Dexter and Trinity. The sad thing is that S04 is almost done. What am I going to do for another year?
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11-16-2009 @ 12:18PM
C C said...
I haven't been bored by the subplots, either. Everything is serving a purpose. Quinn's involvement with the reporter is "starting to diverge with the plotlines?". Uh, it's been connected to the A-plot all along.
The scenes between Lithgow and Hall the past few episodes have been transcendent. And I'm fully expecting the Emmys to ignore their performances.
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11-16-2009 @ 12:21PM
Frank Militello said...
Is it just me or does anyone else think that the reporter shot Deb & Lundy? She's the only other person on the show that is about the same height as Masuka.
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11-16-2009 @ 2:56PM
Keith McDuffee said...
Frank -- No, I thought the same thing: http://www.cliqueclack.com/tv/2009/11/16/dexter-my-theory-of-quinn-being-the-shooter-is-shot/
11-16-2009 @ 11:07PM
Becky said...
Wow, awesome idea. I wonder...
11-16-2009 @ 1:33PM
Don't drink the Kool-Aid said...
The show has totally turned into Melrose Place. Rita is going to cheat on Dex with the neighbor? Really? Guess we might as well start the countdown to when Deb and Quinn inevitably bump uglies. Who knows? Maybe they'll get some swinging action going with LaGuerta and Angel. They can break every desk and table Miami Metro's got.
Also, how many more times do we need to see Dex revealing one of his secrets to a psychopath that he'll have to end up killing? I mean, haven't we been down this road before? Like, a bunch of times?
Also, the writing has gone really, really downhill. The narration, in particular, now seems to serve no other purpose than to make the show accessible for people who need to have everything explained to them.
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11-16-2009 @ 3:27PM
GL said...
I agree with you, with slightly less vehemence.
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11-16-2009 @ 8:01PM
TorrentFreak said...
DG reviews are always surface and lazy. I'm sickened that they have him reviewing my two fave shows, Dexter and Californication and have been begging the site to switch him to something less important. DG not only dislikes the shows he reviews, he dislikes the characters. I'm not sure if he really likes TV. Real estate reviews are more in his wheelhouse. Again, if there's an editor on this site, please listen to your comments and move this buffoon off to Reality TV fare.
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11-17-2009 @ 10:00PM
jsr said...
agreed. this critic stinks.
there was a time when some got weary of the sopranos because, simply put, there wasn't a mob hit every week. those dopes never understood that the sopranos was about a LOT more than whacking someone every episode.
dexter is facing the same situation: You'll find simpleminded critics like this one dubbing the season boring b/c it's dared to try to reach for something more complex than "who's dexter gonna slice and dice this week?"
dexter's characters are well drawn and deserve some air to breathe. if i want to watch someone get bopped over the head week after week, i'll watch a 3 stooges marathon.
can we get a real critic with real insights, please?
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11-18-2009 @ 8:12AM
weath451 said...
I have been wondering if Antwan could be the shooter of Lundy and Deb. He certainly would have a greater motive than the reporter.
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11-19-2009 @ 8:46AM
Emily said...
I think Antwon is too tall to be the shooter.
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