Dexter A Beautiful Day Review. Dexter: Season 8, Episode 1: A Beautiful Day was the beginning of a new storyline and the continuation of one initiated during last season’s finale: Dexter: Season 7, Episode 12: Surprise, Motherf—-r!.
The new storyline involving Dr. Evelyn Vogel (Charlotte Rampling), a person that seems more-than-a-little interested in Dexter Morgan (Michael C. Hall) and his work, was weak. Does she see beneath Dexter’s veneer or does she just sense something in him (à la Hannibal‘s Will Graham) from having been around so many serial killers in the past? What followed after Dr. Vogel and Dexter Morgan’s initial meeting was a banal verbal dance that did not cease until a reveal occurred that immediately brought up a multitude of questions that will hopefully be delved into during the next episode (Every Silver Lining).
This could open the door into a deeper exploration of Dexter and what makes him tick as the clock on the series winds down.
The most interesting storyline in A Beautiful Day was what happened to Lieutenant Debra Morgan (Jennifer Carpenter) after Captain Maria LaGuerta (Lauren Vélez)’s death. Debra instantly showed that she was not like her brother and was not pretending to be a human being. The same deterioration was present in Detective Monique Jefferies during the Runaway episode of Law and Order: Special Victims Unit. Both characters made similar decisions about their police careers but Debra’s descent did not stop with that abortive move.
Source: Full Review @ film-book
The new storyline involving Dr. Evelyn Vogel (Charlotte Rampling), a person that seems more-than-a-little interested in Dexter Morgan (Michael C. Hall) and his work, was weak. Does she see beneath Dexter’s veneer or does she just sense something in him (à la Hannibal‘s Will Graham) from having been around so many serial killers in the past? What followed after Dr. Vogel and Dexter Morgan’s initial meeting was a banal verbal dance that did not cease until a reveal occurred that immediately brought up a multitude of questions that will hopefully be delved into during the next episode (Every Silver Lining).
This could open the door into a deeper exploration of Dexter and what makes him tick as the clock on the series winds down.
The most interesting storyline in A Beautiful Day was what happened to Lieutenant Debra Morgan (Jennifer Carpenter) after Captain Maria LaGuerta (Lauren Vélez)’s death. Debra instantly showed that she was not like her brother and was not pretending to be a human being. The same deterioration was present in Detective Monique Jefferies during the Runaway episode of Law and Order: Special Victims Unit. Both characters made similar decisions about their police careers but Debra’s descent did not stop with that abortive move.
Source: Full Review @ film-book
"Debora Morgan’s character was strengthened, expanded, and made more realistic. I wish the same could be said about Dexter Morgan."
ReplyDeleteDexter is a serial killer, I really don't see how a character with almost complete lack of empathy (no emotions AT ALL) can be strengthened and expanded.
I find it funny how people and even the show people themselves keep describing Dex as emotionless, without any kind of empathy etc. when it should have occurred to everyone watching some episodes that Dex has a variety of emotions. He certainly feels love (for Debra, Hannah McKay, his son..) and empathy for many of them, but maybe doesn't realize that himself - or the showrunners have a weird sense of empathy. Hatred, fear, worry, his various desires, his engagement in naughty sex, those are all emotions he feels, and yet he is described as "emotionless". =)
ReplyDeleteGood point. I should have said: "the emotions that people have that are not afflicted with Dexter's mental condition." or something to that effect.
ReplyDelete" I really don't see how a character with almost complete lack of empathy (no emotions AT ALL) can be strengthened and expanded."
ReplyDeleteThey did that with Lecter during the first season of Hannibal.
100% agree! Dex has never struck me as a full fledged sociopath simply because of his ability to question and try to reason with himself. (and of course, as you've said we have seen him love: Deb, Rita, Astrid, Cody, Harrison, Lumen, Hannah, and I'm pretty sure he has deep respect for Batista -I think he said early on once, 'if there was anyone I would want to be, it would be him')
ReplyDeleteI personally think the writers/producers just try to generalize so that they stay on even ground with the fans and Showtime, since the idea of killing is controversial.
But I agree with you, the reason the show is so complex is not just because it's about serial killing/crime drama, but because of how emotional Dexter actually is, despite his disability to express himself verbally.
In both cases, I strongly disagree, because neither lack empathy. Both those characters have an 'ideal' within there means to kill. -For Hannibal it's more complicated, because Hannibal is born out of a disturbing war and revenge story and Will Graham, in Fuller's expansion, is about finding something in himself. Hannibal is dangerous because he deeply understands humanity. With Dexter it's belief that he can't be more than he is (with Hannibal it's about being everything)...his hopes keep back firing on him, because he is trying to make connections to the wrong people. So he keeps having mini-resets (except that I think "Nebraska" really was a kind of turning point, who's results remain uncertain)
ReplyDeleteBoth the characters have a semi-nihilistic viewpoint, which allows them to play God, as both characters actually seek to create a certain kind of world, and trying to get back the things they have lost, proving that they are not truly nihilistic or existential, as both have "standards" to meet some expectations and in desperate moments they "hope" there is something more than this...
That last sentence is very true.
ReplyDeleteDexter feels a lot of things, but he often acts weird in emotional situations (especially in the first two or three seasons), which I believe is a point where the writers often make him look a little stupid or weird. Dexter's person, if it was a real person, would probably not find himself acting so awkwardly in many situations. But I like that thing about him and it's a very much needed comic relief during the mentioned first seasons.
But yes, he cannot express himself and his feelings so good, I think that's the main cause for how people in the show and in real life often describe him as emotionless, whereas the character itself does have those emotions and they grow stronger with every year/season. I just think sometimes writers when writing about Dexter just pull that "default" series description card they read before the show started, about Dexter being all awkward and emotionless, but they often forget how much that character has developed in every direction during the many seasons. He is certainly no more the funny and apathetic jerk he was at the beginning, and he hasn't been that for a long time now.
http://hubvideotv.blogspot.com/2013/06/true-blood-season-6-episode-3-live.html
ReplyDeletehttp://hubvideotv.blogspot.com/2013/06/dexter-season-8-episode-1-live-replay.html
ReplyDeletehttp://hubvideotv.blogspot.com/2013/06/dexter-season-8-episode-1-live-replay.html
http://hubvideotv.blogspot.com/2013/06/dexter-season-8-episode-1-live-replay.html
http://hubvideotv.blogspot.com/2013/06/dexter-season-8-episode-1-live-replay.html
ReplyDeleteWatch Dexter Season 8, Episode 1 - A Beautiful Day @ http://tiny.cc/l0mizw
ReplyDeleteWatch Dexter Season 8, Episode 1 - A Beautiful Day @ http://tiny.cc/l0mizw
ReplyDeletehttp://allinfotv.blogspot.com/2013/06/watch-true-blood-season-6-episode-3.html
ReplyDeleteDexter isn't being strengthened, but there is character development happening, just in the other direction.... they've really touched on it the past couple seasons, and this first episode of the latest season is bringing it out even more. He crossed a line this episode, by taking Harrison out to a potentially risky situation, while he was looking for Deb... then there was the scene were he nearly killed a guy for cutting him off, and then he spontaneously killed Debs "boyfriend".
ReplyDeleteHe's taking more risks, losing his temper, being more outright manipulative (especially towards Deb, last season), he kills without his code, he kills on the spot... he still behaves as if he's untouchable, yet has been caught by his sister, and Laguerta had to die to keep his secret safe... he's coming unhinged... in other words, he's in the downward spiral of a psychopath, that generally leads to bad, bad things. This is a far cry from the calm, cool, collected Dexter of seasons past.
What I wanna know is how did Debra not get caught for killing LaGuerta?
ReplyDeleteTake Deb's bullet from LaGuerta or the wall, fire Estrada's gun in proper trajectory, go.
ReplyDeleteDexter can make a crime scene.
haha awesome. you're awesome. thanks
ReplyDeleteYou watched this show for 8 years and you still think Dexter Morgan feels no emotions at all?
ReplyDelete