Dexter Season 2 (10-12)

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Episode 10

When one experi- ments with human nature, as Harry the foster father has all throughout every flashback has in this series does, and plays with the reality of something they don’t truly understand, often the result is nothing like what they think it will truly be in their imagination. I think this is brilliantly demonstrated in this episode. Dexter’s foster father Harry (James Remar) trained Dexter to be something in theory, but in practice, it was something beyond his ability to deal. It is one thing to say I wish I could make that criminal pay, it is quite another to actually make a criminal pay, and the turn of this episode, the turn of the deaths presented to a sickened Harry is wonderfully played out. There are other things that are great in the episode, the relationship ups and downs between Lundy and Debra, and the make-up between Rita and Dexter. I’m also a big fan of the “monster-tag” on the beach and the subtle humor of Dexter not wishing to be a monster on the beach. There are the reasons of him not wanting to run because of his injury, but the humor is also there. Later as things become freakishly dangerous for Batista (David Zayas) because of Lila and her manipulations, it is phenomenal to see how far one human being will go to get the attention of another, phenomenal and a little horrifying.

Episode 11

When I saw this episode in the series the first time around I have to say it was quite possibly the single most exciting piece of television I had ever seen in my freaking life. The episode opens with Dexter dealing with his epiphany about his father, and there is not a moment to breathe until the end of the episode. Literally. Almost two or three episodes worth of information spilled out in this single episode. At different points in the episode everything seems completely lost, and then found again. The whole episode is a huge emotional ride of immense proportions. Dexter sets his affairs in order, gives Rita his car, has Debra sign papers, all terribly organized. Lila is an illegal and she presses charges against Batista for rape. Dexter also decides to turn himself into Debra, and then after talking to his sister, changes his mind. For a little while Doakes escapes, is recaptured, and then Lila finds Dexter’s secret hiding place. This episode is literally edge of the seat intense. There are several scenes that mean a lot, but one of the scenes that I found really touching is when Dexter tells Batista he is a real person he would want to be like, it is sad and unreal all at the same time. Watching this episode for a second time it isn’t quite as intense, but it is still a good episode.

Episode 12

This episode begins with an explosion, and nothing is exactly the same. The world is on fire. While things seem solved in The Bay Harbor Butcher case, nothing seems perfectly wrapped up entirely, there may in fact be doubts in the future. Okay I had totally forgotten about the scene in the aquarium where they talk about Lila’s total addiction to emotion. On one hand this is cool, and on the other hand, just the hints of it were cool enough. But the intensity of the scene between these two actors was really amazing. The thing that is just brutal in this episode, and in truth in how things turn out is how the rescue of Dexter goes down at the hands of Debra. The siblings are creations of their father Harry, but in season one Dexter chose his sister over his blood brother that accepted him, but with this season Debra chooses Dexter over Lundy, over the man she loves. Each sibling is deeply damaged by Harry’s influence. Only through each other’s love can they move on, can they heal. I love the way the two season endings mirror each other and how the siblings save each other in this fashion.

Season two was good; although I do have to say that season one has more repeat watchbility. I’m really looking forward to season three.