In all the time I’ve watched Dexter, when I’ve tried to convince others to give the show a try, it’s been an odd discussion. “It’s about a serial killer … but it’s funny sometimes. And clever. No, really!” That talk would usually result in some raised eyebrows from those who are hearing about the show for the first time, though, eventually, they’d take my word for it. Obviously a show centered around a serial killer — whether or not he’s a “good guy” — is going to be rife with violence, not to mention a plethora of blood and gore; I mean, the main character is not only a serial killer, but he analyzes blood splatters! Alright, so we can get past all of that. But when the show starts to tease us with the possibility of a brother and sister hooking up … guys, that’s fucking gross. As Deb put it: “That’s insane.”
Look, I get that Deb and Dexter aren’t blood related, but I’d hazard a guess that the majority of non-blood-related siblings out there would be sickened at the thought of bedding their own brother or sister. Greg and Marsha Brady weren’t blood related, but them hooking up was unheard of. The movie made fun of it, and even then it was creepy. Am I right? So what the hell are the writers thinking about when bringing this up? Guys, we’re fine with stomaching the blood and gore here, and even stomaching that we’re supposed to be OK with the fact that Dexter’s picking people who deserve it. But resorting to what basically amounts to incest? Please don’t tell me that’s the “endgame” Nevins was talking about. Please no. Leave that to Boardwalk Empire.
The Deb-needing-Dexter thing — even as far as a brother-sister thing — seems forced this season. I’ve felt like Deb’s gotten along pretty much OK without Dexter needing to be there all the time, though suddenly she’s needing him to talk about the Matthews issue, needing to talk about him with the shrink. Is it just me or does anyone else think this shrink is deliberately trying to get Deb to have romantic feelings toward Dexter … for whatever reason? What the hell reason could that be?
Besides what I just ranted about, I was disappointed in a couple of other scenes in this episode. One in particular was Quinn saving Angel. Talk about cheap movie-of-the-week drama. The hesitation from hardened-killer Travis in shooting Angel — and then the timing of Quinn coming in to save the day — was eye-rolling. What made it all the worse was the cheesy ’80s A-Team-like thrilling music, as Quinn put out the flames around Angel, who was left miraculously unharmed. I love the writers of these shows, but I just have to say: if you had some balls (or if the people in charge had balls), Angel would have either been seriously hurt or killed in that event. Quinn would have had to deal with a lot worse than just being almost too late, and our jaws would have been on the floor. We need more jaw-droppers. Shock the shit out of us!
You know what else pissed me off? Dexter being so sloppy as to go after what should have been an easy kill, stumbling out after Travis. And then, conveniently, Dexter wakes up and is coherent enough to not only untie himself but swim several yards underwater to safety, as Travis foolishly assumes he’s dead. I just shook my head and felt ashamed that this episode took so many cop outs. What happened?
One promising development out of this episode was intern Louis and the ITK hand. He was apparently drawing palm reading lines on the hand, then shipping it off to Dexter. The promising part of this is that this could be what David Nevins was talking about for the endgame for the series. A hand with palm reading lines means “future,” and that can only mean we’re far from seeing the end of Louis when this season concludes. Will he be Dexter’s nephew, or is he too old for that? Is he the son of one of Dexter’s victims? He’s clearly been affected by Dexter somehow; I only hope this is what’s related to the endgame and not Deb and Dexter, sitting in a tree.
Clacked by Keith McDuffee 
on Dec 11, 2011 @ 22:00 EST5EDT
Did you catch when Luis thanked Dexter for his honesty and making him realize he has been sitting on the sidelines too long… aka… killing people in video games will no longer suffice and he needs to kill someone for real.
I had the same thought.
The Deb/Dex thing has been going on since the pilot. There have always been strange romantic overtures between them and throughout the series there have been some very odd scenes. I knew this was setting up a payoff. Hopefully the writers don’t pay attention to dumb internet critics and their false sense of moral outrage. “Baaaaa”
As far as other brother’s and sisters out there who are adopted being “grossed out”, by this, well yea, and I would hope that other human beings out there are grossed out by the fact that Dexter butcher’s people like cattle. Yet you still watch because it is compelling TV.
There is a BIG difference between “gory” shock value and incestuous sexual relations. And I suppose since Mr. McDuffee (correctly) thinks its gross, that makes him a “dumb internet critic with moral outrage”. LOL.
You are correct in saying that a serial killer show is compelling TV. A brother and sister relationship? Not so much. If you’re a fan of that kind of stuff that’s cool, whatever floats your boat. But I’m pretty sure I’m in the majority of Dexter fans who think it’s unnecessary, gross and just plain stupid in this particular series.
Also, I’ve always felt like any undertones between the two were probably just due to the fact that they are married in real life.
I agree, this Deb-ster ship has been a long time coming, from season 1. Their relationship has never been a normal brother-sister thing. Anyone’s who is grossed out at the thought of some sib-love and doesn’t mind all the gruesome murder in this show is certainly puzzling to me.
You, my friend are so right about the incest part. And I found the scene where quinn was out to save batista hilarious. It was so cliche. I didnt notice the music in the background though lol.
now wait a minute… I so wanted Greg to do Marsha Brady in the movie!!!!! I mean come on, They were a perfit match… laughs. Now Deb and Dex, no way, no how those two should ever get together… Gross!!!!
What an awful episode. :( There’s a fire on the floor, quick throw a blanket on it!
Since its inception, Dexter has been one of my favorites. After “Talk to the Hand” I hate to admit it, but Dexter has “jumped the shark.”
Is it possible that Luis (the intern) and the therapist Deb is seeing somehow is tied together? Each “working” a Morgan sibling for the next season?
It was definitely the weakest episode of this season. Actually, one of the weakest in a long time. The Deb falling in love with Dexter thing is just grose and the ending with a lake of fire and Dexter waking up and escaping just at the tame everything blows up – well, that’s more like some cheap action movie than Dexter. I’m really dissapointed. And I hope that the last episode will make a strong season ending…
Holy Shit! WTF!!! I just finished, Talk to the Hand episode, it’s next weeks preview that have my panties up in a bunch, I could care less about Deb and Dex hooking up any more, WTF is gonna happen to Lil Harrison. No way can
Dexter lose another loved one, I just won’t have it, this is where everyone jumps in to help Dexter.
On another note, has anyone else noticed, What’s up with intern Louis and the tight shirts? What’s up baby, you been working out. Anyone notice the look on Debs face when she hugged Dexter, or that the shrink was watching the interaction.
yeah, I saw the shrink watching and thought that was a curious sort of thing. I mean, why have her there unless there’s some meaning behind it, not just a random thing. I haven’t thought much about the shrink having odd motives until this episode but now I’m thinking there’s something potentially weird about her and her thing with Deb having feelings for Dexter.
Definitely some weird vibes with the intern dude!
I think it’s all leading up to Deb finding out about Dexter being a killer. They’re pushing her to realize just how important Dexter is to her. And if we’ve learned anything about Deb, as soon as she starts caring about something the most, it blows up in her face.
I guess I’ve seen too much anime. The adopted sibling as eventual love interest is such a staple there that the Deb/Dexter thing doesn’t even faze me. And Z_man is correct in that their relationship has always been odd.
Apparently the Brady movie joke was a reference to the real actors’ off-screen relationships, per Barry Williams’s book.
Travis kept Angel alive until Beth had successfully infiltrated the Homicide offices, then allowed him a last prayer before shooting him. Hesitation didn’t enter into it, although the nick-of-time rescue was still a cop-out.
Jumped the shark!
The Deb/Dexter thing feels like a stupid fanfiction twist. A lot of shows have fans who “ship” incestuous pairings, probably because they find that sort of thing tantalizing. I wouldn’t expect the show’s writers to be so ridiculous.
I think Louis is ITK’s son for sure or possibly another brother? With the while thanking Dexter thing, I think Louis will take on his dark passenger just like Dexter and will try to kill Travis. Louis is too good on the computer to not know a little something about Dex. He will try to steal the thunder. And I don’t think Dexter is even remotely interested in Deb so thhat is nothing to worry about but she certainly is on to his secret.
And another thing, does anyone have any theories on the ITK hand and the palm readings on them?
*POST AUTHOR*
As some have said, it probably relates to “the future” and “bloodline” in some way.
Does anyone remember when Louis told Dexter to use a new search engine and he did for about two episodes? That could be how he found out about Dexter’s dark passenger.
Well Dexter and Deb are not really related, so it’s not really incest but it is still just as hot & kinky as it would be if it was incest! So I hope it happens!
^THAT. He’s hot. She’s hot. They aren’t blood related. Some serious shit has happened in their lives. I really think that any other relationships they have will just end badly, so…
Honestly, I’m really looking forward to how the whole thing pans out with Deb having her two big revelations. Even if one was contrived by a shrink who potentially has a hidden agenda (did anyone else get this feeling?)
I do feel like the show has jumped the shark to a certain extent, but I’m still enjoying it immensely so I can’t bring myself to really care that much.