Dexter season 5

So the premiere was tonight. I have to say, that was a pretty sub-par episode if you ask me. Pretty unsatisfying all around... I mean, you knew he wasn't gonna take off. It'd be pretty hard to have a show named 'Dexter' without Dexter.

Anyways. I thought he was being pretty sloppy with his behaviour. Of course he was a bit shocked, but he could have easily portrayed himself as being numb rather than emotionless. Are they paving the way for him to really come apart at the edges, perhaps? That would make sense. If not, this episode is kind of meandering.

Most disappointing was the lack of a new rival. I hope they get on that soon, because Dex really needs an enemy if you ask me. A character study of a sociopath on his own just isn't that compelling.

Nonetheless, I'm glad it's back. I find that this show really takes a couple episodes to get going, anyway — I usually don't get sucked in 'til then. So let's hope this season is as good as the last one (which I think was the best yet).

Season opener was OK. I'm hoping they don't try to make the main rival Quinn, because they'll never top the Doakes story line from seasons 1/2.

I've been hooked on Dexter from the start though, so no matter what they do I'm sure I'll enjoy watching it, even though I think the show has been getting a little stale the last couple seasons. I think I was just sick of Dexter the family man.

It did everything it was supposed to do, but had a few bad choice. They established Quinn as his conflict character early on. We all knew that was coming from the trailers, but what I wasn't expecting was to put a wedge between Dexter and Debra. That felt sloppy mostly because Deb has been around Dexter almost her whole life. She knows how he reacts to problems and would find nothing wrong with his behavior. Hell, I found nothing wrong with how he was coping with Rita's loss. I saw him and thought, he looks like a husband in shock. They were trying really hard to say Dexter is weird/off/wrong, but his behavior was very normal for a grieving husband.

Second, it established that Batista and Laguerta (and specifically Laguerta) are going to back Dexter through most of this season. Laguerta feels responsible and even made the comment that it was likely Rita was killed while Dexter witnessed their marriage. I don't know if I like the idea that an office full of detectives are so quick to pick sides, but it seems to be the role they want people to play. If all works as it is starting off, you'll have Quinn pursuing, Deb finding out more and having to face her own doubts about her brother, Angel being torn between his job and his wife, and Laguerta feeling an obligation to protect Dexter (whether or not she finds out what really happens).

Then of course there is Robocop and whatever role he's going to play. They still have to deal with Quinn's internal-affairs issues. I'll definitely keep watching. I mean, I agree that it wasn't the best opener of all time, but the story is going down a new path and there is some basic story setup that needs to happen first. Seeing Dexter consider running, losing himself and then brutally murdering the man in the bathroom showed he's becoming more emotional and reckless. Too very human characteristics that even his vision of Harry seemed to chime in on. There was also the whole, "She made me human" speech at the funeral. I think that's all going to play out to something this season as well.

It was an okay opener. I agree with a lot of what nruva said. However, I found it extremely ODD that Quinn and Deborah immediately start fucking each other in the middle of a brutal, bloody crime scene. When that went down, it just seemed so...random. And who the hell decides to just start fucking in the house where your brother's wife was brutally murdered less than 24 hours ago?

Another thing that bothered me was Dexter leaving his baby with the downstairs cat lady. Who the fuck does that? Dexter is (almost) emotionless, not stupid.

Soilwork said:

It was an okay opener. I agree with a lot of what nruva said. However, I found it extremely ODD that Quinn and Deborah immediately start fucking each other in the middle of a brutal, bloody crime scene. When that went down, it just seemed so...random. And who the hell decides to just start fucking in the house where your brother's wife was brutally murdered less than 24 hours ago?

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Haha, I completely forgot about that scene (or, more likely, blocked it out). I agree, it was really weird. I mean, I don't think it is horribly out there to think Deb, after cleaning the house with Quinn, would need some sort of emotional connection. That she was so broken up and so emotional that she wanted to feel something with another person. The kiss, I could justify... Maybe even to the point they both started getting undressed as it got more passionate. Again, people all grieve and handle loss in different ways... but the whole time I was saying out loud, "OK, time to stop this... Going too far..." I expected Quinn to pull away. I expected him to tell her to go home and take care of Dexter or something... I didn't expect him to reciprocate. Yeah, weird moment indeed.

The show jumped the shark with the season finale.

I'm sort of disgusted by it and am debatin watching it again.

You're talking about the season finale for 4, I take it? How was that jumping the shark? I thought it was fine.

As for Deb and Quinn fucking, hey. Sometimes people react to stress and grief by boning. I'm surprised that you guys were surprised by that. I thought they handled it pretty well, actually — they made it clear Deb didn't find him attractive (clearly she regretted it immediately), so it was pretty obvious that it was borne out of grief and whatnot.

HeartlessNinny said:

You're talking about the season finale for 4, I take it? How was that jumping the shark? I thought it was fine.

As for Deb and Quinn fucking, hey. Sometimes people react to stress and grief by boning. I'm surprised that you guys were surprised by that. I thought they handled it pretty well, actually — they made it clear Deb didn't find him attractive (clearly she regretted it immediately), so it was pretty obvious that it was borne out of grief and whatnot.

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It was in the middle of her brother's wife's murder scene

I don't see how they can keep the series going smoothly without Rita accounting for the kids and at least a quarter of all the prior storylines. Dexter was always meant to be a loner, yet putting in a marriage with kids and making him responsible for his own offspring only serves the purpose of diluting what he's best at: tracking and taking down people he deems to be criminals.

Quinn will not top Doakes but it looks like they'll definitely go this route. Deb continues to be a whiny mattress for the entire station. Putting the finger of suspicion on Dex has already been done in Season 2, so we are left imagining the entire Metro Homicide department as a bunch of illogical detectives incapable of finding someone in their own midst.

My main issue is that they are not leaving Dexter any logical way out of his predicament. The only way he can move on is to dedicate himself as a father, stop his killing spree, and lead the life of an everyday joe. This is completely opposite his entire personality and no way to motivate the viewers.

HeartlessNinny said:

Most disappointing was the lack of a new rival. I hope they get on that soon, because Dex really needs an enemy if you ask me. A character study of a sociopath on his own just isn't that compelling.

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You guys should've watched post-credits. They showed off bits a pieces of the rest of the new season.. one of which was clips of a guy who takes off peoples faces and puts them on wig displays and leaves them out in the open.

The episode itself was a slow-start, but I'm just hoping the rest of the season speeds up.

Soilwork said:

It was in the middle of her brother's wife's murder scene

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Yeah. Where else would she be more grief-stricken and stressed out, exactly? Seriously man. That's a pretty human response. People fuck all the time when they're upset. Well, some people, anyway.

Besides. I think we were supposed to sit there and wonder what the fuck was up with that. Clearly that's what Deb did afterward, don't forget.

TougaKiryuu said:

You guys should've watched post-credits. They showed off bits a pieces of the rest of the new season.. one of which was clips of a guy who takes off peoples faces and puts them on wig displays and leaves them out in the open.

The episode itself was a slow-start, but I'm just hoping the rest of the season speeds up.

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Well, that's pretty much what I was saying. I guess they would have had to cram it in there, but I kind of wanted a taste of the new killer up front. Even if it was just a little teaser scene. Think about how cool it was the first time Lithgow sliced up that chick in her tub — they had me on board with that scene.

I guess I just never thought of Dexter as a character drama, that's all I'm saying. It's just my perception.

P.S. What's all this talk of 'topping' Doakes? Doakes was awful! What a terrible character — and a worse actor. I thought the whole second season was about getting rid of that guy more than telling a cool story.

the premier was ok.

This is looking to be a crappy season. Read the wikipedia entry on series 5 and the talent is completely absent this season. We'll see, I guess.

I thought it was alright. Just kinda felt like they dragged their feet. Watching Dexter just flat out kill somebody without going through he usual routine was a bit odd. I really wonder if that and him burning up his storage unit is going to bite him in the ass come season's end.

It's just going to be REALLY hard to try to top what they did with the fourth season. Lithgow was just amazing and it's a tough act to follow after what he did. ("Stupid..FUCKING CUNT!!!!")

I do see a season two turn around with having Quinn taking the place of Doakes, and just like Ninny I couldn't stand the guy either. He was full on asshole or trying to be sentimental. I watched one of the season one episodes on Netflix before the premier and I still think he's a weak link. After seeing all the trailers it looks like Quinn is going to be watching Dexter for as long as he's going to be in the show. I don't see him making it through to the end of the season, plus he fucked Deb, and you see what happens to every other guy she fucks in the show.

Just saw it. It felt long and that Quinn guy is probably gonna die at some point....people that keep their eye on Dexter too long tend to die.

Doakes was fucking comedy man. One of the best characters of the show. The whole feel of the show changed after season 2...and not for the better. I still love it though.

So the guy that plays Harry Morgan is Raiden in Mortal Kombat Annihilation and one of the guys from the Warriors. I can't get away from that fucker in the last couple of weeks.

I loved the fact Dexter snapped and beat the shit out of some random redneck.

The season 5 trailer really seemed to play on Quinn digging deeper into Dexter. The trailer even had mention of Dexter's Kyle Butler character.. Once Trinity's family is questioned, the Kyle Butler name will come up again.

This season can go alot of ways, I'm curious to see what happens.
The involvement of the baby makes it all more dramatic and emotional imo.

I could have done without the Quinn/Debra fucking.

Pink Spider said:

I loved the fact Dexter snapped and beat the shit out of some random redneck.

The season 5 trailer really seemed to play on Quinn digging deeper into Dexter. The trailer even had mention of Dexter's Kyle Butler character.. Once Trinity's family is questioned, the Kyle Butler name will come up again.

This season can go alot of ways, I'm curious to see what happens.
The involvement of the baby makes it all more dramatic and emotional imo.

I could have done without the Quinn/Debra fucking.

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I don't see Trinity's family turning Dexter in... Seriously, they show Quinn talking to Arthur's son in the trailer. Do you really think he'd tell Quinn anything? He'll protect Dexter/Kyle after all he's been through and Dexter did for him.

cannonball said:

Doakes was fucking comedy man. One of the best characters of the show. The whole feel of the show changed after season 2...and not for the better. I still love it though.

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You're out of your mind, the first two seasons are the worst.

YuckMud said:

I don't see him making it through to the end of the season, plus he fucked Deb, and you see what happens to every other guy she fucks in the show.

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Hah, this is an astute observation.

I was hoping Dexter was going to the funeral with his bloodied clothes and the Jack Bauer smirk tio go with it.

nruva said:

I don't see Trinity's family turning Dexter in... Seriously, they show Quinn talking to Arthur's son in the trailer. Do you really think he'd tell Quinn anything? He'll protect Dexter/Kyle after all he's been through and Dexter did for him.

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Yeah I thought the same thing. That kid won't snitch on Dexter. I'm pretty sure the only reason they had Deb fucking Quinn was to further "complicate" what's going to happen this season with Quinn pursuing Dexter. It was completely forced too.

nruva said:

I saw him and thought, he looks like a husband in shock.

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Up to a point, yes. The 911 call certainly wasn't anything akin to "normal."

I'm not sure what anyone was expecting, here. A new villain? The start of some grand new game? There's too much to address for that to happen in a season premiere. Was it my favorite episode of all time? No, but it's not even close to being a bad one.

I dont see Trinity's family "turning in" Dexter either.. However they will be questioned about Trinity, and his acquaintance Kyle Butler's name will surface. See the comic con trailer.

Deuce said:

Up to a point, yes. The 911 call certainly wasn't anything akin to "normal."

I'm not sure what anyone was expecting, here. A new villain? The start of some grand new game? There's too much to address for that to happen in a season premiere. Was it my favorite episode of all time? No, but it's not even close to being a bad one.

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I never meant to imply that it was bad, only that I thought it was hardly one of the better episodes. Come to think about it, I don't really have a favourite episode, just favourite story arcs... Ah, nevermind. It's a good show, I like to watch it, and even if this season is lame, it's sure to be entertaining. I suppose the nuance is unimportant.