In my previous reviews of the Showtime series “Dexter” (http://sogooditsscary.com/?p=168 http://sogooditsscary.com/?p=37) I mentioned that the overall theme of the series is Dexter’s gradual change from cold psychopath with a fake life to a fully feeling human being with a life he cares about who happens to kill people. There are also themes for different seasons, such as parenthood and religion. With the final season we continue Dexter’s journey towards humanity with a seasonal theme of family.
One of the first things that struck me about this season was the lack of mayhem. Despite being the final season of a show about a serial killer, there weren’t more murders or more spectacular murders, though of course people are killed fairly regularly. Instead, the focus is on continuing to explore the relationship between forensic specialist/serial killer Dexter Morgan (Michael C. Hall) and his sister Debra (Jennifer Carpenter).
Destroy and rebuild
Things have changed in the aftermath of last season’s finale, in which Debra shot and killed Captain LaGuerta (Lauren Velez) to protect herself and Dexter when LaGuerta discovered Dexter’s identity as the Bay Harbor Butcher and uncovered Debra’s complicity in the cover-up of his killing of the Dooms Day Killer.
For me as a viewer, seeing the annoying, corrupt, and frequently revolting LaGuerta take one to the chest and die instantly was like an early Christmas present, a dream come true, not unlike Tara getting a shotgun blast to the head in “True Blood.” Even better, unlike Tara, LaGuerta stayed dead. The producers may have known she was annoying because the first scene of this season is the dedication of the LaGuerta memorial bench. Of the attendees, only her ex-husband, now-Lieutenant Angel Batista (David Zayas) seems to care that the LaGuerta Memorial will be a place “where people put their butts.” I enjoy that idea, and the idea that birds will crap on it, and homeless people will sleep on it and possibly soil themselves at the same time, as a continuing testimony to LaGuerta’s great works of public service.
Dexter seems unfazed by her death, but Debra isn’t dealing with it well. She quit the police force, where she had been promoted to lieutenant, and started working or a private investigation firm. We find her undercover on a case, taking excessive risks as she gets personally involved with the jewel thief who took the jewels she is supposed to recover. She’s indulging in prescription and illegal drugs, usually at the same time, and is smoking and drinking, all in an effort to numb the guilt and pain she feels for killing her former captain.
Bravo encore, Jennifer Carpenter!
I noted in my review of Season 7 that Jennifer Carpenter’s performance was exceptional, and I was immediately impressed again this season as her character took a dark, desperate turn. In the first few episodes we see flashes of Debra the detective, collecting evidence and working on the case, but then she turns instantly into Debra on a self-destructive tailspin, snorting cocaine and passing out in her car while driving drunk. When Dexter confronts her, we see angry, hurt Debra defiantly pushing Dexter away. to stay in the hell of her own making. It’s impressive to watch and makes me hope that whatever work Carpenter gets post-”Dexter” is something worthy of her talent.
Dr. Vogel and the Brain Surgeon
The primary plot of the season then, is seeing how Dexter will save Debra from herself and how the two of them will manage to have a relationship in the aftermath of LaGuerta’s murder. This is made more complicated with the introduction of Dr. Vogel (Charlotte Rampling), a psychiatrist who specializes in the treatment of psychopaths. Returning Deputy Chief Tom Matthews (Geoff Pierson) worked with Vogel years ago and has called her in to consult on Miami’s latest serial killer dubbed, “The Brain Surgeon” because the victims are found with the backs of their heads cut off and areas of the brain removed.
Vogel takes an immediate interest in Dexter for a unique reason: She worked with Dexter’s adoptive father Harry to create the code of conduct Dexter uses to survive as a serial killer. As this revelation about Dexter comes to light, Vogel steps in to help Debra stabilize her life after diagnosing her with post-traumatic stress disorder. In turn, Vogel enlists Dexter’s aid in catching the Brain Surgeon when that case becomes a personal threat.
With each kill, the Brain Surgeon has been depositing a jar with the preserved brain sample on Vogel’s doorstep. When she brings Dexter on the case, two jars are left, labeled “His” and “Hers,” indicating the killer knows and is watching her. Vogel believes the killer is a former patient of hers, but she doesn’t know which one, and she can’t tell the police because the methods she has used in the past were sometimes unorthodox. Were these methods to come to light as the police helped her it could cost her career. Dexter agrees to find and stop the Brain Surgeon before he kills Dr. Vogel or him, but she has had dozens of clients, and all of them were psychopaths, so it’s not an easy task.
This brings up another point I addressed in a previous review, which is relatively minor but still a concern for the series overall: How many serial killers can realistically be in the Miami area? Seriously. I understand the urge to kill Miamians – the snowbirds, the retirees, the tourists, the excessive number of transplanted New Yorkers, the endless pastel colors, it’s maddening. But it’s not our biggest city, and the idea that there would be a new serial killer at work there every year for several years seems unlikely.
With this season as Dexter goes through Vogel’s patient list we find that there are several operating in the Miami area at the same time. I find that hard to believe. I know the show’s shtick is Dexter killing bad guys, but there are other kinds of bad guys out there. Rapists, serial rapists, terrorists, child molesters, pick one and put him on Dexter’s table, we’ll still watch.
Hannah McKay returns
The final challenge facing Deb and Dexter is the return of Hannah McKay (Yvonne Strahovski), the love of Dexter’s life. She is the only person who accepts him as he really is because she’s a killer herself. Deb has problems with Hannah in principle because at her core Deb is a cop and Hannah has gotten away with multiple murders. But she also has serious problems with Hannah because Hannah tried to kill her and only stopped trying to kill her because of her feelings for Dexter.
When Hannah comes back this season we find she’s married to the super-rich Miles Castner (Julian Sands) who happens to also be super-controlling. Hannah likes having a new identity security, and luxury, but she wants freedom and possibly love. So she reaches out to Dexter, who helps despite Deb’s protests.
It’s great to have Hannah back for several reasons. One, she’s beautiful and she and Dexter have excellent chemistry. Two, she’s an excellent character with depth who is portrayed well. Three, going with the season’s theme of family, Hannah rounds out a very warped family dynamic that includes Dr. Vogel (mother), Dexter (son), Hannah (wife), and Deb (sister), plus others who cycle in and out, all of whom play off each other in fascinating ways.
Endgame
With Hannah coming in for the second half of the season, the series starts to wind up, with suspense increasing every episode as Dexter continues his hunt for the Brain Surgeon while trying to keep wanted fugitive Hannah from being arrested. Once again a couple, Hannah and Dexter decide to grab Dexter’s son Harrison and run away together to ind whatever version of Happily Ever After can be achieved by two serial killers. But Dexter insists on killing the Brain Surgeon first, so the race is on to kill him in time to board the plane to a new life.
This plays out very well, and the plots weave together nicely, with a federal marshal who is pursuing Hannah eventually enlisting Jacob Elway (Sean Patrick Flannery) Deb’s boss at the detective agency, in the attempt. There are moments when it seems there’s danger at every turn, which is exciting except for one logistical problem.
I’ll die before I dye
As much effort as Deb and Dexter put into keeping Hannah safe, she doesn’t make much effort herself. Think of “The Fugitive,” either the classic TV show or the excellent film with Harrison Ford. Even with his name and picture everywhere, wrongfully convicted murderer Richard Kimble is able to avoid capture with an alias, a shave, and some hair dye. Hannah may not be a world-famous surgeon like Kimble, but she is very smart, and so is Dexter. Yet neither of them thinks to get Hannah some dark hair color so her eyebrows and hair will match, and maybe pick up some sunglasses and touristy clothes.
Nope, every time Hannah takes a risk by going out in public she has long blonde hair and fashionable outfits, making her look exactly like the Hannah McKay who has her picture all over TV. Dexter points out in one episode that being out with Harrison may help because the police are looking for a woman alone, not a woman with a child. True. But even with Harrison she was still recognized. Had Hannah made herself look like a soccer mom with a cap, a t-shirt, some shorts or sweats, and maybe Popsicle or Oreo stains on her shirt, that would have probably done the trick and only taken about 5 minutes. For a smart show, that bit was a bit on the obviously dumb side.
No spoilers
I’m not going to give away the series’ ending, just in case you didn’t spoil it for yourself elsewhere. It’s good, and fairly powerful, even surprising. Now, with the last season done, “Dexter” can join “Firefly,” “Veronica Mars,” “X-Files,” “Star Trek” and other shows that have ended, leaving fans wanting more. New episodes, a movie, another movie, a spinoff, anything. But please, not a musical.
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