DEXTER: Easy as Pie

Before I get started with this week’s review, I have to give a warning to the GMMR/”Dexter” audience. Do not, under any circumstances, mix ethical philosophy and “Dexter”. Reading about how to judge right and wrong or good and evil and then watching Dexter ride the line between all of them makes one brain hurt.

You’ve been warned.

This week was a good episode, but it really seemed to be a connector to next week’s big development. We did, though, have some great moments and some storylines that hit milestones that we should recognize. Ryan commented last week on how “stepping stone” episodes for “Dexter” can be so strong, and I would have to agree.

I think the thread of Deb finding her own way as a detective has finally come full circle this week. I’ve loved watching her grow all season and her all-nighter paid off HUGE! Did anyone out there make a connection with the palm trees? I’m loving that and I hope that Deb’s somewhat less-than-tactful person skills won’t screw her out of a shield by the end of the season.

That brings me to Yuki. None of us, I don’t think, bought Flynn’s excuse about Yuki’s investigation into Flynn. But, what does she want Deb to do now that she’s told Flynn? Yuki annoys me, probably because I’m such a Deb fan. I hope Deb can figure out whether she wants to help the case against Flynn or protect him, since I think she’s confused about it right now.

In other news…

All this season, we have seen the supposed devolution of the Code. With this has come Dexter’s increasing rationalization in breaking or bending the code. While this may make Dex’s life easier, it makes him less likable in a way. I mean, the only thing that separates him from a madman is the Code. This made me really thankful when Dex refused to kill Ellen. He hasn’t broken down so much that he can’t see when someone just plainly doesn’t deserve to die. That was, honestly, quite a relief to me.

But, as we have one success in Dexter’s ethical journey (see what I mean about mixing philosophy and Dexter?) we have a monkey wrench thrown into the situation in the form of Camilla. I wondered, as Dex gave Camilla the perfect piece of Key Lime Pie (something which is hard to find, for sure. I enjoy the pie from Sun Harvest Citrus near Fort Meyers, Florida myself.) if killing Camilla should be counted as breaking the Code. I mean, take all of the debates about mercy killings out of it and focus on the Code itself and Dexter’s relation and adherence to it. It’s a tough one.

Of course Prado was going to apologize for snapping at Dexter. We have the amazing Jimmy Smits for an entire season, right? Plus, as we’re watching Dex evolve into a newer person, we have to have a barometer, or a foil, to measure his success against. That ruler comes in the form of Prado. Now, we’re learning more about the Prado family’s awful home life. I think the question now is, “How far can Prado sink before he ends up dead, either by Dexter’s hand or someone else’s?” It’s almost like “Citizen Kane,” where the entertainment and real meat of the story comes in watching a man slowly break down in front of our eyes. Oh, and, for the record, yes, “Citizen Kane” is an amazing movie, but, no, it’s not the best of all time.

But, I digress…

This was another episode where nothing happened and a lot happened at the same time. From what it looks like, next week is going to be big, so rest up and caffeinate like I am right now. Just make sure not to caffeinate so much you get Tourette’s, Deb.

Should killing Camilla be counted as a strike against the Code?

— posted by Philboy

Philboy is GMMR’s resident Dexter analyst. He spends his days studying Communications at Purdue University and his nights failing at keeping up with all of the TV shows he loves. His can’t miss shows are “Dexter”, “Chuck”, “True Blood”, “Life on Mars” and “Pushing Daisies”. The thoughts running through his head for this week are, “HOW CAN I LIVE WITHOUT PUSHING DAISIES THIS WEEK?!” and “If ‘Life on Mars’ keeps on this trend, will it become the greatest television show EVER?!”