Dexter - 4x12 - The Getaway

[kiki_miserychic]

I have a million swirling thoughts about Dexter, the show and the character. I finished watching the season finale about ten minutes ago and I still can't think properly. I keep thinking back on the previous episodes this season and remembering little things, like how it was Dexter's family that made him weak in the end. He stepped into fully when he thought Trinity shot Deb and that's when things started turning to shit. I think this season has been my favorite, even better than the first because it went deeper and harder.

He wanted to learn from Trinity how how to achieve the balance that would allow him to be a better father/husband. He was all surface with nothing underneath, while Dexter falters on the surface and has deeper feelings that he doesn't know how to express or feel. Dexter doesn't know how to express most of his feelings and doesn't understand them, which led to his mistakes this season. Emotionally and in a socially meaningful context, Dexter is still that child sitting in a pool of his mother's blood. Trinity was the worst possible human being to use as a familial model for Dexter. The Thanksgiving episode had me wrecked. For personal reasons, I was terrified. Absolutely terrified of Trinity. Dexter was right when he held that knife to Trinity on the kitchen floor: "I should have fucking killed you when I had the chance." Dexter doesn't deal well with guilt and I think the guilt from not killing Trinity sooner will eat away at what part of his soul Dexter is in touch with. Dexter was in the fucking truck while Trinity killed Rita. We know how she died in that bathtub and I can only hope that Trinity didn't tell her the truth about Dexter as he murdered her. I'm usually the type of person that values honesty and doesn't believe that ignorance is bliss, but not in this case. Rita and Deb are my favorite characters, Deb being my first. She's coming closer and closer to the truth and as much as I know that's a part of who Deb is, I never wanted them to find out about Dexter. I think that what Dexter represents in their lives is more important than the truth that will shatter their illusion.

There are so many blasted loose ends. So many that I can't even rein them all in to make a list. I want season five right now and I want it to be about the downfall. I want to see Dexter drown in his own spilled blood. Yes, I relate to Dexter far more than most people, but I can still comprehend that he ends human life. It's human life that he has declared void, but that is not for one person to decide. I hope next season will be the last because in light of the season finale, I think it's been leading up to the end. The illusion is that Dexter is the Dark Defender, but he's a murder in reality. We've watched the show for four seasons and we've bought into the wink and nudge. It's like when I watched cherryice's Convenient Parking and it made me see Dexter in a different way. We see parts of him that no one else does, the same way we saw pieces of Trinity. When what Dexter has done comes out, they will be seen as the same thing: serial killers. Trinity's family and Dexter's will go through the same thing. Deb will be hurt the most from it. As much as I relate and understand Dexter, I care about and love the people around him. There's a wink and a nudge to the audience, literally in the credits shown at the beginning of every episode, that Dexter does these things and gets away with it. We go along with it, which is why many don't want to see Dexter be caught. It's like I'm the sick one for wanting to see him destroyed.

FUCK, Rita. I'm going to watch keewick's Stars and cry.

FUCK.

Comments

[kuwdora.livejournal.com]

GAH omg that picture

[kiki-miserychic.livejournal.com]

Do they have an Emmy for babies?

[kuwdora.livejournal.com]

if they don't, we're gonna photoshop one right next to his water eyes and bloody face.

[kiki-miserychic.livejournal.com]

Those are big, fat, real baby tears. That kid was crying for REALZ before that take. They must have ripped apart his teddy.

[kuwdora.livejournal.com]

You know what's exciting? To know that they will end this show right and not pull their fucking punches.

goddamn, why isn't September here.

[kiki-miserychic.livejournal.com]

I don't know if it's going to end with Dexter being found out, which is troubling. I love Dexter, but I don't know if the writers are going that way. I want them to, but I don't trust it. I've watched too much tv for that. Is Dexter's world going to be one in which he can get away with the things he's done? Do I want to think there's a world like that? I'm not stupid, there are many serial killers in this world that get away with it.

September?!?!?! I'll be 24 when it's back on.

[gigglemonster.livejournal.com]

Gah FUCK ME! I watched this motherfucker like four hours ago and this post has wrecked me all over again! DUDE! SHOW! OMG!
You're far more coherent and eloquent than I am even now. I would just like to give a big fat AMEN to this entire post! Especially the second paragraph! I hadn't even thought of the fact that Trinity might have revealed Dexter's secret before he killed Rita but ohh my lord I hope he didn't. I can't think of a more horrible way to die ;asldfj gives me the willies!
But yeah, I suspect there will be a ton of guilt on his part. There were so many opportunities for him to kill Trinity and he just never took them. What's worse is that for a while there he thought he could better his family by keeping him around and in the end that just destroyed them. Ugh. Awful!

I kinda hope next season will be the last too, if only because I can't imagine where else they can possible go! To imagine Dexter trying to be a single parent to those poor children (that picture KILLS me! and omg Aster and Cody! I'm a mess just thinking about it!) is just crazy. *SIGGHH*

I can't even talk about this finale anymore lol it's still making me far too rambly. Basically WORD to ALL of this!
*watches Keewick's vid for the zillionth time*

[kiki-miserychic.livejournal.com]

I am still tripping balls.

I have so many more thoughts that are swirling in my brainpan.

I don't think I could have taken seeing Rita's death, especially if Trinity told her about Dexter. We didn't need to see it with the way the storyline progressed. I'm glad there was no flashback too.

What's worse is that for a while there he thought he could better his family by keeping him around and in the end that just destroyed them. Ugh. Awful!
That's the part that will break him the most, that letdown.

Shit, Dexter is responsible for both of Aster and Cody's parents' deaths.

I haven't even started thinking about Dexter being a single father. He'll have a shady alibi if something happens because his children will likely be with a babysitter while he's murdering people.

[gigglemonster.livejournal.com]

OMG he is responsible! Man if there was ever a time for Dexter to realize he has real human feelings, this is gonna fucking be it!
And oh I never thought of his alibi either! Wow, there are seriously NO WORDS! Season 5 cannot get here fast enough! Eeee!

[kiki-miserychic.livejournal.com]

I think Dexter has human feelings that are deep and meaningful. He doesn't know what to do with them and he doesn't know what they are when they come through. I think they're buried down deep until they rush out the cracks.

In terms of time, there's almost no way he can keep killing at his usual rate with the children. I hope he keeps Aster and Cody too, even though they might be going to Paul's parents.

YES, season 5, NAO.

[serrico.livejournal.com]

It's like I'm the sick one for wanting to see him destroyed.

If that's sick, then I am, too. I think this show is at its best when Dexter's *soclose* to losing absolutely *everything* (which is why s2 is my handsdown favourite), and I really, really hope the final season carries through on that threat. He's been able to dodge it thus far, but with Rita gone--who was such a *huge* part of his cover, and his ability to *be* human, not just act it--I kind of can't wait for everything to unravel for him.

[kiki-miserychic.livejournal.com]

The show is built around Dexter. It's uncommon to want to see the main character suffer. Let's be sick together.

He's been incredibly lucky with his charm and wit in getting out of trouble. This episode was one of the first times he couldn't wiggle himself out of trouble, like with the cops.

I'm in the camp that thinks Rita become more than a cover for him. With her gone, eyes will be on him like never before. Deb and others will be there trying to support him, which might suffocate him.

[buffyann.livejournal.com]

god that image. I can't get this out of my head. it's so sick yet so brilliant. what an horrible thing.

I think this was made to remind us who dexter is and even if there could be hope for him in a way, he's still a serial killer, it will most likely destroy everything around him. as awful as that is.
Now, let me go and cry in a little corner.

[kiki-miserychic.livejournal.com]

That image is what stuck with me from the episode. So sad. Dexter can't have nice things.

[sdwolfpup.livejournal.com]

I think there's a good possibility Dexter will die at the end of next season (assuming it's the last - I REALLY hope so, because it feels like we're all set up for the endgame now). AHH thought they might try to have him try to go 'sober' next season and end the series on an ambiguous note, something like, "I'm Dexter Morgan, and I'm a recovering serial killer. It's been three days since I've killed someone" but with a really "can he do it?" feel to the end.

I have no idea what they've got planned.

God, that picture, though. I can't even deal with it. It hurts to look at it.

[kiki-miserychic.livejournal.com]

I'd never thought about Dexter dying. I'm not sure if he would kill himself rather than be caught. I can't see him being successful at recovery either. Not now that Rita is gone. Thinking about it, they might try that route. I can see him trying to quit, but I can't see him actually being able to do it.

[balistik94.livejournal.com]

This was a very shocking finale I didn't see it coming. The idea of having a family was actually good but things went wrong when he started to care about them, when he started to think he could have a somewhat regular life. It feels like next season will be the last and I want him to get caught too but I have a feeling he'll get away in the end and will teach Harrison his code because that kid is messed up now even though he's too young to understand what he saw.

[kiki-miserychic.livejournal.com]

Dexter thought it was done, that he'd killed Trinity and it was over. He is shit when it comes to emotion and don't know what to do with them, which gets him into trouble.

I hope they realize that they can't keep going with it and end it before it turns to shit.

Dexter taught Cody and Aster Harry's Code in the books, but the children were far more fucked up in the books than on the show. Their father was awful in the books and their childhood was terrible. I kind of think that they'll go that way with Harrison because Dexter is his father.

[aurora]

FUCK indeed.

I'm still completely in shock. It's good that there is a hiatus, because I need time to process everything, but on the other hand, I'm so impatient and want to see where they'll go next season.

The Thanksgiving episode had me wrecked. For personal reasons, I was terrified. Absolutely terrified of Trinity. Dexter was right when he held that knife to Trinity on the kitchen floor: "I should have fucking killed you when I had the chance."
WORD TO ALL OF THIS. The Thanksgiving ep made me sick to my stomach.

[kiki-miserychic.livejournal.com]

It's 9 months until the next season. I may as well have a baby to pass the time. :)

I forgot to breathe during parts of the Thansgiving episode.

[beccatoria.livejournal.com]

See, I feel...really conflicted about this ending. As in, my initial reaction was an epic "meh" mainly because as soon as I heard that they were building up a sense of SHOCK and SECRECY about the ending, my first thought was, "Right, so they're gonna kill Rita. Or maybe Deb. But probably Rita."

So, while I agree, the image is just gut-wrenching and shocking and very well played, the actual twist is...not really that surprising to me, and I'm not sure I'm really all that on board for it. I mean, partly, sure, there's an element of OMGS NO NOT RITA! And also I appreciate that Dexter can't be the happy serial killer forever. He's responsible for this and he has to live with it. And really, we do need to see consequences.

But at the same time, something I've been struggling with since season one has been just how much of a sociopath Dexter really is. It's very difficult to maintain a distant character as a POV character and again, I'm conflicted (see a pattern?) because on the one hand, I think that we need to start seeing some emotion and humanity in Dexter in order to continue to stick with a show over seasons instead of over a 12 episode arc, and I do find the questions about whether Harry taught him to survive or only taught him to retreat into his psychopathy is intriguing.

But I still feel that there's an element of the show wanting to have its cake and eat it too. The excuse for Dexter being a serial killer is his mental condition but at the same time the show denies that while showing him being capable of more and a family man, etc., etc. At a certain point it stops becoming an interesting exploration of the character and runs the risk of literally turning into the "Dark Defender" of the season 2 in-universe comic book.

And that's fine; if Dexter was still as detached in season 4 as he was in season 1, we'd all probably be bored and frustrated with him, but...equally, if he really is a sociopath, then most likely he will both get over Rita and not keep Astor and Cody. If he isn't, and this is going to send him into rage mode and revenge mode, etc., then okay, that'll probably make for more interesting TV, but at that point it also turns Rita into one in a very, very long line of women in refrigerators.

So that's my catch-22. And why I'm kind of irked at the show for throwing me this curveball. On the one hand, if Dexter decides that he's toxic to his children and his family and withdraws, or doesn't feel much at all, then it's not a season I'll be so interested in. If, on the other hand, he does have an emotional reaction, I'm back to...goddammit, one of two favourite characters dead for a shocking plot twist again. *sigh*

So...yeah. I dunno. I feel all jaded and I wish I didn't. :(

[kiki-miserychic.livejournal.com]

I had no idea they were going to kill Rita. I knew something was going to happen at the end because they kept throwing out tension music and miscues. The voicemail made me flip, but I think it was Rita until I saw the blood. Dexter can get out of almost anything with his easy charm, but be paid dearly in this episode and was cut almost no slack. While I hate that it was Rita, it is the consequences. Dexter can't have nice things. He doesn't get to have his cake and eat it too. It's covered in blood.

Dexter is an emotional mimic in a lot of situations. He knows how he is supposed to react from watching the people around him and stumbling through it. I think about how and what Harry taught him and I come to thinking he taught Dexter what he thought he would need to survive. I don't think Harry ever considered trying to become anything else, only how to hide what he is under something else.

With the Dark Defender, the dark part is often set aside.

I'm not sure I want to see rage and revenge Dexter. I almost want to see him shut down. He already killed Trinity, showing him more mercy than any other kill I can remember.

I didn't consider Rita's death as adding to that long list of women in refrigerators.
Dexter was something good in her life, yes, but he was also something dark. She didn't know Dexter's secret, but death and destruction are the consequences of being in Dexter's life. Everything around him will eventually be touched by his darkness and turn to shit. Thinking about the whole season, I think Rita's death was a natural conclusion to the season. It was about Dexter trying to have everything. He juggled being so many different things and having so many people in his life. This episode was showing him that he can't do it, he can't have that. I'm devastated that Rita had to be the ball that fell.

I love Rita and her journey and how far she has come from when we first met her in season one. It's really awful to think, but I'd have rather it been Cody, but he wouldn't have fit in Trinity's pattern and given Harrison to parallel.

[beccatoria.livejournal.com]

I do get why people think it's a natural end to the season's arc: Dexter does need to have a ball drop - there does need to be something that slips to show he can't have everything. As I said, I don't actually want to be this jaded about it. But I kind of...well, I think the fact I was expecting it (or at least if not actively expecting it, the thought had crossed my mind in a cynical context) affected my response to it?

I think...twisted thought it is, I would rather it have been Cody too, for the reasons you state and because it would have been braver and more shocking than Rita, even. And one of the things we know is that Dexter really does seem to have more of an emotional connection to kids than anyone else, and has always been closer to Cody than to Astor.

[kiki-miserychic.livejournal.com]

obsessive24's husband had an interesting observation (http://obsessive24.livejournal.com/293767.html) about the arcs of the series:

Dexter slowly realises, over the course of the seasons, that he - his true self - is unable to have anything by nature. The dark passenger will taint every real relationship despite his best intentions. To wit:

s1 - no brother
s2 - no lover
s3 - no friend
s4 - no family

Thinking about it that way, it makes even more sense to me. I was worried for Deb when Trinity went to her apartment, but I never thought that she would die because she's too important for the show and carries a lot of storyline. Plus, SHE'S DEB.

I think not guessing it was going to be Rita dying has a lot to do with how I took the episode. I'm going back and reading some reaction posts and that looks to be a major factor. Some were spoiled over twitter for it, which took away the shock.

I'm sure exactly what the timeline was for Trinity's pattern in the final episodes. I'm pretty sure that Rita broke his pattern, so taking Cody wouldn't have been that far off. Coming back to the all important Thanksgiving episode, Cody was the one that called out being thankful for Dexter. I think they made it be Rita for the mother's blood parallel.

[beccatoria.livejournal.com]

ARGH WHAT IF S5 IS NO SISTER! *criez* *panics*

Also, argh, go and break my heart by reminding me of when Cody said that, why don't you... I really hope that in S5 they don't just have Dexter ditch the older kids off with Paul's parents or something. On the one hand, I can see him deciding that this is the message that he can't have a family, but equally, if he ditches them, that...removes the central interesting conflict of the show. The fact that Dexter still wants these things.

I want to see him struggle as a single father. Actually, what would be hilarious, if we're allowed to have things be hilarious when Rita's so awfully dead (and yes, I completely agree that they wanted Harrison to experience what Dexter experienced, though hopefully he's young enough it won't scar him for life), is if Deb moves in and tries to help him out and they form a new, weird family unit with Deb teaching Cody and Astor how to swear.

But, still, I come back to ARGH. I'm really nervous about S5. I can see ways they'd go with it that would keep me watching, but I can also see them going in directions that cause me to lose interest...

[kiki-miserychic.livejournal.com]

Deb is my absolute favorite person on the show. The way Jennifer Carpenter plays her kills me. How she breaks down and cries hurts my soul.

I think Dexter will keep Cody and Aster. At least I hope so. I'm not sure they've planned that far in advance. I read an interview saying that the writers haven't broke down the next season and don't have much planned.

When Rita was there, Dexter was able to navigate being a father without too much problem. Dexter as the primary caregiver of the family will be a different story. He doesn't understand people or children by extension. The episode where he humilated Aster in front of the skater boy being case and point. Imagine that everyday. I think Deb will end up moving in with them and they'll try to stumble through raising the family. Deb is as clueless as Dexter in a lot of ways when it comes to children.

I will watch Dexter until the end. It's one of the shows I can't quit, like Lost. I have to know how it ends. I've missed a few episodes of Lost and I don't care, but I still watch it and want to know what happens.

[beerbad.livejournal.com]

even better than the first because it went deeper and harder.

That's what she said.

I got your card in the mail yesterday, yay! And thanks. :)

[kiki-miserychic.livejournal.com]

Hhehehehehe, I say that all the time IRL and it's perfect.

YAY cards! I was worried they didn't make it to the mail.

Your icon is beautiful. I've been behind that 'ship since the pilot.

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

I want to see him caught. But I only really watch the show for Deb. I realised that more than ever in this episode, where I was left strangely unaffected by Rita's death. I feel bad for the kids, but I'm not *in* Dexter's story, and he's fallen so far from even where he began... killing an innocent person this season made me totally detach from him for once and for all, I think. Now I only care about what it will do to Deb to find that her brother is a psychopath.

[kiki-miserychic.livejournal.com]

Deb is my favorite too. She's amazing and makes everyone else look lame in comparison. Her and Rita were my faves, followed by Dexter, who I relate to more than like. Killing someone innocent was huge in many ways. It wasn't that much of a blow to me because Dexter's process is about him judging people. In that case he was sloppy and I saw it a mile away because they kept showing the assistant being treated like a servant with a cell phone glued to his ear. What's innocence when judged by a serial killer?

DEB.

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

*nods* I did see it coming a mile away too, it's true. I find Dexter remarkably sympathetic given his character, but it took me a good season or so to get over my repulsion about him, but now I find they've swung too much the other way. He's a bit too 'human' now, too emotional and messy, and I don't really 'get' how he can be like that and a killer... I find the show a lot more farfetched now, it's like the tightness of Dexter's initial caracterisation has been sacrificed to progressing the plot.

But Deb's journey and the Deb part of Dexter's equation is still totally gripping to me. She's so amazing.

I did like Rita too. I'm not sure why I was so unaffected by her death. Hmm. Maybe because it felt like it was more about Dexter than about Rita?

[kiki-miserychic.livejournal.com]

Dexter was rather sloppy this season, which was a factor in the show. I see his changing character as development. I wouldn't want to be watching the same Dexter of season one in this season four. I wouldn't still be interested. I hate it when characters stay the same and never evolve, like Shane on the L word. Every season was EXACTLY the same character arc with minor changes. It drove me bananas. I see Dexter as an evolving character that changed over time with his experiences. In this season, his emotions came hard and fast and he's too inexperienced with how to handle them, which created messes in his life and the lives of the people around him.

I can only think of Mason on Dead Like Me to make my comparison. Mason is the only static character I've ever liked because he was unaffected by anything. He stayed exactly the same guy no matter what life changing events he went through. It was a part of his character. I wouldn't like Dexter as much as I do if he were unchanged by the events of his life. Dexter's life in season one is far different from the life he had in season four. Instead of living alone in his apartment he lives in a house with his wife, her two children, and their baby. Different situation calls for a character change through reaction.

I see Rita's death as a consequence of being a part of Dexter's life. She was unknowing, but being so close to Dexter would have to come with being touched by that darkness.

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

It's so interesting because what you describe is how I see it is supposed to work... it makes total sense that Dexter needs to evolve. And yet, as he has I have found the show less and less interesting. I am in a minority there I think but it's just become more and more unbelievable to me. I think it's not just that he has changed but the *way* that he has changed that I've found a stretch. But then I was never attached to him the way other people were... so I would have been quite comfortable continuing on without seeing more human reactions from him.

You're totally right about Rita. I think her death was very fitting in a way--she was always totally blind, but that didn't mean she wasn't a victim. She died 'pure' in the sense of being so trusting of Dexter and never knowing the truth, but her unknowingness also opened the door for her to be the ultimate victim.

[kiki-miserychic.livejournal.com]

I'm sure there are people that think the same thing. The premise can't be sustained for too much longer. This coming season logically seems to be the last one. I'm not sure about the renewal, but I can't see it continuing much more.

I can't say I'm attached to Dexter. I wonder how much he actually loved Rita and how much of it was him buying into his own cover. I want so hard to believe that deep down Dexter loves Rita the way a husband is supposed to love a wife. The dark part of me thinks he tricked himself into loving her. Most of me believes that he loves her, but can't understand it fully.

I hope Trinity didn't tell Rita about Dexter. Dexter can't have nice things, doing the things he does. I'm sad that it was Rita that paid the price.

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

I need to believe that Trinity didn't tell Rita anything. Or that if he did he sounded so deranged she did not believe him. I wonder if I distance myself from Dexter (and even from Rita a bit) because being so close to that story is so painful and horrible. Mind you, being attached to Deb is not easy at times either...!! I think the final season will be a roller coaster for me, as I'm sure it will focus on Deb's relationship with Dexter. *bites nails*

[kiki-miserychic.livejournal.com]

I hope he didn't, but I'm not sure. I can see him being awful enough to do it.

Deb has been my favorite since the beginning. I hope it ends well for her out of any of them.