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. :(
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Date: 2009-12-15 05:50 pm (UTC)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. :(