An interesting thing is going on with the season of Dexter. The thing that I thought would disappoint me this season — having to witness Dexter playing Daddy — isn’t really bothering me at all. Instead, it’s something else that’s bugging me: the overall story arc is simply mediocre.
Think about the past four seasons of this show and the awesome story arcs for each. The Ice Truck Killer. Doakes. Trinity. Does this season, so far, hold a candle to those? No. It’s just an odd departure from the rest of the series, and I’m not quite sure what to make of it yet, other than say I’m not digging it as much. Maybe it’s because Lumen is in the picture, sort of cramping Dexter’s style a bit? Maybe its just that there hasn’t been enough of Dexter feeding his Dark Passenger this season? I can’t quite put my finger on it.
We all have our sights on Jordan Chase and his crew of deadly misfits, but I kinda-sorta don’t care. Obviously they are the “big bads” this season, but it just seems so nothing. However, this is the first time Dexter may have to consider taking out a rather notable public figure, one who would be missed should he wind up dead at Dexter’s hand. Will he be careful enough not to lead anyone to him? Or maybe he’ll throw Lumen under the bus? Or she will take one for the team? I’m going with the latter option there — it will rid the series of her character and wrap things up cleanly for Dexter. However, if Lumen should be caught or come out involved in any way with these crimes, Quinn and Liddy know Dexter’s been hanging out with her; that can’t end up good.
Speaking of Quinn and Liddy, I do wonder if, eventually, Quinn tires of Liddy’s sliminess and winds up killing him one way or another. Would that be something Dexter would find out, then clearing his code for killing Quinn? It’s a long shot, but worth mentioning.
One thing I do enjoy the most about Dexter is when Dex plays with the evidence behind the scenes in order to help out his own cause. I feel a bit evil in that I give the same smirk Dexter gives when Masuka comes walking through the department with the wallet in a baggie. Wuahaha — fooled again!
Some quotes:
“What about him?” – Dexter
“No. I mean that guy’s clearly a freak, but I don’t know him.” – Lumen
“No, not the bald guy, the buy beside him.” – Dexter
“That’s either a saint or the most boring action figure I’ve ever seen.” – Dexter
Clacked by Keith McDuffee 
on Nov 08, 2010 @ 14:46 EST5EDT
I agree, this is probably number four on my season-long villains, just in front of Miguel Prado. Part of that is because the other three were such awesome arcs. I thought that Julia Styles and Daddy Dexter would hinder this season, but they have been surprisingly good.
I really hope that Quinn doesn’t violate the code, so that Dexter will then have to make the tough decision. That said, I think it’s time Dex got a friend in the PD. Someone that doesn’t want to take part (like Miguel), but also doesn’t want to stop Dexter (like Doakes). Somebody that could help him on occasion, but tries to steer him away from always leading the police in the wrong direction. Because as much as I like Dex misleading them, it is nice to get some productive police work from him on occasion.
My two favorite quotes. Yay!
I hope Liddy just goes away. He’s annoying. Maybe he’ll try to hurt Deb. I think Quinn and Dex may end up becoming closer through all of this rather than the opposite. To see things from the other side…Dex’s side…might just take the story in a different direction.
I’m just sick of Baptista and the wifey…blech.
Yeah, I thought they were thrown together last season, and now they are just annoying. Even if she did make a mistake (subjective opinion) that got people killed, you don’t call her out on it right after her boss reams her a new one.
I guess I was spoiled by reading about the Comicon panel. The new showrunner said
Show Spoiler »
they knew they couldn’t top Trinity immediately after Rita’s death, so there would be no Big Bad this season, only a succession of Little Bads.
The real story would be Dexter dealing with loss and guilt in the continuing resurgence of his suppressed emotions over the seasons, and I think they’re paying that off in spades.