By Matthew Battles
Dexter fans rejoice! The finale train finally seems to have left the station and is picking up wind. After a slow and somewhat rocky start; dealing with the emotional wreckage of Debra’s shooting of Captain Laguerta (Lauren Velez) to save her brother Dexter (Michael C Hall) last season, and establishing the final storyline for our slaying siblings; Dr Evelyn Vogel (Charlotte Rampling) a psychologist with a few psychotic tendencies of her own, a killer with a penchant for removing brains, an apprentice serial killer for Dexter to train up and the return of dear Dexter’s dull, but demented dalliance Hannah McKay (Yvonne Strahovski) the show finally appears to have gotten back into it’s stride.
Dexter fans rejoice! The finale train finally seems to have left the station and is picking up wind. After a slow and somewhat rocky start; dealing with the emotional wreckage of Debra’s shooting of Captain Laguerta (Lauren Velez) to save her brother Dexter (Michael C Hall) last season, and establishing the final storyline for our slaying siblings; Dr Evelyn Vogel (Charlotte Rampling) a psychologist with a few psychotic tendencies of her own, a killer with a penchant for removing brains, an apprentice serial killer for Dexter to train up and the return of dear Dexter’s dull, but demented dalliance Hannah McKay (Yvonne Strahovski) the show finally appears to have gotten back into it’s stride.
Last week saw Dexter depart Miami with Hannah, who he seems to have forgiven for trying to murder his sister, on the murderous trail of apprentice Zach Hamilton (Sam Underwood) for defying his instructions and killing neighbour Cassie. It turns out that Zach is innocent, and being-up by the Brain Surgeon - not so dead after all. Zach has killed someone however. Another killer who’s languishing in the boot of his car. It’s a race for Dexter to hide the evidence, get back to Miami and finish making plans for Hannah to get a new, new identity and flee the country. You know, for trying to kill his sister.
Hot on their trails is Deb (Jennifer Carpenter), who’s furious to discover that Dexter is once again falling for hannah’s charms. She decides to leave them to it. She doesn’t want to know anymore. One awkward dinner with Vogel, Zach, Dexter and Hannah later and Dexter’s back at his apartment, walking in on the dead body of Zach, head open, brain core missing. Reeling, Dexter chases down a fleeing Hannah and begs her to stay with her.
We start our story this week with Dexter and Hannah wrapped in each others naked bodies. Happily planning their new life together. It’s not so simple though - Hannah’s a wanted fugitive and needs to get out of dodge, and Dexter is an upstanding citizen with a life, a job, and a family in Miami - and a killer to catch. However, Dexter’s willing to sacrifice everything to run away to Argentina with McKay. Who tried to kill his sister by the way, did I mention that?
We start our story this week with Dexter and Hannah wrapped in each others naked bodies. Happily planning their new life together. It’s not so simple though - Hannah’s a wanted fugitive and needs to get out of dodge, and Dexter is an upstanding citizen with a life, a job, and a family in Miami - and a killer to catch. However, Dexter’s willing to sacrifice everything to run away to Argentina with McKay. Who tried to kill his sister by the way, did I mention that?
Later, Dexter meets Vogel in Zach’s old apartment where he plays her the song that was playing when he found the body; Mema Cass’ Make Your Own Kind of Music. The song is one of Vogel’s favorites. She used to play it all the time, perhaps the Brain Surgeon heard it when he was her patient... Dexter surveys the scene. There’s no blood, the killer cleaned up after himself, but the table’s out of place. He checks under the table and finds a nice little supply of blood and hair - a final gift from the dead Zach Hamilton.
Before departing to the lab to discover the identity of Zach’s killer - and the Brain Surgeon - Vogel warns Dexter against his plans to start a new life with Hannah; straddling two worlds is dangerous. Killers cannot have a full emotional life. Dexter’s not having it; Vogel under-estimates him.
Before departing to the lab to discover the identity of Zach’s killer - and the Brain Surgeon - Vogel warns Dexter against his plans to start a new life with Hannah; straddling two worlds is dangerous. Killers cannot have a full emotional life. Dexter’s not having it; Vogel under-estimates him.
Back at Elway Investigations - the Private Investigation firm Deb’s been working for since leaving Miami Metro - Elway (Sean Patrick Flanery) is setting a Federal Marshall on Hannah’s trail. Handing over scans of her real and fraudulent passports.
Meanwhile Deb’s visiting her old colleagues. She’s thinking about picking up the badge again. Her old partner Quinn (Desmond Harrington) needs a favour; could she look into a suspect for Cassie’s murder. It’s Zach Hamilton. Oh dear, this puts Deb in a difficult situation. Again. Now it’s up to her to get Quinn off Zach’s trail and onto someone else...
Meanwhile Deb’s visiting her old colleagues. She’s thinking about picking up the badge again. Her old partner Quinn (Desmond Harrington) needs a favour; could she look into a suspect for Cassie’s murder. It’s Zach Hamilton. Oh dear, this puts Deb in a difficult situation. Again. Now it’s up to her to get Quinn off Zach’s trail and onto someone else...
The results on Zach’s gift comes in. There’s a familial match... To Dr Vogel. Whoever the Brain Surgeon is, Vogel is his mother. He high-tails it back to Evelyn’s house and relays the news - leaving the good Doctor flummoxed. That’s impossible - both her sons are dead. Her youngest son, Richard, murdered by his brother Daniel. Daniel, institutionalised by the Vogels, later perished in a fire in a mental institution three years later. She hands over a photo of her son who does look a little familiar...
Luckily for Dexter, Quinn’s off Zach’s trail. He’s had his attention, thanks to Deb, focused onto Cassie’s boyfriend, Oliver Saxon (Darri Ingolfsson). He and Deb question him and soon holes start to appear in his story; he tells them that Cassie loved him deeply and was desperate for a romantic to the Bahamas and that he was fully booked with work commitments. Deb, however, had it on good authority that the Bahamas was HIS idea and that Cassie wasn’t as keen on him as he made out.
Luckily for Dexter, Quinn’s off Zach’s trail. He’s had his attention, thanks to Deb, focused onto Cassie’s boyfriend, Oliver Saxon (Darri Ingolfsson). He and Deb question him and soon holes start to appear in his story; he tells them that Cassie loved him deeply and was desperate for a romantic to the Bahamas and that he was fully booked with work commitments. Deb, however, had it on good authority that the Bahamas was HIS idea and that Cassie wasn’t as keen on him as he made out.
Dexter heads back to the lab to investigate Daniel - aging the boy in the photo. The question is, which for-headed man will he turn into? Elway or Saxon? He compares the photo to Cassie’s ex. It’s a match. Saxon is Daniel Vogel, the Brain Surgeon, Cassie and Zach’s Killer and Dr Vogel’s son.
Deputy Marshal Clayton turns up in the lab. He’s looking for Hannah and, as her ex boyfriend, he wants to know if he’s seen her. Dexter lies saying he hasn’t. Lieutenant Angel (David Zayas) wants to put a protective detail on him. Dexter, the last thing he wants, asks that they watch his son instead. Angel obliges and the search continues.
He races over to Hannah’s and they set off to visit Arlene - an old friend who’s been stashing money away should Hannah need it. Next is finding another place to hide. Dexter has a brilliant suggestion; she stay with Deb for a while. She’s not impressed - the woman did to try to kill her after all - but reluctantly agrees to help.
Deputy Marshal Clayton turns up in the lab. He’s looking for Hannah and, as her ex boyfriend, he wants to know if he’s seen her. Dexter lies saying he hasn’t. Lieutenant Angel (David Zayas) wants to put a protective detail on him. Dexter, the last thing he wants, asks that they watch his son instead. Angel obliges and the search continues.
He races over to Hannah’s and they set off to visit Arlene - an old friend who’s been stashing money away should Hannah need it. Next is finding another place to hide. Dexter has a brilliant suggestion; she stay with Deb for a while. She’s not impressed - the woman did to try to kill her after all - but reluctantly agrees to help.
Now that Vogel knows who the Brain Surgeon is, she has second thoughts about letting Dexter kill him. Daniel is her son. Maybe she could finally help him? However, Dexter needs to see him off - for the safety of his sister, son and murderous lover. He drugs Vogel, leaving her unconscious, and slips out to take care of Vogel Jr...
Dexter tracks Daniel to a local visit, where he used to dine with his mother, playing Make Your Own Kind of Music over and over. Dexter follows him out and Daniel manages to give him the slip. Worried that Daniel might go after Vogel for revenge, Dexter speeds back to Evelyn’s house to find her furious. He lied to her, drugged her and went after her son. She wants nothing more to do with him.
Dexter tracks Daniel to a local visit, where he used to dine with his mother, playing Make Your Own Kind of Music over and over. Dexter follows him out and Daniel manages to give him the slip. Worried that Daniel might go after Vogel for revenge, Dexter speeds back to Evelyn’s house to find her furious. He lied to her, drugged her and went after her son. She wants nothing more to do with him.
Dexter leaves, his mind set on leaving Miami with Hannah and heading to Argentina. Vogel watches as Dex slinks away. A figure emerges from the other room. It’s Daniel. Does he believe her? She never sent him. Vogel asks Daniel if he’s hungry and mother and son share breakfast. Reunited once more.
It’s clear that the threads are finally starting to come together. That Dexter is finally working into a situation where you can see the end game. However, fans should accept that this is probably not the ending they would like to watch, but rather the ending the writers would rather tell. There are several questions left unanswered; Will Dexter evade Miami? Is Hannah really over Dexter turning her in? How will Deb react when she finds out what her beloved brother is planning? Why have they cast an actor like Sean Patrick Flannery to play a part that seems to have little or no significance to the major story? Oh, and the big question; what on Earth is Dexter playing at? Leave Miami to set up a happy life with the woman who tried to murder your sister?
That being said, this episode carried strong performances throughout. The pacing was great - hardly a second wasted. I say hardly because we didn’t really need that odd moment with Masuka’s daughter - the only downside to the episode. Arguably this isn’t the best season of Dexter and it’s a huge shame to see the huge potential of a final season being squandered on re-cycled story points and whiplash-inducing character twists.
Let’s just take comfort in that, as the slow-burn cranks up to a boil, some kind of calamity is going to come and the story will end in some kind of tragedy. Dexter can’t really be about to set down his knife and swan off into the sunset can he? This twisted tale can’t have a happy ending. Can it?
It’s clear that the threads are finally starting to come together. That Dexter is finally working into a situation where you can see the end game. However, fans should accept that this is probably not the ending they would like to watch, but rather the ending the writers would rather tell. There are several questions left unanswered; Will Dexter evade Miami? Is Hannah really over Dexter turning her in? How will Deb react when she finds out what her beloved brother is planning? Why have they cast an actor like Sean Patrick Flannery to play a part that seems to have little or no significance to the major story? Oh, and the big question; what on Earth is Dexter playing at? Leave Miami to set up a happy life with the woman who tried to murder your sister?
That being said, this episode carried strong performances throughout. The pacing was great - hardly a second wasted. I say hardly because we didn’t really need that odd moment with Masuka’s daughter - the only downside to the episode. Arguably this isn’t the best season of Dexter and it’s a huge shame to see the huge potential of a final season being squandered on re-cycled story points and whiplash-inducing character twists.
Let’s just take comfort in that, as the slow-burn cranks up to a boil, some kind of calamity is going to come and the story will end in some kind of tragedy. Dexter can’t really be about to set down his knife and swan off into the sunset can he? This twisted tale can’t have a happy ending. Can it?
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