"Paul Levinson's It's Real Life is a page-turning exploration into that multiverse known as rock and roll. But it is much more than a marvelous adventure narrated by a master storyteller...it is also an exquisite meditation on the very nature of alternate history." -- Jack Dann, The Fiction Writer's Guide to Alternate History

Monday, November 22, 2010

Dexter 5.9: He's Getting Healthier

A very important episode of Dexter on Showtime last night - 5.9 - in which Dex, more than any other time in the series, is showing profound signs of getting over his sociopathic lack of feeling for people in the world.

His complex love of Rita - and straightforward Harrison, Astor, Cody - was the beginning, and this goes back at least a year or two, regarding Rita and her children.  But last night, Dexter gives a father who is beating his daughter a painful warning - a beating by Dexter, in all the right places.  This is one of the most normal things Dexter has ever done, and Harry agrees.

Later, as Dexter takes Astor home to her grandparents, Dexter tells her he loves her.   That statement came more from the heart than just about any words we've seen uttered by Dexter. 

Add to this Dexter's empathy for Lumen, and I'd say we have evidence of an emerging new Dexter.

This is not to say Dexter's thoroughly outgrown his lust for killing those who deserve it.  He's still hunting with relish the "tick, tick, tick" guy who joined in and maybe engineered the brutal assault of Lumen.   But this older more recognizable Dexter is now clearly merging with a new, healthier persona.

Life, of course, will be no easier for Dexter, especially given the fact Liddy has photos of Dexter and Lumen throwing bags with body parts off of Dexter's boat, and Liddy's not back off ... In fact, as Harry always reminds Dexter and us, genuine feelings are always a danger for Dexter, and could lead to his giving himself away ...

See also Dexter Season Five Sneak Preview Review ... Dexter 5.4: Dexter's Conscience ... Dexter 5.8 and Lumen

And see also
Dexter Season 4: Sneak Preview Review ... The Family Man on Dexter 4.5 ... Dexter on the Couch in 4.6 ... Dexter 4.7: 'He Can't Kill Bambi' ... Dexter 4.8: Great Mistakes ... 4.9: Trinity's Surprising Daughter ... 4.10: More than Trinity ... 4.11: The "Soulless, Anti-Family Schmuck" ... 4.12: Revenges and Recapitulations

See also reviews of Season 3: Season's Happy Endings? ... Double Surprise ... Psychotic Law vs. Sociopath Science ... The Bright, Elusive Butterfly of Dexter ... The True Nature of Miguel ... Si Se Puede on Dexter ... and Dexter 3: Sneak Preview Review

Reviews of Season 2: Dexter's Back: A Preview and Dexter Meets Heroes and 6. Dexter and De-Lila-h and 7. Best Line About Dexter - from Lila and 8. How Will Dexter Get Out of This? and The Plot Gets Tighter and Sharper and Dex, Doakes, and Harry and Deb's Belief Saves Dex and All's ... Well

See also about Season 1: First Place to Dexter









The Plot to Save Socrates


"challenging fun" - Entertainment Weekly

"a Da Vinci-esque thriller" - New York Daily News

"Sierra Waters is sexy as hell" - curled up with a good book

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