Last night was the season finale of the second season of Dexter, and rather than take notes while watching (which requires a fair amount of pausing) I decided to just watch it through and blog it later. A wise decision I think, as so much happened it would have probably ruined the flow of the show for me if I’d tried to blog and watch simultaneously. That said, here’s a recap of the show, bullet-point style, with some of my favorite and some of the most shocking moments highlighted. (total spoilers ahead, so if you didn’t watch it yet, DO NOT CLICK AHEAD.)
Lila shows up to start the episode, discovering Dexter’s secret cabin and Doakes chained up inside. When she finds out Dexter is the Butcher, she looks horrified, but it turns out her sick little mind thinks it’s cool that her “soul mate” is a serial killer. In order to help Dexter out, she keeps Doakes in his cage. Then she lights the stove and cranks up the gas. Reminders of her ex-boyfriend anyone?
Clearly the cabin blows up with Doakes inside. How else are the writers able to keep Dexter to his rules while still keeping him out of jail? And now he can dispose of Lila properly, tying up all his loose ends in a neat little bow. It would make me mad, but I love how it all plays out, so I have to love it. Although I do sort of feel bad for James, getting blamed as he does for all of Dexter’s sins.
Suprise sex scenes between Rita and Dexter are always nice, and it’s good to see these two back together. While it was fun for a time to see Dex indulge the darker side of his demons with Lila, it’s clear he needs Rita to balance him out. And he truly does love her and the kids, even if he doesn’t recognize the emotion involved.
It looks like Deb and Lundy are over, although there’s always hope they’ll find a way to make it work. She rightly chose her brother and Rita’s missing kids over a plane ride to be with her man, and while that’s got to be a hard decision, I’m glad she chose Dexter. Side note, however. Any QAF fans out there see shades of Michael’s plane trip that never was from Season One (last episode) in that scene? I started to cry a bit remembering the horrifying nature of that last episode just watching Deb’s scene in Dexter!
Fucking crazy Lila. We already knew she killed her ex-boyfriend, and despite her saying it was her meth addiction and she didn’t know he was in the house, we all secretly know she did, and that she killed him much like she did James. But to kidnap two children and then try to kill them as well? That bitch needs to be put down. I might have actually said that out loud! Thank goodness Dexter was able to get them out safely.
I loved the metaphors of birth that were going on as Dexter tried to get out of Lila’s burning apartment.
I wonder if LaGuerda will return for the third season? She’s pretty messed up over losing James, and it’s clear she still thinks he’s innocent. And well done Deb for seeing the method behind Maria’s madness and offering to donate to help for James’ memorial fund. Deb was probably the only officer to do so.
I love that Dexter went all the way to Paris to kill Lila. That’s commitment righ there. But what did he do with her body? And man it was nice of him to give her a full-body epidural rather than the usual sleeping shot. Kept her from feeling the pain of death in much the same way she never really felt the pain of being alive.
So now we have to wait a full year almost before a new season of Dexter emerges. With hints at a new code and a new Dexter, I really want to read the third book (the television shows are based off a book series) to see what happens, but am trying to refrain myself. As hints and spoilers surface I’ll be sure to share.
To catch up on old episodes:
season one recaps
It’s Alive! s2, e1
Waiting To Exhale s2, e2
An Inconvenient Lie s2, e3
See-Through s2, e4
The Dark Defender s2, e5
Dex, Lies, and Videotape s2, e6
That Night, A Forest Grew s2, e7
Morning Comes s2, e8
Resistance Is Futile s2, e9
There’s Something About Harry s2, e10
Left Turn Ahead s2, e11
Dexter, Showtime, Dexter Morgan, Michael C. Hall, Rita Bennett, Julie Benz, Debra Morgan, Jennifer Carpenter, James Doakes, Erik King, Maria LaGuerta, Lauren Velez, Angel Batista, David Zayas, Harry Morgan, James Remar, Vincent Masuka, C.S. Lee
January 29th, 2008 at 8:46 am
When are you going to post the summary for “Morning Comes”?
January 29th, 2008 at 9:52 am
well good lord, i’d forgotten all about it! i’ll have to head on over to showtime on demand and hopefully they’ll still have it! if not, i’ll ITunes the ep and get it posted by the end of the week.
good looking out!!!