Watching Showtime

Now that Dexter’s got Doakes in “custody” and Dexter still hasn’t gotten rid of Lila while attempting to rekindle things with Rita, it looks like these last couple of episodes will be full of suprises! I had hoped he wouldn’t have to kill Doakes, but now I’m not so sure.

While trying to clean off is bullet wound, Doakes tells him he’d better just kill him now if he’s planning on it. Dexter’s still mad that James didn’t leave him alone even though he knew what Dexter was, pointing out that James is himself a killer. Dexter says he left him to his business, racking up more officer-related shootings than any other member of the force, and is mad that he wasn’t paid the same courtesy. Instead of killing him, Dexter leaves James locked up so he can head home before awakening the suspicions of the FBI members outside his doors.

Back at the station, Deb and Lundy are talking about her supeona for James’ phone records, and when they find out he called Maria after the man-hunt was launched, Lundy tells Deb she can ream out Maria herself. Then he drops the “I won’t be here after this case is over” bomb on Deb, who somehow wasn’t expecting it. Dexter, meanwhile, isn’t sure what to do about the fact that no matter how hard he wishes, James doesn’t deserve to be killed. Trying to get some shut-eye, he’s awakened by the FBI guys knocking at his door. Seems Rita’s shown up to bring him coffee and talk. While talking to her, his leg starts to bleed through his pants, and poor Dexter is so worried about that he’s splitting focus between the “getting back together” conversation he and Rita are having. While they’re not back together yet, she’s asking him to be back in the kids’ lives again, starting with a Saturday date at the beach. Finally Dexter’s stopped thinking about himself long enough to remember the ramifications of his “outing” on Rita and her kids.

Deb and Maria are having a rather tense discussion about James, ending with Maria freaking out on Deb more than she does to Maria. Turns out the reason Maria didn’t report the call because she “cares” about James. Which means she wishes they were still dating. The whole “taking her to task” thing didn’t work out so well for Deb after all, and she takes that frustration into the meeting about James. She’s clearly unfocused in the meeting, and is avoiding talking much to her boyfriend. Angel and Dexter, on the other hand, are talking a lot, mostly about the other victims whose blood is on the slides found in James’ car. After the meeting, Dexter tries to get his detail lessened, while Angel and Maria are sharing information on the added victims. Dexter and Masuka are looking at evidence when Deb busts in to ream Dexter on is pulling the protective detail. Turns out what she’s really upset about is Lundy saying he’s going to move on after this case. And once again Dexter remembers he’ll hurt someone else in getting convicted, this time his sister.

Doakes is at the secret hideout trying to break out of his cell when his phone rings. Whomever is calling him is a good sign for Doakes it would seem, and while Dexter is away he tries to use his belt to get at it. He gets it out of it’s box just in time (of course) but not back into his possession before Dexter shows back up with water. When asking if Dexter has come to a decision Dexter displays his tools, and again Dexter calls him a killer. It turns out James’ non visiting of his family that is what sways Dexter to kill him. And just then Doakes’ phone beeps that he’s got a message, but it turns out it’s not his phone. It’s the dead drug dealer’s. And then we find out James has been drugged in his water! Before the sedative kicks in, James starts to tell Dexter a few things he didn’t know about his father, but we don’t find out what before he passes out from the sedative.

Angel’s helping Lila paint her apartment to cover up the fire damage, and it’s pretty clear they’re still sleeping together. Or at least Angel wants to think that. And wit that, we’re back to the cabin where Dexter isn’t actualy going to kill Doakes, he’s just going to frame him, putting his finger prints on the tools he usually uses and then planting them in the water off a frequently used pier! But while he’s doing so, he’s still caught up in what Doakes said about Harry, which is when he’s brought into a memory of his father and a killer that got away. My favorite part of the scene? Deb’s awesome glasses!

The next day, Deb’s still pissed about what Lundy said, and she finally tells him. Much to my non-suprise, Lundy tells her that he’s thought about this from the beginning, that he moves around from killer to killer. Poor girl has her heart broken before the relationship has even started! Angel’s asking for help from Dexter on what to do with his daughter, as he’s got her the whole day Saturday. When Dexter says he and Rita are taking her kids to the beach, and Angel invites himself along.

Next on Dexter’s list? Finding the man who keeps texting Jimenez’ cell phone wondering where his cocaine is. When Dexter decides Harlow (the man texting Jimenez) isn’t that bad of a threat, he leaves it be. Then he asks Deb to help him remember the birthday he’s had on his mind for a few days. Turns out she’s got a different outlook, one that reminds Dexter she always came third in Harry’s life: cases first, Dexter second, and Deb third. Done talking to Deb, he sees Lila heading into the office, and he hides! She’s there to get Angel to help her paint two more walls, which is when Angel lets it slip that he’s hanging out with Dexter instead. Lila’s none to pleased to find out Dexter’s getting back together with Rita and then leaves.

Dexter heads back to see what James has to say about Harry, only to find out James has gotten Dexter a little more figured out than he’s comfortable with. Trying to ignore what James is saying, he tries to bring the conversation back to calling Harry a whack job. Turns out there’s more to Harry’s death than meets the eye, but Doakes won’t tell him what unless Dexter lets him go. They have yet another stare-off and then Dexter leaves, heading off to talk to the Captain about his father’s death. Turns out there was more, and the Captain tells him Harry killed himself, taking an overdose of his heart medicine, calling the Captain the day before to ask him to take care of Dex and his sister.

Maria heads off to find Lundy to tell him that James clearly isn’t the killer. She’s got “proof” in the form of detailed notes saying he was with her instead of out killing someone when one of the victims was killed. Turns out her credibility was ruined when she failed to report the call, and now he can’t use her logs as evidence because they were her personal ones. And that’s how you ream someone!

At the beach Angel is having a great time with his kid and Rita’s, while Dexter and Rita are sitting on chairs watching. Dexter’s still obviously upset about Harry and when Rita sees it she fears it’s too soon for them to be hanging out again. And finally Dexter is honest with her about something, which brings the pair closer together. After the beach date, Dexter gets a text from the guy Jimenez was supposed to bring his coke to. Turns out he’s found Jimenez’ cabin and is heading there. Dexter sends him a message back asking him to meet behind Jimenez’ bar! Someone’s going to die! Lila, meanwhile, is buying roofies!!!

Deb and Lundy are sharing lunch, clearly against Deb’s better judgment. Turns out she’s going to be honest with a man for once, and tells him she was excited about their relationships, and the possibility and unknowing behind it. His assumption that the relationship ended when the case ended crushed that excitement in her, and then he admits he only thought that because he figured she’d be tired of him. So I guess they don’t have a problem after all! Except they don’t get to enjoy their dinner because they get a hit on one of James’ aliases.

Angel’s back at Lila’s house finishing painting with her, and she’s giving him wine. He’s drinking out of a glass, and she’s drinking straight out of he bottle. Looks like he’s getting roofied! But before the drugs kick in, she’s going to kiss on him and make him think they’re going to have sex. And it’s not until after the sex that the drugs kick in, which really makes no sense. But then, she roofies herself too. Wait what? Looks like Lila’s going to pretend to be raped to get Angel out of the way. While all this is going on, Dexter’s got his next victim in the cabin, and is going to kill him in front of James!!! He’s freaking out, trying to get Dexter to see he needs help, but Dexter’s not listening. He kills the guy with James screaming in the cage, but it does no good. Done with the killing, Dexter takes the plastic off the cage to find Doakes sitting there unresponsive. He’s finally broken James, but it doesn’t satisfy the way Dexter would have hoped it would. Instead it reminds him of three days before Harry’s death, and Harry responding in much the same way.

And with that, Dexter has the realization that Harry might have killed himself because of seeing Dexter in the midst of cutting up a body. To quote the one sitting next to me: “Shit’s about to get fucked up!”

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

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