Starting a thread for any people with Netflix but not HBO.
Three big improvements over second season.
First, having Jimmy Smits instead of that girl who played Lila was way smarter. No insult to her personally. Smits was even better than Hall.
Second, giving Debra more of a storyline about work instead of just sex gave the character much more life. Worries about Quinn, Yuki. The affair with Anton was a little dreary but tying it into her ambition for a shield helped even that. Having Debra find out something about Harry makes her an actual member of the family.
Third, they didn't repeat personal jeopardy for loved ones as the motivation for the third break with Someone-Who-Would Accept-and-Love-the-REAL-Dexter. Making the choice because it violates his moral code, such as that is, represents an advance for Dexter.
But there are also downward steps due to serialization instead of resolution. Though Smits and cutting out rinkydink personal jeopardy improved the Dexter's Big Choice storyline, it is still the third time.
Further, turning Harry from a memory into a peculiar blend of wish fulfillment Harry/disguised moral self/textbook Freudian superego is stretches patience.
The increasing adventures of Supercriminal are stretching credulity. The superficial realism is wearing thin. A prudent length would have prevented this. Debra getting a clue about Harry should have started last season at the latest.
Starting storylines about Angel and Masuka is good, but simpering over the characters because the writers are fond of them isn't. Angel's a true hero and doesn't need fantasy hot cop to keep on trucking. A girl friend for Masuka, well, just writing about it is wrong.
LaGuerta's overall story arc is progressing nicely in one sense, but shoehorning her into a personal relationship with Smits just didn't work too well. It was to brutal a retcon, where her friendship with Doakes was all too obviously the most important emotional relationship she'd had. It's not like Smits came back into town. He'd been there all along and there wasn't any such intensity there for two seasons and we knew it.
Incidentally, the groundwork for La Guerta to find out about Dexter, as in the first Dexter novel, seems to be laid. She's being written as more competent, albeit still highly political.
Easy as Pie is without a doubt the most affecting episode. Dexter is always clever but there was true emotion wrung from the sensationalist premise, for once. Usually, it is the workplace/family comedy that gives Dexter its emotional appeal. Probably it helps to use an experienced character actress. Two actors in a scene always work better than one.
Last drawback, too little Rita. The first husband retcon doesn't look promising.
While getting a little long in the tooth, it still has its moments. Easy as Pie should have been Emmy nominated, I think.
Three big improvements over second season.
First, having Jimmy Smits instead of that girl who played Lila was way smarter. No insult to her personally. Smits was even better than Hall.
Second, giving Debra more of a storyline about work instead of just sex gave the character much more life. Worries about Quinn, Yuki. The affair with Anton was a little dreary but tying it into her ambition for a shield helped even that. Having Debra find out something about Harry makes her an actual member of the family.
Third, they didn't repeat personal jeopardy for loved ones as the motivation for the third break with Someone-Who-Would Accept-and-Love-the-REAL-Dexter. Making the choice because it violates his moral code, such as that is, represents an advance for Dexter.
But there are also downward steps due to serialization instead of resolution. Though Smits and cutting out rinkydink personal jeopardy improved the Dexter's Big Choice storyline, it is still the third time.
Further, turning Harry from a memory into a peculiar blend of wish fulfillment Harry/disguised moral self/textbook Freudian superego is stretches patience.
The increasing adventures of Supercriminal are stretching credulity. The superficial realism is wearing thin. A prudent length would have prevented this. Debra getting a clue about Harry should have started last season at the latest.
Starting storylines about Angel and Masuka is good, but simpering over the characters because the writers are fond of them isn't. Angel's a true hero and doesn't need fantasy hot cop to keep on trucking. A girl friend for Masuka, well, just writing about it is wrong.
LaGuerta's overall story arc is progressing nicely in one sense, but shoehorning her into a personal relationship with Smits just didn't work too well. It was to brutal a retcon, where her friendship with Doakes was all too obviously the most important emotional relationship she'd had. It's not like Smits came back into town. He'd been there all along and there wasn't any such intensity there for two seasons and we knew it.
Incidentally, the groundwork for La Guerta to find out about Dexter, as in the first Dexter novel, seems to be laid. She's being written as more competent, albeit still highly political.
Easy as Pie is without a doubt the most affecting episode. Dexter is always clever but there was true emotion wrung from the sensationalist premise, for once. Usually, it is the workplace/family comedy that gives Dexter its emotional appeal. Probably it helps to use an experienced character actress. Two actors in a scene always work better than one.
Last drawback, too little Rita. The first husband retcon doesn't look promising.
While getting a little long in the tooth, it still has its moments. Easy as Pie should have been Emmy nominated, I think.
Infact after seeing him on the West Wing this dude is a great great actor.
