Dexter (Season 5)

[SlimKibbles]

Re: Dexter (Season 5)

I definitely liked the finale, but...

Spoiler

I feel let down. And it's not because of anything the show did - it's just, I went in expecting something crazy to happen, or something unexpected at least, and I feel like the major shake-ups they could've gone with they took the easy way out with all of them.

When they had that Dexter/Lumen scene in boat it seemed too perfect and then she just leaves. Deb not wanting to see them. Dexter just changing the blood and evening things out with Quinn.

I'm not disappointed - it was a good episode and the second half of this season was crazy tense, but I feel like I only got to second base with some really hot girl and then she just passed out.

To be completely honest, Beantown, I felt the exact same way about everything you said and just didn't want to admit it to myself. I guess that's what happens after seeing a finale like last season's.

[Gizmo]

Re: Dexter (Season 5)

To be completely honest, Beantown, I felt the exact same way about everything you said and just didn't want to admit it to myself. I guess that's what happens after seeing a finale like last season's.

Spoiler

Yeah, seeing last season set up our expectations for this season's finale and of course, it didn't live up to it. There were some cop outs (Lumen leaving, Deb not finding out, Quin's shoe) but I still think these things can come out to play maybe next season or in the future.

[Burns11]

Re: Dexter (Season 5)

The entire episode was a cop out, and I'm thoroughly disappointed. I feel cheated. I feel like I sat through this whole season, watching them set up all these dominoes, and just when it's time to set them off they pack them all up and say "see you next year".

To top it all off, I have nothing to anticipate for next season. They wrapped everything up in a nice sterilized bow and now, for the first time, I have zero anticipation for what might come next.

[BlueNGold]

Re: Dexter (Season 5)

Wow. Well after waiting a good 3-4 hours for a working link, I finally got to watch the episode. That was a ****ing adventure and a half just trying to find a link that wouldn't stop and start 2 minutes in or be stuck buffering for an hour only to reach 20%.

Anyways....

I definitely liked the finale, but...

Spoiler

I feel let down. And it's not because of anything the show did - it's just, I went in expecting something crazy to happen, or something unexpected at least, and I feel like the major shake-ups they could've gone with they took the easy way out with all of them.

When they had that Dexter/Lumen scene in boat it seemed too perfect and then she just leaves. Deb not wanting to see them. Dexter just changing the blood and evening things out with Quinn.

I'm not disappointed - it was a good episode and the second half of this season was crazy tense, but I feel like I only got to second base with some really hot girl and then she just passed out.

This is definitely the exact way I feel.

The entire episode was a cop out, and I'm thoroughly disappointed. I feel cheated. I feel like I sat through this whole season, watching them set up all these dominoes, and just when it's time to set them off they pack them all up and say "see you next year".

To top it all off, I have nothing to anticipate for next season. They wrapped everything up in a nice sterilized bow and now, for the first time, I have zero anticipation for what might come next.

I don't feel cheated, like you do, but I'll admit I do feel let down. Things worked them self out too nicely for this show's standards. I'm not upset with how things ended, but I just feel like there were many directions they could have went that they decided to sidestep for whatever reason.

Lumen leaving, I had a feeling that was coming around midway through the season. I mentioned it a lot in some of my posts here because there was no way they were going to kill her off, but I also just couldn't envision them going forward with Lumen as a permanent character. I mean, they could have, but I just didn't see that working out and it wasn't really something I was looking forward to.

The Quinn scenario, IMO, was the one that was a little bothersome in how it wrapped itself up. For Dexter to just scrape the blood off of his shoe and do whatever he did wasn't very satisfying and it also means that we're probably due for the same thing we just had happen this season with Quinn coming after Dexter, only minus Liddy.

I'll admit I'm kind of happy they didn't leave us with a cliffhanger-type ending like last year, because the wait for next year's season would have been brutal, but at the same time, I feel they should have left something out there instead of cleaning everything up and I guess starting fresh for Season 6.

The reason I say that is because I'm sitting here wondering where they could possibly go next year. At this point is there really much else they can do to push the story forward instead of doing a "one-off" type season like this year? Really all that's left on the table is Deb finding out the truth about Dexter. And I guess with Quinn being cleared of the Liddy killing, they'll have him eventually spill the beans to Deb on exactly what him and Liddy were doing and why it ended up with Liddy dead in a van, as much as he didn't want to say it throughout the final episodes of this season.

Something that actually just came to mind as I'm posting this is an idea that they could possibly advance things a few years. I don't know if it would work, but I say it because the one other "constant" they have left aside from Deb finding out who Dexter truly is, is Harrison. As much as he might be a very minor character right now, they do seem to be playing up the idea that he's going to be just like his father.

Well anyways, this was a good season regardless of the fact that the finale wasn't what we expected it to be. In the end I guess I was right that nothing was going to top last year, even though they did change my mind for a moment through the last few episodes of this season lol.

I'll be looking forward to next season, but I'm not counting down the months and days like I was going into this season.

[CMH]

Re: Dexter (Season 5)

As seasons go, this was a good one. You ignore the arcs, the previous years, and as a one-off, it was complete. It had the slow dramatic build up to an intense finish with a nice, clean ending.

As a series, this was a disappointment. The arcs were important up until they weren't. The slow dramatic build up into what could have been a series-bending intense finale resulted in very little character development.

What we got was 12 episodes to tell us that Quinn knows Dexter is suspicious, Dexter doesn't trust Quinn, Rita's kids will always love Dexter and Dexter is alone.

All of that we already knew before this season. So, what did we gain from Season Five? I can't tell you a darn thing because I don't know what was gained. Dexter didn't change. Deb didn't change. Honestly, the only regular that really changed was Quinn as it appears that he's just going to accept that Dexter does what he does for good reasons, the same way Debra accepted the vigilantes for doing what they did for good reasons.

I love the show and again, the season was phenomenal. But, as a series, I'm incredibly disappointed with the lack of development. Nothing happened. We watched 12 episodes of a moment in Dexter's life in which he helps one person change - a guest star.

This season was based on Lumen. Not satisfied with that.

[Burns11]

Re: Dexter (Season 5)

I might have to disagree about the season being excellent on it's own, it had a block of episodes that was excellent, but the first block of episodes was not great and the finale was as bad as having Dexter wake from a dream. They were a bit boring, slow and mostly seemingly worthless. Until the season was half over, we were in this thread talking about how slow/bad the season was.

[bill2451]

Re: Dexter (Season 5)

I disagree that no one changed besides Quinn. I think that Dexter changed, and what we see from him next season is a character that more resembles that of season 1 Dexter. A Dexter that is stuck much more in his head, who feels less human and struggles with human connection. I think we saw this in the last few scenes at the party. That disconnect that Dexter felt was one that hasn't really been there in the last few seasons.

Dexter finally met someone that saw him for what he was and accepted him (and in fact, felt the same way he did). And I think the fact that Luman was able to move on is going to tear Dexter up inside. I think he is going to be left with an undeniable hole in his soul, one that feels like it is never going to be filled. Like he is never going to be "right".

Did this finale have the twists that past finales have had? No. But 1) I don't think anyone really expected it to. I mean, we all seem to be of the mindset that there was going to be no major death (at least I was), and I think it is far too early for Deb to find out Dexters true nature. I mean, an entire season with what, Deb knowing the truth, no thanks. The finale played out exactly like I expected it to, which to some may not be satisfying, but is certainly true to the characters. 2) You all seem to be of the belief that something major had to happen, and that the finale was a cop out. But that is implying that the writers are afraid to make a splash, which we all know just isn't true. I think that they are trying to avoid becoming cliched, with one ridiculous event after another. Sometimes less is more. 3) CMH commented on the lack of character growth this season, but I don't agree. I think the finale had a lot of emotional impact and that was its strongest point. Dexters scenes were certainly some of the most emotional of the series (and didn't rely on huge plot twists like they did at other times). And to say that Deb didn't grow as a character is crazy. We saw a huge transformation in both her character and Quinns.

Was the finale fully satisfying for me? No. But I think there was an emotional weight that most people are ignoring for the simple fact that there was no crazy plot twist. For the most part, the finale played out exactly like I imagined (I thought Quinn/Dexter would have a more direct confrontation, but I expected the same result), and I think that most of the characters did show growth.

I mean, last season ended with more shock than anything else. You felt bad for Dexter, but felt more shock and awe over what happened than you did sympathy for his character. The twist was so good that it was hard to look past it (which isn't a bad thing, but certainly isn't the only way to have a finale). I don't know about you guys, but this season I am left with this undeniable feeling of immense sadness and pity for Dexter. A soul ripping feeling that nothing will ever be right and Dexter will never feel "whole". And I think that is exactly what the writers were going for. Not flashy, but I think their was more substance their than people are giving credit for.

[The Chef]

Re: Dexter (Season 5)

In side news that nobody here probably cares about, Michael C. Hall and Jennifer Carpenter are getting divorced, should make for awkward moments on the set when they begin shooting next season.

[BlueNGold]

Re: Dexter (Season 5)

In side news that nobody here probably cares about, Michael C. Hall and Jennifer Carpenter are getting divorced, should make for awkward moments on the set when they begin shooting next season.

Damn. The weird thing is I was actually thinking about this for some strange reason last night, whether or not they'd still be married before the show ended.

About last night's episode, there was something I was thinking to myself as I was going to sleep, going through the episode in my head.

That scene where Dexter and Lumen have Jordan strapped down, ready to kill him. There was a moment where Lumen grabbed the knife and I was thinking to myself as I was watching "Is she going to turn on Dexter?!". Obviously she didn't, but I was imagining how crazy and probably awesome it would have been if she did.

Imagine as Lumen grabs the knife, she stabs Dexter (nothing fatal of course) and it's revealed that Lumen was just like Emily Birch in that Jordan had some kind of control over her. Lumen and Jordan tie up Dexter, you have your usual villain talking scene, Dexter gets free, kills Jordan and then you have it where Lumen is injured, but not yet dead. She's down on the ground on her knees. Dexter drops to his knees with a knife in hand, both of them crying because Dexter is wondering why Lumen would turn on him and Lumen realizes this is the end for her. As Lumen is explaining herself you have Dexter inserting the knife slowly, and then you end it with Dexter finishing the job, left to wonder what just happened and you get the job done in delivering a crazy and probably unexpected twist.

IMO that would have been one hell of a scene (the Lumen death scene). Also, this wouldn't have had that much of an effect on how the rest of the episode actually turned out. It does get rid of the scene where Deb finds the "vigilantes" and lets them go, but the rest still could have played out the same and Lumen was leaving regardless, so unless they plan on bringing her back into the fold at some point next season, there is no need to keep her alive.

Anyways, it's obviously something that isn't going to happen now, but I felt it would have made things a lot better than they actually did end up turning out.

[CMH]

Re: Dexter (Season 5)

Still don't see the growth in anyone. Back at square one. I'll agree to disagree with others.

Not sure what the writers were trying to do by having Deb say: "I'm sure you're glad it's over."

Is she implying that she knows it was him? No music, no close-up to show us this. Just a weird time to use a line that could be interpreted as more powerful than intended.

[CaptainZombie]

Re: Dexter (Season 5)

In side news that nobody here probably cares about, Michael C. Hall and Jennifer Carpenter are getting divorced, should make for awkward moments on the set when they begin shooting next season.

Probably not, because I guess they've been having problems for awhile and were professional on the set from reports I read this morning including this one.

MICHAEL C. Hall and his wife Jennifer Carpenter are getting divorced.

The couple — who play siblings on the hit Showtime series Dexter — announced Monday that they have called it quits after nearly two years of marriage.

“Having been separated for some time, Jennifer Carpenter and Michael C. Hall have filed for divorce,” their reps announced in a shared statement to Entertainment Weekly, adding that the split was amicable.

The announcement comes just one day after Carpenter attended Dexter’s fifth season finale party without Hall, who completed treatment for Hodgkin’s lymphoma earlier this year. The actress famously stood by her man’s side as he battled the disease.

The couple — who began dating in 2007 — announced in January 2009 that they eloped on New Year’s Eve in California.

Hall recently revealed he and Carpenter tried to keep the on-set PDA to a minimum.

“We certainly pride ourselves in being professionals,” he said. “Like I said earlier, we work on the same show but we’re not in every scene together. We don’t see each other on set as often as you’d think.”

[Pared]

Re: Dexter (Season 5)

I was slightly disappointed.

There were a few holes that I didn't expect regarding this episode.

Spoiler

-Deb firing her gun shows she was there and saw the body.
-Dexter crashing the car and bleeding... his DNA would've been everywhere.

It felt more like a series finale and a season finale. I guess I was just spoiled by the previous seasons, like

Spoiler

the blood on Rita's wedding dress and her death.

[BlueNGold]

Re: Dexter (Season 5)

Still don't see the growth in anyone. Back at square one. I'll agree to disagree with others.

Not sure what the writers were trying to do by having Deb say: "I'm sure you're glad it's over."

Is she implying that she knows it was him? No music, no close-up to show us this. Just a weird time to use a line that could be interpreted as more powerful than intended.

Yeah, I think they were implying she does know. Throughout the whole show they've made it so that Deb comes across as a very smart character.

I think she knew it was Dexter behind that sheet of plastic, but the reason she let the "vigilantes" go is because she didn't want to see that it was really Dexter. She was in denial basically.

[CMH]

Re: Dexter (Season 5)

Yeah, I think they were implying she does know. Throughout the whole show they've made it so that Deb comes across as a very smart character.

I think she knew it was Dexter behind that sheet of plastic, but the reason she let the "vigilantes" go is because she didn't want to see that it was really Dexter. She was in denial basically.

Well, if she does know it's him that adds a whole new element to the Quinn situation. Does Deb know Quinn had some involvement in Liddy's death and used her speech with Dexter to "force" her hand into ruling him out?

If that ending implies that some characters will be using others like puppets without knowing they are puppets to each other, then I like where that could go.

[JayBee74]

Re: Dexter (Season 5)

In side news that nobody here probably cares about, Michael C. Hall and Jennifer Carpenter are getting divorced, should make for awkward moments on the set when they begin shooting next season.

Wow, quite surprising. My guess is that his health issues had a lot to do with it.