Director: Marcos Siega
Cast: Michael C. Hall (Dexter Morgan), Lauren Velez (Maria LaGuerta), Julie Benz (Rita Bennett), Jennifer Carpenter (Debra Morgan), David Zayas (Angel Batista), Erik King (Sgt Doakes), Keith Carradine (Special Agent Frank Lundy), Judith Scott (Lt. Esme Lundy), Matthew J. Willig (Chino), Christina Robinson (Astor), Preston Bailey (Cody), Maxwell Huckabee (Little Dexter), Brandon Killham (Little Brian), George Tovar (Lawyer), Julia Vera (Old Cuban Woman), Anna Maganini (Eva), Julian Bruno (Marissa), Marco De Luca (Priest), Kevin Buitrago (Joey), Dave Baez (Gabriel) & Martin Papazian (Mack)
The FBI are called in to help find the Bay Harbor Butcher, Dexter sets his sights on Chino again, Paul's funeral is held, and Debra struggles with post-traumatic stress..."I will not kill my sister, I will not kill my sister, I will not kill my sister…"
– Dexter Morgan (Michael C. Hall)
The burgeoning disintegration of Dexter's life is season 2's main concern, as the eponymous anti-hero has already lost his killer's instinct with a blind man, botched a killing of machete-murderer Chino (Matthew J. Willig) and, to cap a bad day, the police found his underwater stash of bodies…
Waiting To Exhale finds Dexter (Michael C. Hall) still trying to get his grisly groove back, but it's an unwanted distraction having to investigate himself ("The Bay Harbor Butcher".) Away from his own crime scene, Dex spends most of this episode trying to kill Chino again, but failing miserably.
Sgt Doakes (Erik King) is still tailing Dexter and taunting him at work, but these scenes are clearly problematic for the show. Any normal person would have Doakes investigated for bad conduct, but Dexter clearly can't risk an investigation that would likely probe into his personal life. Therefore, his refusal to have Doakes reprimanded speaks volumes about his own guilt.
From a storytelling standpoint, having Doakes follow Dex around like a bloodhound throws up problems in giving Dex the time to indulge his dark side. Obviously, there are opportune moments for Dex (Doakes does have his own life to lead, I trust!), but it's still a little messy and implausible having Doakes be so committed in unmasking Dexter as a psycho.
Dex's sister Debra (Jennifer Carpenter) is finding it hard getting back to work, now having a ghoulish notoriety as the girlfriend of the infamous Ice Truck Killer. In one particularly telling scene at a gym, a flirtatious guy accidentally provokes memories of her ordeal, when he tries to wrap her wrists in preparation for a boxing workout.
At the police department, the FBI have been called in to search for the Bay Harbor Butcher, dispatching famed investigator Frank Lundy (Keith Carradine) to the scene. Lundy looks to be one of those hard-nosed, authoritarian, ultra-professional Feds, and I hope Carradine's injection of no-nonsense investigating stirs up the department. As much as I enjoy the quirky ensemble at the Miami Police Department, they've never convinced me as particularly accomplished investigators.
Dex's private life with Rita (Julie Benz) is also becoming strained, as she prepares for her ex-husband's funeral, following Paul's shock death in prison. Dex supports Rita and her children as they grieve, and it actually helps him realize he must find closure for his own dead family member – psychotic brother Brian (Christian Camargo).
Amusingly, Dexter's sibling appears as a vision alongside him in church, and it's great to see Camargo back on the show -- albeit in ghostly form. He was a welcome presence last season and a nice sparring partner for Michael C. Hall. Above all, it was interesting to have a non-flashback character be aware of Dex's darker side. A small part of me hoped Brian's anti-Jiminy Cricket visitations would continue, but the show can't fall into the trap of raking over past glories.
Maria LaGuerta (Lauren Valez) again covers for replacement Esmee Pascal (Judith Scott) and clearly seems to be manoeuvering herself to hold sway over Pascal, whose personal life is conflicting with her duties.
This is a decent diversion from the main plots, as it doesn't dominate things, and works quite well because Pascal seems like a genuinely nice person, not the bitchy interloper she could have been. It's also not obvious if LaGuerta will continue her attempt to squeeze Pascal out of the picture, or if she'll realize the department works better with her in charge.
Dexter finally catches Chino, thus exorcising his demons, and finds a new watery dumping ground, where the Gulf Stream will carry evidence of his deeds far, far away. "I was just dropping somebody off," he tells Rita on the phone, in one of the show's blackly comic lines, there to remind audiences you shouldn't really take this show too seriously. It's high-concept, black comedy drama.
Waiting To Exhale draws to a close when Rita and Dex have a heart-to-heart(less) about their relationship. Thsi is a strong, revealing scene --as Rita finally realizes Dex was responsible for drugging and framing Paul; an act that ultimately led in his death.
In one of Dex's most honest moments with another human being, he admits to the charge and, rather astonishingly, Rita forgives him -- but then jumps to the mistaken conclusion that Dex's knowledge of drugs must therefore mean he's a junkie. It seems even telling the truth just finds Dex sinking deeper into lies...
The final scene is particularly amusing, as Dex finds closure out at sea, by dropping the doll's head his brother gave him into the watery depths -- but with a Friday 13th-inspired punchline.
Overall, Waiting To Exhale was a strong continuation of last week's premiere, solidifying season 2's direction and providing some noteworthy developments for Dex and Rita's relationship. However, with Dexter himself this season's villain, the lack of an outside antagonist could potentially lead to episodes becoming too introspective.
7 October 2007
Showtime, 9.30 pm
