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), Jaime Murray (Lila), C.S Lee (Masuka), Preston Bailey (Cody) & Christina Robinson (Astor)
Doakes goes missing, Debra and Lundy's relationship gets physical, and Dexter begins to fear imminent capture...
Dexter's world is really closing in on him now! He's unaware that Sgt Doakes (Erik King) has discovered his blood samples, but Lundy's investigation seems to be reaching a conclusion (with someone in the police department a prime suspect), and there are undercover agents tailing him in a car...
Resistance Is Futile opens with a darkly humorous dream sequence for Dexter (Michael C. Hall). While normal people might have an anxiety dream about going to work naked, Dexter dreams about going to work dragging a naked dead body behind him...
Dex awakens outside Rita's house, having fallen asleep as a human guard dog, protecting his ex-girlfriend from her intruder – crazy Lila (Jaime Murray). Rita (Julie Benz) is grateful and a little touched by Dex's protection of her family, and there are hints that the pair may get back together throughout this episode.
But what about Doakes and his discovery of Dexter's blood slide trophies, I hear you cry? Well, as expected, Doakes doesn't take the logical step of replacing the slides and calling for back-up. No, he instead flies off to Haiti to request the use of a "discrete lab" from a Special Ops colleague – so he can test the blood himself. None of this makes much sense, but it was the only course of action to take from a dramatic standpoint...
Debra (Jennifer Carpenter) and Lundy's relationship gets physical, in a fun bedroom scene, with the two actors somehow making a convincing couple. I always expected the Lundy/Debra pairing would have a bigger part to play in the season, but this was perhaps a hangover from how Debra's season 1 boyfriend played into the main plot more dramatically. At the moment, Lundy/Debra seem to be a genuine side dish to the main course... but will that change?
Later, in well-crafted scenes of misdirection, Dex realizes his slides are missing and thinks the game is up. Seconds later, he's led by imposing agents, who take him to meet with Lundy (Keith Carradine)... who has his blood trophy box in an evidence bag, waiting for him...
Believing he's seconds away from arrest and a death sentence, Dex is relieved to hear that the FBI have got the wrong end of the stick. Hapless Doakes (who came under suspicion because of his violence directed at Dex), had his car searched at an airport and they found the incriminating blood samples. Mind you, it begs the question why Doakes would be so stupid as to leave those slides in Miami, as he jets off to Haiti!
Doakes is now the investigation's prime suspect, but Dex has been gifted the chance to use his own trophies to frame him as the Bay Harbor Butcher. After Lundy implausibly makes Dex the First Forensic Tech, he sets about trying to make the evidence stack up against Doakes, who he knows is aware of his dark secret...
But there's still one loose end to tie-up, in the grizzly shape of Santos Jiminez's decomposing body, which Dex was forced to uncharacteristically abandon in the Everglades. After being placed under 24-hour protection by the FBI (who believe Doakes may try to kill Dex), he manages to sneak out to his boat and heads off to dispose of Jiminez's body...
After so much time spent stalling and teasing fans over Doakes' next move, it seems that Resistance Is Futile isn't going provide any big rewards this week... but then, the thrilling climax arrives. Doakes catches Dexter in the act of loading up his boat with bagged body parts, having attached a GPS tracker to his boat...
Dexter's held at gunpoint (literally caught red-handed), but after being forced to handcuff himself, Dex manages to rush Doakes on the boat jetty and they fall into the water. The two enemies grapple for awhile, with Dex shot in the leg, before Doakes is choked-out and locked up in a cabin...
So what will happen next? If Dex values his freedom (and we're reminded that rule number 1 of the Code Of Harry is "don’t get caught"), he'll kill Doakes, convincingly frame him as the Butcher, and allow everyone to think Doakes escaped once he suspected Lundy was onto him..
But that's too rational for this show. And how will Dex explain his gunshot wound to everyone, as he was supposedly at home under armed-guard all night? I'm sure there are a few more twists in the tale, as there are still 3 more episodes left in this impressive sophomore season.
Will Lila figure more strongly into the plot, or has her story been told? She resurfaces here, just to antagonize Dex with some vague threats about exposing some of his secrets to his friends, unless he comes back to her.
As much as I've enjoyed the character of Lila this season, she was just distracting and aggravating here -- probably because her story seemed to reach a natural conclusion last week. There's no way Dex will resume his relationship with her -- so is she just a spare wheel spinning on the sidelines, or do the writers have something up their sleeves?
Overall, Resistance Is Futile was another good episode of Dexter, but tainted by having characters make stupid decisions just to wrangle the story into the right direction. The idea to make Doakes into a scapegoat for Dex's crimes was also predicted a long time ago, so there were no earthquakes when that particular development was revealed...
But, despite plenty of niggling flaws, this episode took a few inventive steps and had some tense and uncertain moments for Dexter to deal with. As usual, while you're left with suspicions, it's almost impossible to guess how season 2 will end -- or how the supporting stories might slot into place.
It's exciting, tense and compelling in short bursts – but ultimately a slight disappointment because of the irrational decision-making from Doakes, a distracting reprise for Lila, and a somewhat unnecessary flashback where Harry Morgan (James Remar) makes a young Dexter watch a criminal die on the electric chair.
I have faith Dexter will reach a brilliant conclusion this year, but Resistance Is Futile was guilty of implausibly bending its characters into situations, with the writers' hand more noticeable than usual.
25 November 2007
Showtime, 9.30pm
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), Jaime Murray (Lila), C.S Lee (Masuka), Preston Bailey (Cody) & Christina Robinson (Astor)
Doakes goes missing, Debra and Lundy's relationship gets physical, and Dexter begins to fear imminent capture..."... can't live with her, can't kill her..."
-- Dexter Morgan (Michael C. Hall)
Dexter's world is really closing in on him now! He's unaware that Sgt Doakes (Erik King) has discovered his blood samples, but Lundy's investigation seems to be reaching a conclusion (with someone in the police department a prime suspect), and there are undercover agents tailing him in a car...
Resistance Is Futile opens with a darkly humorous dream sequence for Dexter (Michael C. Hall). While normal people might have an anxiety dream about going to work naked, Dexter dreams about going to work dragging a naked dead body behind him...
Dex awakens outside Rita's house, having fallen asleep as a human guard dog, protecting his ex-girlfriend from her intruder – crazy Lila (Jaime Murray). Rita (Julie Benz) is grateful and a little touched by Dex's protection of her family, and there are hints that the pair may get back together throughout this episode.
But what about Doakes and his discovery of Dexter's blood slide trophies, I hear you cry? Well, as expected, Doakes doesn't take the logical step of replacing the slides and calling for back-up. No, he instead flies off to Haiti to request the use of a "discrete lab" from a Special Ops colleague – so he can test the blood himself. None of this makes much sense, but it was the only course of action to take from a dramatic standpoint...
Debra (Jennifer Carpenter) and Lundy's relationship gets physical, in a fun bedroom scene, with the two actors somehow making a convincing couple. I always expected the Lundy/Debra pairing would have a bigger part to play in the season, but this was perhaps a hangover from how Debra's season 1 boyfriend played into the main plot more dramatically. At the moment, Lundy/Debra seem to be a genuine side dish to the main course... but will that change?
Later, in well-crafted scenes of misdirection, Dex realizes his slides are missing and thinks the game is up. Seconds later, he's led by imposing agents, who take him to meet with Lundy (Keith Carradine)... who has his blood trophy box in an evidence bag, waiting for him...
Believing he's seconds away from arrest and a death sentence, Dex is relieved to hear that the FBI have got the wrong end of the stick. Hapless Doakes (who came under suspicion because of his violence directed at Dex), had his car searched at an airport and they found the incriminating blood samples. Mind you, it begs the question why Doakes would be so stupid as to leave those slides in Miami, as he jets off to Haiti!
Doakes is now the investigation's prime suspect, but Dex has been gifted the chance to use his own trophies to frame him as the Bay Harbor Butcher. After Lundy implausibly makes Dex the First Forensic Tech, he sets about trying to make the evidence stack up against Doakes, who he knows is aware of his dark secret...
But there's still one loose end to tie-up, in the grizzly shape of Santos Jiminez's decomposing body, which Dex was forced to uncharacteristically abandon in the Everglades. After being placed under 24-hour protection by the FBI (who believe Doakes may try to kill Dex), he manages to sneak out to his boat and heads off to dispose of Jiminez's body...
After so much time spent stalling and teasing fans over Doakes' next move, it seems that Resistance Is Futile isn't going provide any big rewards this week... but then, the thrilling climax arrives. Doakes catches Dexter in the act of loading up his boat with bagged body parts, having attached a GPS tracker to his boat...
Dexter's held at gunpoint (literally caught red-handed), but after being forced to handcuff himself, Dex manages to rush Doakes on the boat jetty and they fall into the water. The two enemies grapple for awhile, with Dex shot in the leg, before Doakes is choked-out and locked up in a cabin...
So what will happen next? If Dex values his freedom (and we're reminded that rule number 1 of the Code Of Harry is "don’t get caught"), he'll kill Doakes, convincingly frame him as the Butcher, and allow everyone to think Doakes escaped once he suspected Lundy was onto him..
But that's too rational for this show. And how will Dex explain his gunshot wound to everyone, as he was supposedly at home under armed-guard all night? I'm sure there are a few more twists in the tale, as there are still 3 more episodes left in this impressive sophomore season.
Will Lila figure more strongly into the plot, or has her story been told? She resurfaces here, just to antagonize Dex with some vague threats about exposing some of his secrets to his friends, unless he comes back to her.
As much as I've enjoyed the character of Lila this season, she was just distracting and aggravating here -- probably because her story seemed to reach a natural conclusion last week. There's no way Dex will resume his relationship with her -- so is she just a spare wheel spinning on the sidelines, or do the writers have something up their sleeves?
Overall, Resistance Is Futile was another good episode of Dexter, but tainted by having characters make stupid decisions just to wrangle the story into the right direction. The idea to make Doakes into a scapegoat for Dex's crimes was also predicted a long time ago, so there were no earthquakes when that particular development was revealed...
But, despite plenty of niggling flaws, this episode took a few inventive steps and had some tense and uncertain moments for Dexter to deal with. As usual, while you're left with suspicions, it's almost impossible to guess how season 2 will end -- or how the supporting stories might slot into place.
It's exciting, tense and compelling in short bursts – but ultimately a slight disappointment because of the irrational decision-making from Doakes, a distracting reprise for Lila, and a somewhat unnecessary flashback where Harry Morgan (James Remar) makes a young Dexter watch a criminal die on the electric chair.
I have faith Dexter will reach a brilliant conclusion this year, but Resistance Is Futile was guilty of implausibly bending its characters into situations, with the writers' hand more noticeable than usual.
25 November 2007
Showtime, 9.30pm
