(It’s not exactly built to last)
While last week’s episode left a bad taste in my mouth, the most recent hour of Dexter sets up a slam dunk of a season finale by tying together threads from early seasons and earlier episodes while finally exorcising Hannah from our protagonist’s battered heart.
Dexter begins “Do You See What I See?” by envisioning a future growing old with Hannah and Harrison. “Suddenly, my future seems very possible,” he narrates. It’s a soft and satisfying scene that feels right.
But Hannah is so wrong for him. That’s something I realized thinking about the folly of “The Dark… Whatever” over the past week — Hannah’s presence itself is a drain on the show at this point.
There were many things that could have been done better last week and this week regardless, though. For most of the hour, the action was too slow and distant. Bright spots helped drive the narrative, though.
The most tantalizing of those bright spots was Hector Estrada, one of the three men who dismembered Dexter’s mother in front of him and Brian Moser, getting parole. That story line is the most direct connection to the first season and Dexter’s childhood yet, and it could be a major turning point for our struggling homicidal maniac.
Dexter sees an opportunity for final revenge and grooms Estrada for a kill throughout the Christmas-themed episode. Seriously, the Christmas stuff is everywhere. The prop department went nuts.
Dexter goes to the Matthews Party Rockin’ House Boat (now with Christmas lights!) for what turns out to be an interrogation. In a measured and taut performance from Michael C. Hall, Dexter carefully reacts to Matthews telling him LaGuerta suspects him of being the Bay Harbor Butcher. Dexter deftly spins a tale of Doakes having owned boat for dumping bodies and Matthews buys it.
After Dexter tells Deb about that investigation and his tall tale, she volunteers to plant evidence. As she waits to do so outside LaGuerta’s house, she pops anti-anxiety pills.
The scheme works, and Matthews declares himself officially done, after some piercing one-liners at LaGuerta’s expense. She’s still convinced it’s Dexter, as he’s a forensics expert who could (and did) plant evidence perfectly.
Hannah comes to Deb’s house to call for common ground. Deb denies her, and says she won’t stop until Hannah’s behind bars. (Hannah calls her “Debra” throughout the episode. It’s kind of funny. Has she been hanging out with Ghost Harry?)
As Dexter prepares to kidnap Estrada, he gets a call. Deb is in the hospital. Batista, who decides to definitely retire — for real this time — tells him it was an anti-anxiety med overdose. Deb suspects Hannah poisoned her, and Dexter suffers a twang of terrible doubt.
At Christmas dinner, Dexter watches Hannah hand food to him and Harrison and thinks to himself, “But can you ever fully trust a poisoner?” He knows she did it but doesn’t want to admit it yet.
Dex brings it up to her. She gets outraged, talking about trust and belief and being able to change. They both know they can never change, but each still holds to their hope that the other is capable of it.
After luring Estrada to the cargo containers where he watched his mother get murdered, Dexter seems poised to chop the monster up with a chainsaw and finally reach some closure. Estrada casually mentions LaGuerta pushed for his release and — it’s a setup! Get out!
Miami Metro officers and LaGuerta advance. They enter, and … both are gone. Estrada jumps into the water, escaping Dexter’s clutches, as Dexter runs off.
It’s a tricky scene that actually took me by surprise and hinted at what’s possible in the season finale. This is the most active role LaGuerta has had in a while, and it leads to genuine tension and excitement. It’s a relief. I’m much more excited for next week now.
Dexter gets some lab results back, and the water Deb was drinking as she drove was positively full of crushed-up anti-anxiety pills. Hannah McKay is guilty.
“It’s not the future I had wanted with Hannah,” Dexter thinks, “but maybe it’s what I deserve.”
He turns in Sal Price’s poisoned pen to Deb and goes to say a final goodbye to Hannah. The police arrive and Hannah tells him, “You should have killed me.”
As she is led away, Dexter thinks about his changed future. LaGuerta is on his tail, Isaak is dead and Hannah is gone. “I should know better than to count on the future,” he narrates. “All you can ever believe in is now, this moment.”
Maybe that’s a good way to look at this episode. Individually, it’s certainly much better than last week’s. I just hope the finale can capture some of the dynamism of the earlier episodes.
“Do You See What I See?” is about perspective and emotions clouding your judgment, and trusting your gut and realizing when people are incapable of change. Matthews and Dexter both didn’t want to believe what was right in front of them, but now they have to face facts.
As the penultimate episode in a season should, this hour wrapped up Hannah’s story thread and finally took action with LaGuerta’s investigation. Hannah had to go, and Dexter is making big strides by admitting he was wrong and turning her in legally. She was a horrible influence on him, and maybe this show can right (write?) itself now.
Everything seems to be falling back together.
And next week, everything falls apart for Dexter. Hannah intimidates Deb! LaGuerta gets a warrant! Dexter considers fleeing, then gets arrested! And Ghost Doakes shows up! Also, the season finale is supposedly called “Surprise, Motherf—er!” OK, I’m actually super excited.
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