|
Ratings for “Dexter” are rising, albeit more slowly. Its 1st-season premiere was seen by about 334,000 viewers, its 2nd-season premiere was watched by about million, and last week’s 3rd-season launch hit 1.2 million (thanks no doubt to the show’s CBS writers-strike run and its “outstanding drama” Emmy nomination). The June 16 installment of “Weeds” still holds the Showtime series-premiere record of 1.3 million viewers.
Melissa Rosenberg, whose name is on the teleplay for tonight’s “Dexter,” not only wrote the movie version of “Twilight,” she wrote 2006’s “Step Up.”
I know who gets a bloody shirt! Hint: it’s not the obnoxious little guy writing the magazine article!
“Capone” says tonight’s episode had him giggling with delight:
Hey everyone. Capone in Chicago here checking out Episode 302 of a show that has really and truly never let me down in its short existence, "Dexter."
The TV critic for the Chicago Tribune, Maureen Ryan, complained that Jimmy Smits character of Miguel Prado feels like he's being shoehorned into the show. I may have expressed some reservations after the third season premiere, but after seeing 302, my hesitations have vanished. I now see how the relationship between Prado and Dexter will progress, and I literally giggled with delight at a particular point in this show when their connection is made a bit clearer. But I'm getting ahead of myself. Read on…
What's the title of 302?
"Finding Freebo"
Who directed?
Marcos Siega, a show veteran, having directed four previous episodes and two more later in this season, for a total of seven. He's also directed episodes of "Veronica Mars," "Shark," "Life," and HBO's "True Blood."
Who wrote it?
Melissa Rosenberg, series co-executive producer, as well as a co-executive producer on "The O.C." Including at least one more coming up this season, Rosenberg has written seven "Dexter" episodes total, as well as episodes of "The O.C." and "Love Monkey." Most importantly for you under-16 types, she wrote the screenplay for the upcoming film adaptation of TWILIGHT.
Where do we pick things up?
Dexter and Rita are at the doctors to confirm her pregnancy. They promise to have a real conversation about their options very soon. Meanwhile on the two open cases currently on Dexter's lab table, Deb asks him to re-examine the blood work on the Jane Doe case. This is an interesting twist in the show since Dexter knows that the dead woman is Freebo's girlfriend. He wants to help Deb get back into the Freebo investigation that she was kicked off out last week, but he needs to use this information to find Freebo first.
Prado begs his old flame Lt. Laguerta to let him be involved in the investigation into his brother's death. She discourages this with a story about how her personal involvement with Doakes during the Bay Harbor Butcher case clouded her judgement.
Is the Rat Squad's Yuki Amado still after Deb to get close to former narcotics officer Quinn?
You bet. In fact, she gets two visits from Amado. One in which she essentially tells Deb that her detectives shield would be the reward for spying on her fellow officer, to which Deb responds by hurling a very special "C" word at the lovely Yuki. The second visit hits a little closer to home as Amado questions Deb's life--or lack thereof--outside being a cop.
How does Dexter take to the thought of being a dad?
In some of the shows most twisting and elaborate fantasy sequences, Dexter pictures his life with a child, Dexter Jr. He also sees his own adopted father, Harry, would have liked having a grandson. There is one great moment where Dex daydreams about possible baby names. But he also worries about whether his child would have the same proclivities as he does.
Besides Dexter, does somebody link the Prado and Jane Doe cases in this episode?
Oh yes.
Do Dexter and Prado get to hang a little bit in this episode?
And how. Prado spots Dexter at the station and thanks him for coming to his brother's wake. He invites Dexter and Rita to dinner that night at his home, where both men get a little bonus info on the case. Turns out Prado wants Dexter to be his inside man on the case.
I love watching Dexter pretend to be a tweaking junkie in last week's episode. Does he get to do any more undercover work this week?
Dexter attends a kegger at a sorority house and is forced to turn down having sex with two hot sorority sisters.
Anything else turn up during the Prado investigation?
Angel and Quinn look for Freebo at the houses of dealers he was known to hang with in the past. At one such dealer's house, they turn up evidence that wrecks a case Prado prosecuted recently and would likely overturn the conviction.
What I liked
As I mentioned in the opening, the relationship between Dexter and Prado is feeling less forced. Dexter's episode 301 lie to Prado about this case touching him deeply has made Prado trust him as a friend. It also sets the stage for some truly dark shit yet to come. The fantasy sequences are plain and simply messed up. Dexter Jr. is a freak. And as much as a pregnancy on any series is often a sure sign that the show has "Jumped the Shark," not so with "Dexter." It opens up psychological potential for Dexter that never would have been possible before. He has to contemplate the way he was raised, and how much of that he might pass onto his own child. And doesn't the fact that he fantasizes that the child is a boy pretty much guarantee that it will be a female child?
Does Dexter find Freebo?
Yes.
Does somebody else find Freebo?
Yes.
Do they find him at the same time?
Yes.
What is Freebo's state when the episode ends?
He wrapped head to toe in plastic wrap with photos of his victims surrounding him.
How does it end?
Someone other that Dexter or Freebo gets blood on their shirt.
9 p.m. Sunday. Showtime.
-- Capone
capone@aintitcoolmail.com
$12: Every Episode Of Profit!!
Giant TV DVD Sale!!
$13.49 Dawn of the Dead!!
$13.95 Road Warrior!!
$13.95 A Clockwork Orange!
$13.95 The Fugitive!
$14.95 The Shining!!
SuperCheap Blu-Ray!!
| 
