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UPDATE!! Showtime announced early Tuesday morning that it had ordered a fourth and fifth season of "Dexter." Each season will comprise 12 episodes.
Dexter's third-season opener attracted 1.2 million viewers. While meager compared to ratings scored by most HBO dramas, the opening was the second biggest series premiere in Showtime's history, second only to June's fourth-season "Weeds" opener.
The boundlessly resourceful and insightful Capone returns with a look at tonight’s installment:
Hey everyone. Capone in Chicago with a quick look at "Dexter's" Season 3, Episode 4. Now, I was lucky enough to get my hands on the first four episodes of this season's episodes, but there may not be any other reviews beyond this one. Time will tell. These first four have been especially good, if somewhat scattered. What does Dexter's friendship with Miguel Prado (Jimmy Smits) have to do with his relationship with Rita and her kids? What does any of that have to do with Dex's sister Deb's increasing closeness with a confidential informant or her being approached by the Rat Squad to snitch on a fellow officer? I'm guessing all questions will be answered; I'm just a impatient bastard. But tonight's episode features a brand new case, unconnected to the Oscar Prado murder (I guess that counts as one more level of disconnect, but I still dug it). Read on, blood lovers.
What's the title of "Dexter" 304?
"All in the Family"
Who directed?
Keith Gordon, director of four previous "Dexter" episodes, including this year's season premiere. Sometime actor Gordon is probably best known as the lead (human) character in CHRISTINE, as well as for directing such features as A MIDNIGHT CLEAR, MOTHER NIGHT, WAKING THE DEAD, and THE SIGNING DETECTIVE, starring Robert Downey Jr.
Who wrote it?
Adam E. Fierro, also listed as a "consulting producer" on this episode (no others). He's better known as the writer of 11 episodes of the "The Shield," of which he is also co-producer. He also has written for "24," of which is a co-executive producer; and Resurrection Blvd., on which he is also co-producer.
Where do we pick things up?
Dexter fabulous narration wonders if Miguel Prado is his one true friend, since he was able to trust him with a sliver of his dark secret. Meanwhile, Dexter and Rita decide to tell her kids about her pregnancy; they are less than impressed. The daughter, Astor, seem particularly confused about the news, since Dex and Rita aren't married. Unadvisedly, Dex floats a marriage proposal in Rita's general direction, which she soundly dismisses like a bad joke.
As for the Prado's tensions are rising between Miguel and his sheriff brother Ramon, who argue constantly about finding their brother's killer. Miguel, knowing who the killer is, tries to dissuade Ramon from continuing his search. In an effort to diffuse Ramon's rage (often alcohol fueled), Miguel approaches Dexter about telling Ramon the truth about the supposed killer, Freebo, who Dexter dispensed with already. Dex talks him out of it, knowing the issues isn't quite closed, and he sets about a masterful plan to fracture the brothers' relationship.
Does Dexter's plan involve telling Ramon the truth?
It does.
Is the Rat Squad's Yuki Amado still after Deb to get close to former narcotics officer Quinn?
Mostly in the form of poorly timed text messages, most of which Deb ignores. Yuki makes an appearance at the end of the episode, with a profile of Quinn that matches to the letter what Deb is slowly learning about him.
Any new cases for the detectives to fret over?
Oh yes, and it's totally unrelated to the Prado-Freebo case. An apparent breaking and entering has resulted in a dead man, and a blood-soaked fiancee. The woman is so rattled that Deb's oh-so-subtle ways don't seem to work in getting a description of the killer, who blew right be her as he ran from the house. Quinn steps in to calm her down. He is therefore dubbed "The Witness Whisperer."
Do Dexter and Prado get to hang a little bit more in this episode?
Indeed. Actually, Dexter spends some quality time with two Prados this week. He deliberately runs into Ramon at a bar her frequents, where Dex proceeds to push his buttons while seeming to be Miguel's new best friend.
Other than a botched proposal, how is Dexter's better half?
Unemployed for one. She gets fired from her hotel job, and suddenly the logic of marriage seems clearly, but Rita is still resistant. Dex meets with Miguel to discuss the best proposal method, but really it's to talk about Ramon's increasing instability. He eventually even shows up in the squad room
Two weeks ago, Angel and Quinn uncovered evidence that would have cleared a man being prosecuted by Prado? What happened there?
Lt. Laguerta confronts Miguel one last time. She's sure that he's ignoring solid new evidence to keep his conviction record clean. He rebuffs her again, and this time she takes the evidence to the convicted man's defense attorney.
Hooker? Who said anything about a hooker?
Angel ends up in a hotel room with a beautiful lady of the evening. She yells at him for not having any money on him, even though his pockets are full of cash. Hmmmm…
Does Dex get to put on funny hats and pretend to be someone he isn't?
Yes he does. He gets to put on a fake Italian photo accent and pretends to be a key anonymous informant.
What I liked?
Angel's hooker incident reveals a vast emptiness and probably depression over losing his wife, daughter, almost his job. Also, we actually get to see Dexter at work, testing out blood-splatter scenarios. I also liked the one scene in which Deb and Quinn speak frankly about why she's bad with witnesses. But he also wisely tells her to get a poker face and use other tools in her toolbox besides a hammer. In addition, the way Dexter plays the two remaining Prado brothers against each other to get Miguel to change his tune regarding spilling their secret to his brother. Genius!
What I didn’t like?
The main through-line continues to be intriguing, but the dead fiancee case seems ripped right out of an episode of "Law and Order."
So is Freebo's body found by anyone other than Dexter or Prado?
No.
How does it end?
Not exactly a cliffhanger, but Dex realizes that marrying into a family isn't as important as being married TO the family. Meanwhile, Miguel reminds Dex that Dex is the only man Miguel feels he can trust in this day and age.
-- Capone
capone@aintitcoolmail.com
9 p.m. Sunday. Showtime.
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