Jannix Quinn
Sr Member
I hope there's cannibals.
Dexter Season 6 Teaser Trailer
- Thread starter MelMWells
- Start date
Solo4114
Master Member
I read that while coffee was still percolating through me this morning as "cannabis." I couldn't figure out how that would make Dexter better.
After season 4 this show had me convinced it was one of the best TV series in history - then I watched season 5. While still good, I felt it took a huge step down. Here's why:
SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS
SPOILERS!
Of course season 5 starts directly where 4 ended, just as it should have. Rita had just been killed. Quinn thinks Dexter did it. This setup left a tremendous opening for the greatest season yet, which I felt they dropped the ball on. For the first time we thought we would see a Dexter unable to control his anger. After all, what he had been working for years to build had just been completely destroyed (pretty much by his own hand). Season 4 dealt with Dexter realizing that his wife and family werent just a cover anymore, but that he actually loved them and started to believe one day he could be free of the "dark passenger".
So, anyway, the FIRST episode of season 5 dealt with this well. Dexter kills that dude in the bathroom for no real reason other than he was an a-hole. This is the first time we saw Dexter in a rage. Something actually made him feel something. But it wasnt in the way he had been hoping. The first deciding to run, but then staying for the kids - when this episode ended, I thought, "this is gonna be good".
I never thought that about any of the other episodes.
Things were just so all over the place. The whole story line about the Santa Muerte stuff, IMO, seemed so boring I was convinced it was intentional to drop some huge bombshell at the end regarding it. But... well, nothing really happened.
This season, more than any other, is the one that should have been WITHOUT any love interest for Dexter. The whole Lumen story could have been left just as it was, just without it being a love story. It had the perfect setup too: Dexter couldnt be with anyone because he would feel he was endangering them, and Lumen couldnt be with anyone because of what she had gone through. Then we are supposed to believe months after Rita's death, these two are jumping in the sack together? Its just not believeable. All I got from this love story was that Dexter was an a**hole.
Now lets get to the Quinn/Liddy storyline. My first thoughts were "Man, Quinn's gonna be dead, just like Doakes was when started investigating Dexter". "But surely they wont just have the same thing happen again, so this will be interesting". And it was, up till the final episode. Let me get this straight - Quinn, who believes Dexter killed his own wife, hires a PI to watch him - who then gets pictures of what appear to be Dexter dumping a body in the ocean. Then, the very same PI turns up dead, during his surveillance of Dexter, no less. Quinn is suspected of killing him, but because he likes Dexter's sister, doesnt want to say what his connection to Liddy was. SO, AFTER DEXTER FIXES A DNA TEST TO CLEAR QUINN, OF A CRIME HE KNOWS HE DIDNT DO, AND SHOULD KNOW DEXTER DID, HE DECIDES HE'S GONNA DROP IT ALL. I mean, wouldnt Quinn be convinced now, more than ever, that Dexter killed Rita? It just didnt make any sense. And that was the part of the storyline I had the biggest problem with.
When this season started I really felt like literally anything could happen. It was just a giant missed opportunity in my mind. I thought for sure a main character would discover who Dexter was in this season. I thought for sure a main character would die. I thought for sure SOMETHING significant would happen. By the end of this season everything was the same as when it started. I feel like the writers of the show are afraid to make any drastic changes to the characters or storyline. But things need to change for it to stay interesting. They are afraid to have Dexter do anything we may like him less for - but in this kind of storyline those instances are understandable.
I hope season 6 has something new to bring to the table, and not just another "Dexter discovers this person is a killer too, and has to get them before the police" storyline. I still think its a great show and will continue to watch, I just hate seeing it take a step down when it had every reason to go up.
I'll be surprised if it ever tops season 4.
SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS
SPOILERS!
Of course season 5 starts directly where 4 ended, just as it should have. Rita had just been killed. Quinn thinks Dexter did it. This setup left a tremendous opening for the greatest season yet, which I felt they dropped the ball on. For the first time we thought we would see a Dexter unable to control his anger. After all, what he had been working for years to build had just been completely destroyed (pretty much by his own hand). Season 4 dealt with Dexter realizing that his wife and family werent just a cover anymore, but that he actually loved them and started to believe one day he could be free of the "dark passenger".
So, anyway, the FIRST episode of season 5 dealt with this well. Dexter kills that dude in the bathroom for no real reason other than he was an a-hole. This is the first time we saw Dexter in a rage. Something actually made him feel something. But it wasnt in the way he had been hoping. The first deciding to run, but then staying for the kids - when this episode ended, I thought, "this is gonna be good".
I never thought that about any of the other episodes.
Things were just so all over the place. The whole story line about the Santa Muerte stuff, IMO, seemed so boring I was convinced it was intentional to drop some huge bombshell at the end regarding it. But... well, nothing really happened.
This season, more than any other, is the one that should have been WITHOUT any love interest for Dexter. The whole Lumen story could have been left just as it was, just without it being a love story. It had the perfect setup too: Dexter couldnt be with anyone because he would feel he was endangering them, and Lumen couldnt be with anyone because of what she had gone through. Then we are supposed to believe months after Rita's death, these two are jumping in the sack together? Its just not believeable. All I got from this love story was that Dexter was an a**hole.
Now lets get to the Quinn/Liddy storyline. My first thoughts were "Man, Quinn's gonna be dead, just like Doakes was when started investigating Dexter". "But surely they wont just have the same thing happen again, so this will be interesting". And it was, up till the final episode. Let me get this straight - Quinn, who believes Dexter killed his own wife, hires a PI to watch him - who then gets pictures of what appear to be Dexter dumping a body in the ocean. Then, the very same PI turns up dead, during his surveillance of Dexter, no less. Quinn is suspected of killing him, but because he likes Dexter's sister, doesnt want to say what his connection to Liddy was. SO, AFTER DEXTER FIXES A DNA TEST TO CLEAR QUINN, OF A CRIME HE KNOWS HE DIDNT DO, AND SHOULD KNOW DEXTER DID, HE DECIDES HE'S GONNA DROP IT ALL. I mean, wouldnt Quinn be convinced now, more than ever, that Dexter killed Rita? It just didnt make any sense. And that was the part of the storyline I had the biggest problem with.
When this season started I really felt like literally anything could happen. It was just a giant missed opportunity in my mind. I thought for sure a main character would discover who Dexter was in this season. I thought for sure a main character would die. I thought for sure SOMETHING significant would happen. By the end of this season everything was the same as when it started. I feel like the writers of the show are afraid to make any drastic changes to the characters or storyline. But things need to change for it to stay interesting. They are afraid to have Dexter do anything we may like him less for - but in this kind of storyline those instances are understandable.
I hope season 6 has something new to bring to the table, and not just another "Dexter discovers this person is a killer too, and has to get them before the police" storyline. I still think its a great show and will continue to watch, I just hate seeing it take a step down when it had every reason to go up.
I'll be surprised if it ever tops season 4.
Solo4114
Master Member
Well said. It gets to a lot of my points about how the season felt like it was treading water. Many of the same "thrills" were employed again that we've seen now in FOUR previous seasons. The season seemed to be very much a recycling of previous elements, and it really hammered home for me the sense that the writers were unsure of where to go after Rita's death.
There seemed to be initial starts in one direction or another but they just went nowhere. Emotionally, I felt like I'd had a great thrill ride, but upon further reflection...it was a lot of missed opportunities.
MORE SPOILERS BELOW
The Quinn subplot seemed largely pointless to me, except to showcase Desmond Harrington's acting chops -- which I will say proved formidable. The guy has terrific screen presence and I'm surprised he wasn't killed off so he could take the lead in some other show. But yeah, when you think about it, EMOTIONALLY it makes sense how that story ended, but RATIONALLY it's completely screwed up.
With the Lumen plot...I think it at once went too much and not far enough in a particular direction. One of the big themes in the series has been that, while Dexter had Rita, he never felt he could be open with her about who he is. In each season, there's been a character (other than Harry) who could have really understood him, but in each case, who ended up having it fizzle, usually violently. Season 1 had Rudy. Season 2 had Lila. Season 3 had...uh...Jimmy Smitts (forget his character's name). Season 4 had Trinity. Season 5 had Lumen. It's a recurrent theme, but the big difference with Lumen was that he could have actually built a life with her, and to me, that seems FAR more interesting than the same old "And then she left me, and now here I am, a lonely psycho once again." Didn't we come in to this season at EXACTLY this point?
About the only good thing that happened this season was him jettisoning the kids. That's the only MAJOR progress I felt the character made.
Likewise with the Deb subplot. I mean, if ANY season should've revealed Dexter to Deb, LAST season should've been it. The whole scene in that basement was just asinine. And, again, NOTHING CHANGES.
END OF SPOILERS
Here's what I'd like to see moving forward:
- Dexter either finally accepts who he is and becomes a lone wolf, or finds someone he can genuinely be himself with who loves him anyway. Maybe that'd Deb, maybe it's someone else, but enough of introducing "this season's romance/bromance."
- No more BS with "ooooooh is he gonna get caught?!" You've played that card one too many times. If he does now, it'll just **** people off. If he doesn't, it's just the same old crap you've pulled every OTHER season that we KNOW will go nowhere. Oh noes! Masuka may have witnessed him punching a dude and shoving him in his car! Oh heavens! A kill room was discovered! Oh gracious! There's a police chase happening RIGHT NOW and Dexter may get caught!! HOW WILL HE ESCAPE?! Know what? I don't care. The how of it no longer interests me. I'm tired of the manipulation. Find a new song to play.
- I'd like to see a WORTHY badguy. The one thing I DID like about last season was the return to form of hunting down multiple people with a larger target looming in the background. That, to me, reminded me a lot of Season 1, and S1 is definitely my fav. I'd appreciate it if this season was NOT "Another killer who instantly recognizes Dexter and then effs with him POSSIBLY LEADING TO HIM GETTING CAUGHT!! (except not)"
- It'd be nice if Dexter didn't spend the ENTIRE season trying to clean up some botched kill he made in the first three episodes...
- LaGuerta/Angel. Enough of the soap opera crap. Are they still in love? Did LaGuerta boff someone to get her job years back? Can Angel control his temper? I don't care anymore. They're talented actors, but these characters should NOT be so prominent.
- Lastly, wrap it up. This should be the final season. Go out on a strong note instead of just rehashing the same stuff over and over again. And be REALLY CAREFUL in plotting the season. No more crap like Santa Muerte, which by the way reminded me of the dude from Season 3 who would skin people -- basically a non-story. The Santa Muerte stuff was totally pointless, though.
I think the writers know how to hit their emotional marks, but it's a sort of empty emotion that doesn't lead to character growth. As I mentioned, I felt much the same way about Six Feet Under in the last two seasons. Everyone seemed to be treading water. The finale of that show -- at least the last 10 min of it -- was just fantastic, but the rest of it...eh...probably went on a season or two too long. Wrap it up, keep it tight, and go out with a bang.
There seemed to be initial starts in one direction or another but they just went nowhere. Emotionally, I felt like I'd had a great thrill ride, but upon further reflection...it was a lot of missed opportunities.
MORE SPOILERS BELOW
The Quinn subplot seemed largely pointless to me, except to showcase Desmond Harrington's acting chops -- which I will say proved formidable. The guy has terrific screen presence and I'm surprised he wasn't killed off so he could take the lead in some other show. But yeah, when you think about it, EMOTIONALLY it makes sense how that story ended, but RATIONALLY it's completely screwed up.
With the Lumen plot...I think it at once went too much and not far enough in a particular direction. One of the big themes in the series has been that, while Dexter had Rita, he never felt he could be open with her about who he is. In each season, there's been a character (other than Harry) who could have really understood him, but in each case, who ended up having it fizzle, usually violently. Season 1 had Rudy. Season 2 had Lila. Season 3 had...uh...Jimmy Smitts (forget his character's name). Season 4 had Trinity. Season 5 had Lumen. It's a recurrent theme, but the big difference with Lumen was that he could have actually built a life with her, and to me, that seems FAR more interesting than the same old "And then she left me, and now here I am, a lonely psycho once again." Didn't we come in to this season at EXACTLY this point?
About the only good thing that happened this season was him jettisoning the kids. That's the only MAJOR progress I felt the character made.
Likewise with the Deb subplot. I mean, if ANY season should've revealed Dexter to Deb, LAST season should've been it. The whole scene in that basement was just asinine. And, again, NOTHING CHANGES.
END OF SPOILERS
Here's what I'd like to see moving forward:
- Dexter either finally accepts who he is and becomes a lone wolf, or finds someone he can genuinely be himself with who loves him anyway. Maybe that'd Deb, maybe it's someone else, but enough of introducing "this season's romance/bromance."
- No more BS with "ooooooh is he gonna get caught?!" You've played that card one too many times. If he does now, it'll just **** people off. If he doesn't, it's just the same old crap you've pulled every OTHER season that we KNOW will go nowhere. Oh noes! Masuka may have witnessed him punching a dude and shoving him in his car! Oh heavens! A kill room was discovered! Oh gracious! There's a police chase happening RIGHT NOW and Dexter may get caught!! HOW WILL HE ESCAPE?! Know what? I don't care. The how of it no longer interests me. I'm tired of the manipulation. Find a new song to play.
- I'd like to see a WORTHY badguy. The one thing I DID like about last season was the return to form of hunting down multiple people with a larger target looming in the background. That, to me, reminded me a lot of Season 1, and S1 is definitely my fav. I'd appreciate it if this season was NOT "Another killer who instantly recognizes Dexter and then effs with him POSSIBLY LEADING TO HIM GETTING CAUGHT!! (except not)"
- It'd be nice if Dexter didn't spend the ENTIRE season trying to clean up some botched kill he made in the first three episodes...
- LaGuerta/Angel. Enough of the soap opera crap. Are they still in love? Did LaGuerta boff someone to get her job years back? Can Angel control his temper? I don't care anymore. They're talented actors, but these characters should NOT be so prominent.
- Lastly, wrap it up. This should be the final season. Go out on a strong note instead of just rehashing the same stuff over and over again. And be REALLY CAREFUL in plotting the season. No more crap like Santa Muerte, which by the way reminded me of the dude from Season 3 who would skin people -- basically a non-story. The Santa Muerte stuff was totally pointless, though.
I think the writers know how to hit their emotional marks, but it's a sort of empty emotion that doesn't lead to character growth. As I mentioned, I felt much the same way about Six Feet Under in the last two seasons. Everyone seemed to be treading water. The finale of that show -- at least the last 10 min of it -- was just fantastic, but the rest of it...eh...probably went on a season or two too long. Wrap it up, keep it tight, and go out with a bang.
CONTINUE SPOILERS
This is true, but essentially goes against the whole bottom line of the show - Dexter is alone, and always will be. He's a human/monster hybrid who's constantly trying to find the best of both worlds. Thats the ongoing conflict of the series. If he had stayed with Lumen then that would be the end of the story. Not that it wouldnt make sense, be interesting, or plausible, its just not "what the show is about".
This and Breaking Bad are my 2 favorite series right now, and theres an amazing amount of similarities between the 2.
SPOILERS WITHIN SPOILERS - BREAKING BAD
Both series are about a man with a big secret, especially from their families. Both men hide pieces of their secrets in their vents. Both have a family member in the police department, whose specialty is the illegal activity they partake in. Both are killers. Both had pregnant wives/babies on the show. Both talk to the babies about what they do since they cant tell anyone else. And ironically, Michael C Hall had cancer and went into remission in real life while Walter White (the main character on BB) had cancer and went into remission on the show. There are much more similarities I had noticed but I'm drawing blank right now...
What makes me put Breaking Bad over Dexter? Basically... plausibility. Every season of BB is so different from the other, and rightfully so. It only took the wife on BB 2 seasons to find out what her husband was up to. The series started with a friendly, timid high school teacher who by the end of the third season was murdering drug dealers. While BB uses the same "almost getting caught" gimmick as Dexter, it is pulled off much more realistically and uniquely each time. And, sometimes, he DOES get caught. On BB we see a different character each season who has changed based on his experiences. The writers arent afraid to make him a b**tard that sometimes you arent so much rooting for.
2 great, great shows - I just think Breaking Bad "gets" why its good a little more.
This is true, but essentially goes against the whole bottom line of the show - Dexter is alone, and always will be. He's a human/monster hybrid who's constantly trying to find the best of both worlds. Thats the ongoing conflict of the series. If he had stayed with Lumen then that would be the end of the story. Not that it wouldnt make sense, be interesting, or plausible, its just not "what the show is about".
This and Breaking Bad are my 2 favorite series right now, and theres an amazing amount of similarities between the 2.
SPOILERS WITHIN SPOILERS - BREAKING BAD
Both series are about a man with a big secret, especially from their families. Both men hide pieces of their secrets in their vents. Both have a family member in the police department, whose specialty is the illegal activity they partake in. Both are killers. Both had pregnant wives/babies on the show. Both talk to the babies about what they do since they cant tell anyone else. And ironically, Michael C Hall had cancer and went into remission in real life while Walter White (the main character on BB) had cancer and went into remission on the show. There are much more similarities I had noticed but I'm drawing blank right now...
What makes me put Breaking Bad over Dexter? Basically... plausibility. Every season of BB is so different from the other, and rightfully so. It only took the wife on BB 2 seasons to find out what her husband was up to. The series started with a friendly, timid high school teacher who by the end of the third season was murdering drug dealers. While BB uses the same "almost getting caught" gimmick as Dexter, it is pulled off much more realistically and uniquely each time. And, sometimes, he DOES get caught. On BB we see a different character each season who has changed based on his experiences. The writers arent afraid to make him a b**tard that sometimes you arent so much rooting for.
2 great, great shows - I just think Breaking Bad "gets" why its good a little more.
ghostryder
Legendary Member
Solo4114
Master Member
I actually think we're beyond spoilers and into generic territory again, so I'm not gonna bother tagging here.
I see what you're saying, but I think that's kind of my point too -- the show is getting (for me at least) a bit tired in terms of what it explores. Ok, fine, Dexter is forever alone. Dexter is a monster. Great. So, why then does EVERY SINGLE SEASON have him finding a "new best friend" to hang out with...and then kill or have leave him? One could argue "it's the central point of dramatic tension for the series," and that's fine...but they way they explore it now it's just gotten tired and predictable. Same deal with "Will he get caught?!" and "Will Deb find out?!"
This is what I mean about how the show seems to be treading water. That may be the central tension in the show, but there's only so long you can maintain tension before it just gets boring and folks like myself are saying "Haven't we seen this movie before?" Ultimately, that's my issue with the show -- it's not progressing. It's not changing, it's not evolving. I don't mind that with shows, but each season of Dexter seems to recycle major elements of last season (and by extension, the season before that, and before that, etc.).
I suppose you can maintain some of these central tensions (Deb finding out, Dexter finally making a lasting connection, Dexter maybe getting caught), but you've got to progress the show otherwise. Rita's death at the end of Season 4 seemed to me (much like Dexter's marriage to Rita and the birth of his son) to lay the groundwork for MAJOR change...but each season that groundwork that gets laid doesn't really seem to be mined as effectively as it could've and instead they heavily hit the same old "Big three" themes...which predictably end up going nowhere because "they're the central tensions of the show."
I'd also argue that you don't have to end the show by resolving those tensions. I mean, I realize that we're talking apples to oranges here, but consider for a moment Stargate SG-1. Yeah, really. This show actually progressed more than Dexter has. I know that sounds wacky, especially considering that on SG-1 NOBODY DIED (well, almost nobody), but the plot at least progressed over time. Various badguys were introduced and defeated, yet you could argue that the fight against them was a central tension to the show. Meanwhile, Dexter's still looking for a buddy after 5 seasons. Ironically, to me at least, the main tensions have become akin to the "dramatic tension" of an SG-1 episode. "Oh noes! Will SG-1 make it out of this sticky situation?!" Of course they will. Otherwise the show would end. Duh. And that's fine with SG-1 -- I accept and expect that from the show (it being a 90s terrestrial version of Star Trek).
But Dexter could and should be something better. I've seen the character progress somewhat, but in a sense, he's now a more experienced version of the same character he was at the start of Season 1. Or at the start of Season 5 because, boy, did THAT season go nowhere, really. All of this is not to say that the show isn't entertaining. It is, of course. Just as SG-1 is entertaining to me in its own way. But with Dexter, I expected more than just "Who are the villain and buddy du jour?" coupled with some forced "He might get caught!" drama that always ends up with him escaping.
I see what you're saying, but I think that's kind of my point too -- the show is getting (for me at least) a bit tired in terms of what it explores. Ok, fine, Dexter is forever alone. Dexter is a monster. Great. So, why then does EVERY SINGLE SEASON have him finding a "new best friend" to hang out with...and then kill or have leave him? One could argue "it's the central point of dramatic tension for the series," and that's fine...but they way they explore it now it's just gotten tired and predictable. Same deal with "Will he get caught?!" and "Will Deb find out?!"
This is what I mean about how the show seems to be treading water. That may be the central tension in the show, but there's only so long you can maintain tension before it just gets boring and folks like myself are saying "Haven't we seen this movie before?" Ultimately, that's my issue with the show -- it's not progressing. It's not changing, it's not evolving. I don't mind that with shows, but each season of Dexter seems to recycle major elements of last season (and by extension, the season before that, and before that, etc.).
I suppose you can maintain some of these central tensions (Deb finding out, Dexter finally making a lasting connection, Dexter maybe getting caught), but you've got to progress the show otherwise. Rita's death at the end of Season 4 seemed to me (much like Dexter's marriage to Rita and the birth of his son) to lay the groundwork for MAJOR change...but each season that groundwork that gets laid doesn't really seem to be mined as effectively as it could've and instead they heavily hit the same old "Big three" themes...which predictably end up going nowhere because "they're the central tensions of the show."
I'd also argue that you don't have to end the show by resolving those tensions. I mean, I realize that we're talking apples to oranges here, but consider for a moment Stargate SG-1. Yeah, really. This show actually progressed more than Dexter has. I know that sounds wacky, especially considering that on SG-1 NOBODY DIED (well, almost nobody), but the plot at least progressed over time. Various badguys were introduced and defeated, yet you could argue that the fight against them was a central tension to the show. Meanwhile, Dexter's still looking for a buddy after 5 seasons. Ironically, to me at least, the main tensions have become akin to the "dramatic tension" of an SG-1 episode. "Oh noes! Will SG-1 make it out of this sticky situation?!" Of course they will. Otherwise the show would end. Duh. And that's fine with SG-1 -- I accept and expect that from the show (it being a 90s terrestrial version of Star Trek).
But Dexter could and should be something better. I've seen the character progress somewhat, but in a sense, he's now a more experienced version of the same character he was at the start of Season 1. Or at the start of Season 5 because, boy, did THAT season go nowhere, really. All of this is not to say that the show isn't entertaining. It is, of course. Just as SG-1 is entertaining to me in its own way. But with Dexter, I expected more than just "Who are the villain and buddy du jour?" coupled with some forced "He might get caught!" drama that always ends up with him escaping.
vaderdarth
Master Member
Love the show, Season 4 and 5 finales my favorites so far. Looking forward to 6.
Solo it sounds like you and I are in total agreement about where this show is going. You're right - even if it goes against what the show has been - finally finding and staying with somebody would, if nothing else, be new and different. I never care much for romantic subplots anyway, but it is relevant. I was most excited to see where the Quinn storyline would go, and that proved most dissapointing of all, IMO. There was absolutely no cliffhanger to the season, which shows like this thrive on. Despite all the things they should have done differently, they should have AT LEAST just left you wondering what was going to happen to Quinn.
MelMWells
Active Member
Very good point, I do have to agree with you there. How many times is he almost going to get caught? Sometimes it's so obvious that he's hiding something and yet, no one figures it out lol....
(Sigh) Me too!!! :lol
It's true, I have to agree with that....
Me too!
I have to agree with all of the above...Well, except the part where Dexter should go with Deb ewww...They grew up as brother and sister, too gross lol...
d_jedi1
Sr Member
Whats wrong babe? you afraid of the ole "Brady Bop"??? :love
you know... you do look a little bit like you could be my sister (if I had one). :lol :angel
It will be interesting though to see if the 2 of them splitting up in real life has any impact on their characters' interactions on the show...
