'Dexter's' Pregnant Pause

By LillyKat
PTR Senior Staff Writer

Again, apologies for the lateness on this recap; traveling to/from a trade show in Chicago last/this week has seriously wreaked havoc on my TV viewing. Alas, better late than never.

So Dex is preggers, eh?

OK, not really.

Technically, Rita is preggers, but hey, it’s like the same thing.

And oh what a tangled web of questions we weave as to just exactly how good of a father Dex would be.

Or not.

This is a genius twist to the already complex characterization of Dexter Morgan. And what about Rita giving him the option to participate (or not) given she’s going to have the baby irregardless? Do we love Rita, or do we love Rita? We.Love.Rita.

Aside from the obvious distraction of her delicate state, I have to say what didn’t click for me this week was the insta-bond best friend thing between Miguel and Dex (not that I mind having Michael C. Hall and Jimmy Smits in scene after scene – they do rock it).

I just can’t quite go there as yet. Maybe it’s because I’ve been so used to two straight seasons of Sergeant Doakes’ out – to – get – Dex – at – all - costs routine that Miguel’s insta-buddy version seems too … Convenient? Easy? And yet, given how good this writing staff is, I am inclined to believe this is a set-up and/or that it’s going to be tipped on its ear soon. If not, that’s OK. I don’t mind having Dex actually have someone on his side for a change. I just didn’t expect it to be in two episodes or less.

Along those lines, I was having a tough time buying Miguel’s stalking of Freebo, which interrupted Dex’s kill zone and had him fibbing once again about being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Since Miguel was there to do some dirty work on his own (read: kill Freebo), he bought it.

‘kay, again … kind of a stretch, but OK. I guess I’ll buy Miguel’s anger – rage – will - do – anything - to - avenge - baby - bro’s - death mentality. As we know, desperate people do desperate things, and I can understand Miguel being in that kind of state at the moment. It's one of the things I enjoyed about the character introduction in last week's premiere (and Smits' portrayal). But again, just a little too convenient to be there right as Dex is slicing and dicing. Or to be, like, “Hey, thanks!”

And again ... can Lieutenant LaGuerta just.go.away? I swear, she is just the biggest annoyance of a character. Her scenes with Miguel were so awkwardly awkward. Seriously awkward. I don't know if Lauren Velez is over matched by Jimmy Smits' talent or what, but wow ... I could do without her for the rest of the season.

On the Deb front this week … still being pursued by IA. And I still love Jennifer Carpenter. But her outburst of desperation at the bar trying to get a lead in the the Freebo case … what was up with that? It seemed kinda weird. She’s been determined and focused to crack cases before, but she hasn’t lost it like that. Dunno. Weird, but I’ll go with it.

Now what I did really enjoy was that IA called her on the fact she has no life (a page out of Lilly Rush’s book). Freakin’ funny. “What the hell is scrapbooking?”

Given she’s been almost killed by a serial killer and had a pretty good albeit older guy take an assignment halfway across the country, she’s fallen on some downer times at the moment. I’m going to have a little more faith the writers will not allow her to fall off the face of the earth a la Lilly’s zombie routine.

‘Cause we know how much fun that was to watch.

For two seasons.

Oy.

So call me curious and confused on this ep of Dex.

Bring on next week.

New episodes of Dexter air Sunday at 9 p.m. on Showtime. Check out the official Dexter Web site for the inside scoop on the series.