Dexter - "If I Had a Hammer" - 11/01/09

[MrX]

"If I Had a Hammer"

Spoiler:

Dexter knows it’s only a matter of time before Miami Metro discovers the Trinity Killer’s latest handiwork. Therefore, he has to work doubly hard to stay one step ahead of their investigation. Dexter has begun to realize that the closer he gets to Trinity, the more he stands to learn from this very different beast. Trinity hides behind a well-kept mask, and getting behind that facade will require some extra prodding on Dexter’s part. Meanwhile, Debra becomes frustrated when she finds herself shut out from her own case. She considers bending the rules in the name of justice, risking her career in the process. LaGuerta and Batista come to regret a major decision, and realize that by playing by the rules they may have painted themselves into a corner. And when the friction between Rita and Dexter comes to a head, Dexter gleans relationship advice from a most unlikely source.

[DJariya]

Just got caught up with last week's episode. Really good season thus far. I was surprised to see the Trinity killer bludgeon the sandwich/coffee guy. That was a pretty grusome death.

Trinity seems like a very good nemesis to Dexter.

The only thing that's a little annoying is Rita once again having trust issues with Dex mostly because of his damn apartment.

[OscarBluth]

I hate Deb.

[DGibFen]

It's amazing how closely they've taken Trinity's character from the "BTK Killer" Dennis Rader.

[Ginwen]

Good episode, but Rita is totally getting on my nerves.

[Vipper II]

Originally Posted by Ginwen

Good episode, but Rita is totally getting on my nerves.

But the thing is, she's completely justified in the way she's acting towards Dexter.

[actionjackson29]

But who the hell cares about it, though. I hate the feelings that Dexter is having about his family and his sister. That he would be lost or can't live without them. I liked the show better when he was just pretending and didn't really care about anyone.

[Groucho]

Originally Posted by actionjackson29

I hate the feelings that Dexter is having about his family and his sister. That he would be lost or can't live without them. I liked the show better when he was just pretending and didn't really care about anyone.

Dexter is an unreliable narrator. He's always had feelings for all of them, just not on a conscious level. It's been a running theme since the beginning of the show.

[chrisih8u]

I wouldn't be surprised if Trinity's wife knows that he's a killer.

[SpinalGuffman]

Loved the look to the camera at the end. "You have dangerous things in there."

I think Trinity's kids might know too...

[riley_dude]

Originally Posted by Ginwen

Good episode, but Rita is totally getting on my nerves.

Everyone I know, myself included feels Rita should be killed because she is beyond annoying. Kindve a thankless role since if anyone watched Angel, Julie Benz was so much better.

[PopcornTreeCt]

It would be interesting to see Rita die and send Dexter over the edge.

[Coral]

Originally Posted by chrisih8u

I wouldn't be surprised if Trinity's wife knows that he's a killer.

It's a possibility, but I think the prediction I made in the previous thread may actually be correct where:

Spoiler:

Trinity's son knows and may be the one who killed Lundy and shot Deb. They focused in on him a bit and they made sure to state that Trinity gave him his beloved car "a few days ago". Possibly a reward for helping him out? Plus his son basically states that the family never fights, his parents are cool and seems to have a great appreciation for his dad. The family seems too perfect to be normal. If this is accurate, then Dexter will wonder if his son carries some of his traits.

[MrX]

meh episode

Don't get the Rita hate, with her past with men she is going to have major trust issues and Dexter isn't doing much to alleviate those. Deb is still much more annoying.

[Josh-da-man]

Originally Posted by Groucho

Dexter is an unreliable narrator. He's always had feelings for all of them, just not on a conscious level. It's been a running theme since the beginning of the show.

Yeah, he's never been the sociopath he thinks he is. He's always shown a lot of affection to the people around him, though he doesn't seem to realize it, and just thinks he's doing it to fit in.

He's actually closer to Deborah than most people are to their own siblings. And he's a great step-father, too.

[wmansir]

Originally Posted by Groucho

Dexter is an unreliable narrator. He's always had feelings for all of them, just not on a conscious level. It's been a running theme since the beginning of the show.

I agree. I've read the first two books, where his is much more of the emotionless monster he imagines himself to be in the series, and I think the series made a good choice to humanize him.

Re: Rita. I think the major problem is they haven't added to her character. The first season she was a good, damaged, character. Now she's like Stepford wife. The white washing of her character (and the kids too) enhances the contrast in Dexter's dual lifes, but I don't think it's good for the series as a whole. She was attracted to and married an abusive drunk, the kids were fathered and raised by an abusive drunk, but you can hardly see any of that in the show today.

[riley_dude]

Originally Posted by wmansir

I agree. I've read the first two books, where his is much more of the emotionless monster he imagines himself to be in the series, and I think the series made a good choice to humanize him.

Re: Rita. I think the major problem is they haven't added to her character. The first season she was a good, damaged, character. Now she's like Stepford wife. The white washing of her character (and the kids too) enhances the contrast in Dexter's dual lifes, but I don't think it's good for the series as a whole. She was attracted to and married an abusive drunk, the kids were fathered and raised by an abusive drunk, but you can hardly see any of that in the show today.

There arent any layers to her character. She is not only drab but a whiner.

[Groucho]

I want more scenes with Rita dealing with unreasonable hotel guests.

[mugwump]

I'm just jealous of Dexter's new Man Shed. I want one. But not for storing my serial killer paraphernalia. Honest.

[mkowalski99]

Dumb question but was

Spoiler:

Trinity the one who killed his family and he is now simply recreating his murders? Or did someone else kill them and he is recreating the kills as an act of vengeance?

[celmendo]

Originally Posted by mkowalski99

Dumb question but was

Spoiler:

Trinity the one who killed his family and he is now simply recreating his murders? Or did someone else kill them and he is recreating the kills as an act of vengeance?

Yeah, same question here. I was half paying attention at that point (cooking) and am unclear about that.

I get the Deb hate, even though I like her, but not Rita. I think she's doing the best she can with what they've given her. It's the writers' fault that her character is so all over the place and underdeveloped. She's now just the nagging wife caricature and they could do so much more with her since she's a good actress. Hopefully they're building up to that.

I agree about Trinity's family being involved or at least knowing about him and maybe Dexter will finally tell Rita and get her character rolling in the drama.

[Raul3]

Originally Posted by mkowalski99

Dumb question but was

Spoiler:

Trinity the one who killed his family and he is now simply recreating his murders? Or did someone else kill them and he is recreating the kills as an act of vengeance?

I don't think this needs an spoiler. We are talking about theories here.

My theory is that no, he didn't kill them.

[Poink]

We don't know all of Trinity's history yet; we can only speculate.

I think it's obvious that he killed his father at least, given the violent nature of the murder as well as the things he said when killing the coffee shop guy.

The other two deaths could be considered suicides technically, so the general theory is: Abusive father, sister & mother commit suicide, Trinity kills father. Only now he needs to work himself up to the final kill by re-creating the deaths of the sister and mother.

Although who knows, maybe he did kill them all. That's why we keep watching.

[Ovid]

Originally Posted by Vipper II

But the thing is, she's completely justified in the way she's acting towards Dexter.

The problem I have with Rita is it is not a consistent character progression. She was someone who could not tolerate sexual or real intimate contact a few seasons ago and now she is this completely normal caring wife?

On the other hand, she may be sabotaging a relationship that actually is getting to intimate (close) as abuse survivors do...

[Ovid]

Originally Posted by Josh-da-man

Yeah, he's never been the sociopath he thinks he is. He's always shown a lot of affection to the people around him, though he doesn't seem to realize it, and just thinks he's doing it to fit in.

He's actually closer to Deborah than most people are to their own siblings. And he's a great step-father, too.

I think this fits the narrative. He isn't a true biological sociopath. His state comes from his extreme childhood trauma. His lack of feelings and self stimulation are way of coping with that trauma. As he progresses, these things don't work as well, and the real emotions are being reveled/causing problems.