My Bad

You love this man. Anything bad to dexter can break us. This whole episode is that. And man, do we love dexter??

This episode has One of the finest writings, and one could assume they could have written the whole season about grief, and it would have worked out well.

Astor was a surprise.

Bringing in Julia Stiles is a fine choice, considering the emotional turmoil, and his emotional needs. Also, she is apt to be the She-hero, and a match to Michael C Hall.

In so many way, this season is close to my heart. Though, one could say the 4th season is pretty interesting.

Long live John Lithgow!!!!!!?

Despite the pesky Batista-LaGuerta relationship the fourth season was exceptional. Lost Boys and The Getaway will be remembered as two of the most inspiring, shocking and fascinating episodes ever aired on TV. From its masterful performances to its controversial concept Dexter will never stop to amaze me. There're shows that quickly jump the shark but in this case the great white is not a match for our favorite monster next door. He's just too different.

After the finale dramatic events, like many viewers, I had a few theories about what would happen next. But puzzled and devastated I also felt quite lost. However if we pay attention the moments we share with the Morgan family can only make us stronger. They should open your mind to the wild and wide complexity and ambivalence of the world. We all have an eight passenger lurking in the dark and trying to unleash its fury against us. Some people bury themselves under work, others passively pray all day long hoping for the light to knock at their door step. The show is so literate and deep that most episodes deserve a second viewing. My Bad is no different from its peers.

First of all the dream team behind "Debxter" did it the hard way. 28 days later ? Make it a second ! We witnessed the wicked twins deal with their happy ever after fate. Of course it was captivating and emotionally overwhelming but somehow Michael C. Hall wasn't at his best in my humble opinion. He was great but not as convincing as usual. It's like if he allowed his mask to cool off for too long. Or maybe it's just that his vision is different than mine, so obviously more accurate. Otherwise the family reunion he was featured in was the most tragic and hilarious I have ever seen. It was just a smart and bold move by the writers. It also reassured me about the unlimited potential of the fifth season. However I question the approach imagined to better comprehend our serial killer. It's not original compared to the way his father pops up from nowhere and I found these scenes weren't well blended with the others. I wish they had been more creative and thought something out of the box instead of sticking to an overused recipe. But its execution was well done and in fact I have to admit that it made me want for more, much much more !

As for the other characters they remained themselves, with a twist. Subjectively Jennifer Carpenter is a screen goddess. Seriously I appreciate the way her exquisite skills are used. She's a weapon of mass creation ! Deb is the perfect match for Dex. They're more than just sister and brother. They're the tentacles of a unique, tortured and beautiful amphibious creature. Of course compared to other episodes like Easy as Pie her performance was less excessive because it was more about Hall. But I really like her pants, or not, and can't wait for her inevitable moments. Indeed I suspect the puppet masters have planned something very special for her this season. Her development in the pilot had already a few sparkles but I'm sure the best is yet to come. Let's also not forget to mention the Vince attitude, whom revelations were pivotal, and the Batista-LaGuerta mumbo jumbo that finally made sense when I never expected it would. Am I happy for them ? Oh yeah !

It leads us to the story, intense and unpredictable. The beginning was linear but their adventure quickly became mazy and you should quickly lost your reason between its hazy lines. From its indecisive partners to its ultimate pinnacle the journey wasn't flawless but overall it was a bitter delicious way to begin the season. Moreover its abrupt ending should make you hungry for next week so you better full your belly before enduring My Bad because when it comes to Dexter missing it is not excusable, it's lethal.

Alright I hope you all know about the huge twist at the end of season 4. You would think that because of this the tempo would be sustained from season 4 and the two seasons would be heavily intertwined. Apparently this was not what the writers had in mind, as this season looks to resolve the loose ends of the previous season quickly and become a more or less stand alone season like 1 2 and 3.

That's not to say it was bad. Most of the episode was told from inside Dexter's head about his thoughts on the situation. Which is enjoyable as always as Michael C Hall doesn't seem slowed at all by his cancer. Only time will tell if this season can play off the twist of season 4 effectively to not only bring a good Dexter plot we're all used to, but one that hasn't been done before.

8/10

Perhaps the most impressive episode of Dexter, or indeed any television series in recent memory. Every second is memorable; the viewer's emotions are constantly torn. From Michael C. Hall to Julie Benz, every acting performance is superb. It is difficult to imagine a superior premiere. In fact, one wonders how "My Bad" can possibly be topped. Every time the viewer thinks the intensity cannot increase, they are hit with something else they have totally forgotten. And even with the episode's deathly demeanor, dark and devilishly pointed irony remains. Dexter must be considered one of the best, if not the best, shows on television. season five has completely lived up to the hype for now. A masterpiece.

I recently rewatched seasons 1-4, and considered stopping there. Most people, and my memory of it as well, rate seasons 5-8 of Dexter's original run as a long slow decline, wrapping up with a very unsatisfying ending.

So the almost uniform dislike of season 5 hung as a warning sign; until I saw the episode ratings on this site. So in the "8" range.

The season couldn't be all that bad then, could it?

As a matter of fact, yes it could. And is.

First the positives: Hall in his career defining role still gamely plunges ahead. Julia Stiles, as Lumen, turns in a pretty good performance too.

The rest is not good.

Masuka and Deb (Jennifer Carpenter) turn into parodies of their characters. Both forced to say scripted dialogue that strains to scrape the bottom of a profane and sleazy barrel. Cringeworthy to watch.

LaGuerta and Battista's marriage and convoluted emotional dance derails every episode, dumping the stupidity and immature behavior all over the central plot. Let's take one of the goofiest, but likable characters and have them bond with the nastiest and LEAST likable character. Whoever thought that was a good idea should have been fired. In the very first episode of year one Batista was asking Junior high level questions about romance from Dexter, and LaGuerta was sexually harassing Dexter. Weird evolution for those two.

Dexter's ability to sidestep his almost confession "It was me" when the EMTs show up in episode one, turns into a nothing burger, created by some stupendously bad writing.

The convenient offloading of Cody and Astor didn't make sense, but at least allowed the plots to move forward. Until Astor shows up as a stereotypical angry teen.

Dexter's difficulty in managing Harrison's care is not written well, or well acted. It's a mess.

Then, the central plot arc for the season's villain is a muddled mess. Starting with a doofus animal control nerd, to a gang of white guys hunting women, and ending with a comic book level villain in Johnny Lee Miller (a great actor not served well).

So, why and how did this happen? And why does it get worse in the later seasons?

When a TV series really hits with audiences, there are many budget problems. After season two or three they have to renegotiate with the lead actors, and series regulars.

Killing Rita off, dispensing with Cody and Astor, relegating Harrison to a babysitter who apparently has no life other than taking care of him, removing Captain Matthews from storylines, and maintaining the Miami locale all saved money. Lots of money.

Towards the end, the writing staff completely changed, which means pros who knew their characters aren't around anymore to prevent bad writing and character errors.

Child actors, in addition to being sometimes difficult, also have to be written around due to child labor laws. Bye-bye Astor, Cody and Harrison except for cameos.

I vote 5 stars.