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Episode Recap: "That Night, a Forest Grew"
Though I have no idea how the title related to this ep, a better one might have been "Requiem for Demonic Dexter." Dexter continued to try to alter the monster within and with each week of "recovery" gets closer and closer to taming the wild beast. I must say they are pulling out all the stops in the second season of Dexter. This is the antithesis of the sophomore slump. If anything, Dexter has gotten even better this time around.
Dexter decided to control the actions of Lundy and his task force with his "Presto Manifesto." In an action designed to force the force to run "scattershot," Dex offered them the scent of another dog that led them down a dead-end trail. However, it really didn’t matter, because with Chopin’s help, (Nocturne No. 2 in E flat major, to be exact), Lundy put some of the pieces together and figured out the Bay Harbor Butcher is in law enforcement. Wow, he’s good.
Say what you will, Lila, but Dexter not only took control of his feelings, but those of Doakes and of you, Lila. As Lila helped Dexter find this control, she lost it and he was subjected to her manipulative ways.
Speaking of taking control of one’s feelings, in what should have been a touching scene (but which I found unpleasant), Debra’s feelings towards Lundy went from familial to romantic. Deb's crush on Lundy was inappropriate since she has been leaning on him more like a father. Though he had said earlier, "You’re rubbing off on me, Morgan," he tried to knock her off the track. "I’ve got plaque in my arteries. I know the lyrics to elevator music. My hair isn’t getting any thicker." They kissed anyhow. Is that a little incestuous, or is it just me? Any relationship where the individual participants say, "Truth speaks to me from a peaceful place" and "I thrive on chaos," is going to have a difficult time finding commonalities. But if there’s anything good to come of a relationship between Deb and Lundy, it is that Deb broke up with Gabriel because "smokin’ hot body" or not, I couldn’t take his strange way of talking.
Debra is so desperate to be in a normal relationship in her life that she got ticked off at Dex for throwing away his relationship with "doe-eyed" Rita for the sexy Lila. Until the ending of this ep, I was mad at her for even suggesting it was any of her business. However, when Lila the drama queen resorted to burning her artwork and studio, I was in total agreement with Deb. Dexter has really lost his marbles if he plans on choosing Lila over Rita. (Did Lila go off because someone accepted her art and therefore accepted her as an artist, or just because she is just good-old-fashioned jealous? Why would she burn her whole apartment down? More importantly, what does the light in the hallway make Dexter wonder about?
Best lines:
"I’ve always found instruction manuals quite useful."
"Bulls--t, I never laughed."
"Dexter says it should be fun." "Dexter does drugs."
Rita’s obnoxious, control-freak mother really got it good when Rita told her she needed to go home. That was a few weeks in the making. JoBeth Williams has been incredible as Rita’s micromanaging mother and I hope this isn’t the last we are going to see of her. Incidentally, Julie Benz looks really good in dark purple.
The lieutenant laid it on the line for Doakes. He needed to leave Dex alone or suffer the consequences; a very nice moment for what came later. Dexter set up Doakes but good. And frankly, even though Doakes knows there’s something fishy about Dexter (and he is right about that), I felt he got what he deserved. The head butt Dexter gave him was fantastic! I did not see that coming. I knew he was setting him up, but holy smokes! That was a stroke of genius and painful to watch. Did you hear the crack? That must have smarted.
OK, total aside, Lila said to Dex, "You live in a nice neighborhood," but I thought he lived on a houseboat. When did he move to a neighborhood?
Lila tried to sway Dexter into thinking that Rita and the kids might be a bad thing for him. But he doesn’t feel clean when he is around Lila. She had thought Dexter was out of Rita and the kids’ lives. Boy is she going to be surprised. When Dex was with Rita and the kids at Cody’s Saudi Arabia preso, he finally understood, "This is the first time since I went into recovery that I actually feel clean."
I suspect a very interesting split coming, and some very nasty repercussions. But from now until the next ep, I’m checking out Dexter in our Online Video Guide. You should, too.
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Nov 11, 2007 7:34 PM
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Anyone here have a guess on the big surprise for the season? I mean, of course, whether Dexter sticks Lila or Doakes with being "the Butcher".
My bet is Doakes. He fits the "law enforcement", gave every appearance of instability, has the physical strength, and has killed multiple times in the line of duty.
I bet ep twelve has Doakes figuring Dex out, just in time to get pinned with the crimes.
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Nov 11, 2007 10:33 PM
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Dex lives in a houseboat?!? No! Unless I'm grossly mistaken, he lives in the second story of a somewhat motel-ish looking apartment complex!
I was intrigued by the fact that when Lila got rebuffed, she immediately started setting fire to things to regain attention. Sorta makes you wonder if her 'accidental' immolation of her earlier boyfriend was all that accidental.
I'm lightly creeped out by the Debra/Lundy thing... I can see Debra latching onto a father figure, especially after the turmoil she's been through and the neglect she suffered from her own father, but Lundy should know better, especially if he's such a genius as far as understanding motivations.
Still, awesome episode.
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Nov 12, 2007 1:00 AM
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That headbutt was amazing! "I own you." Holy crap! Got to be one of the best Dexter moments ever!
I have to disagree with another blogger, it'll be hard to pin Doakes on all of the murders as the Bay Harbor Butcher. Definitely not the private, calculating fellow they are looking for.
Found Lundy's insight that the killer had a law enforcement background to be a bit far-fetched as Dexter admitted himself that he put together the "presto manifesto" from various blogs and sources.
An amazing episode though. Dexter feeling "clean" for the first time with Rita and the kids is an eye-opener. So is the light that worked in her hallway, a reminder of Lila's manipulative ways and how she gets what she wants. I think she caused the fire for a multiple reasons, the acceptance of her art is a big one, and getting Dexter is the major one.
I think it's becoming increasingly more likely that Lila will do something to make herself a suspect for the Bay Harbor Butcher murders. She has probably the troubled background, manipulative personality, and "artistic" macabre connection (as Lundy said) to make it work. Like I said, the law enforcement insight is a bit weak.
I too found the Morgan and Lundy connection a bit incestuous and weird, although there was definite sexual tension between them throughout the season. Morgan is obviously looking for a father figure to help her through the ITK murders. Would she be attracted to him if she wasn't so vulnerable? I think Lundy will be smart enough to figure it out and their "fling" will be brief.
But finally back to Dexter and Lila. I found their relationship fascinating especially in contrast to Rita and the kids. "Clean" is definitely not what you feel when you're with someone like Lila. There are areas of fulfillment that torrid sex doesn't solve, and I think the whole theme of "peace" in the episode highlighted that fact. Great episode.
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Nov 12, 2007 2:30 AM
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I think we established in the first season discussion that the reason some thought Dexter lived on a houseboat was due to a misleading edit. Dexter lives in an apartment complex and has a boat at the marina.
I'm not thinking Doakes or Lila will be set up for the BHB murders, but I am thinking Dexter will have to kill Lila at some point. She's definitely a pyro and if she's as dark and twisted as her artwork indicates, she'll turn out to be prime Code of Harry material.
I think the main reason Lundy realized that the BHB has a law enforcement background is not due to the words of the manifesto, per se, but rather how its scattered philosophies created a specific effect of chaos. Lundy realized that the only way someone could know how to manipulate the investigators this way is to know how they conduct investigations in the first place, vis a vis a law enforcement background.
Deb and Lundy....hmmmm. If I were Lundy, I would be concerned about Deb being damaged goods. Still, he could be a good influence on her.
Dexter's setup of Doakes was spot on. Absolutely brills. Still...I have a bad feeling about all of this. Doakes will be back with a vengeance.
Hooray for Rita standing up to her insufferable mother. I'd have hated having that horrible woman for a teacher. Wait, I did have teachers like that as a kid. Terrible.
I agree that Dexter seeing the working light bulb kind of set off a little light bulb in his head about how conniving Lila can be.
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Nov 12, 2007 2:44 AM
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Why are the writers pushing Rita on us?
I know I'm in the minority on these boards, but I think Rita is just a flat out bad match for Dexter and he always has to pretend to be someone he's not around her.
The conversations Dexter and Lila have had have contained so much more spark, life, and honesty to them.
I think it's unfair that the writers have decided to write Lila as a nutcase (say what you want but she definitely wasn't this before she set her apartment on fire) at the exact moment she seemed to be helping Dexter/be such a good match for him. How many times will Dexter keep killing people that truly get him or make him happy (Rudy, possibly Lila) over people that care about him to the extent he makes them happy (Debra, Rita, Harry)?
And it's all just to keep around a hectoring drag like Rita, a character that's run her course. This is exactly what ruins most great shows, keeping uninteresting characters long past their usefulness or logic to the plot only to satisfy rigid fans that don't want the show to evolve or find fresh angles.
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Nov 12, 2007 2:45 AM
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Rita is a stabilizing influence on Dexter. Lila represents chaos. Lila is, while exciting, ultimately very bad for him. Lila is sexy as hell and clearly good for a romp, but I would marry Rita.
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Nov 12, 2007 3:02 AM
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First of all, I can't believe there is still confusion about where Dexter lives. Man alive.
Interesting ep. Dexter really played Doakes good. I personally wouldn't want to screw with Doakes if I was Dexter. Brilliant set up though. Didn't see that head butt coming. I don't see Dex setting up Doakes or Lila for the murders.
Lila is one messed up woman. I thought she was a little eccentric, but she got some serious issues as well. She has helped Dexter from not killing. But it does seem Dexter is not as nice though. He seems a little darker with the Lila influence.
I still like the Rita character. I think they can still do stuff with the character. I would hate to lose Julie Benz as a regular. Actually I don't want to lose Doakes as a regular either.
I didn't care for the Deb-Lundy kiss either. It was uncomfortable. Lundy seemed uncomfortable with the situation as well. Deb is one messed up woman. The ITK made her even more messed up.
I am curious to see how they resolve the Bay Harbor Butcher storyline. I can't see Dex letting just any random person take the fall for him. The person will have to be a multiple murderer who has gotten off somehow.
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Nov 12, 2007 3:09 AM
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I believe the title comes from the children's book "Where the Wild Things Are"
We see Lila is wild,
Doakes is crazy wild now that Dex has set him up to get fired.
And Dex is wild, what was up with breaking into that house with Lila???
Wild.
hee hee, lot's going on this episode.
I'm wondering when Deb is going to clue in that Dex is the Butcher, she's perhaps to close to put it together.
If she wasn't too busy falling in love with Lundy, she may see the clues!!
And how about setting Rita's mom up, yikes, scary lady!! hahahaha.
Looks like Dex is finally getting his clue about Lila (always getting what she wants)
Deb summed up my feelings for Rita when she said "Who's the skank?" hahahaha
Okay, sorry for all the ramblings, I'm done now!
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Nov 12, 2007 8:39 AM
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ooops, I was wrong, one more thing!
Paula, Dexter seeing the light fixed at Lila's apt. makes him realize that Lila manipulates to get what she wants. After she lies at the restaurant and breaks the light of her landlords apt., he even says to her "you always get what you want".
(she wanted Dex and she got him too!)
Seeing the light bulb fixed also made him see the "light" about Lila. A light bulb went off in his head too! I think he's on to her!!! (mmmmmm, another fire might have helped him see that too!)
man I"m rambly today!!
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Nov 12, 2007 9:03 AM
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I think the reason why Lila burnt down her artwork is because she secretly is an arsonist!!!
Remember in the beginning of the season she made a comment about loving the heat in Miami because "it feels as though the world can just blow up at an instant"? And also she burnt down her ex boyfriends car and "accidentally" he was in the car...
Seems like she has just a big a secret as Dex does.
The only thing I'm confused about is the lit light bulb at the end of the ep. What does that have to do with anything? She mentioned it was because of the wiring...? And I can't believe Dexter is actually enjoying Sex!! and lots of it!! Those scenes were great!
This season is getting so juicy!! I can't handle it!!
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Nov 12, 2007 9:04 AM
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Didn't Lila burn down her ex-boyfriend's house? As I said, she's a pyro.
The landlord fixed Lila's wiring after she broke his lightbulb, so that's why her light was working at the end. Dexter saw that as proof her wily ways are effective.
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Nov 12, 2007 9:22 AM
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I'm surprised how many people were left scratching their heads over the light bulb at the end. There she is, holding him tight, making him promise to never leave her, her apartment burnt to a crisp rather coincidentally at the exact same time Dexter is seeing his ex for the first time since she broke up with him. He then looks up and sees the replaced light bulb, a rather blatant symbol for how Lila always finds a way to get what she wants, by any means necessary.
Dexter is a very smart, insightful guy. He saw the light bulb, thought about the current situation, and made the connection in his mind (possibly only on a subconscious level though). While I don't think he outright believes/knows that she started the fire herself, I would say that a little seed of doubt about her has been planted in the back of his mind. Another act or two like this from her and he'll probably connect the dots.
I have no idea where the season is going. Doakes fits the law enforcement background, but something about having him framed as the BHB seems a bit off to me; can't put my finger on what. Maybe it's just tough to see where they'd go with that in a third season, as I can't imagine they'd get rid of him entirely. Lila does not fit the law enforcement background, but otherwise seems quite possible. She also seems like a very easy target for a season finale kill from Dexter - remember, she has killed before, so once he realizes it was no accident, that's his justification right there. Outside of those two, there really isn't anyone that jumps out as a possibility. The mystery of it all just makes the ride that much more fun though!
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Nov 12, 2007 9:39 AM
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Lundy should have said the BHB is in law enforcement, or watches plenty of TV and movies. Writing a fake manifesto to throw the police off the trail isn't exactly original, and I can't imagine an FBI agent would come to such a conclusion.
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Nov 12, 2007 10:05 AM
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Yes, Dexter lives on the second floor of a motel-ish looking apartment, as a few have said. The apartment building is right on the water, though.
This episode was fantastic, of course. I had to watch the Doakes scene twice, it was so good. I agree with speedy. Dexter is playing with fire! It is so satisfying watching Dexter shut Doakes down, but I can't help but think that Doakes won't stop now until he nails Dex. I wouldn't want him as an enemy under any circumstances. Hmmm, maybe he and Dex have more in common than you'd think.
I'm not sure I buy Dex setting up either Doakes or Lila to take the fall for the BHB killings. That seems a bit tidy. I don't think there's any way he'd let a stranger take the fall either--not because he'd want the credit (the egotistical fate that undoes a lot of serial killers--at least on tv), but because he does have a conscience. He showed the appropriate concern last night at letting that innocent step-father blow in the wind while he set Doakes up.
So, I don't think Dex is looking for (nor will he take) the easy way out and pin his crimes on a relative innocent.
The idea of him letting someone who's personally wronged him (like Doakes or Lila, eventually) take the fall is more compelling, but I still think that would be awfully convenient for the storyline, and thus a bad idea. Plus, it would really add some ugly layers to Dex's character. Would we feel the same about Dexter if we knew he set up Doakes or Lila to go down for his crimes? I don't think so, and it seems like a direction the show wouldn't want to take.
Although I think this season is as stellar as the first, I do miss the Miami flair that the first season had. Dexter hasn't taken his boat on the water in weeks. I liked the airier side of the show that highlighted the Miami elements--Dex on the water, breeze blowing through his hair, Dex chasing a victim through the swamp.
Last night's McMansion swimming pool just didn't nail the Miami vibe that's been missing as they've spent more time in the station than they have on location.
Still the best show on tv, though. I hope those writers get what's coming to them (more $$) and then get back to work. I'm in desperate need of Season 3 already!
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Nov 12, 2007 10:24 AM
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Our good friend, Michael C Hal, best known for his current work as the dark, serial killer, Dexter, has earned himself a Golden Globe nomination for Best Performance by and Actor in a TV Drama.
Congrats, Michael! We love you!
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