Dex, Lies, and Videotape

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"Dex, Lies, and Videotape"
Dexter episode
Episode no.Season 2
Episode 6
Directed by Nick Gomez
Written by Lauren Gussis
Cinematography by Romeo Tirone
Editing byLouis Cioffi
Original release dateNovember 4, 2007 (2007-11-04)
Running time53 minutes
Guest appearances
Episode chronology
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"That Night, A Forest Grew"
Dexter season 2
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"Dex, Lies, and Videotape" is the sixth episode of the second season and eighteenth overall episode of the American television drama series Dexter , which first aired on November 4, 2007 on Showtime in the United States. The episode was written by Lauren Gussis and was directed by Nick Gomez.

Contents

Set in Miami, the series centers on Dexter Morgan, a forensic technician specializing in bloodstain pattern analysis for the fictional Miami Metro Police Department, who leads a secret parallel life as a vigilante serial killer, hunting down murderers who have not been adequately punished by the justice system due to corruption or legal technicalities. In the episode, Dexter investigates more about Harry and Laura, while dealing with a copycat killer.

According to Nielsen Media Research, the episode was seen by an estimated 0.85 million household viewers and gained a 0.5 ratings share among adults aged 18–49. The episode received highly positive reviews from critics, who praised the tension, performances and character development.

Plot

As Dexter (Michael C. Hall) analyzes the connection between his mother and Harry (James Remar), he is helping Miami Metro in a new murder, suspected to be committed by the Bay Harbor Butcher. Feeling the influence of the Butcher, Lundy (Keith Carradine) declares that if there is another murder, the FBI will take over the operation.

Lila (Jaime Murray) joins Dexter and Rita (Julie Benz) during dinner, remarking he is doing a good job during rehabilitation. Rita states that she likes Lila, but feels uncertain about her presence. Dexter takes Rita to her apartment to have sex, but they are interrupted when Lila leaves a message revealing their trip. Rita is angry that Dexter lied and leaves. Doakes (Erik King) continues suspecting Dexter when he asks Debra (Jennifer Carpenter) about his drug addiction, and she claims he never used the drugs. He later sneaks into his office to listen to Harry's videotape with Laura, causing an argument between both. Dexter wants to file a complaint, but LaGuerta (Lauren Vélez) asks him to wait while she talks about it with Doakes. LaGuerta demands Doakes to stop harrassing Dexter, but Doakes says he will take the risk.

Miami Metro and the FBI interrogate a suspect, Ken Olson (Silas Weir Mitchell), who matches the description of the Bay Harbor Butcher. After learning that he was filmed while cleaning his boat at the marina, Dexter becomes desperate and tries to delete the videofile, which he eventually manages to do before computer upgrades enable its viewing by his colleagues. Lundy is hesitant that Olson is the killer, given that his MO was slightly different, and he was sloppy in the murders. Dexter visits Lila to scold her for ruining his relationship with Rita. In the conversation, he kisses her and they end up having sex.

That night, Dexter sneaks into Olson's house to confront him. Olson tries to defend his decisions, but Dexter concludes Olson only cares about the benefits the deaths can bring to him, and kills him. Instead of dropping him in the ocean, he leaves his chopped body for Lundy's task force, sending a message to stop other people from imitating him and preventing Lundy from giving the case to the FBI. Dexter visits Rita at her house to explain his encounter with Lila, stating he did not have sex with her that night. Rita is taken aback by his comment, and breaks up with him. Dexter visits Lila, and she lets him enter.

Production

Development

The episode was written by Lauren Gussis and was directed by Nick Gomez. This was Buck's first writing credit, and Gomez's second directing credit. [1]

Reception

Viewers

In its original American broadcast, "Dex, Lies, and Videotape" was seen by an estimated 0.85 million household viewers with a 0.5 in the 18–49 demographics. This means that 0.5 percent of all households with televisions watched the episode. [2] This was a 34% increase in viewership from the previous episode, which was watched by an estimated 0.63 million household viewers with a 0.3/1 in the 18–49 demographics. [3]

Critical reviews

"Dex, Lies, and Videotape" received highly positive reviews from critics. Eric Goldman of IGN gave the episode a "great" 8.9 out of 10, and wrote, "The strong second season of Dexter is gaining a nice amount of momentum and is proving to be one of the best serialized dramas on the air right now. Dexter continued to listen to the tapes of Harry with his biological mother, Laura, gaining more insight into their secret relationship." [4]

Scott Tobias of The A.V. Club gave the episode an "B" grade and wrote, "The show has been guilty in the past of turning everyday Miami Metro operations into sub-standard cop show fodder, and Carradine's character has turned that around. With him in the picture, even place-holder episodes like this one are highly watchable." [5]

Alan Sepinwall wrote, "not sure what vibe I'm picking up off Lundy vis-a-vis Deb. Is he really just as guileless and straightforward as he appears - which would make him the perfect nemesis for a play-actor Dexter - or is his interest in Deb more than just a bit of fatherly mentoring?" [6] Paula Paige of TV Guide wrote, "I know I've said this a hundred times before, but this was perhaps one of the best Dexter's ever written. Ever. I watched this ep a few days ago and have not stopped thinking about it since." [7]

Keith McDuffee of TV Squad wrote, "What's been great is how, although Lundy seems to know something and to be inching ever-so closer to who the real Butcher is, Dexter stays incredibly cool and without a bead of sweat showing in the Floridian heat." [8] Television Without Pity gave the episode a "B+" grade. [9]

Related Research Articles

Debra Charlotte Morgan is a fictional character created by Jeff Lindsay for his Dexter book series. She also appears in the television series, based on Lindsay's books, portrayed by Jennifer Carpenter. In Lindsay's novels, she first appeared in Darkly Dreaming Dexter and was featured in every novel in the series. Debra is the sister of the series' antihero protagonist Dexter Morgan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dexter Morgan</span> Fictional character from the Dexter book and TV series

Dexter Morgan, also known by the in-universe moniker The Bay Harbor Butcher, is a fictional character introduced as the antihero protagonist of the Dexter book series written by Jeff Lindsay, as well as the television series of the same name. In the television series, Dexter is portrayed by Michael C. Hall.

"Shrink Wrap" is the eighth episode of the first season of the American crime drama television series Dexter. The episode was written by Lauren Gussis, and directed by Tony Goldwyn, with the latter guest starring in the episode. It originally aired on Showtime on November 19, 2006.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Doakes</span> Fictional character in the Dexter television series

James Doakes is a fictional character in the Dexter television series and the novels by Jeff Lindsay. In the TV series, he is portrayed by Erik King. Doakes appeared in the first two seasons as a detective sergeant, and is depicted as one of the few characters in the series to suspect the truth of lead character Dexter Morgan being a serial killer.

"The Dark Defender" is the fifth episode of the second season and seventeenth overall episode of the American television drama series Dexter, which first aired on 28 October 2007 on Showtime in the United States. The episode was written by Timothy Schlattmann and was directed by Keith Gordon.

<i>Dexter</i> season 2 Drama series

The second season of Dexter premiered on September 30, 2007, and ended on December 16, 2007. Starting with this season, the show no longer adapts the Dexter novels. The season premiere "It's Alive!" attracted 1.01 million viewers in the United States, making Dexter the first Showtime series to attract more than a million viewers with a season premiere. The season finale, "The British Invasion", attracted 1.4 million viewers, making it the program's most-watched episode until the airing of the season three finale, "Do You Take Dexter Morgan?". Including digital video recorder (DVR) usage, season two was watched by an average of 2.4 million viewers on a weekly basis through 11 full weeks, outperforming season one by 21%.

"The British Invasion" is the twelfth episode and finale of the second season, and twenty-fourth overall episode, of the American television drama series Dexter, which first aired on 16 December 2007 on Showtime in the United States. The episode was written by Daniel Cerone and was directed by Steve Shill. In the episode, Lila Tournay finds Sgt. James Doakes imprisoned in an Everglades cabin and learns from him that her object of affection, Dexter Morgan, is the serial killer known as the "Bay Harbor Butcher". She decides to help Dexter and kills Doakes by setting the cabin on fire. Meanwhile, Dexter's sister Debra questions whether her career is more important than her relationship with FBI Special Agent Frank Lundy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Angel Batista</span> Fictional character

Angelo "Angel" Juan Marcos Batista is a fictional character in the Showtime television series Dexter and the novels by Jeff Lindsay upon which it is based. He is portrayed in the television series by David Zayas. Batista spends much of the series as a Sergeant before being promoted to Lieutenant in the final season.

"Hello, Dexter Morgan" is the eleventh episode of the fourth season of the American crime drama television series Dexter. It is the 47th overall episode of the series and was written by executive producer Scott Buck and producer Lauren Gussis, and was directed by S. J. Clarkson. It originally aired on Showtime on December 6, 2009.

"Waiting to Exhale" is the second episode of the second season and fourteenth overall episode of the American television drama series Dexter, which first aired on 7 October 2007 on Showtime in the United States. The episode was written by executive producer Clyde Phillips and was directed by Marcos Siega.

"An Inconvenient Lie" is the third episode of the second season and fifteenth overall episode of the American television drama series Dexter, which first aired on October 14, 2007 on Showtime in the United States. The episode was written by co-executive producer Melissa Rosenberg and was directed by Tony Goldwyn.

"See-Through" is the fourth episode of the second season and sixteenth overall episode of the American television drama series Dexter, which first aired on 21 October 2007 on Showtime in the United States. The episode was written by co-executive producer Scott Buck and was directed by Nick Gomez.

"That Night, A Forest Grew" is the seventh episode of the second season and nineteenth overall episode of the American television drama series Dexter, which first aired on 11 November 2007 on Showtime in the United States. The episode was written by executive producer Daniel Cerone and was directed by Jeremy Podeswa.

"Morning Comes" is the eighth episode of the second season and twentieth overall episode of the American television drama series Dexter, which first aired on 18 November 2007 on Showtime in the United States. The episode was written by co-executive producer Scott Buck and was directed by Keith Gordon.

"Resistance Is Futile" is the ninth episode of the second season and twenty-first overall episode of the American television drama series Dexter, which first aired on November 25, 2007 on Showtime in the United States. The episode was written by Melissa Rosenberg and was directed by Marcos Siega.

"There's Something About Harry" is the tenth episode of the second season and twenty-second overall episode of the American television drama series Dexter, which first aired on December 2, 2007 on Showtime in the United States. The episode was written by Scott Reynolds and was directed by Steve Shill.

"Left Turn Ahead" is the eleventh episode of the second season and twenty-third overall episode of the American television drama series Dexter, which first aired on 9 December 2007 on Showtime in the United States. The episode was written by co-executive producer Scott Buck and Tim Schlattmann, and was directed by Marcos Siega.

"Dex Takes a Holiday" is the fourth episode of the fourth season of the American crime drama television series Dexter. It is the 40th overall episode of the series and was written by executive producer Melissa Rosenberg and supervising producer Wendy West, and was directed by John Dahl. It originally aired on Showtime on October 18, 2009.

"If I Had a Hammer" is the sixth episode of the fourth season of the American crime drama television series Dexter. It is the 42nd overall episode of the series and was written by producer Lauren Gussis, and was directed by Romeo Tirone. It originally aired on Showtime on November 1, 2009.

References

  1. ↑ "Dexter – WGA Directory". Writers Guild of America West . Retrieved August 3, 2024.
  2. ↑ "Broadcast & Cable Nielsens: Week Ending November 4, 2007". Ratings Ryan. January 25, 2021. Archived from the original on March 1, 2021. Retrieved August 4, 2024.
  3. ↑ "Broadcast & Cable Nielsens: Week Ending October 28, 2007". Ratings Ryan. January 24, 2021. Archived from the original on March 1, 2021. Retrieved August 4, 2024.
  4. ↑ Goldman, Eric (November 6, 2007). "Dexter: "Dex, Lies, and Videotape" Review". IGN . Retrieved August 3, 2024.
  5. ↑ Tobias, Scott (November 5, 2007). "Dexter: "Dex, Lies, And Videotapes"". The A.V. Club . Retrieved August 4, 2024.
  6. ↑ Sepinwall, Alan (November 5, 2007). "Dexter: Power of truthiness". What's Alan Watching?. Retrieved August 4, 2024.
  7. ↑ Paige, Paula (November 5, 2007). "Dexter: Dex, Lies and Videotape". TV Guide . Archived from the original on April 14, 2008. Retrieved August 3, 2024.
  8. ↑ McDuffee, Keith (November 4, 2007). "Dexter: Dex, Lies and Videotape". TV Squad . Archived from the original on January 1, 2008. Retrieved August 4, 2024.
  9. ↑ "Dexter: Dex, Lies and Videotapes – Dex And The Maiden". Television Without Pity . November 8, 2007. Archived from the original on March 29, 2014. Retrieved August 4, 2024.
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