Do the Wrong Thing

"Do the Wrong Thing"
Dexter episode
Episode no.	Season 7 Episode 6
Directed by	Alik Sakharov
Written by	Lauren Gussis
Cinematography by	Jeffrey Jur
Editing by	Keith Henderson
Original release date	November 4, 2012 (2012-11-04)
Running time	54 minutes
Guest appearances
Ray Stevenson as Isaak Sirko (special guest star) Yvonne Strahovski as Hannah McKay (special guest star) Aimee Garcia as Jamie Batista Jason Gedrick as George Novikov Santiago Cabrera as Sal Price Katia Winter as Nadia Geoffrey Rivas as Handyman
Episode chronology
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Dexter season 7
List of episodes

"Do the Wrong Thing" is the sixth episode of the seventh season of the American crime drama television series Dexter . It is the 78th overall episode of the series and was written by co-executive producer Lauren Gussis, and directed by Alik Sakharov. It originally aired on Showtime on November 4, 2012.

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 tries to find incriminating evidence against Hannah, while Isaak gets George to use everything to get him out of prison.

According to Nielsen Media Research, the episode was seen by an estimated 1.99 million household viewers and gained a 1.0 ratings share among adults aged 18–49. The episode received positive reviews from critics, although many were polarized over the episode's ending.

Plot

Dexter (Michael C. Hall) stalks Hannah (Yvonne Strahovski), believing she might have killed her husband. However, Harry (James Remar) reminds Dexter that he lacks evidence against her, and Dexter also concludes that he must earn Hannah's trust after accusing her.

Dexter removes any sign of Hannah's DNA from the lab, and then apologizes to her by claiming he made a mistake. Dexter confides in her that his wife was murdered, while Hannah states her husband died from a heart attack. Dexter investigates Beverly Grey, the previous owner of Hannah's house, discovering that she recently died. Dexter also meets Sal Price (Santiago Cabrera), an author who wrote a true crime book detailing Wayne Randall's crimes. With the new involvement of Hannah, he is questioning Miami Metro for more details. He also states his suspicion that Hannah was involved in another crime, wherein she killed a counselor who abused her.

LaGuerta (Lauren Vélez) continues her investigation into the Bay Harbor Butcher, moving into his possible involvement in the Barrel Girls gang. Debra (Jennifer Carpenter) calls Dexter to understand a few missing details, discovering that Lumen helped Dexter in the killings. She worries she could be tracked and expose Dexter, but Dexter is certain Lumen will not talk. Sal, who has taken a liking to Debra, asks her out on a date. She initially refuses, but eventually agrees to go out with him, feeling that she needs something new in her life.

While dining with Jamie (Aimee Garcia), Angel (David Zayas) expresses interest in buying a restaurant, and contemplating retirement, feeling that this gives him a new purpose. Quinn (Desmond Harrington) is given $10,000 by George (Jason Gedrick) to stop interferring in the investigation, but Nadie (Katia Winter) convinces him in giving it back. Pressured by Isaak to get him out, George forces Quinn to change the blood reports to exonerate Isaak and keep the money, threatening to send Nadia to Dubai if he does not comply. When Nadia does not answer his phone calls, Quinn reluctantly removes Isaak's blood report.

To find what Sal knows, Dexter steals his files. He discovers that Sal made his own blood report on Beverly Grey's corpse, finding that a specific plant that Hannah owns led to her heart attack. He decides to invite Hannah on a date, which she initially declines, feeling disillusioned after her relationship with Randall. She talks about her dream of living in a farm in Argentina, and Dexter convinces her in giving it a chance to just one date. During their date, Debra asks Sal about his new book, and he reveals that he made his own blood report on Randall's victims, which found Hannah's DNA in one of the murders. Debra is horrified to learn that Dexter falsified his report. Dexter takes Hannah to a closed amusement park, where he sedates her. He sets her at his kill table, explaining that this is what he does. Hannah does not resist, simply saying "do what you gotta do", which surprises Dexter. Instead of killing her, he releases her, and they begin to have sex.

Production

The episode was written by co-executive producer Lauren Gussis, and directed by Alik Sakharov. This was Gussis' ninth writing credit, and Sakharov's first directing credit. ^[1]

Reception

Viewers

In its original American broadcast, "Do the Wrong Thing" was seen by an estimated 1.99 million household viewers with a 1.0 in the 18–49 demographics. This means that 1 percent of all households with televisions watched the episode. ^[2] This was a 13% decrease in viewership from the previous episode, which was watched by an estimated 2.28 million household viewers with a 1.2 in the 18–49 demographics. ^[3]

Critical reviews

"Do the Wrong Thing" received positive reviews from critics. Matt Fowler of IGN gave the episode a "great" 8.6 out of 10, and wrote, "One of the main things I liked about most of this episode was fact that, despite all the sexual tension between them in the past few episodes, Dexter still wanted to take her down. That was his first instinct. And right up until the final moments, I thought he still wanted to. Him taking her to that Santa's Village place reminded me of when Dexter killed Trinity. Delivering her to an emotional happy place/calm served almost as a "last wish" for someone who clings to fantasies as much as Hannah does. So I'm curious to see what happens next. Did Dexter just make the biggest blunder of the season?" ^[4]

Joshua Alston of The A.V. Club gave the episode a "B" grade and wrote, "With the tear Dexter has been on since the season began, it was easy to forget that a lull had to come at some point. “Do The Wrong Thing” certainly feels like a lull, though it has more than enough solid moments to justify its existence, and it wasn't a chore to watch. More than that — and this is where I start to worry again — “Do The Wrong Thing” is the first episode of this season in which the writing is beginning to feel a tad contrived." ^[5] Kevin Fitzpatrick of ScreenCrush wrote, "As the midpoint of the season, "Do the Wrong Thing" could suffer from a bit of a lull, with Isaak temporarily in jail and the relationship between Dexter and Deb on ice, but the episode gives us a nice transition into the back half of the season. If anything, we're definitely excited to see if Hannah can figure into the series on a bit more long-term basis. Quinn, on the other hand..." ^[6]

Richard Rys of Vulture wrote, "Maybe the cure for Dexter's compulsions is kinky naked time with a hot blonde who has a few skeletons in her closet (and one in a hole). With all that's changed recently for the Morgans, one thing remains the same: their knack for finding love in the worst places." ^[7] Katy Waldman of Slate wrote, "To me, “Do the Wrong Thing” was really all about Hannah McKay – her allure, her danger, the possibilities she opens up for Dexter." ^[8]

Drusilla Moorhouse of Zap2it wrote, "Well, that was a first for Dexter. In another tableau shocker to rival Deb's discovery of her brother killing Travis Marshall, Dexter had his way with Hannah McKay." ^[9] Esther Gim of BuddyTV wrote, "This week's episode left me definitely surprised and more than annoyed, almost disgusted. The first 55 minutes slowly - and a bit boringly - sets up Dexter figuring out Hannah is someone who fits his code and needs to be taken care of. But then in a moment of testosterone-filled impairment, that goes all out the window." ^[10]

Nick Harley of Den of Geek wrote, "The major shift of Dexter's focus from Isaak to Hannah has been a strange detour that has definitely dulled the action in sunny Miami. Reminiscent of seasons past, the show seems to be using Hannah as mid-season filler to break up the action of the main storylines and seemingly fill time. Hopefully the Hannah McKay plot will grow and blend nicely into the main action and serve as a focal point in the season's endgame. Let's hope the diversion isn't just a pretty distraction." ^[11] Matt Richenthal of TV Fanatic gave the episode a 4.9 star rating out of 5 and wrote, "Just a great, great episode all around. Quinn's storyline is even intriguing and, well, Batista may retire and purchase a restaurant. Okay, that can't all be winners." ^[12]

Alex Moaba of HuffPost wrote, "Well, that on-the-table sex scene was a hell of a way to end an episode, wasn't it? For much of "Do The Wrong Thing," Dexter set his sights on killing Hannah McKay, but in the final moments, he came to his senses and just had sex with her instead. Was it hilariously absurd? Of course." ^[13] Television Without Pity gave the episode a "B+" grade. ^[14]

References

1. "Dexter – WGA Directory". Writers Guild of America West . Retrieved September 12, 2024.
2. Kondolojy, Amanda (November 6, 2012). "Sunday Cable Ratings: 'Walking Dead' Easily Wins Night, + 'Real Housewives of Atlanta', 'Breaking Amish', 'Talking Dead', 'Long Island Medium' & More". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on November 8, 2012. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
3. Bibel, Sara (October 30, 2012). "Sunday Cable Ratings: 'The Walking Dead' Wins Night, 'Breaking Amish', 'Dexter', 'Homeland','Long Island Medium', 'Boardwalk Empire' & More". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on November 1, 2012. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
4. Fowler, Matt (November 4, 2012). "Dexter: "Do the Wrong Thing" Review". IGN . Archived from the original on February 4, 2013. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
5. Alston, Joshua (November 4, 2012). "Dexter: "Do the Wrong Thing"". The A.V. Club . Archived from the original on November 6, 2012. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
6. Fitzpatrick, Kevin (November 5, 2012). "'Dexter' Review: "Do the Wrong Thing"". ScreenCrush . Retrieved September 12, 2024.
7. Rys, Richard (November 5, 2012). "Dexter Recap: Sexual Healing". Vulture . Retrieved September 12, 2024.
8. Waldman, Katy (November 4, 2012). "Dexter recap season 7 episode 6 do the wrong thing reviewed". Slate . Retrieved September 12, 2024.
9. Moorhouse, Drusilla (November 4, 2012). "'Dexter' - 'Do the Wrong Thing' recap: Dexter's shocking tableau for two". Zap2it . Archived from the original on November 7, 2012. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
10. Gim, Esther (November 4, 2012). "'Dexter' Recap: Unable to Resist the Pretty Serial Killer". BuddyTV . Archived from the original on April 19, 2013. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
11. Harley, Nick (November 5, 2012). "Dexter, Season 7, Episode 6: Do the Wrong Thing, Review". Den of Geek . Retrieved September 12, 2024.
12. Richenthal, Matt (November 4, 2012). "Dexter Review: Doom, Gloom and Va-Va Voom!". TV Fanatic. Archived from the original on November 10, 2012. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
13. Moaba, Alex (November 4, 2012). "'Dexter' Recap, 'Do The Wrong Thing': That Is Not What You're Supposed To Do On The Table". HuffPost . Archived from the original on January 25, 2013. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
14. "Dexter: Do the Wrong Thing – Bad Santa". Television Without Pity . November 8, 2012. Archived from the original on March 30, 2014. Retrieved September 12, 2024.

External links

• "Do the Wrong Thing" at IMDb