I Had a Dream (Dexter)

Last updated
"I Had a Dream"
Dexter episode
Episode no.Season 3
Episode 11
Directed by Marcos Siega
Written by
Cinematography by Romeo Tirone
Editing byStewart Schill
Original release dateDecember 7, 2008 (2008-12-07)
Running time51 minutes
Guest appearances
Episode chronology
← Previous
"Go Your Own Way"		Next →
"Do You Take Dexter Morgan?"
Dexter season 3
List of episodes

"I Had a Dream" is the eleventh episode of the third season of the American crime drama television series Dexter . It is the 35th overall episode of the series and was written by executive producer Charles H. Eglee and co-producer Lauren Gussis, and was directed by Marcos Siega. It originally aired on Showtime on December 7, 2008.

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 tries to stop Miguel from going after LaGuerta, while Debra and Joey close in on catching George King.

According to Nielsen Media Research, the episode was seen by an estimated 1.34 million household viewers and gained a 0.7 ratings share among adults aged 18–49. The episode received critical acclaim, who praised the closure to Miguel's story arc.

Plot

Kidnapped in the trunk of a car, Dexter (Michael C. Hall) believes Ramón is his kidnapper. He releases himself, and when the trunk opens, he punches the stranger. However, it is revealed to be Masuka (C. S. Lee), who took him to his bachelor party at a bar. As the party continues, Miguel (Jimmy Smits) arrives to deliver a speech as Dexter's best man.

Dexter considers killing Miguel on his wedding day, but decides that he can blame him on George King (Jesse Borrego) instead. As Debra (Jennifer Carpenter) asks him for advice while dealing with Anton (David Ramsey), Dexter reveals that Harry (James Remar) had an affair with an informant, not revealing it was Laura Moser. Debra initially refuses to believe it, but is disappointed to realize it is true. That night, Dexter watches Miguel meeting with LaGuerta (Lauren Vélez) at her house, and witnesses LaGuerta checking Miguel's car, as a similar car was seen near Ellen Wolf's house on the night of the murder. As he leaves, Miguel finds evidence that she sneaked in.

LaGuerta retrieves some hair from Miguel's car and asks Dexter to run a blood test under her name. This sends an alert to Miguel, realizing that LaGuerta continues investigating Ellen's case. The hair is identified as Ellen's, but Dexter does not want to disclose this to LaGuerta, as he wants to kill Miguel himself. However, she finds the report with Wolf's DNA, and hesitates over pursuing Miguel. Discovering that King has been using Anton's changes to make phone calls, Debra and Quinn (Desmond Harrington) track him to a house, where he has been hiding out. King escapes, wounding Quinn in the process.

Dexter and Debra once again discuss Harry's affair, and Dexter uses the opportunity to ask her to be his best man at the wedding, which she accepts. Realizing that Miguel plans to kill LaGuerta, Dexter sets up a trap, tricking him into thinking he is meeting LaGuerta to reveal Ellen's murder. He sedates Miguel, and takes him to Ellen's house for the kill table. Miguel tries to get Dexter to understand him, calling him his brother. Dexter reveals that he killed his brother, just like he killed Oscar. As Miguel angrily insults him, Dexter kills him by strangling him with a wire.

Production

Development

The episode was written by executive producer Charles H. Eglee and co-producer Lauren Gussis, and was directed by Marcos Siega. This was Eglee's second writing credit, Gussis' fourth writing credit, and Siega's seventh directing credit. [1]

Reception

Viewers

In its original American broadcast, "Go Your Own Way" was seen by an estimated 1.34 million household viewers with a 0.7 in the 18–49 demographics. This means that 0.7 percent of all households with televisions watched the episode. [2] This was even in viewership with the previous episode, which was watched by an estimated 1.34 million household viewers with a 0.7 in the 18–49 demographics. [3]

Critical reviews

"I Had a Dream" received critical acclaim. Matt Fowler of IGN gave the episode an "amazing" 9.6 out of 10, and wrote, "Dexter calls all the people, including Miguel, that he's had on his table "unchecked versions of myself." And then the kicker. He tells Miguel that he killed Oscar. Wow. Smits' face in that moment. Worth the price of admission. It's been a season coming and it was well worth it." [4]

Amelie Gillette of The A.V. Club gave the episode an "A" grade and wrote, "Only right before he kills is Dexter able to truly reveal all of his secrets to another person, which is why when he tightened the cord around Miguel's neck and he said, "I don't get to have friends," it was both a final moment of absolute honesty between two friends, as well as the absolute end to their friendship." [5]

Alan Sepinwall wrote, "Now, Dexter doesn't know that Miguel put the Skinner on his tail, but the Skinner was always a sideshow to the season's main story, and that's done in a fairly perfunctory fashion. (To be fair, it might have seemed brilliant and shocking if I'd been unspoiled, but I don't think so.)" [6] Paula Paige of TV Guide wrote, "The final moment after Dexter drains the life from Miguel, the color drains from the picture and Dexter goes from flushed to gray. What a fabulous way to end the ep. It could mean that Dexter is actually deeply affected by the loss of his BFF. And I am deeply affected by the loss of Jimmy Smits who brought such a wonderful energy to the season." [7]

Debra McDuffee of TV Squad wrote, "All I have to say about that is... whoo boy. It is rare to find a show that delivers quality episodes as consistently as Dexter does. I never come away disappointed, and I sure didn't tonight." [8] Television Without Pity gave the episode an "A–" grade. [9]

Marcos Siega submitted this episode for consideration for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series at the 61st Primetime Emmy Awards. [10]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Debra Morgan</span> Fictional character created by Jeff Lindsay

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.

"Our Father" is the third season premiere and twenty-fifth overall episode of the American television drama series Dexter, which first aired on September 28, 2008, on Showtime in the United States. The episode was written by Clyde Phillips and directed by Keith Gordon. In the episode, which takes place several months after the second-season finale, Dexter Morgan mistakenly kills an innocent man but forms a friendship with the man's brother, well-known assistant district attorney Miguel Prado. Dexter's sister Debra, meanwhile, has turned over a new leaf in her life and is determined to become a detective.

"The Damage a Man Can Do" is the eighth episode of the third season of the American television drama series Dexter, which first aired on November 16, 2008 on Showtime in the United States. The episode was written by Scott Buck and directed by Marcos Siega. In the episode, assistant district attorney Miguel Prado asks Dexter Morgan for his assistance in killing a murderous gambler. Meanwhile, Dexter's sister Ofr. Debra Morgan finds her boyfriend and informant Anton Briggs to be missing after she tells him that he is no longer legally obligated to work for her.

<i>Dexter</i> season 3 Drama series

The third season of Dexter premiered on September 28, 2008, and ended on December 14, 2008. "Our Father", the season premiere, attracted 1.22 million viewers in the United States, making it Showtime's highest-rated drama season premiere since Nielsen Media Research began compiling ratings in 2004. The season finale "Do You Take Dexter Morgan?" attracted 1.5 million viewers. Season three was watched by an average of 1.1 million viewers a week.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">María LaGuerta</span> Fictional human

Captain María Esperanza di Alma LaGuerta is a fictional character portrayed by Lauren Vélez in the Showtime television series Dexter. In the series, she holds the position of lieutenant at the fictitious Miami-Metro Homicide Department. While initially depicted as a protagonist, Maria LaGuerta, who serves as the superior officer to main characters Dexter and Debra Morgan, evolves into one of the primary antagonists by Season 7.

"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.

"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.

"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.

"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.

"About Last Night" is the ninth episode of the third season of the American crime drama television series Dexter. It is the 33rd overall episode of the series and was written by Melissa Rosenberg from a story by Scott Reynolds, and was directed by co-executive producer Tim Hunter. It originally aired on Showtime on November 23, 2008.

"Finding Freebo" is the second episode of the third season of the American crime drama television series Dexter. It is the 26th overall episode of the series and was written by co-executive producer Melissa Rosenberg, and was directed by Marcos Siega. It originally aired on Showtime on October 5, 2008.

"The Lion Sleeps Tonight" is the third episode of the third season of the American crime drama television series Dexter. It is the 27th overall episode of the series and was written by co-executive producer Scott Buck, and was directed by John Dahl. It originally aired on Showtime on October 12, 2008.

"All in the Family" is the fourth episode of the third season of the American crime drama television series Dexter. It is the 28th overall episode of the series and was written by consulting producer Adam E. Fierro, and was directed by Keith Gordon. It originally aired on Showtime on October 19, 2008.

"Turning Biminese" is the fifth episode of the third season of the American crime drama television series Dexter. It is the 29th overall episode of the series and was written by producer Tim Schlattmann, and was directed by Marcos Siega. It originally aired on Showtime on October 26, 2008.

"Sí Se Puede" is the sixth episode of the third season of the American crime drama television series Dexter. It is the 30th overall episode of the series and was written by executive producer Charles H. Eglee, and was directed by Ernest Dickerson. It originally aired on Showtime on November 2, 2008.

"Easy as Pie" is the seventh episode of the third season of the American crime drama television series Dexter. It is the 31st overall episode of the series and was written by co-producer Lauren Gussis, and was directed by Steve Shill. It originally aired on Showtime on November 9, 2008.

"Go Your Own Way" is the tenth episode of the third season of the American crime drama television series Dexter. It is the 34th overall episode of the series and was written by producer Tim Schlattmann, and was directed by John Dahl. It originally aired on Showtime on November 30, 2008.

"Do You Take Dexter Morgan?" is the twelfth episode and season finale of the third season of the American crime drama television series Dexter. It is the 36th overall episode of the series and was written by co-executive producer Scott Buck, and was directed by Keith Gordon. It originally aired on Showtime on December 14, 2008.

References

  1. ↑ "Dexter – WGA Directory". Writers Guild of America West . Retrieved August 14, 2024.
  2. ↑ "Broadcast & Cable Nielsens: Week Ending December 7, 2008". Ratings Ryan. July 18, 2020. Archived from the original on October 21, 2020. Retrieved August 14, 2024.
  3. ↑ "Broadcast & Cable Nielsens: Week Ending November 30, 2008". Ratings Ryan. July 17, 2020. Archived from the original on October 21, 2020. Retrieved August 14, 2024.
  4. ↑ Fowler, Matt (December 8, 2008). "Dexter: "I Had a Dream" Review". IGN . Retrieved August 14, 2024.
  5. ↑ Gillette, Amelie (December 8, 2008). "Dexter: "I Had A Dream"". The A.V. Club . Retrieved August 14, 2024.
  6. ↑ Sepinwall, Alan (December 8, 2008). "Dexter, "I Had a Dream": Best man for the job". What's Alan Watching?. Retrieved August 14, 2024.
  7. ↑ Paige, Paula (December 8, 2008). "Dexter Episode Recap: "Go Your Own Way"". TV Guide . Archived from the original on October 26, 2009. Retrieved August 14, 2024.
  8. ↑ McDuffee, Debra (December 7, 2008). "Dexter: I Had a Dream". TV Squad . Archived from the original on December 19, 2008. Retrieved August 14, 2024.
  9. ↑ "Dexter: I Had a Dream – Frenemies". Television Without Pity . December 12, 2008. Archived from the original on March 29, 2014. Retrieved August 14, 2024.
  10. ↑ "Official 2009 EMMYS Episode Submissions". The Envelope Forum, Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on July 13, 2011. Retrieved August 14, 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.