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4.12 The Getaway Trinity: "If I were you, I'd give up vigilantism. You're not very good at it." What a shocker. I was expecting something big, but not this. The death of innocent bystanders has been a big theme this season, along with the homily that Dexter cannot have it all. And it's true: in trying to have it all, Dexter just lost everything. Lifting baby Harrison out of a pool of his mother's blood was a clear message that the darkness will never be over for Dexter. (Let's hope Harrison is too young to be traumatized the way three-year-old Dexter was.) Rita was the symbol of Dexter's desire for normalcy. All the changes Dexter has made, all the ways he has tried to become a real human being, were tied to his relationship with her. I honestly believe he truly loved her, and she in return loved the good man that she saw at Dexter's core. He told her more truths about his darkness, and even reached the point (in that scene in the jail cell, appropriately) where he was talking with "Harry" about giving up killing, leaving his dark passenger behind. Rita believed in him and told him he could conquer it. I always thought this was the ultimate goal of the series: Dexter's recovery and redemption. Was I wrong? Will Dexter go the other way, now? That final scene with Trinity in the bomb shelter was all about the subtext. Trinity was resigned; he had prayed for God to stop him, after all. At the same time, Trinity was acting superior, like he knew Dexter better than Dexter knew himself. And of course, he knew he'd gotten the last laugh, so to speak. He even got Dexter to give him the trains and the music so that he could pretend he was still innocent, ten-year-old Arthur as he died. When Dexter went back into his own house and found Rita, he tripped over a broken train set on the floor. Dexter spent the entire season telling Harry that he wasn't like Trinity. But he is, isn't he? Nearly all of the season's story threads were pulled together beautifully. Dexter refusing to give up his old apartment so that Trinity went to the wrong place made Rita's death even more of a shocker. The coffin Trinity made and never used was briefly Dexter's hiding place (and definitely a candidate for Most Obvious Symbolism). And Deb did find out about Dexter's biological family, after all. Instead of driving a wedge between them, the gentle way she told him, and her admission that his love and support meant everything to her, might serve to bring them closer. I hope. Dexter just lost his wife, but he still has his sister. (Who is also his wife, but never mind.) The gentle way he told Deb in return that Brian must have been after him, not her, was such a kind thing for Dexter to do. Well, it was the truth. I assume Dexter won't try to cover up Rita's murder. How could he? But Rita doesn't fit Trinity's profile. What if Angel remembers seeing Trinity talking to Dexter? I'm sure Dexter doesn't have an alibi. And the Mitchells know Dexter's face. Will any of this spill over into the next season, or will it magically go away? Bits and pieces: -- The title of the episode, "The Getaway" (movie title) made me expect that someone would leave town. I really did think at one point that Trinity was going to get away. -- Yes, I didn't see it coming, but I get why it was Rita. She had evolved from a terrified nonentity to a fulfilled wife and mother. The only big character development left for her would be if Dexter got caught and she found out about him, and it doesn't look like they're going that way. -- Dexter always has a plan. The panicked way he just ran out of Miami Metro after Trinity was shocking. -- When Deb told Dexter about his biological family, the two of them were wearing pink shirts. A little color cue that she was on his side, that nothing would change between them. And she took off her cop gear, too, the gear that Dexter "forgot." -- Another candidate for Most Obvious Symbolism was Trinity's Mustang still having wet paint. Unfinished business. Gee, it was a good thing the car broke down in a deserted area instead of in the middle of Miami, huh? -- Ten-year-old near victim Scott Smith gave Miami Metro the info that led to Trinity. I still wonder how Dexter returned Scott, and if it could have implicated Dexter in anything. -- Apparently, Matthews knew all along about Dexter's relationship to the Ice Truck Killer, and kept it quiet out of respect for Harry. Matthews is usually portrayed as such a jerk, so that was a nice bit. Quotes: Cop: "It's your lucky day." Dexter: "Yeah. It feels like it." Dexter: "How is it that I can kill people and feel no regret, but disappointing Rita makes me feel like the scum of the earth?" Rita: "You think I'm upset because you're like Paul?" Dexter: "I'm worse." Dexter: "Astor and Cody. Disneyworld awaits. They'll be safe there with Mickey, Minnie, and their goofy grandparents." Permanently, I assume. Trinity: "You think you're better than I am." Dexter: "No. But I want to be." They did everything right this season. Four out of four stars, Billie View all comments or post a comment. |
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