Written by: Kevin Berge
Ah, visual and textual word play. It's delightful. Too bad Dexter couldn't take his new tie's advice and not cross the season six line. (Image Courtesy of: wallpaperfolder.com)
Quick Take: Dexter Season 4 combines all the best elements of the series with the most compelling main villain to date played perfectly by John Lithgow and a series of separate stories that develop both Dexter and his Miami Metro colleagues in interesting ways.
Previous Season Reviews: Season 1 | Season 2 | Season 3
***This is a heavily spoiler filled review, exploring one of the best TV seasons I've ever watched. If you have not watched the fourth season in its entirety yet, sit down and watch it before reading ahead as this review will spoil elements of the season for new viewers.***
The first four season of Dexter follow Dexter's unusual journey through the stages of development. The first season is Dexter's childhood, both an exploration of his origin and his growth beyond sociopathic naivety. The second is teenage Dexter, a fiery, rebellious stage. The third forces Dexter to finally confront adulthood, attempting to accept mature love and friendship.
The fourth season is the end of this arc, parenthood. Dexter must accept that his life after marrying Rita can no longer be driven by killing. He faces true responsibility and sees what he can control and what is out of his hands. While this stage lacks the excitement of growing up, the added weight and realizations make this the best season of Dexter.
Buoyed by an intriguing villain, The Trinity Killer Arthur Mitchell (John Lithgow), the season is the only Dexter season to start high rather than build to a climax. Arthur Mitchell is Dexter's disturbing fun mirror view of his potential future, frightening Dexter with his tight grip on his own family.
Here we see Dexter at his most vulnerable in conflict with a monster who is far more tenured in his work. He is afraid, uncomfortably angry, and lacking in confidence. While it is easy to like Dexter, he proves himself to be worthy of being liked here as killing loses some of its flair and importance in his life.
This ultimately leads to the season's devastating twist, the first time Dexter truly loses to someone. While Dexter catches and kills Trinity, it is Trinity that has the final laugh as he welcomes death, having left Rita dead in her bathtub for Dexter to find with their baby soaked in the blood.
***This is a heavily spoiler filled review, exploring one of the best TV seasons I've ever watched. If you have not watched the fourth season in its entirety yet, sit down and watch it before reading ahead as this review will spoil elements of the season for new viewers.***
The first four season of Dexter follow Dexter's unusual journey through the stages of development. The first season is Dexter's childhood, both an exploration of his origin and his growth beyond sociopathic naivety. The second is teenage Dexter, a fiery, rebellious stage. The third forces Dexter to finally confront adulthood, attempting to accept mature love and friendship.
The fourth season is the end of this arc, parenthood. Dexter must accept that his life after marrying Rita can no longer be driven by killing. He faces true responsibility and sees what he can control and what is out of his hands. While this stage lacks the excitement of growing up, the added weight and realizations make this the best season of Dexter.
Buoyed by an intriguing villain, The Trinity Killer Arthur Mitchell (John Lithgow), the season is the only Dexter season to start high rather than build to a climax. Arthur Mitchell is Dexter's disturbing fun mirror view of his potential future, frightening Dexter with his tight grip on his own family.
Here we see Dexter at his most vulnerable in conflict with a monster who is far more tenured in his work. He is afraid, uncomfortably angry, and lacking in confidence. While it is easy to like Dexter, he proves himself to be worthy of being liked here as killing loses some of its flair and importance in his life.
This ultimately leads to the season's devastating twist, the first time Dexter truly loses to someone. While Dexter catches and kills Trinity, it is Trinity that has the final laugh as he welcomes death, having left Rita dead in her bathtub for Dexter to find with their baby soaked in the blood.
And the fearless Dexter learned that day, everyone fears the Lithgow. (Image Courtesy of: denofgeek.com)
This was the season that Michael C. Hall deserved to be considered the best actor of the year on television. Dexter goes through so much this season, and Hall makes it intensely believable from start to finish. He takes all of Dexter's growth as a character and channels it into his greatest performance of his career.
Part of what helps Hall be so good is his fascinating chemistry with John Lithgow (3rd Rock From the Sun). Lithgow has always been an impressive actor, but he has rarely played such a despicable and frightening character. His ability to play the happy exterior of Arthur Mitchell while always hinting at the deep emotional problems underneath that make him Trinity is tantalizing.
It was a disappointment to see Julie Benz go who has been so great for the series though this season leaves her a bit underused before her death. Jennifer Carpenter gets to finally play up Deb's ability as a detective, nearly derailing Dexter's own pursuit of The Trinity Killer with her work, but she feels somewhat isolated in this season.
Where this season succeeds over other future season is that it uses the cast well. Desmond Harrington turns around the unlikable Quinn into a driven yet troubled detective. Keith Carradine has a great return role, mainly to help develop the legacy of The Trinity Killer. James Remar also plays a vital role as the conscience of Dexter that seems unreliable.
The writing has its weird turns with one poorly delivered twist, but it is fantastic for the most part. "Living The Dream" is a wonderfully executed opening to the season. "Dex Takes a Holiday" proves one episode killers in the show can be more memorable than some of the Big Bads. "Hungry Man" is one of the greatest episodes in the series as a nightmarish Thanksgiving episode. Plus the homestretch is once more superb with finale "The Getaway" also among the best in the series.
Part of what helps Hall be so good is his fascinating chemistry with John Lithgow (3rd Rock From the Sun). Lithgow has always been an impressive actor, but he has rarely played such a despicable and frightening character. His ability to play the happy exterior of Arthur Mitchell while always hinting at the deep emotional problems underneath that make him Trinity is tantalizing.
It was a disappointment to see Julie Benz go who has been so great for the series though this season leaves her a bit underused before her death. Jennifer Carpenter gets to finally play up Deb's ability as a detective, nearly derailing Dexter's own pursuit of The Trinity Killer with her work, but she feels somewhat isolated in this season.
Where this season succeeds over other future season is that it uses the cast well. Desmond Harrington turns around the unlikable Quinn into a driven yet troubled detective. Keith Carradine has a great return role, mainly to help develop the legacy of The Trinity Killer. James Remar also plays a vital role as the conscience of Dexter that seems unreliable.
The writing has its weird turns with one poorly delivered twist, but it is fantastic for the most part. "Living The Dream" is a wonderfully executed opening to the season. "Dex Takes a Holiday" proves one episode killers in the show can be more memorable than some of the Big Bads. "Hungry Man" is one of the greatest episodes in the series as a nightmarish Thanksgiving episode. Plus the homestretch is once more superb with finale "The Getaway" also among the best in the series.
True happiness is boring in TV shows, but I still hate the series for breaking up this family. (Image Courtesy of: blankpagebeatdown.com)
Rarely do TV series manage to have such an excellently self-contained season with very little filler. Season four is a complete story from start to finish, told with a novel's flair. The whole season just works including the few episodes that feel more isolated in scope.
This season deals with failure in full. Beyond The Trinity Killer, this is also the season that deals with the first time Dexter killed an innocent man. Much of Dexter's belief in the Code as a whole is even made less certain as he begins to see holes in the system he clings to as a crutch.
More importantly though, this is a sweet look at how Dexter truly understands family. Dexter has always been humanized by his feelings toward children. He connects with them and always seeks to protect them which makes him such a great potential father.
However, we also are repeatedly shown why Dexter is not in fact father material. His own recklessness allows him to kill Trinity but at the expense of losing Rita. Dexter's son Harrison softens Dexter but also distracts him from everything. He also struggles to play stepfather to Cody and Astor.
All of this amounts to a season that is extremely internal. This is not about anyone but Dexter. Even Trinity is a reflection of Dexter. Rarely does this season feel like it cares about Miami Metro. Even though the characters are present and effective, this is not the season for diving into anyone else's life.
With a powerful villain, a shocking twist, brilliant episodes, and a more focused approach, season four is Dexter at its finest and one of the greatest seasons of television I have ever had the pleasure of watching.
This season deals with failure in full. Beyond The Trinity Killer, this is also the season that deals with the first time Dexter killed an innocent man. Much of Dexter's belief in the Code as a whole is even made less certain as he begins to see holes in the system he clings to as a crutch.
More importantly though, this is a sweet look at how Dexter truly understands family. Dexter has always been humanized by his feelings toward children. He connects with them and always seeks to protect them which makes him such a great potential father.
However, we also are repeatedly shown why Dexter is not in fact father material. His own recklessness allows him to kill Trinity but at the expense of losing Rita. Dexter's son Harrison softens Dexter but also distracts him from everything. He also struggles to play stepfather to Cody and Astor.
All of this amounts to a season that is extremely internal. This is not about anyone but Dexter. Even Trinity is a reflection of Dexter. Rarely does this season feel like it cares about Miami Metro. Even though the characters are present and effective, this is not the season for diving into anyone else's life.
With a powerful villain, a shocking twist, brilliant episodes, and a more focused approach, season four is Dexter at its finest and one of the greatest seasons of television I have ever had the pleasure of watching.