Monday 28 January 2013

Dexter: Season 7 review: Episode 4

Episode 4 - 'Run'
Episode 4 of Season 7 focused further on the Ray Speltzer situation, as well as looking further into Isaac Sirko's continued involvement in matters surrounding The Foxhole (strip club) and the Mike Anderson/Viktor Baskov murders.

In the last episode, Deb asked Dexter to move out of her apartment, as well as Ray Speltzer getting away from the maze-type house that he set up to kill his latest victim.

After having a dream about being in a bloodbath, Deb goes onto ask Dexter about Rita's (Dexter's murdered wife) death. Deb realises that she was murdered because of Dexter - because he was tracking Trinity (John Lithgow, season 4) and then got found out, leading to Trinity knowing that Dexter had a family. This, again, leads Deb to question the well being of Harrison. Later, Harrison goes away to stay with his grandparents and Cody/Aster. This is probably for the best seeing that Isaac knows who Dexter is now.

This is because they (Isaac and George Novikov) have files on Dexter now. They know that he's a 'lab geek' at Miami Metro. They also know that Louis worked there, too. This leads Isaac to believe that the whole of the department might be in on Viktor's death as revenge for Mike Anderson's murder. Isaac devises a plan so that the police will stop bothering them - to get an employee to take the fall for the Mike Anderson murder.

They turn to a bartender, named Alex Dubrozny, a family man to confess to the murders that have taken place in the last few episodes. Isaac does this by guilting him into doing so, so that his family will be looked after. This is the most important thing to Alex, who, it is clear, lives for his family. Alex writes the confession before having a shot of vodka, and finally shooting himself in the temple. This will then lead the police to think that Alex was responsible for the murders, therefore closing the case and leaving Isaac to carry on with 'business'.

Quinn receives a text that informs him that Alex has shot himself. This leads the police to take a look at this crime scene. Dexter explains how things would have gone down. Whilst doing so, he knows that Alex didn't do what he has confessed to and wonders who would have put him up to taking the blame. Batista also gives his opinion on the situation - he doesn't feel that this is as clear cut as it appears. It's too 'perfect' for his liking.

Later, Quinn and Batista talk; Batista is still sure that it's all too good to be true. He convinces Quinn that they should take another look around the club. Quinn agrees but wants to wait until the next day - Batista realises from this that Quinn has a woman involved. It is then admitted that Quinn is seeing Nadia (stripper).

The other situation going on in this episode is that involving Ray Speltzer.

It is revealed that he has been found and arrested - by four police officers! - as a result of this LaGuerta wants a confession from him so that they can charge him. This is done between Batista and Deb; firstly Batista goes in and tries to play 'good cop'; saying that Deb gives him grief all the time and he'd love to take a shot at her given the chance - he gives the impression that he'd love to put a woman in her place, too. He lets Speltzer know that Deb wants to 'get' Speltzer - this interaction is all to rile him up before 'feeding' him to Deb.

'Bad cop' Deb then enters the room after Batista has left. She goes onto relate Speltzer's murders to that of his mother's. Deb sole intention here is to get Speltzer so pissed off that he will tell all - this is achieved when she, as good as, calls his mother a whore. Confession gained.

Unfortunately, this victory is short-lived as LaGuerta shows everyone a DVD of Speltzer being taken down by the police officers. In this, he is basically unconscious when they ask him if he understands his rights. This resulted in the judge throwing out his confession. He is then released.

Dexter decides that his way of doing things is the way forward. He goes to Speltzer's trailer (also on the grounds of the cemetery); he is surprised when Speltzer comes back to the trailer and a fight ensues, leading to Dexter being knocked out. When he comes to, he is in a larger maze-like building, that appears to be Speltzer's greatest achievement. There is a sign for Dexter, which reads 'RUN'. Dexter isn't fazed by this as normally he 'makes people run'. After a chase through the various levels of the building, Dexter manages to escape and make a run for it. The only problem is that Speltzer now knows what Dexter looks like - from now on Dexter has to be very smart about any approaches/attempts.

The next time we see Speltzer is at Melanie's (girl he killed) funeral. As Deb and Batista come out of the church/chapel, Speltzer is at the roadside taunting Deb. This leads her to attack him and verbally take him down. She is filled with rage in this segment.

Revenge is finally gained at the end of the episode when Dexter goes to the cemetery and attracts Speltzer's attention. He leads him to a sign that says 'STAY' - a perfect response to the note left earlier for Dexter. As Speltzer reads this, Dexter sneaks up behind him and smashes him across the back of the head with a shovel, rendering him unconsious.

Speltzer awakens, strapped to a table in the crematorium. Unlike previous rituals, Dexter doesn't take a blood slide as he knows that his 'trophies' have the potential to be found. He explains to Speltzer that he was meant to be how he [Dexter] and Deb came to an understanding about what Dexter does - "who knows - maybe our relationship can arise from your ashes".

After stabbing Speltzer through the heart, Dexter reaches for his box of slides, placing them on Speltzer's lifeless body - "goodbye friends" as he then enters the body and slides into the furnace to burn.

As Dexter looks up at the fumes coming from the top of the building, a car pulls up. As he enters the car, we see that it's Deb who has arrived - as requested by Dexter. He then informs Deb that the smoke is Speltzer:

Deb: "Did you do that for me?"
Dexter: "No. How do you feel?"
Deb: "Glad (she seems disgusted with her response). What does that make me?"
Dexter: "Human".

Other segments;
  • Dexter and Hannah McKay have another interaction when she comes into Miami Metro to potentially help with the Wayne Randall case. This is another awkward conversation where more chemistry is hinted at between the two.
  • Also, Isaac visits an apartment - presumably Viktor's - where he looks at a framed photograph. He opens the back of it to reveal a picture of him and Viktor. As he starts to weep, he promises to avenge his death.

Summary
This was a good end to the Speltzer situation. Dexter's intention was to show Deb that his 'way' is an option. After the confession was thrown out, it was then left to Dexter to salvage what resulted. It showed that when the law was flawed, Dexter's code (or Harry's code) can come into play to serve justice. This seems to have opened Deb's eyes to this.

Isaac's power of persuasion and authority was shown further here; getting Alex to take the fall for the previous murders. As well as him knowing who Dexter is now, we were shown an unexpected turn of events as it seems that Isaac and Viktor were lovers - we now understand Isaac's motivation for coming to America. This will undoubtedly mean that Isaac and Dexter will cross paths further.

Deb is further conflicted here - it's been a very tough season for her so far. In the bloodbath dream, we see that her feelings towards Dexter are still very much there - she has a wedding ring on and Dexter proposes 'will you be mine'. With all that has been revealed so far, Deb's feelings will come to the surface, too, no doubt.

No comments:

Post a Comment