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Post by I AM the Way on Oct 24, 2011 11:08:07 GMT -6
Uploaded with ImageShack.usDexter finds religion? Season 6 is an intriguing blend of spirituality, darkness, and serial killing. Have something to say about it? Post your thoughts here.
Interesting blog: dextergr.blogspot.com/
Awake!
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Post by sin on Oct 24, 2011 12:20:25 GMT -6
I watch this show religiously (downloaded). I don't think its a matter of Dexter finding religion, but operating in what he believes to be a state of normalcy. During the last episode, when the Tooth-Fairy laughs at him, and tells him he will end up no better than him. Lonely with a box of mementos - this hit Dexter hard. So hard, that when he returned to his place to add the blood slide to his memento box, he dropped it. Out of organization comes chaos. He has no idea what slide belongs to whom (unless of course he tests the blood type). He must accept chaos as a way to function normally, religion is an organization of chaos which will give the appearance of his normal self. A way to crystallize himself, around the dark passenger.
CS
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Post by sin on Oct 25, 2011 6:43:17 GMT -6
Have you read the books VS? The story-line differs a fair bit from the series on television.
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Post by I AM the Way on Oct 25, 2011 11:38:03 GMT -6
The finding religion statement was deliberately provocative. Obviously, Dexter is dismissive of such archaic, illogical things... for now. But perhaps Dexter finds it literally? He accidentally stumbles upon faith and spirituality for the first time in his life. What is he going to do with what he's found? That's for the audience to discover.
The religious setup in season 6 is quite good. It reminds me of a HPL story. The characters go out of their way to tell us that faith is mostly subjective insanity, but then things keep happening. Just like the protagonists in HPL's fiction who know that the supernatural is hogwash, beating the subject like a dead horse - only to be surprised at new, startling evidence that there just might be a glimmer of reality to that which should never be!
Crystallization requires balance. Those who can effectively manage their dark passenger are able to move from Magnetic Center to Crystallization. However, most psychopaths cannot. Dexter is the exception to the rule... the sly man. That's why he's the star of the show.
I bought the first book and then lent it to my Mother before I could read it. She also loves Dexter.
By His loathsome tentacles,
Venger As'Nas Satanis Ipsissimus Cult of Cthulhu
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Post by sin on Oct 25, 2011 20:22:10 GMT -6
I'm curious to see how the television series plays out, in the book its essentially a religion of the dark passenger. This week's show, Dexter gives it a go...He makes a pact with God, for his son to come out of surgery without incident. This all stems from the influence of his new found friend when he asks: Haven't you ever had a problem that was so big, you needed help? In which Dexter replies: Yes, I get help from my father. When speaking of faith, he tells Dexter: If you put Faith in the wrong things, that shit will fuck you up.
That's a nice bit of Truth. Every person borders on the danger of putting their faith into things that can harm themselves. Even the delusion that they are doing the right thing, going about it the right way, and then Bam! You are fucked.
Dexter's son pulls through, he hugs the doc while saying: Oh thank God! Slip of the tongue? His father questions him, reminding him that he seeks help from an imaginary father-figure already, why not God? The influences are apparent, Dexter just has to go through the motions and sort it all out for himself. If you notice, even the Hospital is an environment for influence 'St Peter's'. It's all around him, he sees how it affects others and can't help but wonder for himself: Why not me?
But, think of the many times throughout the series in which he has to over-rule the advice of his imaginary father (one of his own I's) for the 'greater good' in his life. How many times has the 'father' advice been wrong? As Dexter penetrates layer after layer of his inner-self, he makes many realizations about himself. His nature. His humanity.
I agree with you to a certain degree about exceeding one's own humanity, but there are times in which that humanity can be your greatest strength.
I think Crystallization takes the right measure, not necessarily balance. Sometimes things need to be quite un-balanced to cause an effect.
The series is off to a good start, the book references are there but the creative writing for the show will make a huge difference in what the bottom-line delivery is for the audience.
CS
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Post by I AM the Way on Oct 26, 2011 11:07:41 GMT -6
Yes, you've summed up season 6 nicely, Cora'Sahn.
Dexter's father is an interesting character, and he could be seen as an 'I'. Or could this Obi-Wan type father figure be closer to Magnetic Center? Anyone else have an opinion? If so, state the reasoning behind it.
Balance doesn't necessarily mean moderation or compromise, but I see what you mean. It also refers to keeping the physical, emotional, and intellectual centers in proportion. One can't be correctly aligned without balance. Having attained a certain amount of harmony, a balanced individual can choose to take extreme actions whenever it's desired. Perhaps this should be included in the Cult of Cthulhu Terminology...
Awake!
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Post by sin on Oct 26, 2011 12:14:20 GMT -6
Or disproportion, if change is what is intended. One can be harmoniously a train-wreck, so in order to force a change, you have to put things out of whack. Does that make more sense?
I would agree, we may want to include something about 'balance' as it relates to the paradigm, for clarity.
CS
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Post by I AM the Way on Nov 9, 2011 16:57:05 GMT -6
Your thoughts on the last two episodes of Dexter? The preview of next week's show looks epic.
Awake!
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Post by I AM the Way on Nov 14, 2011 11:45:41 GMT -6
Last night's episode was awesome. I felt like I was seeing the old Dex again.
Awake!
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Post by sin on Nov 14, 2011 12:37:38 GMT -6
Agreed. I was pleased to see a killing too, Dexter was out of sorts for a while. I didn't think for a minute that he would keep to Brother Sam's dying wish. Forgiveness, psh. What does that bring you anyway?
I think Brother Sam saw the Dark Passenger within Dexter, and was giving him an out with his dying wish. Why did Sam take an interest in Dexter to begin with? Perhaps Sam's salvation is achieved through the trials and tribulations of a Messiah.
Dexter may have entertained the idea for a moment, but as soon as he was given even just an inch by Nick, a sloppy killing. Not the usual calculated style, but it really gives you a good look at the compulsions of Dexter the killer.
I keep laughing at the 'Detective' dynamic of Dexter's personality. There are so many scenes throughout the series in which you are like WTF, he's just the blood-splatter guy, why is he doing detective work? It seems the writers are getting creative with Dexter's proclivity for the work (as a need arises in his own Work as a vigilante killer), as well as pushing the envelope a bit within the Miami Police Dept.
I also think the dynamic of Debra and her co-workers is interesting, and her need to seek therapy for her own hang-ups (A life-long journey of trying to win favor with her father, finding her own identity, matters of the heart, acknowledging she is capable, etc.)
I'm watching last night's episode tonight.
CS
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Post by I AM the Way on Nov 14, 2011 13:18:05 GMT -6
Agreed. I was pleased to see a killing too, Dexter was out of sorts for a while. I didn't think for a minute that he would keep to Brother Sam's dying wish. Forgiveness, psh. What does that bring you anyway?
I think Brother Sam saw the Dark Passenger within Dexter, and was giving him an out with his dying wish. Why did Sam take an interest in Dexter to begin with? Perhaps Sam's salvation is achieved through the trials and tribulations of a Messiah.
Dexter may have entertained the idea for a moment, but as soon as he was given even just an inch by Nick, a sloppy killing. Not the usual calculated style, but it really gives you a good look at the compulsions of Dexter the killer.
I keep laughing at the 'Detective' dynamic of Dexter's personality. There are so many scenes throughout the series in which you are like WTF, he's just the blood-splatter guy, why is he doing detective work? It seems the writers are getting creative with Dexter's proclivity for the work (as a need arises in his own Work as a vigilante killer), as well as pushing the envelope a bit within the Miami Police Dept.
I also think the dynamic of Debra and her co-workers is interesting, and her need to seek therapy for her own hang-ups (A life-long journey of trying to win favor with her father, finding her own identity, matters of the heart, acknowledging she is capable, etc.)
I'm watching last night's episode tonight.
CS I believe that Dexter would have fulfilled Brother Sam's wish, all things being equal, if Sam's killer had been truly repentant - worthy of forgiveness. Then Dexter would have let him live. Of course, his friend's murderer was being a little, weasely jackass about it. Nick betrayed Brother Sam, and didn't feel bad about it. In that way, his sin was more egregious than Judas.
The fact that Dexter was enraged enough to kill Nick with his bare hands speaks of Dexter's feelings for the fellow traveler who was taken from him too soon. Brother Sam deserved better. In that moment of rage, Dexter became darkness. Of course, that suddenly unleashed darkness triggered something in Dexter. It went from dark passenger to dark driver.
Dexter might just be the blood spatter guy, but don't forget that he was trained for a decade by his adopted father who was a police detective. That's really the only way Dexter hasn't been caught and put away or killed. Dexter's police training goes hand in hand with Harry's code. Plus, I'm sure he's picked up a thing or two from being around Miami Metro's forensics department and working on hundreds of homicide cases.
<<<SPOILERS>>>Dexter made up for killing Nick by allowing Trinity's son, who was repentant, to live... thus restoring the balance. And the person who Dexter did kill in last night's episode deserved that pitchfork in the stomach. Very nice.
I loved the internal struggle between Dexter's dark passenger personified by imaginary sounding board Rudy and Dexter himself. Especially when Dexter's father gets picked up and allows him to resume being an occasional, but very much in control, monster. Harry makes a better guide/mentor than Rudy. Although, it was very nice to see Dexter cut loose for a while and truly go over to the dark side - even if it was only for two thirds of an episode.[/b][/color] Awake!
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Post by sin on Nov 14, 2011 15:11:30 GMT -6
That's the thing about Dexter's redeeming qualities, making him the Serial Killing Hero. He is thought to be capable of mercy, when mercy is needed. The thing is, Dexter is judge and jury - he decides if mercy is warranted, and whether or not it will be provided. The show is an exploration of the ebb and flow of Dexter's own humanity. The dynamic of man and monster. Because let's face it, as far as 'society' goes and what each of us is actually capable of (in the moment vs. shit talk), it would take a monster to do what Dexter does, right? I'm not so sure its as black and white as all that, is sociopathy really required to be a killer?
How does that compare to careers in killing such as the Armed Forces, Law Enforcement, Malitia and contract killers?
Do you think you are capable of killing? Could you carry it out in a cold calculating manner if that is what was needed?
And let's not forget the journey of Dexter through Lumin. He carries the dark passenger, so that she doesn't have to. It's more symbolic than anything. The trials and tribulations of a killer, and the struggle of the I's they must maintain to stay focused on the task at hand, daily survival, the art of directing and misdirecting focus away from him, and his deeds. There's a lot going on there.
I do think its quite possible that Dexter would have let Nick live, if he had shown an ounce of genuine remorse for his actions. It's also possible that Dexter would LOOK for some other reason to kill him, maybe not that night, but another night - watching his moves. I do take into account the training of his father, I was speaking moreso of the way the Polic Dept. allows for Dexter's detective work, when in reality - he is a Blood Splatter guy. There's a blurring of the lines there for sure. I'm not sure if its purposeful, on the part of the writers or they hope that the viewing audience will lose sight of how things really work in the Police Dept with protocol.
I didn't read beyond the SPOILER ALERT - I will post more tomorrow.
CS
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Post by sin on Nov 15, 2011 7:42:38 GMT -6
It was good to see Brian return as an aspect of Dexter's dark passenger. I couldn't help but laugh, watching him interact with himself, take a road trip with himself, snag some tail, steal a gun and shoot it out the window recklessly. Dexter let's loose! He even kills a hotel clerk with a pitch-fork for good measure. The 'House' background in that scene was hysterical (American Gothic).
Dexter disappears out of town, to track down Trinity's son, Jonah...A new predator? It couldn't be the Trinity killer that killed his wife and daughter, because he's already dead. Jonah tries to pass off some convoluted story to Dexter, all the while telling him the family covered his ass. He just wanted to know why Dexter helped his family. By the time the whole scene plays out and Dexter has Jonah in his death grip, he ends up letting him go telling him to forgive himself. An interesting insertion of Brother Sam's death wish.
Dexter's contact puts pause into the Dooms Day Killer assistant - a sacrificial lamb? Bait for the real predator? The DDK is on the rampage to bring about the end of the world! Debra's team is making break-throughs in the case with the Biblical symbolism, but it's not getting them a whole lot closer to track this guy down at his favorite hide out. The 'office romance' between Deb and Quinn finally fizzles to a close. If they write Quinn out all together, I don't think there would be much love lost for the demise of that character. BORING.
Dexter heads home, putting the breaks on the whole Brian dynamic in his personality and runs over his ghost with a car. It's interesting how the fractals of Dexter's personality become external characters for him to interact with. We all talk to ourselves in some way or another, but what would it take to see your inner self, as an outer self, that you take a road trip with? How aware is Dexter that he's talking with himself? Some of the camera angles were pretty awesome. The scene in which Dexter kills the hotel clerk, at first glance it appears that Brian grabs the pitch fork and does the deed, but the camera angle reveals its Dexter doing the dirty. There's a number of scenes like that, I thought it was great camera work.
By the time Dexter re-enters Miami, he picks up his father on the side of the road - an indication that this is the constant Gardner for Dexter. The more dependable voice of reason. Even if he has to ignore it all together sometimes. I thought this episode showed more of the old Dexter than the previous. The flip flop of a calculating killer with a dash of mania. Good stuff.
CS
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Post by I AM the Way on Nov 15, 2011 11:08:22 GMT -6
I didn't catch that. Well spotted!
Awake!
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Post by I AM the Way on Oct 1, 2012 12:34:16 GMT -6
That look pretty much says it all, doesn't it? Ah yes, season 7 is here at long fucking last.
Danielle and I watched the premier with great anticipation. Amazing stuff! Without giving away any spoilers, I can say that Dexter isn't pulling any punches. Looking forward to seeing what happens next.
Awake!
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Post by I AM the Way on Oct 1, 2012 14:23:21 GMT -6
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