This week's Merlin and Dexter
Nov. 21st, 2011 11:05 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ishtar79 -This episode was mostly filler, but filler done in the best way. FINALLY we get some long-overdue Gwen screentime, and it actually involved her and Merlin spending time together, and having conversations not involving Arthur!
-The knights acting like classicist dicks was very much OOC, but more fitting to the era (LOL, to even mention historical era and accuracy in relation to Merlin!). I was half-hoping for some Elyan/Gwen interaction but alas, it was not meant to be.
-Man, Percy is kind of scary when mad. He went from “jolly giant” to “Percy SMASH!”.
-I've said it before, but I always enjoy the moments when Merlin drops the “bumbling servant” facade when facing off with magic creatures/wielders. It makes me happy. In my pants.
-Gwen charging the Lamia with a sword=best moment ever, and its badassery was amplified by the fact Gwen isn't a skilled fighter.
-They are KILLING me with the “magic reveal is inevitable....PSYCH!” moments. When Arthur appeared in the most inopportune moment, I genuinely yelled at my screen. I can't remember the last time I've been so frustrated with Merlin's magic remaining a secret. If Gwen isn't let in on it soon, I'll be pissed. I'd also like it if Gwaine learned about Merlin, but I do feel Gwen has earned it more, in terms of actual history with Merlin and the fact she's one of the people in Camelot who's actual observant and inquisitive. I laughed a lot at her grilling of Merlin about what makes him special (if this was a comedy fic, he would have gotten out of this quagmire by coming up with another explanation on why he's immune to girl!charms, and Gwen would nod wisely and say this explains a LOT).
-Arthur finds chicks with swords hawt, and who can blame him.
-Man, I am NOT looking forward to all the fandom Gwen bashing that's bound to follow next week's episode.
-Good on Deb for making Dexter squirm a bit with his apology-he did put her in a shitty position. But it's IC for her not to stay mad at him for long.
-Heh, it's been a while since we've gotten a genuinely pervy Masuka line-and I loved Dexter's “That's still my sister.”
-And in more “lessons not learned from season 4” news, Dexter continues to hide evidence/downright obstruct a police investigation on a serial killer, because he wants to play around instead. Does anybody remember when the Code was about those killers that slipped through the cracks? With this course of action, he'll be responsible not only for whatever happens to Travis sweet, doomed sister, but depending on where the “Gellar is in Travis' head” theory, every kill the DDK makes. FFS, Dexter, somewhere, Brother Sam is Very Disappointed.
-No, Quinn, Angel does not want to join you in some sleazy strip-joint. His suggestion to take Masuka instead was hilarious, because you know Vince is all over any sleaze action.
-I did like that the answer to Dexter's current dilemma (getting Travis to cooperate) was literally in Brother Sam's Bible. Dexter has gotten a lot better at adapting to situations outside his comfort zone (which let's not forget, in S1 consisted of pretty much everything not involving his table).
-Of course Travis mentionning his concern for his sister made Dexter relate. And the symmetry of following up that scene with Debra talking to Travis' sister is brilliant. Those two don't know it, but they have a lot in common: “So, your brother had childhood tragedy, is emotionally closed off and kind of an oddball too?”
-Laguerta continues with nearly soap opera-levels of scheming, but of course Deb is having none of it. Laguerta being “helpful”? One of the lesser-known signs of the Apocalypse.
-Seriously, Angel, what's with the overprotective brother thing? Not that I didn't snicker at the over-the-topness of him flashing his gun and making veiled threats, but what decade do you think you're in?
-I felt so much for Deb when she confronted Dexter about his road trip. As usual, they are having two separate conversations. Because yes, Debra feels she can absolutely relate to Dexter's Trinity trauma (though given Dexter reaction, it did seem the fact his sister lost the man she loved to Trinity, as far as she knows, had kind of slipped his mind), but from Dexter point of view, Deb didn't cause her loved one's death. He did. And for all of Deb's declaration she can bear Dexter's burdens...well, we all know that if she ever found out what said burdens were, it would pretty much break her mind.
-I wrote the “doomed” comment on Travis' sister when I was halfway through the ep, but yeah, I can't say I was even a little surprised when Masuka lifted the victim's mask.
-NO SHIT, IT'S YOUR FAULT, DEXTER! And yet he continues, with the stealing of evidence from crime scenes. Ugh. Deb is the only one I like in this episode.
-I didn't buy Laguerta's closing rate explanation from the start, and thought she was protecting some john VIP, and that phone clinched it. Maybe it's Matthews?
-Ok, Quinn, when MASUKA is telling you to dial it down, you are officially in trouble. “If I say you have a beautiful body, would you hold it against me”? Who the fuck uses such played-out lines anymore?
-Dementia is no laughing matter, but I admit that watching Dexter accidentally tricking the old priest into absolving him of his sins (ALL HIS SINS) was darkly hilarious.
-Between Debra's frustration about Dexter not confinding in her, her therapy session and Dexter's “confession” to the dementia-addled priest, confession is a big theme in this episode. As the saying goes, confession is good for the soul-and even ignoring the theological aspects of it, there's some truth in that. Unburdening oneself feels good (provided that the truth doesn't lead to some consquences which, in Dexter's case, would include the death penalty). It's a common need for people, including Dexter, who for all his isolation likes to do precisely that, though in most cases it involves people who won't live to tell about it. What the saying doesn't included however, is that confession is not necessarily good for the person hearing it. It's why priests, therapists and fellow anon commenters in various memes are the preferred confessors-because the truth can be incredibely hurtful depending on who hears it. Telling Deb the truth has been a desired on the back of Dexter's mind since the Bay Harbour Butcher arc in S2, but even leaving aside the legal and ethical dilemma this would lead to, I don't think Deb needs to know this, EVER. From a storytelling POV, her not finding out would feel like a cheat, but as someone who loves the character, I can't see any possible happy ending for her on this show. Even if we get a subversive conclusion of unmasked!Dexter succesfully running off into the sunset, I can't see how Deb can exist knowing her brother is a serial killer. And I don't think Dexter caught or dead is likely to make her feel any better about this knowledge. So her saying to her therapist that she's not worried about Dexter planning to kill her felt weirdly ominous-because no, he's not. But he will inevitably utterly destroy her all the same.
-Dexter, you dumbass, Gellar didn't see your face, because there IS NO GELLAR. To paraphrase Xander from Buffy, you've just been Kaizer Sozed.
-The knights acting like classicist dicks was very much OOC, but more fitting to the era (LOL, to even mention historical era and accuracy in relation to Merlin!). I was half-hoping for some Elyan/Gwen interaction but alas, it was not meant to be.
-Man, Percy is kind of scary when mad. He went from “jolly giant” to “Percy SMASH!”.
-I've said it before, but I always enjoy the moments when Merlin drops the “bumbling servant” facade when facing off with magic creatures/wielders. It makes me happy. In my pants.
-Gwen charging the Lamia with a sword=best moment ever, and its badassery was amplified by the fact Gwen isn't a skilled fighter.
-They are KILLING me with the “magic reveal is inevitable....PSYCH!” moments. When Arthur appeared in the most inopportune moment, I genuinely yelled at my screen. I can't remember the last time I've been so frustrated with Merlin's magic remaining a secret. If Gwen isn't let in on it soon, I'll be pissed. I'd also like it if Gwaine learned about Merlin, but I do feel Gwen has earned it more, in terms of actual history with Merlin and the fact she's one of the people in Camelot who's actual observant and inquisitive. I laughed a lot at her grilling of Merlin about what makes him special (if this was a comedy fic, he would have gotten out of this quagmire by coming up with another explanation on why he's immune to girl!charms, and Gwen would nod wisely and say this explains a LOT).
-Arthur finds chicks with swords hawt, and who can blame him.
-Man, I am NOT looking forward to all the fandom Gwen bashing that's bound to follow next week's episode.
-Good on Deb for making Dexter squirm a bit with his apology-he did put her in a shitty position. But it's IC for her not to stay mad at him for long.
-Heh, it's been a while since we've gotten a genuinely pervy Masuka line-and I loved Dexter's “That's still my sister.”
-And in more “lessons not learned from season 4” news, Dexter continues to hide evidence/downright obstruct a police investigation on a serial killer, because he wants to play around instead. Does anybody remember when the Code was about those killers that slipped through the cracks? With this course of action, he'll be responsible not only for whatever happens to Travis sweet, doomed sister, but depending on where the “Gellar is in Travis' head” theory, every kill the DDK makes. FFS, Dexter, somewhere, Brother Sam is Very Disappointed.
-No, Quinn, Angel does not want to join you in some sleazy strip-joint. His suggestion to take Masuka instead was hilarious, because you know Vince is all over any sleaze action.
-I did like that the answer to Dexter's current dilemma (getting Travis to cooperate) was literally in Brother Sam's Bible. Dexter has gotten a lot better at adapting to situations outside his comfort zone (which let's not forget, in S1 consisted of pretty much everything not involving his table).
-Of course Travis mentionning his concern for his sister made Dexter relate. And the symmetry of following up that scene with Debra talking to Travis' sister is brilliant. Those two don't know it, but they have a lot in common: “So, your brother had childhood tragedy, is emotionally closed off and kind of an oddball too?”
-Laguerta continues with nearly soap opera-levels of scheming, but of course Deb is having none of it. Laguerta being “helpful”? One of the lesser-known signs of the Apocalypse.
-Seriously, Angel, what's with the overprotective brother thing? Not that I didn't snicker at the over-the-topness of him flashing his gun and making veiled threats, but what decade do you think you're in?
-I felt so much for Deb when she confronted Dexter about his road trip. As usual, they are having two separate conversations. Because yes, Debra feels she can absolutely relate to Dexter's Trinity trauma (though given Dexter reaction, it did seem the fact his sister lost the man she loved to Trinity, as far as she knows, had kind of slipped his mind), but from Dexter point of view, Deb didn't cause her loved one's death. He did. And for all of Deb's declaration she can bear Dexter's burdens...well, we all know that if she ever found out what said burdens were, it would pretty much break her mind.
-I wrote the “doomed” comment on Travis' sister when I was halfway through the ep, but yeah, I can't say I was even a little surprised when Masuka lifted the victim's mask.
-NO SHIT, IT'S YOUR FAULT, DEXTER! And yet he continues, with the stealing of evidence from crime scenes. Ugh. Deb is the only one I like in this episode.
-I didn't buy Laguerta's closing rate explanation from the start, and thought she was protecting some john VIP, and that phone clinched it. Maybe it's Matthews?
-Ok, Quinn, when MASUKA is telling you to dial it down, you are officially in trouble. “If I say you have a beautiful body, would you hold it against me”? Who the fuck uses such played-out lines anymore?
-Dementia is no laughing matter, but I admit that watching Dexter accidentally tricking the old priest into absolving him of his sins (ALL HIS SINS) was darkly hilarious.
-Between Debra's frustration about Dexter not confinding in her, her therapy session and Dexter's “confession” to the dementia-addled priest, confession is a big theme in this episode. As the saying goes, confession is good for the soul-and even ignoring the theological aspects of it, there's some truth in that. Unburdening oneself feels good (provided that the truth doesn't lead to some consquences which, in Dexter's case, would include the death penalty). It's a common need for people, including Dexter, who for all his isolation likes to do precisely that, though in most cases it involves people who won't live to tell about it. What the saying doesn't included however, is that confession is not necessarily good for the person hearing it. It's why priests, therapists and fellow anon commenters in various memes are the preferred confessors-because the truth can be incredibely hurtful depending on who hears it. Telling Deb the truth has been a desired on the back of Dexter's mind since the Bay Harbour Butcher arc in S2, but even leaving aside the legal and ethical dilemma this would lead to, I don't think Deb needs to know this, EVER. From a storytelling POV, her not finding out would feel like a cheat, but as someone who loves the character, I can't see any possible happy ending for her on this show. Even if we get a subversive conclusion of unmasked!Dexter succesfully running off into the sunset, I can't see how Deb can exist knowing her brother is a serial killer. And I don't think Dexter caught or dead is likely to make her feel any better about this knowledge. So her saying to her therapist that she's not worried about Dexter planning to kill her felt weirdly ominous-because no, he's not. But he will inevitably utterly destroy her all the same.
-Dexter, you dumbass, Gellar didn't see your face, because there IS NO GELLAR. To paraphrase Xander from Buffy, you've just been Kaizer Sozed.
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no subject
Date: 2011-11-21 11:45 pm (UTC)I don't think Dexter is EVER going to learn the lesson about hiding evidence and consequences.
I SO want Deb to find out, even though it'll break my heart for her. Maybe... maybe the show could come up with a way for her to not be destroyed by that knowledge? Though how on earth that could realistically happen is beyond me. But, er, I can hope...?
no subject
Date: 2011-11-23 05:19 pm (UTC)I miss the time when Dexter was actually smart and meticulous!
I don't even know what they'll do with Deb on the show. But given that it looks like we'll get two more years of it, in the meantime we can get by on the occasional "Deb finds out" fic posted on Yuletide and such...