Dex, Lies, and Videotape

"Dex, Lies, and Videotape" is the sixth episode of the second season and eighteenth overall episode of the American television drama series ''Dexter'', which first aired on November 4, 2007 on Showtime in the United States. The episode was written by Lauren Gussis and was directed by Nick Gomez.

Set in Miami, the series centers on Dexter Morgan, a forensic technician specializing in bloodstain pattern analysis for the fictional Miami Metro Police Department, who leads a secret parallel life as a vigilante serial killer, hunting down murderers who have not been adequately punished by the justice system due to corruption or legal technicalities. In the episode, Dexter investigates more about Harry and Laura, while dealing with a copycat killer.

According to Nielsen Media Research, the episode was seen by an estimated 0.85 million household viewers and gained a 0.5 ratings share among adults aged 18–49. The episode received highly positive reviews from critics, who praised the tension, performances and character development.

Plot

As Dexter (Michael C. Hall) analyzes the connection between his mother and Harry ( James Remar), he is helping Miami Metro in a new murder, suspected to be committed by the Bay Harbor Butcher. Feeling the influence of the Butcher, Lundy (Keith Carradine) declares that if there is another murder, the FBI will take over the operation.

Lila ( Jaime Murray) joins Dexter and Rita ( Julie Benz) during dinner, remarking he is doing a good job during rehabilitation. Rita states that she likes Lila, but feels uncertain about her presence. Dexter takes Rita to her apartment to have sex, but they are interrupted when Lila leaves a message revealing their trip. Rita is angry that Dexter lied and leaves. Doakes (Erik King) continues suspecting Dexter when he asks Debra (Jennifer Carpenter) about his drug addiction, and she claims he never used the drugs. He later sneaks into his office to listen to Harry's videotape with Laura, causing an argument between both. Dexter wants to file a complaint, but LaGuerta (Lauren Vélez) asks him to wait while she talks about it with Doakes. LaGuerta demands Doakes to stop harrassing Dexter, but Doakes says he will take the risk.

Miami Metro and the FBI interrogate a suspect, Ken Olson ( Silas Weir Mitchell), who matches the description of the Bay Harbor Butcher. After learning that he was filmed while cleaning his boat at the marina, Dexter becomes desperate and tries to delete the videofile, which he eventually manages to do before computer upgrades enable its viewing by his colleagues. Lundy is hesitant that Olson is the killer, given that his MO was slightly different, and he was sloppy in the murders. Dexter visits Lila to scold her for ruining his relationship with Rita. In the conversation, he kisses her and they end up having sex.

That night, Dexter sneaks into Olson's house to confront him. Olson tries to defend his decisions, but Dexter concludes Olson only cares about the benefits the deaths can bring to him, and kills him. Instead of dropping him in the ocean, he leaves his chopped body for Lundy's task force, sending a message to stop other people from imitating him and preventing Lundy from giving the case to the FBI. Dexter visits Rita at her house to explain his encounter with Lila, stating he did not have sex with her that night. Rita is taken aback by his comment, and breaks up with him. Dexter visits Lila, and she lets him enter.

Production

Development

The episode was written by Lauren Gussis and was directed by Nick Gomez. This was Buck's first writing credit, and Gomez's second directing credit.

Reception

Viewers

In its original American broadcast, "Dex, Lies, and Videotape" was seen by an estimated 0.85 million household viewers with a 0.5 in the 18–49 demographics. This means that 0.5 percent of all households with televisions watched the episode. This was a 34% increase in viewership from the previous episode, which was watched by an estimated 0.63 million household viewers with a 0.3/1 in the 18–49 demographics.

Critical reviews

"Dex, Lies, and Videotape" received highly positive reviews from critics. Eric Goldman of ''IGN'' gave the episode a "great" 8.9 out of 10, and wrote, "The strong second season of ''Dexter'' is gaining a nice amount of momentum and is proving to be one of the best serialized dramas on the air right now. Dexter continued to listen to the tapes of Harry with his biological mother, Laura, gaining more insight into their secret relationship."

Scott Tobias of ''The A.V. Club'' gave the episode an "B" grade and wrote, "The show has been guilty in the past of turning everyday Miami Metro operations into sub-standard cop show fodder, and Carradine's character has turned that around. With him in the picture, even place-holder episodes like this one are highly watchable."

Alan Sepinwall wrote, "not sure what vibe I'm picking up off Lundy vis-a-vis Deb. Is he really just as guileless and straightforward as he appears - which would make him the perfect nemesis for a play-actor Dexter - or is his interest in Deb more than just a bit of fatherly mentoring?" Paula Paige of ''TV Guide'' wrote, "I know I've said this a hundred times before, but this was perhaps one of the best ''Dexter''s ever written. Ever. I watched this ep a few days ago and have not stopped thinking about it since."

Keith McDuffee of ''TV Squad'' wrote, "What's been great is how, although Lundy seems to know something and to be inching ever-so closer to who the real Butcher is, Dexter stays incredibly cool and without a bead of sweat showing in the Floridian heat." ''Television Without Pity'' gave the episode a "B+" grade.

References

External links

*

"Dex, Lies, and Videotape"
at Showtime's website

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dex, Lies, and Videotape
2007 American television episodes
Dexter (TV series) episodes