Dex, Lies, and Videotape
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"Dex, Lies, and Videotape" is the sixth episode of the second season and eighteenth overall episode of the American
television drama series In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. Drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular super-gen ...
''
Dexter Dexter may refer to: Arts and entertainment * Dexter, the main character of the American animated series ''Dexter's Laboratory'' that aired from 1996 to 2003 * Dexter, a fictional character in the British Diary of a Bad Man#Main, web series ''Diar ...
'', which first aired on November 4, 2007 on
Showtime Showtime or Show Time may refer to: Film * ''Showtime'' (film), a 2002 American action/comedy film * ''Showtime'' (video), a 1995 live concert video by Blur Television Networks and channels * Showtime Networks, a division of Paramount Global w ...
in the United States. The episode was written by
Lauren Gussis Lauren Gussis is an American television writer and producer, known for the Showtime (TV network), Showtime series ''Dexter (TV series), Dexter'', the NBC series ''E-Ring'' and the Netflix Original Series Insatiable (TV series), Insatiable (2018). S ...
and was directed by
Nick Gomez Nick Gomez (born April 13, 1963) is an American film director and writer. He has directed for a number of television and film. His first feature-length film was the 1992 movie ''Laws of Gravity'', which won awards at both the Berlin Internatio ...
. Set in
Miami Miami ( ), officially the City of Miami, known as "the 305", "The Magic City", and "Gateway to the Americas", is a East Coast of the United States, coastal metropolis and the County seat, county seat of Miami-Dade County, Florida, Miami-Dade C ...
, the series centers on
Dexter Morgan {{More citations needed, date=August 2016 {{Infobox character , color = red , name = Dexter Morgan , series = Dexter , image = Dexter Morgan.jpg , image_size = 200px , caption = Michael C. Hall as Dexter Morgan , first = Novels:''Darkly Dr ...
, 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 Dexter may refer to: Arts and entertainment * Dexter, the main character of the American animated series ''Dexter's Laboratory'' that aired from 1996 to 2003 * Dexter, a fictional character in the British Diary of a Bad Man#Main, web series ''Diar ...
(
Michael C. Hall Michael Carlyle Hall (born February 1, 1971) is an American actor and singer best known for his roles as Dexter Morgan, the titular character in the Showtime series ''Dexter,'' and David Fisher in the HBO drama series '' Six Feet Under.'' Thes ...
) 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 Keith Ian Carradine ( ; born August 8, 1949) is an American actor who has had success on stage, film, and television. He is known for his roles as Tom Frank in Robert Altman's film ''Nashville'', Wild Bill Hickok in the HBO series '' Deadwood ...
) declares that if there is another murder, the FBI will take over the operation. Lila ( Jaime Murray) joins Dexter and
Rita Rita may refer to: People * Rita (given name) * Rita (Indian singer) (born 1984) * Rita (Israeli singer) (born 1962) * Rita (Japanese singer) * Eliza Humphreys (1850–1938), wrote under the pseudonym Rita Places * Djarrit, also known as Rita, a ...
( 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 Erik King (born April 21, 1963) is an American actor, best known for his portrayal of Sergeant James Doakes on Showtime's television series '' Dexter''. He is also known for his roles as Moses Deyell on '' Oz''., and as Bobby Davidson in ''Mis ...
) continues suspecting Dexter when he asks
Debra Debra is a feminine given name. Debra may refer to: People * Debra Adelaide (born 1958), Australian writer * Debra Allbery (born 1957), American poet * Debra R. Anderson (1949-2022), American politician * Debra Austin (born 1955), American bal ...
(
Jennifer Carpenter Jennifer Carpenter is an American actress who is known for her role as Debra Morgan in the Showtime series '' Dexter'', for which she earned a Saturn Award in 2009, and also for playing Rebecca Harris in the CBS television series '' Limitless'' ...
) 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 Luna Lauren Vélez (born November 2, 1964) is an American actress and the identical twin sister of actress Lorraine Vélez. Her most notable television roles are as María LaGuerta on Showtime (TV network), Showtime's ''Dexter (TV series), Dexter' ...
) 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 Lauren Gussis is an American television writer and producer, known for the Showtime (TV network), Showtime series ''Dexter (TV series), Dexter'', the NBC series ''E-Ring'' and the Netflix Original Series Insatiable (TV series), Insatiable (2018). S ...
and was directed by
Nick Gomez Nick Gomez (born April 13, 1963) is an American film director and writer. He has directed for a number of television and film. His first feature-length film was the 1992 movie ''Laws of Gravity'', which won awards at both the Berlin Internatio ...
. 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 ''IGN'' (formerly ''Imagine Games Network'') is an American video game and entertainment media website operated by IGN Entertainment Inc., a subsidiary of Ziff Davis, Inc. The company's headquarters is located in San Francisco's SoMa distri ...
'' 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 ''The A.V. Club'' is an American online newspaper and entertainment website featuring reviews, interviews, and other articles that examine films, music, television, books, games, and other elements of pop-culture media. ''The A.V. Club'' was cre ...
'' 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 TV Guide is an American digital media company that provides television program Television, sometimes shortened to TV, is a telecommunication medium for transmitting moving images and sound. The term can refer to a television set, or t ...
'' 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 Weblogs, Inc. was a blog network that published content on a variety of subjects, including tech news, video games, automobiles and pop culture. At one point, the network had as many as 90 blogs, although the vast majority of its traffic could be ...
'' 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 Television Without Pity (often abbreviated TWoP) was a website that provided detailed recaps of select television dramas, situation comedies and reality TV shows along with discussion forums. These recaps were written with sarcastic criticism an ...
'' gave the episode a "B+" grade.


References


External links

*
"Dex, Lies, and Videotape"
at
Showtime Showtime or Show Time may refer to: Film * ''Showtime'' (film), a 2002 American action/comedy film * ''Showtime'' (video), a 1995 live concert video by Blur Television Networks and channels * Showtime Networks, a division of Paramount Global w ...
's website {{DEFAULTSORT:Dex, Lies, and Videotape 2007 American television episodes Dexter (TV series) episodes