TV Review: Dexter 7.3, "Buck the System"
“Buck the System” finds the season continuing to make a case for itself as among the series’ best and I honestly couldn’t be happier with pretty much everything in it.
rating: 4.5
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Dexter just keeps doing things right. All plot threads are moving with good, healthy momentum and even incorporating just enough humor to make audiences laugh without taking them out of the moment. The scenes at the post office and at the morning debriefing at Miami Metro where we watch Dexter imagine liberating the blood from the fascist confines of the throats of those whom tread on his last nerve were the funniest uses of that technique since the end of season two where we watched Dexter imagine the many possible reactions of Deb discovering hes the Bay Harbor Butcher. But much more so than the uses of humor have two other elements, pacing and efficiency, worked to elevate Buck the System to the top tier of Dexter episodes. Because this season is built upon such a brilliant and explosive premise every episode thus far has had to overcome the temptation to focus exclusively on its exploration, diving into it and never looking back. While I would totally love such an approach, it would make for a pretty short season. The fact that the most rabid Dexter fan I know (myself) isnt foaming at the mouth that this hasnt occurred is proof to me of the shows successful pacing. While it hasnt dived headfirst into the deep end of Dex and Deb travelling cross-country to go vigilante all over everybodys ass, it hasnt wasted time on its plot threads either. Even quicker than I anticipated has Deb learned the futility of suppressing Dexters Dark Passenger. The conversation between her and Dexter after Dex chokes out the smart-mouthed beard enthusiast in the interrogation room was wonderfully written and performed and immediately cut to the bottom line of Debs plan to rehabilitate Dexter its the behavioral equivalent of attempting to plug a volcano with a bath tub drain cover. I feared that conversation, the one between the two of them at the bar where Dex lured Deb to show her Speltzer, Dexters latest target, and the one at the end of the episode would be stretched out until just before the last few episodes of the season so to seem them all occur over the span of one excellent episode was an unexpected but very much welcomed pleasure. As opposed to gradually working their way up to Debs reluctant tolerance of Dexters hobby, this has been achieved by the close of the third episode. There was a key component to this expediation and his name is Raymond Speltzer. Speltzer is a man who we come to find is a serial killer who likes to dress up like a bull and assault women, beating them to death and keeping one of their earrings as a trophy. I love that someone this twisted that could have served as a Big Bad of a lesser season is being used here in a single episode as a catalyst for an important revelation, much like the Tooth Fairy, the old man Dexter encountered in an episode last season whom served to help Dexter confront how he felt about the life he leads and what that means for his son. I also like that Speltzer is also enough of a compelling and truly scary baddie that he reminds me of the fascinating villains of the first season, the type of garbage Dexter refers to when he tried explaining to Deb the service he provides the world when they had their conversation in the bar. Speltzer is a fascinating villain and the full extent of his deviance is gradually revealed, finally culminating in the episodes chilling climax. I feared that it would take a series of smaller occurrences to convince Debra that Dexter actually uses his Dark Passenger for good and Im thrilled that this was actually executed through a much more efficient and dynamic manner because it suggests that the rest of the season wont waste any time getting to the extremely promising prospect weve all been waiting for since the end of last season Dexter and Deb working together to kill some deserving pieces of trash. Buck the System saw two more antagonists get drawn closer to Dexter and to each other, Louis and Isaak. Though Im disappointed Louis isnt the criminal mastermind I feel he was built up to be, I made peace with it last episode and even if I hadnt I sure as hell would have to after this one. And if Louis wasnt going to be a worthy contender against Dexter Im glad no more time will be wasted watching him poke with a stick the sleeping grizzly that is Dexter Morgan. And the icing on the cake is that not only has the dead weight that is Louis been cut loose, but its been done so in a way that further intertwines Dexter and Isaak. Not only did Isaak put a bullet in Louis head, spilling his blood on Dexters boat, but Isaak and Dexter even got to meet and exchange some words while waiting for Miami Metro to finish conducting some business at the crime boss strip club. I loved this exchange and the fact that Isaak now knows Dexter is probably the last person to have seen Viktor Baskov-fuck-wad-anov alive. Its crucial that Dexter become gradually connected to the seasons Big Bad in genuinely personal ways as opposed to merely inserting himself into his affairs as a matter of boredom or convenience as with Doomsday or The Skinner. Other than Louis departure at the hands of Isaak and Debs realization that Dexters work is a necessary evil, not much else happened. We learned that Quinn and Nadia, the stripper from the crime syndicates club, will not only continue seeing each other but will do so while feeding each other enough information to stay alive and possibly bring to justice the murderer of Nadias friend. It was also revealed that this criminal organization is deep in the heroin business, an important factor because it identifies whats at stake for the criminal fraternity, it clarifies their motive beyond simply wanting to continue being bad guys. LaGuerta hasnt made any further progress in her investigation of the true Bay Harbor Butcher, but even I have confidence this wont get swept under the rug. Also absent from the episode was Dexters usually overtly obvious narration and any appearances from ghost Harry, two of the worst aspects of Dexter which have dragged it down in recent seasons. The only element of Buck the System Im not 100% in support of is the introduction of Hannah, the former partner in crime of Wayne Randall, the convict we met last episode who had a date with a Mack truck. Though I like the actress and the fact that her and Dexter did have chemistry together, I found myself yelling, UNNECESSARY! at the screen on which I was watching the episode during her scene. Im not sure what adding a love interest into the mix could really do for this season which already seems to have more than enough to remain compelling, but considering how great its been so far, Im willing to trust the show on this one. Buck the System finds the season continuing to make a case for itself as among the series best and I honestly couldnt be happier with pretty much everything in it. Were three-for-twelve so far and Im incredibly excited to see my expectations surpassed yet again next week.