The Love Boat

Passions.  Myles Raymond in Sideways was a writer, but had a passion for wine.  He met a woman, Maya, who also shared that passion.  She was a love interest because of this shared passion.  When he talked about wine, he became the closest version to himself.  He was relaxed, loose, accessible. 

"Dating is harder than I remember." #dexter
— Taryn It Up! (@TarynItUpNY) August 5, 2013

When Dexter is out with Cassie, and she's asking a lot of the probing small talk questions (mostly, about himself, which you may notice, serial killers may have a tough time opening up, or at the very least, finding out something that interests them besides, you know, killing people.  He talks about his boat, but what does he do on his boat?  Takes out the trash.  I'm not even sure the guy likes to fish, knows how to or even likes the open sea.  Seems the only thing he does like is that the ocean hides most of his secrets.

Secrets, that only a few (living) people know.  Secrets, that only women know.  

Women are funny.  I should know, I am one.  Yet, looking back on Dexter's love interests throughout his time, the people he's been most comfortable about are women. (And what is it with the women with accents? Remember the nanny from season five? We never heard what happened to her...Jaime just showed up in season six...we didn't even know Bautista had a sister prior to that season.)

Funny thing is, almost every season, #dexter had a love interest, Rita, Lila, Lumen, Hannah, now Cassie. He was most open w/ lumen & Hannah
— Taryn It Up! (@TarynItUpNY) August 5, 2013

What do Rita and Cassie have in common?  They only know the superficial side of Dexter - the sweet, sensitive protective guy.  Of course, Rita had a child with Dexter; Cassie sees the child Dexter is now raising (plus, she HAS to know that his wife was murdered).  Single, hardworking dad, who is a good cook and cute?  Shit, that's a CATCH.  But going back to women...sure, Cassie was asking a lot of probing questions, but she wasn't digging deep. She'll fall in love with him, for sure. 

I made some interesting revelations with tonight's episode.  What was fascinating is that I made a note to myself that I should have made in like season six, let alone the final season.

I think Dexter is capable of loving someone else. For what it was worth, I think he really did love Rita, and hated himself for putting her in the position she later ended up in.

But I think his true self came out with Lumen, Hannah, even Deb and Dr. Vogel:  they ALL knew/know Dexter's dark secret.

What's more?  They all accepted him for it.  They even see the good, the REAL deep good, he has in him.  And in some fashion, he's loved and trusted each of them in their own way. Vogel is convinced he is unable to do that.  I think in his wise aging, he has found a way to balance the two.

They've been on his boat, too, but they understand the meaning of it too -- the open sea that hides the truth from the general public.  A general public that would never get a serial killer who kills only people no one will miss.

I think Dexter is gonna hook up with Zack!
— Taryn It Up! (@TarynItUpNY) August 5, 2013

(SPOILER ALERT - A LITTLE)

Lastly, I am not sure how I feel about the "protege," Zack. I know in the books, Cody (Rita's son), was groomed to take over for Dexter.  (editor's note: I've never read the books, myself, just based on what people have told me.)  I feel like Dr. Vogel is like this mad scientist, creating her own versions of Frankenstein but in her own psychopathic vision.  Yet, she was on to something with Zack.  Though, he seems to be a little creepier now...but hey, I'm sure Dexter was when he was a teenager too.

And I don't know what the point of introducing Cassie is...unless she becomes a victim of Zack...or...

Hannah.

Seriously, not sure what she's gonna do if she finds out he is interested in another woman.

I liked Lumen for Dexter, but she outplayed her usefulness after season five, I see that now.  I love Hannah, for Dexter, love the angle they gave her last season.

I really feel like they need to get on that proverbial Love Boat, out of town, maybe with Harrison, maybe without (now that Deb is cleaning her act up, she can take him).  I can see the Code getting muddled, and Harry is right...the more people know about him, the less effective the Code is.

If he's grooming Zack to be the next Bay Harbor Butcher, he is free to leave with Hannah, to Argentina, or wherever the boat may take them.

And with that....we are halfway done... #Dexter #TheFinalSeason
— Taryn It Up! (@TarynItUpNY) August 5, 2013