'Dexter' Season Five Review: The weakest season so far

I've slowed down a lot over the past few weeks with Dexter, it's a show that I heavily binged through to the point where I was covering a season every two days, but that's no longer the case. I don't think I managed to burn out and find boredom in it, but rather that the fifth season just wasn't all that engaging. Dexter's previous seasons were quite immersive with how Dexter managed to toy with the criminals around him and find a way to quench his murderous thirst, but there was always a problem that would arise and find attention more towards Dexter. Someone, somewhere, would start to piece things together. And season five still somewhat finds a way to bring that attention towards Dexter with the curiosity of another character, but there was something just missing from it. Perhaps that feeling of Dexter being hunted and finding panic and desperation to scramble people's attention towards him. Season five focuses more on a character that has been introduced that is genuinely insufferable, and as always it's Debra that manages to find an interest in him with her typical poor relationship choices. This is a detective that just can't seem to have a decent quality to him whatsoever, and it's a character that ends up being one of interest in the sense that Dexter hates him, and he hates Dexter. It reminded me a little bit of Doakes and how he saw through Dexter's ways. Though that isn't the case in this season.

Quinn is a character that is just horrible. And he's one that we want to see Dexter clash with more often. But we don't really see it all that much, we more see the ways in which Quinn is a piece of shit towards Dexter without Dexter really instigating anything in the first place. I wouldn't enjoyed seeing a larger series of interactions between the two and seeing Dexter coming to the realisation that he might actually have to deal with Quinn at some point. It would've been a more interesting dynamic to see Quinn investigating Dexter and being harsher to him while Dexter struggles to hold his frustrations back, rather Dexter just sort of ignores it all. I think that this led to a more empty season while the rest of the season's drama ensues. And this starts with a bit of a spoiler from last season's ending: Rita is dead. Killed because Dexter was too slow to act upon his murderous ways with a serial killer he had befriended in attempt to find more information about him, seeing the conflict with his family and what a true monster the killer actually was. It had a contrast to it that showed the differences and similarities between Dexter and the killer. Within season five, there is still a killer, rather several killers, those responsible for a series of actions that led to the kidnapping and abuse of a woman that Dexter ultimately feels sympathy for and takes in.

Despite this, it felt like Dexter was more a character that stayed behind the scenes this season. With more focus on the side characters and their personal drama. I don't mind this at all, it is nice to see the characters from the precinct get more focus. Especially when it can be utilised later to show their more human sides and how they too might end up as victims or foes against Dexter. Batista is clearly a man of emotion, a good person and a good detective. Yet he's often at the unfortunate exploitation from others, where they take advantage of that kindness he holds. We see this in how he finally finds a woman that he has true feelings for, and it seems mutual. But as always they take advantage of him. Debra continues to have a horrible time with people, to which she's another good person that ends up surrounded by death, suffering, and poor relationship choices. A naive character that rarely sees the truth in people. It seems like the writers did her a bit dirty again this season with poor choices but also a harsher mouth. Being the character that is incredibly expressive, often swearing and being incredibly blunt. She's a bit of a loose gun when it comes to emotions, but it's clear that she's a character with good intent with surroundings that ultimately don't benefit her at all.

I think this season's biggest weakness was that the villains that Dexter encounters felt less threatening. Especially with the last season which saw Dexter's own family targeted. This season had very little of the thrills and hunting side of things, no back and forth with Dexter as he tries to find more information about a specific killer. Instead it's only revealed towards the end of the season that there are a group of people responsible for the acts against one person. And the result is that it's just not that engaging. As if the killing side of the story became an after thought that was thrown in towards the end. Much of the season feeling a bit slow and more dramatic rather than fast-paced. And that's really what made the previous seasons so entertaining. Seeing the balance of Dexter's personal life and the hunting as the horrors of the city of Miami become known to him and the characters around him. It doesn't feel like the show lost its momentum as it ran out of ideas, there are still plenty of ways to look at Dexter and the people around him, but this one felt more like the first real breather the show had, where it didn't feel like it was in constant motion. Less events being juggled around. For me, it just didn't hold my attention much.

I do look forward to the next season, I have hopes that it returns and manages to bring a more interesting story again. But I think maybe that Dexter binging may have sizzled out by now with this one.