Review: Dexter ‘Monkey in a Box’

Last week on Dexter, Vogel ended up dying, Hannah ended up getting exposed to those that might not like her being out of jail and poor Dexter was running around in circles trying to get everything taken care of before it all implodes.  With the last episode less than a week away, I expect there to be more than a few deaths, it’s just a matter of who and when.  This week saw no one important kick the bucket, but it doesn’t look good for Dex and Hannah as they prepare to make their escape.

With just two days left until they are supposed to skip town, Dexter and Hannah must dodge the various bullets coming their way.  Naturally, there’s a terrible storm coming that will ground their flight, so everything is on a timer.  So Dex heads out after Saxon, seeking to end him before heading off and Hannah must be hidden away so that the fed and Deb’s old boss don’t figure out where she is and ruin everything.

Saxon, in an attempt to barter with Dexter, shows up under the guise of buying his condo.  After a brief conversation, they agree to leave each other alone, but Dex has other plans.  In order to draw Saxon out, Dex leaks some videos of him killing his victims to the press.  Also, some DNA evidence ends up tying him to Vogel so now all the police know that he was her son and is likely responsible for her death.  Saxon doesn’t like being hunted and decides to go after Dex, but with the help of Deb the two grab up Saxon and take him away to meet his fate.

Dexter, however, has been having feelings that don’t quite add up.  He decides against killing Saxon, instead handing him over to Deb so that she can bring him to justice the old fashioned way.  Unfortunately, a timely visit by the fed (who is tracking Deb’s movements in order to find Hannah) spoils everything and Saxon ends up on the loose again.

In the meanwhile, Deb officially returns to the police force and she and Quinn are getting closer again and it may even be a happily-ever-after for them.  Hannah is hiding out, but Deb’s old boss is vigilant in tracking her down.

I like that they’ve decided to have Dex slowly realize that he may not be the monster that everyone has been assuming he is.  His urge to kill Saxon is one of vengeance, not an attempt to feed his “dark passenger”.  And when he finally comes to the conclusion that he doesn’t want to kill the man, it’s a big step forward for our favorite serial killer.

Unfortunately, we still have the unwelcome presence of the convenient plot twists that so annoy me.  A storm just happens to be coming right when Dex and Hannah need to escape.  The fed just happens to free Saxon, apparently unaware that the guy’s face is all over the news.  And then there are some obvious writing errors, such as why Hannah, who is being hunted, doesn’t do something extremely simple to disguise herself.  A haircut and dye perhaps?

With just one episode left, it’s Dex vs. Saxon and everyone vs. Deb’s old boss.  Check out a little preview of the next and final episode at this site here.

Photo Credits -           

Dexter in car courtesy of tvfanatic.com