I liked this episode but it could have been so much better. Their episode that paid homage to Twin Peaks (Dual Spires) was much more clever and fun. At times it felt like there was just too much going on. They should have had Chief Vick in there, or even Ken! Would have been funny if Shawn introduced himself and Gus to each of the guests with Shawn giving Gus one of the many, never-ending false names he would use. I liked the essence of the Clue film and the intro was good as well, but James Roday is no Tim Curry. He ran around piecing the crime together much like what happened in the film, but it just fell flat on the show.
Excellent episode. Rick's speech to the group was great. In the S2 finale, he told everyone what they had wasn't a democracy anymore. Rick's realization that while he may be the leader of the group, he is certainly not the Governor. He wants everyone to have their say in what happens. Merle surprisingly was the voice of reason in this ep. He always knew that the Governor would be down for a war with anyone, hence the 'save your bullets' line the Governor threw around. He has also been wanting to just take out the Governor for a while now. Merle knew the Governor would not stop if Michonne was just given to him. The prison group would still be out there and still be a threat. Daryl getting angry at Rick, while I see it happening, I can't help but think that his anger will be more focused on the Governor. Regardless of what led Merle from Point A to Point B - the Governor was still the one to turn Merle into a walker.
Of course Ryan has a lot of hunches. He spent a good chunk of his life tracking Joe down and getting inside his head. He has a pacemaker because of it! With Emma and Joe hooking up, I see it as a power move on Emma's part.
@Watchestoomuch A group of serial killers all gathering together and getting along is far fetched? Who said this group got along at all? I think they tolerate each other simply because of Joe. As much 'organization' as this group has, it is certainly not without it's moments of hate, fear, lust, jealousy. Reminds me kinda like the Manson 'family'. You felt like you 'belonged' and 'mattered' when in this family which was wrought with plenty of the above problems. When it came time to kill, they did.
@ukchris: Basic human nature stopped when the walkers took over the world. People are now doing anything and everything they can just to survive another day, even if it means taking a life. It's either yours or theirs. Trust is also slim pickins' these day and maybe a year ago, Rick would have reacted differently. This is the now though, and there's too much blood on Rick's hands. The people he has grown attached to are dying or making too much of a change in themselves. (Like Carl.) He's lost his wife as well. They are running out of ammunition and food for the faithful few that are still around. Maybe that one guy could have helped, but he also could have done harm. Rick doesn't have time for 'maybes' and taking unnecessary risks. He is learning from the past.
A great episode and Michonne was a great add to Rick and Carl. Loved it how Rick automatically thought Michonne had a problem with the plan. She never said she did. Instead of giving back attitude, she quietly reassured him there was no problem.
@San - While Rick had his talk about hope with Morgan, he only did so because Morgan saved his life in the beginning. The hitchhiker? You are correct with using the word 'seemed'. They don't know him. In TWD world, the walkers are taking a backseat and the living are in the forefront with 'poses much threat'. If we have learned anything by now, it's that the living are far more dangerous. Walkers don't have hidden agendas. Only so much trust can go around, and getting emotionally attached to people can sometimes make for your own downfall.
Wow. A ton of hate for this ep. Can't anyone see that Harvey's big thing is trust? Harvey detaches himself emotionally from a lot of things. Mike is essentially Harvey's emotions. Harvey is who he is because the people he's put his emotions into have betrayed him in some fashion. His mother, Scottie, and Jessica put the icing on that cake. Jessica knows that Harvey could go elsewhere, but can he? He gets results but his manner of doing so wouldn't fly with others. Jessica knows he's good but his image is still tarnished. To her, he's an asset. To anyone else, a liability. Harvey knows this too. He's good at what he does for a reason though, I'm sure he'll think of something to nail Jessica to her holier than thou cross she's carrying.
What I got from the whole Harvey and his mother issues was that Harvey used his tuition to help his brother. Their mother then gave money to the brother, who paid Harvey back. Something like that? Either way, Harvey was crossed somehow by doing the right thing. Perhaps that molded him into the man he is at Pearson..Darby? Jessica..oh man, where do I begin? She's a snake. I suspect that for Harvey to finally get his name on the door, he'd have to do it over her dead body. She wedged herself firmly inbetween him and Mike. Blackmail doesn't look good on anybody. Her threat to Mike clearly backed him into a wall he couldn't break. I still don't get Mike and Rachel's scene. Rachel finds out Mike's been lying his way through everything, but that's attractive? Don't think she realizes just how many other people know his secret. It was a tense finale, and all that 'frozen assets' stuff was just a red herring for all the underlying deceit going on to make this merger happen.
@Wiglet Nothing from season 1 was brought into season 2 except for most of the actors. There was no Constance (miss her!), no mention of the murder house or the Harmon family. So no, that was not tied up. lol This season primarily took place in the 60's on the East Coast. The murder house was busy doing it's thing during that time.
@bsko and others that brought it up: The ending also made me think that maybe, just maybe, Lana did make all of this up. After all, she was there in the beginning to uncover whatever lurked at Briarcliff to gain higher ground at her job. She went under the pretense of doing a story on their bakery. A 'fluff piece' as it were. She really wanted to get the scoop on BloodyFace. I don't recall that flashback convo with the whole 'evil staring right back at you' happening between Lana and Jude so maybe it was all in her head. Next season is supposed to be only 10 episodes. ???
A horrible finale. The only episode that was truly capable of terror was the 2nd to last. Why are people expecting happy endings on a horror based show? The alien story made absolutely no sense. What happened in the woods with Jude and Kit's kids? Why was Kit an alien target? Seemed that everything Lana did was in the name of her career. She knew all along a bit of reverse psychology would work on Johnny in order to kill him. How did the recording get on Ebay? Seriously? It really should have been Jude that took down the Monsignor. Lana was no 'saving grace'. It was always about appearances. Take down BloodyFace, get a book deal. Take down Briarcliff and the Monsignor, fame. Win/win. She said 'No more death' and decided to have Johnny. Granted, he did with his life what he wanted to, but considering the source, you could say his murders could be tracked back to Lana because she knew what he was made of and therefore capable of. I loved Season 1 so much more than this. What a shame.
Finally, an episode that was truly creepy. The problem isn't Briarcliff, the devil, aliens, crooked church leaders, nazi regime doctors...It's our minds. It is fear, paranoia, greed, lust and just how fragile our minds can be under certain circumstances. Lange's performance as she realized she had missed out on 2 years of life she could not remember, and her paranoid thoughts that 'her' story was sold to Hollywood was gripping to watch. As was the scenes with Alma and Grace. While I can understand each side, Grace's obsessiveness was excessive and certainly scary. I have no feelings for Lana anymore. She's about as callous as Jude first was and as cold hearted as Thredson. Sure, she sold the 'Maniac' story rights to Hollywood, but she lied about things in that book. What did she do with the recording she took when she left Briarcliff? She says she 'found her voice', but all she's doing is obsessing over the evil and the unknown, much like Grace.
I wasn't a big fan of this ep. The devil has been wreaking havoc at Briarcliff and all it takes to take out the darkness is a fall from great heights (and some help from the Angel of Mercy/Death). Didn't that angel also give the kiss to Grace? She seemed to know a lot about everyone and everything a few eps back, was she unaware of these aliens and their ability to bring the dead back to life? I still don't see how the alien story will fit in anywhere and the entire 'The Name Game' song and dance routine was nonsense. Was it to show us that Jude's mind is still sharp despite the high voltage shock therapy and her slowly recuperating? Thredson's character is becoming boring. Just placed there to intimidate and make sure Lana gives birth. If Lana really wanted to give it to Thredson, she'd call the Angel of Mercy/Death again.
I think most are a bit harsh on the reviewer. I didn't take what she said to mean this season was slow as molasses. It wasn't. All other seasons of Dexter were him following his code and fulfilling his Dark Passenger's wants. While showing us Dexter not 'truly' living a real life, but showing a facade that only few saw through. They died as a result of that. This season was slow in the sense that instead of Dexter being at the forefront and everyone else just extras in his play, everyone had spotlights on them. Sure, there was killing on this season, but it was mostly to 'scratch an itch' or for the overall theme, 'survival'. Most of this season was filled with dialogue that gave the characters a much richer, deeper root into Dexter's world. Can't say as much for Quinn though lol. This season was about development and discovering.
There will be no rest for the wicked next season. I'm thinking that Hannah isn't just gonna leave a flower and go to Argentina. Like Deb said, you gotta watch out for poisoners, they're 'sneaky'. When Deb lost it in the shipping container, I actually felt for her. She was backed up against a wall, she had to make a choice. This season relied heavily on choices we choose or not choose to make. Hannah told Dex he was supposed to choose her, LaGuerta telling Batista, Deb and Matthews they all needed to be on her side. Deb more or less because Maria had footage of her buying gas. Did that evidence get destroyed? We saw Dex in LaGuerta's apartment but it didn't show him finding anything. Will that dvd resurface next season?
Wow! I knew Hannah poisoned Deb, her explanation echoed Dex's thought in the previous episode: Deb was in the way. God forbid Dex would have to actually spend more time with Harrison. Now that she's on the loose, Dex knows he can't trust her and she can't trust him. This ep kept showing us over and over people showing their 'true colors', Dex to Doakes, Estrada's wife to Dex, Hannah to Dex and so on. Dex wants to believe so badly that Hannah is in love with him, that the life he has now is 'real' and he doesn't want to run from it. Her actions clearly show otherwise. How about that bloody bite she gave to him? Psycho! If Deb hasn't unraveled just enough this season, next season I feel she will be just crushed. Devastated.
How on earth will all these loose ends be tied up? Where do the aliens fit into this? If Grace is alive, how is she pregnant and full term? She died with a botched hysterectomy. Why do people on this show start believing the most ludicrous of things? Could anyone honestly believe Killer Santa guy was truly rehabilitated? Did the Monsignor's ego get over inflated by Sister Mary Eunice telling him that he belongs at the Vatican? If she wants to ride his coat tails there, what are the devil/demon's plans after that? Was great to see Dylan McDermott come back, again though, if he believes he is the son of Bloodyface, then Thredson must have been caught? Too many questions, not enough answers!
It's not so much character development as it is characters deconstructing. Carrie is still beyond troubled. It always feels like one step forward and ten steps back with her. Nazir was supposed to be this mastermind terrorist who proved to be quite clever. His final episode completely threw all of that out of the window. As for Brody being a 'success' story, I don't see how that could be possible. He was made to help the CIA because it was either that, or prison. Everything that looked 'noble' to the public was all a ruse. He saw Carrie getting away, he didn't have to kill the VP. But he did. He helped with the assassination. He's still a traitor to the country, I don't see how he could redeem himself after everything. He pretty much painted himself into a corner.
@Suzanne: I fear the same thing, that the show is headed towards that direction. This season has been a strong indicator that Dexter's world is unraveling. He hasn't been as careful as he always thought he was. I feel like there will be some crazy momentum in the final season, where Dexter's impulses will go in overdrive. (Like how he immediately went after the guy that put the hit on his mother.) Abandoning his Dark Passenger and throwing all caution to the wind, I keep thinking that Dexter will go out while driving a knife through a main character. Maybe LaGuerta? Much like the Doomsday scenario, Deb will catch him in the act, but I doubt it would be just her. She may put a bullet in him as a result. Okay, I really hope it doesn't play out this way! lol
@Pratik: I think last season was to test Brody's alliances to Nazir. Shooting the VP would have been too easy, and we wouldn't have seen Brody seriously consider becoming a suicide bomber. Plus I think Walker was more or less a puppet that Nazir was playing with. I think he did come to the states to see the VP and majority of the returning service men die in his version of 'justice'.
@74Coug: I do agree that there is now a darker side emerging from within the CIA. Information is deadly depending on whose hands are on it. As for more story options with Brody, I don't see what else there is for him besides an attempted assassination. I don't see him and Carrie living happily together after.
While it is true that if Hannah wanted Deb dead for sure, it would really happen, she could have also just told Dex that to place doubt in his mind. Either way, we have seen Dex make the choice he will always make: His family is more important. He didn't have to give Deb that pen that would incriminate Hannah. She could have continued her follow up with Arlene. Wanting to stay out of prison, remain sober and keep her kids would trump saving Hannah. Perhaps Arlene had something to do with Deb's accident? Either way, Hannah knew that Deb knew the information she thought had gone when her father left. She wants Deb out of the picture because she knows Deb won't stop doing her job and it will get back to her. Hannah was pretty much asking Dex in a subtle way to make that choice: Her or Deb.
Jessica and Mike have been screwing around since Brody got back and Brody knew it. Their marriage has been seriously strained since Brody's return. Their separation was only a matter of time. I thought the killing of Nazir was too easy. I also thought the same exact things when Carrie went back to search the place again. Why would an entire SWAT team, fully armed and suited, go in with Carrie? Wouldn't that be too big of a risk? Why did this SWAT team conveniently move along leaving Mr. Talkative and Carrie to lag behind? Why did it honestly take Carrie only a few moments to realize something was 'off' with that certain wall? Why did the SWAT team member go in alone? We know Nazir knew and didn't care that he wouldn't leave the country alive, but really? This grand mastermind lives behind a false wall and when one crazy chick sees him, he chases after her? Him killing the one SWAT guy wouldn't make him think, "Well I doubt they brought a whole team in!" This show started off with major fireworks and we are now being treated to some sparklers.
Dexter has made plenty of mistakes before even though he'd like to think differently. Hello random wedding picture! The cabin Doakes was killed in belonging to someone that was part of Dex's mom's death. Et cetera. All in all, I enjoyed the episode.
If Deb's car accident wasn't ruled suspicious, there'd be no reason to test the water in the car or check the car itself. Otherwise, her car would have been looked over with a fine tooth comb by professionals. As for the beginning of the ep, it's obvious why Hannah didn't age in Dexter's 'future pov'. She'd either be dead or just not in it at all. Deb had good leverage on Hannah with the information Arlene could provide her. I don't see why she'd drug herself to botch that all up. The scene between Hannah and Arlene was too obvious. However, if it was Deb that did frame Hannah, here comes the repercussions of keeping somebody around too long that knows way too much about you. Hannah can talk a good one about love, but how much will she hold on to that sentiment if she could easily sell Dexter out? LaGuerta as super cop is annoying. The comment made towards her having a thing with Doakes made me laugh. Dexter has made plenty of mistakes before even though he'd like to think differently. Hello random wedding picture! The cabin Doakes was killed in belonging to someone that was part of Dex's mom's death.
@Fatin I was also like 'WTH Christmas?'. I got a very strong notion of the movement of today with people wanting to put the 'Christ' back in Christmas. This was evident in the episode as Jude thought even Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer tv special was a stain on religious beliefs. Or at least, 'her' beliefs. I found it echoed issues we have in the present. Or was I the only one that caught that? lol
Comments by CarrieAnn
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@Watchestoomuch A group of serial killers all gathering together and getting along is far fetched? Who said this group got along at all? I think they tolerate each other simply because of Joe. As much 'organization' as this group has, it is certainly not without it's moments of hate, fear, lust, jealousy. Reminds me kinda like the Manson 'family'. You felt like you 'belonged' and 'mattered' when in this family which was wrought with plenty of the above problems. When it came time to kill, they did.
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@San - While Rick had his talk about hope with Morgan, he only did so because Morgan saved his life in the beginning. The hitchhiker? You are correct with using the word 'seemed'. They don't know him. In TWD world, the walkers are taking a backseat and the living are in the forefront with 'poses much threat'. If we have learned anything by now, it's that the living are far more dangerous. Walkers don't have hidden agendas. Only so much trust can go around, and getting emotionally attached to people can sometimes make for your own downfall.
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@74Coug: I do agree that there is now a darker side emerging from within the CIA. Information is deadly depending on whose hands are on it. As for more story options with Brody, I don't see what else there is for him besides an attempted assassination. I don't see him and Carrie living happily together after.
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