Dexter (TV Series) Waiting to Exhale (2007) User Reviews

Suspenseful Episode!

[g-bodyl · 9/10 · 13 June 2014]

This is the second episode of the second season of Dexter and it successfully expands on the first episode, and more so the first season. This episode is all about the feelings of our characters. For example, Dexter is insecure especially after the discoveries of his bodies, Rita is more aggressive, and Debra shows she's still being affected by her past.

In this episode, "Waiting to Exhale," Dexter goes after Chino to find out he is waiting for him. Rita is struggling with the death of her husband and she confronts Dexter on whether he is to blame. Meanwhile with the discovery of the bodies, a special task force has been created. Debra has an encounter with a child, which ultimately leads to a drug bust.

Overall, this is a fantastic episode. While not as good as the opener, it still manages to hold it's own. There's no shock or surprises here, but this episode is all about the feelings and more so, that Dexter may be a caring person after all. I rate this episode 9/10.

Back to the Game

[claudio_carvalho · 8/10 · 25 July 2010]

Dexter is feeling drifting and losing control of his life after his failure in killing Little Chino and the discovery of the body parts that he had dumped in the sea. The press calls Bay Harbor Butcher the new serial killer and the efficient FBI Special Agent Frank Lundy is assigned for the case to investigate together with Miami Metro PD. Meanwhile Rita is aggressive with Dexter after the death of Paul. When the local Eva Arenas is murdered by machete by Little Chino, Dexter feels responsible for her death and promises to finish with the criminal. Debra is still affected by her affair with the Ice Truck Killer and Sergeant Doakes offers to work with Agent Lundy that refuses his offer. Rita is suspicious of Dexter and asks him if he had framed Paul.

In this second episode, Dexter is totally insecure and anxious after killing his brother associated to the recent events. Rita is suspicious and aggressive with Dexter. Debra is still unbalanced and traumatized for her affair with the serial killer. Let's see the confrontation of Dexter and the famous FBI agent assigned to the case. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "Prendendo a Respiração" ("Breath Holding")

Letting go

[rolandddd · 7/10 · 23 May 2012]

Dexter finds himself brooding, self-doubting and trying to understand why he has lost his lethal touch and struggling with his kills, and on top of that the additional stress of having his underground burial site revealed, and in the process earning the nickname "Bay Harbour Butcher", which he strongly dislikes.

He also ends up feeling guilty about his recent inability to kill when his failure to murder Little Chino leads to an important witness being killed by Chino's henchmen, and the victim's little daughter suddenly finds herself without a mother.

Meanwhile, Debra still struggles with her traumatic experiences, and in this episode the issue is explored thoroughly, with the effects of her trauma clearly affecting her in a negative way both personally and at work. This storyline is very well-handled and I look forward to seeing more of how this theme is explored later on in the season. Jennifer Carpenter gets a few good scenes here and her acting talent is well-used.

Letting go is one of the major themes of this episode, as Dexter's relationship with Rita becomes strained when Dexter's lack of social skills leads to trouble when he fails to grasp the concept of mourning when Rita deals with the demise of Paul and his subsequent funeral. However, he's clearly having problems of his own as well, as he keeps seeing visions of his dead brother, and he gradually begins to understand more about the complexity of letting go of your past. I think the scriptwriters handle this well, and the scenes are both witty and thought-provoking.

I think the episode was good, it opened up a few interesting possibilities for the rest of the season, but I don't rate is as a classic as I think it builds for the future more than it is instantly rewarding.

Dexter takes a masterclass in failure and rebirth

[Xerces88 · 9/10 · 17 January 2008]

'Waiting to Exhale' kicks off right where the second season premiere left us. The themes and plots continue to grow from 'It's Alive!'

Deb's psychological state is put on presentation, while on the clock.

Dexter makes rushed decisions and goes places he never thought he would. He also puts things to rest after observing others do the same.

Suspenseful and eventful.

This episode marks a crossroads where certain elements are tied up but the effect they made still lingers strongly. The show could go anywhere from here.

The sub-plot involving Lt. Esmee Pasquale is the only thing holding back a 10/10.

Frank Lundy arrives on the scene as the hunt for the Bay Harbor Butcher begins.

[chillwill92 · 9/10 · 21 February 2011]

There's a new serial killer in town: the Bay Harbor Butcher. You might know him better as Dexter Morgan (Michael C. Hall), our titular character. In order to catch the monster responsible for all those bodies in the ocean, the FBI has sent legendary serial killer hunter Frank Lundy (Keith Carradine) to Miami Metro. Keith Carradine is one of the best additions to the cast in the series, making Lundy a likable and worthy adversary to Dexter. However, with the trail on Dexter's murders cold, he's got some bigger problems these days. Like the fact that one of his attempted murder victims, Little Chino (Matthew Willig) is at large, and he has to find him before the cops do. In addition, Brian Moser (Christian Camargo) returns in this episode, as an apparition plaguing Dexter over his inability to kill, while Debra (Jennifer Carpenter) copes with the haunting memory of him as well. Dexter also has to deal with his angry girlfriend Rita (Julie Benz) who believes that Dexter is now a drug addict, and wants him to go to rehab. And then there's Doakes, who continues to be a thorn in Dexter's side. The fact that the writers can successfully juggle all of his problems at once is a true testament to the quality of this show, and the new Frank Lundy character adds another interesting member of law enforcement. In short, "Waiting to Exhale" succeeds in the few places where "It's Alive!" failed.

Doakes: Go ahead. Try it. I've been waiting.

[antisocial1 · 10/10 · 2 January 2011]

Love the convo between Deb and the Kid on the bike. "She's saying you f*cking cops don't do nothing'. "Grandma really talks like that?" "not exactly, but you get the point, right, bitch? ;]]]]]

Dex thinks Lil Chino is following him, and decides to go on the offensive only to realize it's just Doakes. "Who else you got following you?" Dex could of basically ended his problem right here, because no-one knows Doakes has been tailing him. But it wouldn't follow the code.

Dex: I will not kill my sister. I will not kill my sister. His sister's habits are getting on his nerves, which i can relate. Simply just putting things away, turning things off etc. Deb later realizes she is living in his place and to respect his living habits. Love Deb!

Rita confronts Dex over Paul's placement in jail. Which turns into Dex being a drug addict. hehe ;]

Only letdown is the Pascal and Laguerta crap. Terrific episode.

Trying to face his past

[kanerebecca72 · 10/10 · 22 January 2009]

Following from the season opening this was a superb follow up. It was better than the opening episode.

The first episode was a continuation of the end of the first season and so tied up some loose ends in a very effective way.

The second though which linked Dexter's inability to kill following a supposed curse in the first episode to how he overcomes it provided all the psychological tension.

As well as having to deal with the suspicions of Doakes, Dexter has to help his sister through the trauma of nearly being killed by the man she loved.

His stash of corpses had been discovered leading to an FBI investigation. All this while still trying to kill the gang members who wrecked the lives of the family in the first episode.

Chi No

[ZegMaarJus · 8/10 · 31 March 2021]

This episode begins with Dexter, he arrives at the crime scene. The new serial killer's name: The Bay Harbour Butcher. Eva Arenas has been killed. Dexter thought that he got chased by Little Chino, but it was Doakes. Dexter tries to shoot down Little Chino but he got stopped by Chino his guards. Paul is funeral is today, Dexter sees Brian in a vision. Dexter attacks Little Chino with rod. Dexter packed Chino in a lot of wrap. Dexter kills Little Chino by putting the knife right trough his heart. Finally Dexter killed someone this season. Dexter throws Little Chino his body in parts in the sea. Dexter admits to Rita that he hit Paul. Dexter told Rita that he has a drug adiction, he is lying. Nice episode of Dexter Season 2, the first kill for Dexter in this season is a fact. A very bloody death.

Little Giant Chino [9/10]

[panagiotis1993 · 9/10 · 10 September 2023]

My Reaction / Review for Dexter Season 2 Episode 2 ''Waiting to Exhale'' (S2. E2): Episode 1 was awesome and I gave it a rating of 9/10. Let's see if this one is better or worse. It wont be easy to catch Little Chino again. Now he will be ready and expecting it. Doakes still follows Dex everywhere he goes? That sucks. Wow it was a trap! Little Chino was ready for Dexter. This is 2 fails now. Little Chino is no more, he got what he deserved. I expected for Dex to find a new and cool way to get rid of the bodies but he didn't, he used his usual method. Wow Dex admits that he is responsible for what happened to Paul and Rita is ok with it? I didn't see that coming. Lol so now Dex is an addict too? That's funny. Why make things so complicated though? Overall a great episode, my rating is 9/10.

Dexter Dexter

[dannylee-78082 · 7/10 · 20 December 2021]

1. Right, bxxch?

2. New captain as man issues 3. Dex is now bay harbor butcher 4. Doakes gets destroyed 5. Dex can now kill but probably gonna need to pretend to go to NA meetings

Pretty good episode. This show always has the best endings and this ending basically let us know that the whole shows about identity crisis - sort of a second coming of age story for Dexter. I love shows like this. Get me more!