Dexter (TV Series) Take It! (2010) User Reviews

Charismatic women, award winning acting, fascinating "Debxter", inspiring Lumen & Dex, smart dialogs, beautiful monsters, expressive direction

[igoatabase · 10/10 · 15 November 2010]

Dexter is a pantheon to itself. The Mount Olympus of all TV shows. Climbing it has always been a challenge for the mind. Indeed you can't switch off your brain to access its realm, beyond good and evil. When I thought the dream team behind the show could never outclass masterpieces like Lost Boys, they did it again. Take It! was so overwhelming that it could have been a finale. I still can't believe how smart and well executed it was. One week to dream about it, one week to remind its numerous bright ideas.

The first thing I enjoyed about this eight installment was the respectful and accurate representation of women's power in our society. Actresses like Linda Hamilton and Sigourney Weaver have already portrayed charismatic female characters in films and now I'm convinced that Julia Stiles and Jennifer Carpenter play in the same league as these almighty ladies, even if Lumen and Deb are not as physically strong as Sarah Connor and Ellen Ripley. We had already waited long enough after the writers for them to finally give Carpenter the part her divine talent deserved. From her acting to the dual dialogs I've never been so fascinated by Deb's fate. Lost Boys nearly pictured her and Dex as twins and their relationship developed in the most empathic and ambivalent way. Their conversation in the kitchen was pivotal and should give you a few tips about what the upcoming seasons should be about. Se7en ? That would be the perfect number ! Their wicked connection actually reminded me of Jack Shephard and John Locke. What are the differences between them ? Are serial killers and cops similar in a twisted way ?

Moreover Jordan Chase and his partner in security blurred the lines even more. They always find a room for the guests to shine like John Lithgow did in season 4. Wouldn't it be great if they pulled an American Psycho from their magic hat ? I don't expect them to top Christian Bale's psycho character but I'm now convinced that they have a tremendous potential. In fact it's inevitable considering how useful they were to better comprehend her beloved monster ! The beginning should also move you because even if gorgeous Jessica Camacho was only featured as Yasmin for two episodes witnessing her floral life so brutally shattered was heartbreaking. Of course it was anecdotic compared to Christine Hill devastating act in season 4 but still the impact it had on the characters was undeniable. Even the "BastiGuerta" incident is over now and what used to be a sarcastic pun has now revealed its meaning and made the season even more rewatchable.

If you add the close-ups that felt like televisual paintings, specially the interactive one between Lumen & Dex, the intriguing cliffhanger and inspiring references to cult episodes like The Getaway well missing Dexter would be almost like not living. To sum things up I can't help wondering how they have accomplished such an extraordinary job. Instead of caging the creativity and skills of their team mates it seems the little big heads behind Dexter have chosen to let them express their mind blowing talent. Get it ? Watch it !

Scape Goat

[claudio_carvalho · 9/10 · 10 July 2014]

Dexter participates of Jordan's Chase's seminar and is invited to visit him in his suite. LaGuerta does not assume her mistake and Debra becomes her scape goat. Lumen receives an unexpected phone call and meets her ex-fiancé in a restaurant in Miami. Dexter plans a scheme with Lumen to catch Cole in the hotel and he asks Lumen to buy plastic and other stuff. Liddy forces a car crash at the parking area of a supermarket to get Lumen's personal data. Dexter is forced to go to Jordan's stage to tell what he felt when he found Rita dead. Meanwhile, Cole sees Lumen and she flees to her room. However Dexter saves Lumen and their room becomes Cole's kill room. While leaving the hotel, Dexter meets Jordan and makes an important discovery. Later, Liddy takes photos of Dexter and Lumen in the boat dumping Cole's remains in the water.

In "Take It!, Dexter gets rid of another rapist and finds a clue of who might be another attacker. Debra is used as scape goat by LaGuerta. Dexter's secret life is in danger with the snoopy Liddy. My vote is nine.

Title (Brazil): "Vá Pegar" ("Go to Take It")

Missing the point

[fokuro · 10/10 · 3 January 2013]

This is the first review I'm writing, and I'm doing so for a reason. I see some frustrated reviews here at IMDb for Dexter this season. People complaining about how Lumen and Dexter should fall in love or something like that. I don't know if you've been watching the show, but Lumen has been raped and tortured. She's very afraid, and only now starting to get back to her life, and solely because of Dexter (well, this obviously mean she isn't going to be ready to engage in a romantic relationship in quite a while (as we're shown by her dumping her fiancé), despite how strong her connection to Dexter is!).

And this is true for Dexter, too. He lost Rita, and as we see in this episode, he is completely shattered - the "Oprah-like" scenes, as someone mentioned in another review, were given quite the meaning, as, in a way, they show how Dexter is feeling. It was a powerful scene! Well, so Dexter lost Rita, and thought going back to his killings would set things right. But it didn't! He still felt empty, but now, with Lumen, he has a reason. This is the point of this season thus far, showing how he is able to reconnect with his "primal instinct" through opening up with Lumen, which she also does with him. They're both deeply hurt, and seeing how Dexter let Lumen experience his whole ritual was one of the most meaningful things in this entire show. In fact, for me, it was much more interesting than what happened with Miguel. It's not trusting Lumen too much - it is the ONLY WAY Dexter finds to keep on living right now.

Don't get me wrong, I think the season has some flaws, some plot holes, like what happened with the guy covered in plastic and "Den the Dentist". Maybe it is seeming a little bit too easy for Dexter and Lumen, but now Liddy is on them, and they have their biggest challenge up to now - Jordan Chase. How could this not work out, show-wise, since we all know Dexter has some of the best writers and directors out there? Finally, about LaGuerta. Some people are complaining about her decision making. Yes, it was poor, really poor. But this was all to give some meaning to the, as of now, boring marriage situation with Batista. She is troubled, but has her arrogance as high as it ever was, and shows this choosing to protect herself over anyone else. It makes sense for her character - she is powerful and really prideful.

Despite some flaws, this season is really great, and I enjoy Dexter making some mistakes (he IS shattered) and finding meaning in his relationship with Lumen. It's nice to see some change from the one major serial killer hunting scenario presented in other seasons. This one is about Dexter, Lumen and getting in touch with emotions after the hardest situations. If you can't feel it, well, then don't even bother watching, but this was the best episode of the season, and this show is one of the best to ever air in television.

LaGuerta

[CherCee · 10/10 · 15 August 2021]

A previous poster wrote that LaGuerta shoving Debra under the bus is out of character for her. It's not. LaGuerta is all about LaGuerta and her position in society and in the police force. The way she scornfully told Batista that the club disaster wasn't her fault says it all. She thinks her poop doesn't stink, and that attitude shows a lot, especially in that scene with her husband.

Whole again

[dannylee-78082 · 8/10 · 10 January 2022]

1. Jordan gives Dex some gifts 2. Liddy blackmails Quinn 3. Dex kills cole with Lumen

Quite a significant episode. It's a pattern that we've seen before - someone joining in Dexter's kill session. In season 3, Miguel was blinded by his own sense of power but Lumen is joining in for revenge and a sense of purpose. If she doesn't get derailed, Dexter may have found a good partner. For Dexter, chasing these rapists down have brought him a newfound sense of purpose. Sharing his identity always fulfills his void by unmasking him. Best episode in season 5 as the audience is left wondering how Liddy is going to affect Lumen and Dexter's quest.

A New Target

[ZegMaarJus · 9/10 · 14 April 2021]

This episode begins with Jordan Chase, he gives a speech on a conference night. Dexter is also at the conference. Lumen has a date with Owen. Debra got suspended because she had the lead when she killed Fuentes. Dexter is back at the conference and got askes on stage. Jordan interviews Dexter about Rita her death, he answers. Cole is following Lumen when he sees her. Cole tries to strangle Lumen but Dexter enters the room and strangled him. Dexter killed Cole in front of Lumen's eyes. Dexter tells to Lumen that he killed much more people. Dexter gave Cole's blood strip to Lumen. Stan Liddy took a picture of Dexter and Lumen while they threw Cole his body in the water. Nice episode of Dexter Season 5, Jordan is part of the rape crew. This is the new target for Dexter and Lumen!

This season is slipping

[rwk2 · 15 November 2010]

This episode started out good, then went bizarre and out of character, then almost pulled it off in the end. Almost, but not quite.

It all boils down to two massive problems and they're LaGuerta and Lumen. In the first place it was a gross error of leadership last episode that resulted in the public being needlessly put in jeopardy. That said, it is wildly out of character for LaGuerta, whom we have already seen to have brass balls regarding her job and duty to her people, to break down in the beginning and then to willfully throw a subordinate under the bus. The buck stops with her. Her reasoning of a cop whose reputation will bounce back is sad. Is that what you do, get in a tight spot and save your own skin? Will any of her other people respect her for tossing Deb, lying Deb really, right into the lion's den? Pathetic. Now we wait for the inevitable "leak" of someone on the inside (and if I were Deb I'd tell IA, the mayor, and the Chief of Police about this "anonymously") of what really happened and how the ball was really dropped.

Second, even after trusting and getting himself in hot water with Miguel, Dexter goes ahead and trusts Lumen WAY too much. Sending her out to buy plastic wrap. Letting her stay in the snake pit of the hotel right next to (and could this have been more broadcast?) one of her rapists. She openly walks around knowing full well Cole is near at hand. Plus Dexter lets her live in his house. (Won't the neighbors get kinda curious about this? Not exactly a low profile he's keeping anymore.) Beyond those two key points I thought it rather strange that they didn't try a little bit harder to get information out of Cole. One threat? That's it? How about you make good on it and start sawing off fingers, or ears? That whole scene didn't take longer than two minutes and it didn't make any sense. Why make your efforts to solve a crime harder rather than easier? That was hardly trying to find the rest of the murders/rapists as quickly as possible.

I did like the ending with Dex's monologue ABOUT trusting Lumen though. That's where they almost pulled it off. But the rest of the episode still didn't make that much sense.

Oh yeah, and the fiancé was thrown in for no reason. Maybe to prove he's an idiot for blowing his bank account on around the world tickets for two and then ripping them up in anger. I felt no sympathy for him but I did laugh at the situation. Isn't this supposed to be current when so many Americans are feeling the crunch of financial stress? Just what I want to see, a guy throwing away money.

Man I hope this show pulls itself up a little before the season ends.

S5.E8 - Tick Tick Tick [9.5/10]

[panagiotis1993 · 9/10 · 19 September 2023]

(S5. E8) My Reaction / Review for Dexter Season 5 Episode 8 ''Take It!'': Episode 7 was great and I gave it a rating of 9.2/10. Let's see if this one is better or worse. Right now Dex is focusing on the security guy but the motivational speaker is guilty too. So now Dex has Lumen do the shopping for him? Interesting. Wow, Laguerta blames Deb for what happened at this club? That's so unfair, everyone was following her orders, that's insane. This motivational speaker is nuts. I don't know who is crazier, him or his security guy. Tick tick tick, that's the sound of your life running out, Jordan is exposed! So he is probably next on Dex's list. It wont be easy though, he has so many security guys all the time with him. Wow, the guy that Quinn hired has photos of Lumen and Dex with the plastic bags? That's insane. My rating is 9.5/10.

Boring one

[lingerer-1 · 6/10 · 15 November 2010]

Well, I like the show "Dexter" so much I lowered my standards for it pretty much this season. But even applying this low standards I cannot give this episode more than a 6/10.

Let me sum this episode up for you: Dexter kills Cole, Lumen assists him. Robocop takes photos while they dispose the body. Deb is the patsy for the disaster in the club.

The important things happen in about 5 minutes, the remaining 45 minutes are mere filler with some Oprah-style dialog (and atmosphere) causing your adrenaline level to sink to zero. The exciting moments are so brief and disconnected from each other they don't change this much.

I have to be fair, there is one exception. There was one moment near the end of the episode, immediately after the killing, that could have been the breaking point for this episode, maybe even season. For a moment I thought Dex and Lumen would fall passionately over each other to celebrate their baptism of fire in the most natural way possible. The writers choose not take this path. The (slowly growing) chemistry between Dex an Lumen, that only just started to be convincing in the last episode, almost reaches an anti-climax in the end. I do not think the 4 remaining episodes will be enough to cover the ground lost in this episode.

The only things else worth mentioning are some good acting from Mrs. Carpenter and (the chronically underused) Mr. Harrington. Oh, and we get to see some bare T&A (I could have done without the A-part) finally. The presentation of this scene is so un-sexy and lame though, that it actually would have been better if they hadn't included it!

I have the feeling the writers are afraid to do anything dirty, or anything "wrong" for Dexter in this season. They've chosen to play it safe, or as another reviewer here mentioned, convenient. It is forgivable occasionally but after seeing 8 episodes of convenience I honestly doubt things will change much in the remaining 4.

This episode had the chance to make things right for this season but it failed, and it failed hard. It's sad to see "Dexter" being degraded like this...