The Reel Rejects - DEXTER SEASON 5 Episode 7 & 8 REVIEW!!

Episode Date: November 30, 2025

TAKE IT!!! Dexter Full Reaction Watch Along:   / thereelrejects   Dexter Season 5, Episodes 1 & 2 Reaction:    • DEXTER SEASON 5 Episode 1 & 2 REACTION!! M...   Dexter Season 5, Episodes 3 & 4 Reaction:    • DEXTER SEASON 5 Episode 3 & 4 REACTION!! M...   Dexter Season 5, Episodes 5 & 6 Reaction:    • DEXTER SEASON 5 Episode 5 & 6 REACTION!! M...   Gift Someone (Or Yourself) A Stranger Things Reject Nation Tee! https://shorturl.at/hekk2 The plot thickens once more as Andrew & John continue their journey with the Dark Passenger for their Dexter Season 5 Reaction, Recap, Commentary, Breakdown, & Spoiler Review! In Episode 7, “Circle Us,” Dexter Morgan (Michael C. Hall – Six Feet Under, Gamer) and Lumen Pierce (Julia Stiles – 10 Things I Hate About You, The Bourne Ultimatum) close in on the remaining members of the Barrel Girl Gang. Their hunt becomes more tactical — and more personal — as Lumen pushes to confront her trauma head-on, forcing Dexter to adapt his code to someone else’s need for justice. Tension spikes with surveillance, near-misses, and the growing realization that Lumen’s drive may be even darker than Dexter expected. Episode 8, “Take It!” cranks the urgency up another notch. Dexter and Lumen’s revenge mission turns volatile as they make a bold move against one of the gang’s most protected members, putting them in the crosshairs of both the killers and Miami Metro. At the same time, Dexter’s home life threatens to collapse under guilt and exhaustion, while Debra’s instincts keep pulling her closer to the truth. Follow Andrew Gordon on Socials:  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MovieSource Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/agor711/?hl=en Twitter:  https://twitter.com/Agor711 Intense Suspense by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/... Support The Channel By Getting Some REEL REJECTS Apparel! https://www.rejectnationshop.com/ Follow Us On Socials:  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reelrejects/  Tik-Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@reelrejects?lang=en Twitter: https://x.com/reelrejects Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheReelRejects/ Music Used In Ad:  Hat the Jazz by Twin Musicom is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Happy Alley by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/... POWERED BY @GFUEL Visit https://gfuel.ly/3wD5Ygo and use code REJECTNATION for 20% off select tubs!! Head Editor: https://www.instagram.com/praperhq/?hl=en Co-Editor: Greg Alba Co-Editor: John Humphrey Music In Video: Airport Lounge - Disco Ultralounge by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Ask Us A QUESTION On CAMEO: https://www.cameo.com/thereelrejects Follow TheReelRejects On FACEBOOK, TWITTER, & INSTAGRAM:  FB:  https://www.facebook.com/TheReelRejects/ INSTAGRAM:  https://www.instagram.com/reelrejects/ TWITTER:  https://twitter.com/thereelrejects Follow GREG ON INSTAGRAM & TWITTER: INSTAGRAM:  https://www.instagram.com/thegregalba/ TWITTER:  https://twitter.com/thegregalba Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Get no frills delivered. Shop the same in-store prices online and enjoy unlimited delivery with PC Express Pass. Get your first year for $2.50 a month. Learn more at pceexpress.ca. Hi, I'm Gene Chatsky. You may know me as the host of the Her Money podcast or the financial editor of NBC's Today Show for 25 years. Today I'd personally like to invite you to join my women-led investing club. It's called Investing Fix with two Xs.

We walk through current market trends, teach investing fundamentals, and build a real portfolio together. Plus, your first month is absolutely free. So come check us out at investingfix.com. We'd love to have you. And I make this remote disappear. All right, guys, that was Dexter. Season 5, episode 7 and 8. Thank you for joining us for another two batches.

I got to say, John, I'm going to ask you how you're feeling in a moment. I'm going to ask you, you feel like taking it, I know. Feel empty. But before I do, I just want to say, I really. enjoying this season. I do want to hear your thoughts right now and then I'll get into my thoughts because I want you to take it. I'm thanking a lot. Go ahead and tell us how you are feeling, John, and what you thought of these two episodes. I am feeling a lot of feelings. This has been a really unique season by my estimation anyway, by my experience of it. This, to me, has continued

just the, you know, lovely... Maybe that's the wrong word. It's... It's certainly heavy, certainly twisted, but this has continued the, you know, just long gestating unfolding of Dexter's character, circumstances, growth at all, his emotional journey. Like, this is really fascinating, and, you know, after everything at the end of last season, really giving us this wallop and, you know, starting the season off with these two episodes that very much center around Dexter's grief. and this new found trauma, this second major traumatic checkpoint in his life, it's been really fascinating. The character of Lumen, I think, is a really interesting addition

because she just brings out so many other flavors and for the evolution of the character of Dexter and for the different situations we've seen him thrust in, I feel like this is yet another very interesting type of person for him to be you know expanded by challenged by you know

new parts revealed by this has been like really twisted and harsh but also like they're very touching and very sort of emotionally intense but very layered and very resonant and and it feels

relatively well observed and compassionate so I'm really actually like as as again harsh as so much of this season's material is i am feeling like thoughtful in the wake of it in a way that is unique uh that i haven't felt every season has unfolded in a way that's felt new and different for dexter to me and unique and this season has continued that you know that tradition and i you know i know everybody revered season four but i think this is just continuing the you know gestation and the growth and the things that are interesting.

And I've, long story short, I've been loving this. And I think it's really interesting, yeah. Yeah, totally. By the way, apologies as a host, I have failed here. If you are on YouTube, make sure you do all the YouTube stuff. Share the video if you don't mind. Make sure you hit the like button. If you feel we are giving you top quality content, especially from this gentleman who

is always taking it. And also, special thanks to find folks over at Prepper. You guys are doing an incredible job. dating down these highlights special, especially if you incredible folks over at Reject Nation are able to watch this on the YouTube's because they did such an excellent job of making sure that happened. And if you're listening on Apple or Spotify, please give us a five-star Ray. We would really appreciate it.

Yeah, John, I totally agree with what you're saying. And especially after what happened to Rita is the great Christopher and Jonathan Nolan and David S. Goyer would, I would quote them from, it's always darkest before dawn, but the Don is coming and I feel that way for Dexter and I feel like given Lumen's presence being here, she's just another added layer for humanizing Dexter and helping in his growth in that area as well. But I've pointed this out a few times and I'm going to point it out again because I think it's really an important thing. Like what Rita and Dexter have when it was so touching and so special on how she humanized him, of course and and the children my um rather astor rather and cody like that was just a special bond

that they've had and it will never there's nothing that can replace that of course but the fact that lumen knows the real dexter that there's a dark passenger in there and that they've of course rita had a major trauma in her past two whether it be the mental anguish emotionally from her mother or from Paul, the physical and mental anguish as well, but Reiden didn't know what was there. Like, Dexter had to have a facade like he does with everyone else in his life. And this is his partner. This is the person he's supposed to embrace in with all these dark, deep secrets. And the fact that he can now, granted him and Lumen have not gotten that way, but the fact that he didn't go around the world with this guy, you can make an argument that, well, she's still got to get justice and revenge for the, for tick, tick for Mr. Chase.

and whoever else was involved in this awfulness of that happened to her and all these other women, for sure. But I've been on board with the shipping for a while now, and it would really, in my opinion, I don't feel it would be generic. I really feel it would be a missed opportunity if they do not at some point get together because I really feel they complete each other and not in it just because we need them to be romantic because it's a guy and a woman and this is what we need. No, it's just they both been through a lot of trauma, and I feel like they really do an incredible job of really offsetting a lot of the things that make them who they are. And what I mean by that is Lumen's got a lot of demons, and so does Dexter. And the fact that they can embrace that together and they can face it together, I think really makes them whole. And I think that they know each other so well. I think it makes this so beautiful.

And John made it such a great thing that he said. He's like, this is so messed up but so sweet at the same point. Like they are literally preparing this plastic cover of all this and doing this over this guy's body who is an evil monster and deserve this. We're not mourning over coal in any way, shape, or form. He is awful. But the fact that they're having this beautiful, tender moment of just embracing each other over the sky's mortal corpse I thought it I thought it was just a sweet tender moment though

like to have that and like really learning about each other in this in this moment and really you could see like there was a lot of subtextual things going on in in the lines they're like about wanting the other person if not saying it so I think they really do completely I think they do yeah you do but you feel that tension as well in in the romantic tension I feel personally that's how I'm interpreting it we'll see what happens I've been been known to be wrong many times in the past when I make types of predictions like these. Well, it feels unique, because it doesn't feel like, it almost feels like romantic tension would be the wrong phrase, because it's not as simple as that.

It's like, yeah, there's more layers to that. There's a lot of depth and complexity, no doubt. Well, you get this sense that it's this more cosmic kind of harmonization that's happening, and it's a very natural thing because they're both kind of on their own program, and they're both at odds and there's so much debate, but the way that that has given way to this, you know, ability to see each other and to both offer each other a certain amount of like, you know, tough love or, you know, kind of resolve, strong, stern resolve, but also like a tenderness of like, I know uniquely an aspect of what you've been through that probably anybody else does.

And they also both feel empty in areas to, their lives and like that's why dexter does what he does from his trauma and now she's feeling the same way so they bond with each other in that way and when you're talking about cosmic and Dexter just went through a whole ordeal with Rita where she was violated and an awful thing happened from the Trinity and I'm not going to go into detail because you guys already know the details with that but the point being is she was helpless and defensive defenseless rather in that situation and when Dexter came upon this woman who was in a very similar situation like this is a way of it this is a much like a way more depraved yeah each version is depraved for sure for sure but

the point i'm making is this is kind of even though he's doing his dexter thing it's the dark passenger this is how he feels something even though he hasn't really felt anything since reed is passing this is a way for it's a cathartic feel for him to not only help her in what in her journey, but also help her get to find a sense of purpose and feeling as well, as well as, like, find someone who knows the real Dexter. And I appreciate that. This season is very deep to me. Well, yeah, and it feels like a true opportunity for this dark gift to create something potentially good, in a twisted sense, good, you know, because, yeah, like, they are dealing with what many would regard to be yeah like the worst most awful vile kind of people kind of inclinations that humanity

has to offer in these characters and so like it is really easy in this season more than perhaps a lot of the others to get on board with the motive and uh yeah it's it's it's it's i've been really enjoying this i've loved this season so far having said that leguerta goodness gracious with john and i have defended you for a long time and again phenomenal performance by the actress up to this point she's been terrific i have nothing bad to say about her yeah great actress i really hate her right now we'll see what she does maybe there's a something of redeeming qualities that she will do in later on the season maybe next season i don't know but right now i'm really pissed off at her.

Look, any, I think in, I've been there in times of my life where I have not been accountable, I've been selfish. So I can understand that, but we're also talking about a situation where you made a judgment call, which I get, and some, and a couple innocent people lost their lives over this. It sucks. It doesn't feel good. The possibility of losing your job and, and all that comes with it, everything you worked your whole life to get to i understand where she's coming from i understand perspective

the unsolvable tragedy yeah but i love what deborra said her let's ride the storm together and it's like no i'm just gonna hang you or the other cop out to dry i'm like wow you are a selfish piece of crap and you know what john and i defended you when you slept with the the woman who took your place we did not defend you for doing that no we didn't defend no i'm not saying be but it was certain i'm not saying we defended her for doing that i'm just saying we still stuck by you when you did that because we understand it perspective on a position was taken from you very unfairly and we understand why you felt the need to do this yes and this is i get her a new version of that yeah and i'm like this is that that's that sucks to do are you really

serious right now and now you're putting your husband in a position where he has to do this to you as well because angel's a real one i freaking love angel and And then you got the whole storyline with Peter Weller, which is so fascinating. He is doing, he's one of my favorite, he's one of my favorite, like, I know we have guest stars who are the villains of the season, and he's more of your one of your, what kind of, what would be the description of a side guest star who's not the villain, just a regular guest star, right? He's one of my favorite guest stars who's not the main villain. He's one of my favorites so far in the five seasons. I'm loving his character so fascinating, and I love the dialogue he was mentioning to Deborah about, I guess you're not the only one who's been. by La Guerta, so, but he's got, he's, he's pushed by greed and he's just a really fascinating

character and I love Peter Weller's delivery and his performance. And he, like Quinn, he's got a very curious side to him. So, well, I guess any, any private, any private investigator is going to have a curious side. That's why they do what they do, right? Well, he's very shrewd. It's weird. I think, like, yeah, he has this, it's weird. His presence is fascinating and it seems like he's, again, having a lot of fun but yeah he seems like a complete loose cannon or at least someone who truly like old school cop guy who only plays by his own rules and you know one of those cops where you're like how many degrees of separation are there between you and the people that you're allegedly trying to enact justice upon and uh it's really fun to watch him and yeah

I think this season is really cool because it does have, you know, multiple prominent and really engaging guest stars. And he's great because, yeah, like, he really seems like a force of nature. Like, he just shows up and just kind of walks all over everything and does his thing. And it makes for a really fun kind of next step down the rabbit hole, you know, past a guy like Quinn, who certainly is not a stranger to going off the book and unorthodox methods and things like that. But now we're seeing a character who, you know, even trumps his instinct. That's what I was just going to say.

Yeah, predilections for doing that. Who is beyond his, you know, specific line, Quinn. And now he's got a problem on his hands that it seems like will only get more and more out of hand. And now he's in a position where he's going to be blackmailed by this dude if he doesn't keep on paying him for stuff. And like, yeah, it's. Blackmail his heart. Be careful who you do is solid, you know. Yeah.

Yeah, like Peter Weller is just. It seems like he's having a. friggin blast and it also works so well and just like way he puts on that fake accent the character when he gets in the car crash was totally like oh i hate that like it's great like it's so great he's he's a really fun element of chaos to add in and another way to further you know create the stakes for dexter and to you know prove that there are people out here who can clock what he's doing and so like yeah as much as i don't like what's happening there in context of yeah my love of dexter at the same time it's really fun drama and uh fun in games and stuff

like i think that's a great point you make and i was actually going to allude to that and i was thinking it right before you said it but i'm glad you did because i think Quinn is getting a view we've seen Quinn you're good we we have seen Quinn cut corners and do some shady shit and there's times where like i understand ways to do that cops don't get paid enough and yada yada yada this guy Peter Weller's character, he takes it to a whole other level that Quinn wouldn't even dream of going. Yeah. So it's, I think it's interesting, though, for Quinn to see it right in front of his face, like, I've done some shit, but I'll never go to where this guy, what he does. Like, yeah, I'll put some, I'll put some evidence money in my pocket. I'll take an informant and not, and pay him

cash, I guess, under the tail, whatever it is that I'll do to cut corners. This guy does other really shady shit that I won't even go the depths to. Everyone's got their own version of off the book off the record. Yeah, no, definitely. And it's going to, I think that's going to add to the drama that

I'm fascinated to see. Besides the, the Debra and Quinn stuff, I'm so fascinated to see how far are we going to stretch this out with Quinn? Like, until we get to a point we're like, because now he's added the layer of, as you just pointed out, I've got a one.

on you i can threaten you at any time with deborah that you're your you're pork in the subjects what a sister rather so this is not in a very precarious position yeah peter wellett what's his name again oh i can't remember his name right now she said it when uh yeah go look it up johnnell i was going to say but but don't look up that just go to i mdb or i don't know how to do this i don't want to know what episode he ends on that's what i'm worried about just name. Just Dexter. Okay.

I don't want to see what episode. Dexter character names Stan Liddy. There you go. Stan Liddy. Stan Liddy. Yeah,

Liddy doesn't work for you. You work for Liddy and you give him money for the surface. Yeah, and also he's good at manipulating situations. So if he says,

oh, you don't have enough money for me, huh? And then that was last week. He's one of those guys who's like going to be an asshole to your face. You can tell that he knows.

He knows exactly what he's doing. And yet he's like so. smooth that you can't really argue in the moment because you know he can he's got leverage he's a man with a plan stand you know he's a freaking weasel yeah but there's so many so many

good storylines going on and also Johnny Lee Miller and the reveal of that whole thing coming on with all the I really thought Cole was going to be the last one standing that he gets taken out so the subversion of that I thought was really interesting in a good way as well and I'm

curious if it's going to be if it's going to be John what's his name? Jordan Cole or which guy? No, Cole just died. Cole or Chase? Chase. Chase is still alive. Which is the name of the guy now who's the take it guy? Tick, tick, tick is Jordan.

Jordan. Chase. And Jordan Chase. And that's the take it guy. Cole is the one who was just taken out. That's the Harvey Kitell lookalike. I'm going to search Johnny Lee Miller. That's Jordan. Don't look. Dexter character name. That's Jordan, Jordan Chase.

Jordan Chase. All right. Cool. Yeah. And Harvey Kitell look alike is Cole. It's cold. All right. Sick. That whole device. Yeah, with the dentist and with Boyd. I'm like, it's interesting how Dexter just came upon that whole group because he was with Boyd and all that.

Yeah. Excuse me. It's just, I like that entire storyline. And then he came upon Lumen. It's fate intertwined, right? That's why he does what he does. And it was just meant to be. It was destiny.

And I thought the whole thing with Lulman. Lumen's ex-fiancee, I guess. He was a very endearing and sweet person too, and I thought that was nice. He offered her a life where she could forget this whole person. I know he didn't know that she was pursuing justice or what had even happened to her. He was offering her a more adventurous, ambitious life of it going around the world and doing something that gave you a sense of purpose, although her purpose in life right now is, I want to take out the bastards who made me feel empty

and caused me trauma and pain. Well, it's heartbreaking. Yeah, of course. I'm with Lumen. I'm not in disagreement. Oh, no. Yeah, it's a very, you know, it's all heightened TV,

but like it does seem like a very authentic kind of situation where like you've been through, I can imagine for many survivors, this probably comes up where it's like you've been through something traumatic that is hard to even want to explain to anybody, let alone explain to,

them in a way that they'll fully grasp and also, you know, yeah, it's like he doesn't know this thing and he, you know, misses her and he knows something's wrong and he just wants to start a life and he loves her and he's a person from an earlier time and you can see the kind of debate of that. And I love those scenes because, or that brief scene, because you really, I felt their history in that moment and I could see through the tension of that present how in the past they might have been a really fun, lovely couple and I could see the kind of earlier

versions of them. The trouble, yeah, is that like, it's a beautiful proposition but she's just so far beyond whoever that girl was who, you know, was engaged to this guy that it's just not in the purview anymore. And I like that there is that conflict and it's

like he's back and you could tell she's kind of flooded with thoughts and feelings but she's so wrapped up in this and this is so intrinsically tied to her trauma and and I don't know some semblance of making order out of that and maybe even stepping toward I don't know if you know healing fully is possible but you know like kind of stepping in that direction and it's like it makes all the sense in the world why yeah she would ultimately not go with him even though you really feel for him too because he without that frame

of understanding you know I feel really bad for him because he just wants to yeah be with his best girl as it seems and travel the world and be audacious and yeah it's sad because he's following her lead you know he's trying to you know take her uh example of that spontaneity as he sees it and it's really tragic it's really sad and it's really beautiful in a way and you see again who they used to be or could have maybe been yeah i think there's a a level of emotional intelligence on his character's end of understanding like hey the life of just living in minnesota a very simplistic life. I understand that was not going to work. So I'm, I love you. I care for you. Let's go live in a life of adventure and going around the world because I know that's what you

wanted, but he doesn't understand this event. And if this had not happened and he then came to her with all this, things would have worked out in both their favors together. Did happen. Not, unfortunately, was just not meant to be. So I wish him well. He's a very, again, nice character and hope he's yeah i'm sure maybe around the world you'll meet someone he's he's a dexter from the off spring seems like a sweet yeah i just hope he doesn't because he's from final destination i'll be getting it on flight 180 but you know that's a that's another or he doesn't slip or he doesn't slip on a pizza or another thing with a nipple ring or anything you know that's another story but guys we got a couple questions here so we're going to answer them again if you are a

royal reject you can guide we appreciate you first of all but you and guide the narrative here by asking us questions. We will shout you out individually and we will answer to the best of our abilities. So thank you so much. Fellow reject, Greg from an alternate timeline is here to let you know that we have launched three new Stranger Think shirts in honor of the final season. First one up, universal inspired monster of Vecna. This is from our friend Janine. I came up with this idea a long time ago. I love those classic universal monster posters. I'm just so happy to see this brought to life. I'm going to get a print out of this.

The second one up that we have here is from the mind of Aaron Alexander, from the artist Sammy, who we worked with plenty of times, Dr. Stranger Things. Need I say more? Come on, how come no one's come up with this yet? And the third one, I'm wearing it right now. Reject Things. Thanks, Alex, for coming up with it. And thanks, Andrew, for snagging my size.

And, of course, you have our classic ones up there as well. We have a ton to peruse through. Anyone you buy is an amazing way to support everyone here who works in front and behind the camera. You can scan this barcode right here on screen. if you're interested or go to the link in the description box and pin comment if you end up not buying one that's a okay i'm just glad they exist so now i can be wearing them let's get back to the video people all right and apologies if i mispronounce because that's what i do on here not intentionally but isana geisler how thank you for being a royal reject for asking a question we appreciate you

how are you guys finding the season five journey compared to the first four seasons and what about julia styles i think the season is good but those first four are just collectively Unreal TV. Well, we have, thank you, Aizana. We have talked about this already a good amount in the last 15, 20 minutes, but I think season five is honestly right. You don't feel the same way. That's cool.

It's all subjective. It's how it resonates with you storyline and character-wise. I think season five, so far through eight episodes, we'll see how I feel after the last four. I think season five is right on par with the first four seasons. I'm not ready to give a ranking yet because we have not finished season five and I agree that the first four seasons are Unreal TV but I would also venture

to say that through eight episodes that season five is Unreal TV I love the storyline I love where we're going with Dexter I love Lumen's character I think Julia Stiles is bringing so much depth to this character so much versatility the way she's able to emote

her acting range her versatility she is an incredible actress I love the character the trauma and pain that she has gone through how she's evolving as a person at right now what she brings to the table for Dexter what Dexter brings to the table with her the other storylines we got with

LaGuerta with Angel with Vince just but see that's good though like how I'm having this reaction with LaGuertha the writer's new that's how someone like me and most of you I assume they want you to be mad at her That's a fun character because everybody gets to have their own kind of like part of the argument over

I'll tell you to me like where to like the most identifiable moment is during the sting is like I get I've I sympathize in a way with her making these calls it's not an easy choice I get it yeah and I like while

certainly me not trained in this to any degree you know I would be like hey maybe don't go over there you know let's let's wait this out let's let's be safe about this I understand her making the call she did in the moment given that so much is on the line

and they've tried this so many times. It's not an easy decision. The gray of that scene for me I was like I don't love these calls she's making but I still sympathize and then everything after that then I start to become with you

where I'm like oh no no no don't start playing the politics. Don't let Matthews get in your head don't like listen to Deb like you know you probably I don't know like I'm a politics minded person in this way the way that character is so obviously my inclinations would be different but uh i i do think it's interesting to watch her yeah apparent it feels like she's going to a place that is more you know uh motivated by yeah panic and a desperate course you know uh yeah grab to preserve her own name and her you know it's weird

when the chips are down it's easy to kind of all of a sudden feel like you are sort of alone in this. And yeah, I'm not pleased with Liguerta right now. Yeah, I would say when the chips are down, these civilized people, they'll eat each other. But I do agree with you that, look, I sympathize, and I have not made, yes, I have not, it is exactly from that. I have not complained once about, or maybe I have, and you guys can play the tape. I do agree with you. The decision she had to make in the moment, you have literally a quick, you have to make that decision really quickly. that's not easy I am not pissed about that even though she made it's easy to go in hindsight and be a Sunday quarterback or a Monday quarterback whatever the quote is it's easy to say that she made the wrong decision fine I'm just asking her to be accountable and not make someone else a scapegoat for her decision that's all and I understand what you're saying and you are correct she's letting Matthews get in her head and she's letting fear drive her and when you let fear drive you and you don't take it that's what this is what happens and I'm really upset sat and angry at her, and I'm very interested and curious to see the dramatic tension and

dynamic between her and Angel, which has not been very good this season up to this point with her and I, with her and the IA guy and just everything else, her lack of communication, she's been really angering me. And I got to say this too about LaGuerta. Had Doak's been alive right now, I'd be curious to see how he'd react to her doing this. And also Miguel Prado would probably be very proud of her in making this decision. This is a good chicky Heinz move, Just saying. I felt some heat off that. I'm not about pissed.

You're really riled up about LaGuerreth. I'm pissed. You're riled up about her more than any other things. Accountability is a big thing in my life. Like if you're going to make a decision about anything you do in life, have some accountability and be selfless and whatever, especially your team. This is your family. This is your team.

How can you put someone out to drive for your decision like that? Yeah. Come on. Young officer or your, you know, crack detective. Yeah. It's like, you're the. leader. Yes, be the leader.

You took the leadership away from Dev, like she said, you know. Yeah. But to your question, I really I, yeah, I would agree with your assessment. I feel like to me thus far, again, seasons once before, terrific.

And I feel like season five is continuing you know, the unreality, the unreal TV quality that you've described here. To me, that is actually still intact. And I have not begun to perceive any type of falloff yet i think season five continues thus far to you know surprise me with interesting

new ways to throw situations and characters at dexter that force him to confront new things within him both in response to recent events as well as you know old events and all the things in between so yeah like this uh season has layers and and notes and nuances that still feel very vital, very fresh, very unique, and very, again, twisted and touching and fascinating in ways that are, to my eye and ear, pretty new layers, you know, things that feel wholly fresh and, you know, interesting of perspective, and certainly taking this kind of character, a character who has suffered a very particular type of abuse, and, you know, creating this situation where it almost feels like this is

not ideal because obviously the ideals to not have any of these terrible things happen but like this seems like yeah some kind of weird cosmic union where like if things work out and I'm really afraid that they're not gonna because I know that these shows tend to cycle their guest cards season by season

so I am afraid that tragedy is just around the corner but I I really love that you have something that yeah you know kind of responds it responds directly to what came before in that it's so much about

you know coping with the loss of Rita but also yeah this is a new person this is a new instance of somebody who's uniquely poised to see Dexter to commune with him and converse with him and see him in ways that other people can't and this feels potentially like the most

benevolent the most healthy isn't the right word but like the yeah this seems like the most harmonious potentiality we have glimpsed so far. It's pretty easy to see the Trinity after a quick

look behind the veneer is actually not, you know, somebody you want to get close to and let in and learn from, you know, Miguel Prado, somebody who seems like a great friend and ally, but it's way too ambitious and power hungry. Lila. Yeah, Lila, somebody who is

you know, certainly going to be in your corner but is going to feed on you the entire way. And this character, yeah, it's like the way in which they have had this debate over so much time and the way that, yeah, we had just Dexter. Primal self. Processing grief to start the season. And then all this stuff unfolding with Lumen, like the way it's been unfolding just feels appropriately like outlandish. It feels appropriately true crime. Like this is the, it feels like in some ways the most we've had like other, other crime and other like gruesome crime scenes and things like this around. You've got the brothers and. all the Santa Morte stuff, which is fascinating and has a very

unique vibe and aesthetic, and that stuff's all engaging. I really like everything with Deb and Quinn and, you know, this season, too, has found a new way to freshen up the guest stars. We have a few, and they're all used in very prominent, specific, and striking ways.

Everyone is standing out to me. You know, I can respect why anybody might, you know, again, start their fall off after season four, because those first four seasons are terrific. But to me, yeah, season five so far, I've, like I said, I know a few people who actually cite this as a favorite or as one of their top seasons. And so far, I'm right along with that. In fact, this, I love everything that we've watched up till now.

Season four was wicked interesting and, and fascinating and twisted. But I think this has some wholly unique and striking and, you know, multi-layered stuff in it. And, and yeah, this, again, I'm not. a survivor of various traumas that especially a lot of women, a lot of people in Lumen's position are. But this feels like a unique

subject matter that could easily be lurid or in poor taste that they seem to be and again it's, you know, there are other people whose, you know, input I will take on this. So take my opinion with a grain of salt obviously. It feels

very difficult and compassionately observed even in its harshness. And I just want it to work out. Yeah, for sure. And I think because of John Lithgow's performance and then the shocking ending, and that's like why season four is so acclaimed. I'm not even saying this is better.

I'm just saying that's why maybe some people feel this is not on that par level. But I think this is so fascinating. And even I would venture to say like, yeah, Stark Knight is probably a better movie than Batman Begins just quickly making a point here, but I like Batman Begins better. It's a more personal story for Bruce Wayne and Batman and his journey to why he dresses up the way he does and why he does what he does.

And I love this journey for Bruce. And that's my opinion on why I feel Batman Begins is a better film than The Dark Night. But Heath Ledger's performance out triumphs probably anything in Batman Begins, so I'm happy to say or I'm not, I don't argue with people who say Dark Night is a better film, but I will watch the Dark Night just for Heath Ledger.

He's that freaking epic and good. But I will also say this before we move on to the final question here. I also am really intrigued by what they're doing with Deborah. As we are humanizing Dexter a lot more, we're also dehumanizing slightly, Deborah, whereas to she, what? How so? Not dehumanizing in the sense that she still doesn't have her heart and her emotion, just that when she kills someone she doesn't feel anything anymore she's empty in that way so

she's almost becoming dexter in a sense like that she's got that dark passenger is is slightly there that's what i mean by the dehumanizing thing in that sense got a drop of it but i i don't actually think that she's detached or anything like i and i understand why because of well yeah because of lundee and all everything she's seen and that's happened to her biny she's been through a lot of shit and I get it. One, it's a direct callback to a moment where, yeah, somebody got maimed because she couldn't take the shot and we know these guys are, yeah, are savage with how they dispense their you know, force.

And so, yeah, it's like I like them touching on that with her. And I think that, yeah, there is that grappling with like, oh, I don't feel remorse or I don't feel like the weight of this. But it feels actually, to me, like a very human thing for her to do because she's very aware of herself. I didn't mean dehumanizing in a negative way. I mean just not feeling any remorse and dehumanizing way and like not feeling anything when you kill someone. I'm not saying you should like not feel something when you kill trash like that, but she's more becoming more like Dexter is the way I should have articulated and said that. Yeah. That's what I meant. There's that drop of like

sometimes traditional justice doesn't make it all the way and given what we know, this is actually it's better to not have this guy out there but oh 100% no she did she's doing the right thing but I think this is I think it's a smart move to do this with her character and the reason being I've got to assume she's going to find out about Dexter at some point that's just my guess okay and if she does find out about Dexter having somewhat of at least a feeling of this type of ideology

of not feeling or having a dark passenger somewhere in there is going to be an interesting point of contention of dramatic feeling when she finds that out and when she interacts with her brother. Granted, there's going to be of, wow, this is who you've been this whole time and I never freaking told me. Like, we're supposed to be brother. There's going to be

that with the trust issue. But also, too, when she's coming from a place of, I get the feeling too, so that maybe helped to revive the relationship a little bit as well. So we're just going to have to wait and see him. I think they're planting a seed as well. So, granted,

it's an organic seed. It's not just a to be planted just to redeem the relationship when she does find out. It is like based on all the trauma and all the crazy shit she's experienced up to this point and also like what she's experienced with her father

that she feel favored her brother and also the fact that she found out her father was sleeping. She's been through a lot of shit. So. Well yeah, it doesn't feel like it's a plot mechanic or it's in service of anything else. Like it makes a lot of sense

and it's interesting because to me watching this moment transpire it is a point of conflict for Deb and there is that toll it takes of like I ended someone's life and I don't feel the kind of things you should normally feel is that a problem but at the same time that is kind of a moment of strength for Deb it is a moment of like rising to an occasion and acting where she couldn't act in the past and having faith that she could make the shot and maybe spare the hostage's life so it's like it's one of those things I think that whole stakeout scene, that whole sting operation

scene is very fascinating because it does create a lot of muddy situations with a lot of moral and emotional aftermath. And so to see LaGuerre to come out of that with so much kind of disarray and to see Deb come out of that

with, yeah, maybe a bit of detachment, but also a kind of resolve and a kind of strength of will and the way she tells off LaGuarda and you're like, she feels very steady in these moments. along with yeah that that drop of like ah there is a part of you that kind of knows deep down that conversation they have about like maybe some people don't deserve to die but some people

don't deserve to live that was great that was a great line that's so true and especially in this season with again the kind of subject matter that we're dealing with especially through loomen but even you know these guys in these two brothers are certainly abusing women and using them for their operation. There's a lot of, like, even though the Lumen one, the plot line is the most, you know, harsh and directly about that kind of thing, there are a lot of,

you know, male and female power dynamics and you know, there are a lot of complementary themes across the storylines that, yeah, relate to this kind of predator behavior and this kind of victimization. True. And I think, the last

I guess, major point I'll make is, like, I think this season is really wonderful and unique, partly because this is the first time I've really felt like consistently Dexter is he and Lumen together are kind of becoming these vulnerable, hurting creatures that have been through very different things, but are uniquely poised to see each other. And so, you know, the Miguel Prado back and forth, you know, there's like a friend element, there's an understanding element, and it's not coming from like an overt place of crime. So it feels like, oh, this could maybe work.

But the Lumen situation feels even more like it could maybe work because it's the most tender i feel like of all the major dexter dynamics aside from maybe rita obviously but but given you know the guest star factor of the show like this is the most yeah i felt like i'm seeing a vulnerable guy with yeah maybe in a bunch of emotional hangups and disconnects and whatever else but also yeah like some very real trauma and some very real need for compassion and grace and all sorts of you know hard to understand things and i think that's a really nice nuance of this season totally well said and i think too to you echo you what the point you just made about it's a point of contention and strength for deborah too not feeling something when she takes

out trash like one of the swarez brothers i think it avoids her hesitating in a moment like that which granted could get someone an innocent possibly killed but it also could save an innocent so you got it's the glass have empty glass have full type of thing so trust your instinct trust your aim and trust your instant, you know, small, what is it, aim small, miss small. So I'm, and I really got upset. You miss 100% of the shots you don't take. You don't take to that one brother's face. Yes, exactly. I was also, I'm sorry, I know we've been waiting to get to this final question. We will get to it. I also am very upset at the cop that ended up backing LaGuertha. And I get it from her perspective, her point of view. She's still young on the fours. She's trying to advance her career.

Debra really took her under her wing and I know she didn't know yet that Debra was backing her and saved her career even if you didn't know that's like dude you don't you don't do that to a teammate and someone who's a friend like it's like I get her yeah because I know it's your ass on the line

and I know that you probably think that if you play ball you can actually help your career somehow and I know you feel responsible for yeah getting made and having the whole thing fall apart I really like her too I like that's another thing is like that's not even like a big famous guest star as far as I know but like that's a prominent character and I like that they brought in like oh a beat cop who has a cultural connection to the neighborhood to this motif of the season and yeah she's not like the mainest of all the guest stars but she's an integral part yeah an integral part and a you know well acted character and a character that brings you know a unique flavor but also yeah a unique set of circumstances and conflicts and I really like her inclusion as well and yeah watching her and deb you know but heads watching her and deb learn to work together a little bit and and you know deb seeing the potential in her yeah like there's just

so much great life in what they're doing right now i think that was very big of deb too and classy that deb didn't as you pointed out in real time as we were reacting that deb didn't even say to her it's because of me you didn't get fired i stood up for you yeah but thanks for doing like she didn't even say that i'm not a stretch to say this as i as i always point out, but I have a feeling, usually the truth usually comes out in these types of situations. I have a feeling that this cop, I forgot her name, apologies. What he said, I have a feeling she's going to find out that Deb did that for her. And I have, I can see Deb saying something.

Yeah, and I wouldn't even be surprised if at some point La Guerta, Captain Matthews, finds out that this was really her call, that was really LaGuarda's call and the operation went to ship because of her. so I'm so this season just really has me on so such curiosity if I can't wait to see what happens next and julia styles to your question because we haven't actually like really named checked her I think she's doing a tremendous job amazing and the growth that she's gone it's kind of like it's not unlike some of what we saw with Rita going from someone who's yeah like more in the immediate midst of trauma to then obviously Lumen is at a very early stage in this situation's drama whereas Rida we saw a lot more growth over time but like where she's at now versus when we first met her there's been so much there and so much transformation and so much like the way she plays the PTSD

and the way that they compliment that with the stylistic choices but yeah just the emotion she brings to it and the vulnerability is really top notch and yeah I you know I know a lot of guest stars get a lot of flowers for this show but I think she deserves them and to see too I got to say one more thing to see dexter when he thought she was possibly leaving to see how sad and

compassionate he became in the mind he felt like this is the humidization of dexter i know we got that already from rita as pointed out earlier but to see that yeah it's different the way it's different because she knows the real dexter she has a unique purview to his dark past it's so it's so adorable to watch the two of them on screen they have such incredible chemistry with each other. And this is why I said it's not a generic romance when I'm watching this. It's very unique because of the circumstances that put them the cosmic circumstances, as you mentioned. And it's very wholesome. It's beautiful to watch. It's like just watching a seed being put in the ground and watching the beautiful flower blossom up. I really am enjoying every interaction with them,

whether it's a little bit chaotic at first to where it's gone to now. They have such a beautiful relationship the two of them yeah i've really loved watching i like i was not on board with shipping them last video last cluster of episodes and i really like that they have brought me around to how that could be a possibility because it's also you know when you go through a trauma like that oftentimes you don't want to be intimate with anybody but physically let alone emotionally or anything else so like so the way that they have brought around them opening up to each other and considering each other on a deeper level doesn't feel cheesy doesn't feel like oh we need a romance like it really feels like oh these people have started to recognize something deep and some partially dark but also something that is sort of in ways has the potential for beauty and has the potential to take these traumas and these pains and twisted up things and to at least make something better out of them and that's really great Absolutely. I think in order to self-

In a twisted way. Yes, yes. I think in order to self-heal, it's not impossible to do it alone, but I think to truly self-heal, at least in my situation, I think having an incredible support system, which I am so fortunate to have, I have the best support system around, given everyone here at the team, it's all me, it's all, it's all, it's all, it's all, it's all, John, given John and everyone here at Reject Nation, you lovely folks who constantly check in on me and just everyone in my personal life as well, having an important support system around you,

the people in your lives, it really goes a great deal in going a long way, rather, in helping you self-heal. And I love that Dexter and Lumen have each other to do that, embrace each other in their journey of self-healing. I almost want to stop watching the season now.

It's that good. I don't want it to end. It's that good. That thing, she got sleep for, because she felt safe. I know, she felt comfortable and safe. around him. You know, yeah.

And like she could, finally someone I can surrender control to because I know he's got my our best interested heart and I'm, you know, he's got the thing handled. Yeah. And it was just like a, like certain little things could trigger PTSD. We talked about visual aid, but just him walking into his own house and she like just that, that suddenness of an invader coming into a home, like I feel for like, I feel for like, like, oh, for sure, for sure. It's crazy that this one tiny little question got.

John and I, like this, but it's a thought, it's a deep thought-provoking season. That's why it means a lot to John and I. So far through eight episodes, it's really, really good. And I would say to continue, what we're saying here is I would put this on par through eight episodes with seasons one through four. It's unreal TV. Just continuing the upward trajectory for me. Absolutely.

Thank you so much for the question. Continuing the momentum. It definitely is. We appreciate your question, Nizana. Thank you. Thank you so much. Jay Rushin closing us out because I think we've said everything I think so say uh that a crime scene with the barrels was crazy and I am still

curious as to whether that was a random van big suburban the guy was drunk yeah he was drunk I guess what do you mean he was drunk and he hit him he was trying to make a left he got he wasn't trying to get hit do we do we Debra Debra okay sorry I don't mean yeah Debra Debra Debra I wasn't sure if somebody like ran into them of purpose. Deborah said during that scene, drunk driver hit hit the truck with the barrels and he stayed there and said he saw someone

run out of the truck. That's right. He saw just some guy. Yeah, just a random drunk driver. Yeah. All right. Question. Here we go. That was a crazy-ass crime. It was. What Dexter character would you dress up as for a costume party now? Definitely Quinn so I could be with Debra.

You would make a good Quinn. Hey. You just got to get the accent down. I don't know. I don't know if I can get that accent I don't know if I could do that, John. You know, you know, you know, you got to talk a little slower. In seriousness, I would like to really be, I don't know, Vince would might be a too much of a stretch. If it wouldn't be racist, I would go with Vince or Angel. I just love those two.

So I love the outfits that they were. And if I didn't go with one of those two, I said it earlier. It's so funny, we got this question because I really did not. Yes, definitely La Gwerta. Captain Matthews, so I want to be in charge. in a dominating factor i said it while we were reacting i'm like i wonder how many dexter costumes when this was like at the height of its of its pinnacle like how many people were wearing the what's it called what he's wearing when he's doing chopping up stuff oh the apron the apron

and all that shirt i would that looks like a fun costume to wear yeah probably just gets heavy and hot in there but yeah that'd be a fun one maybe uh he's a piece of shit but he's very fun piece of shit, and he's drippy as hell. So maybe I'll dress as Peter Weller's character. Dresses Liddy. St. Stan the Man Liddy? From that last scene where he's got like the freaking shirt and the jacket and all that stuff.

If I'm going to dress like Peter Weller, I think y'all know which character of his I'm dressing up as. It's the Leviathan character. He was in that movie in 1989. With Corbyn Bernson's wife, Amanda something who was in the Flash TV show and I'm going on on tangits, John.

Anyways, guys, that was Do you have any final thoughts? No, okay. That was season five, episode seven and eight. If you stuck with us this long, thank you so much. We appreciate you. We're going to be coming back at you with episodes nine and ten. We're getting close, John.

I don't want it to end, but we're getting close to season five here. So thank you again if you joined us this long. We appreciate you. Be safe. Remember, take it. Take it. Take it. I hate that.

You know that mantra is something they say. in terrible like the irony I bet is that as much as they've turned to a positivity mantra that's a thing that I'm sure they say for nefarious purposes

Mr. Apex Predator rather and it's a great dramatic device but all it makes my skin crawl every time. Thanks guys we appreciate you