My Bad (Dexter)
Encyclopedia
"My Bad" is the première of the fifth season
of the Showtime series Dexter
and the show's forty-ninth episode overall. It was written by Chip Johannessen
, the show's former executive producer
and showrunner
, and directed by Steve Shill
. It originally aired on September 26, 2010.
It brings the final resolution to the Trinity Killer plot that was present in season four
and also features the last performance by Julie Benz
as Rita.
", in which Dexter Morgan
finds his wife Rita murdered in their bathtub, a victim of the Trinity Killer
. The episode sees Dexter come to terms with raising Rita's children, Astor and Cody, alone. He also becomes a main suspect in Rita's murder.
During the episode, Dexter reminisces about his first date with Rita and realizes, much to his own surprise, that he genuinely loved her, albeit in his own emotionless way.
The A.V. Club
gave the episode an A- grade, stating "There's no real sense of where Dexter goes from here - unlike in the other seasons, the show doesn't introduce a major new arc or villain (outside of the FBI's obvious interest in the statement, "It was me") - but as a season premiere, this works fantastically. Dealing with a character's death, particularly when that character had worn out his or her welcome, can be a tricky proposition for a long-running show, but Dexter finds a way to do it that suggests the darkness just over the horizon and that there will be no redemption for this man. For as goofy as the show can play him, it hasn't forgotten that he's a force of pure destruction, and that's a relief".
Dexter (season 5)
The fifth season of Dexter premiered on September 26, 2010, and consisted of 12 episodes. The season focuses on how Dexter deals with his recent loss, coming to terms with the death of his wife.- Plot :...
of the Showtime series Dexter
Dexter (TV series)
Dexter is an American television drama series, which debuted on Showtime on October 1, 2006. The sixth season premiered on October 2, 2011. The series centers on Dexter Morgan , a bloodstain pattern analyst for the Miami Metro Police Department who moonlights as a serial killer...
and the show's forty-ninth episode overall. It was written by Chip Johannessen
Chip Johannessen
George F. "Chip" Johannessen is an American writer, editor, and producer of numerous television series. Johannessen is credited with work on 24, Moonlight, Millennium, and Beverly Hills, 90210, among others.-Biography:...
, the show's former executive producer
Executive producer
An executive producer is a producer who is not involved in any technical aspects of the film making or music process, but who is still responsible for the overall production...
and showrunner
Show runner
Showrunner is a term of art originating in the United States and Canadian television industry referring to the person who is responsible for the day-to-day operation of a television seriesalthough such persons generally are credited as an executive producer...
, and directed by Steve Shill
Steve Shill
Steve Shill is a British television and film director, actor, screenwriter, and television producer.-Career:He attended Keswick Grammar School in Keswick,Cumbria,England in the 70's....
. It originally aired on September 26, 2010.
It brings the final resolution to the Trinity Killer plot that was present in season four
Dexter (season 4)
On October 21, 2008, Showtime commissioned a fourth and fifth season of Dexter, each consisting of 12 episodes. The show's writers convened during February and March 2009 to brainstorm ideas for the fourth season, and filming was scheduled to begin in June 2009...
and also features the last performance by Julie Benz
Julie Benz
Julie M. Benz is an American actress, best known for her roles as Darla on Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel and as Rita Bennett on Dexter, for which she won the 2006 Satellite Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television...
as Rita.
Plot
The episode begins immediately after the events of the fourth season finale "The GetawayThe Getaway (Dexter)
The Getaway is the fourth season finale of the American television drama series Dexter, and the 48th overall episode of the series. It originally aired on Showtime on December 13, 2009. In the episode, Dexter goes to great lengths to stop Arthur, who now knows Dexter's true identity...
", in which Dexter Morgan
Dexter Morgan
Dexter Morgan is a fictional character in a series of novels by Jeff Lindsay, including Darkly Dreaming Dexter , Dearly Devoted Dexter , Dexter in the Dark , Dexter by Design , Dexter is Delicious and Double Dexter...
finds his wife Rita murdered in their bathtub, a victim of the Trinity Killer
Trinity Killer
Arthur Mitchell, often referred to as the "Trinity Killer", is a fictional character in the Showtime TV Series Dexter. The character is portrayed by John Lithgow, who won a Golden Globe and an Emmy for his performance...
. The episode sees Dexter come to terms with raising Rita's children, Astor and Cody, alone. He also becomes a main suspect in Rita's murder.
During the episode, Dexter reminisces about his first date with Rita and realizes, much to his own surprise, that he genuinely loved her, albeit in his own emotionless way.
Reception
On its original broadcast, "My Bad" attracted 1.77 million American viewers, up 16% from the season four premiere. A second broadcast at 11:00 p.m. garnered an additional 575,000 viewers, bringing the night's total to 2.34 million, making the episode the highest rated Showtime series premiere in 15 years and the most watched premiere in the show's history. The fifth season premiere ranks as the top telecast for the network in 2010.The A.V. Club
The A.V. Club
The A.V. Club is an entertainment newspaper and website published by The Onion. Its features include reviews of new films, music, television, books, games and DVDs, as well as interviews and other regular offerings examining both new and classic media and other elements of pop culture. Unlike its...
gave the episode an A- grade, stating "There's no real sense of where Dexter goes from here - unlike in the other seasons, the show doesn't introduce a major new arc or villain (outside of the FBI's obvious interest in the statement, "It was me") - but as a season premiere, this works fantastically. Dealing with a character's death, particularly when that character had worn out his or her welcome, can be a tricky proposition for a long-running show, but Dexter finds a way to do it that suggests the darkness just over the horizon and that there will be no redemption for this man. For as goofy as the show can play him, it hasn't forgotten that he's a force of pure destruction, and that's a relief".