The Dope Box TV Blog

The Golden Globe nominations were announced today and most of them could have been easily predicted. However, there was a little vampirific surprise in the mix. True Blood got a nom for best drama series and Anna Paquin (Sookie Stackhouse) got best dramatic actress. It would really have been a shocker if they’d been cool enough to nominate Nelsan Ellis (Lafayette). In Treatment dominated. I suppose I should watch it then, huh?

Here are the other TV Series Noms (faves are in bold):

Best Television Series - Drama

Dexter; House; In Treatment; Mad Men; True Blood

Thoughts: While I admit Mad Men has had some truly brilliant moments, they lost me during the beginning of the second season. Watching started to feel like a chore (I have several unwatched episodes on my DVR to prove it). Dexter, House, and True Blood dependably deliver and I never put off watching any of them. I wonder what it says about me that my favorites are all bloodbaths. Pretty sure In Treatment will take the Globe though, since they’ve garnered so many noms.

Best Performance by an Actress In A Television Series - Drama

Sally Field – Brothers & Sisters

Mariska Hargitay – Law & Order

January Jones – Mad Men

Anna Paquin – True Blood

Kyra Sedgwick – The Closer

Thoughts: Sally Field is lovely but she hasn’t done anything surprising or different from her usual bag of tricks. Plus, I’m not sure I can handle another of her speeches. I know people love Mariska but I’m not a Law & Order fan. I can’t comment on the whole second season of Mad Men (see above) but January put me to sleep during the first few eps. Kyra will probably take it but I would get a kick out of Anna winning. Sookie 4 life, y’all!

Best Performance by an Actor In A Television Series - Drama

Gabriel Byrne – In Treatment

Michael C. Hall – Dexter

Jon Hamm – Mad Men

Hugh Laurie – House

Jonathan Rhys Meyers – The Tudors

Thoughts: If the award was for Hottest Portrayal of a King who had Gout, Jonathan would be the man. Gabriel has a real shot at the win. But I would love to see Hugh or Michael walk away with the Globe. Michael’s genius performance as my favorite sociopath has only gotten space-related awards (Satellite, Saturn) and nobody cares about those. But Hugh deserves the award too, since his character is the axis around which everyone else spins.

Best Television Series - Musical Or Comedy

30 Rock; Californication; Entourage; The Office; Weeds

Thoughts:This is perhaps the most competitive category. I wouldn’t be surprised if any of them won. Weeds kept me laughing with its brand of risqué and unexpected humor but I would reckon this is 30 Rock’s year.

Best Performance by an Actress In A Television Series - Musical Or Comedy

Christina Applegate – Samantha Who?

America Ferrera – Ugly Betty

Tina Fey – 30 Rock

Debra Messing – The Starter Wife

Mary-Louise Parker – Weeds

Thoughts:Although I enjoy Christina as amnesiac Sam, she’s not the funniest lady on the show. Actually, Jennifer Esposito, Melissa McCarthy, and Jean Smart run comedic circles around her. America is in a similar spot, only to a much larger degree. She seems to setup the jokes for her much funnier cast-mates. The Starter Wife was a bit of a snooze. Tina Fey is on a winning streak I wouldn’t mind seeing continue. And Mary-Louise is dependably and creatively amusing as the drug-dealin’ mama of two.

Best Performance by an Actor In A Television Series - Musical Or Comedy

Alec Baldwin – 30 Rock

Steve Carell – The Office

Kevin Connolly – Entourage

David Duchovny – Californication

Tony Shalhoub – Monk

Thoughts: Is Monk still on the air?

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television

Eileen Atkins – Cranford

Laura Dern – Recount

Melissa George – In Treatment

Rachel Griffiths – Brothers & Sisters

Dianne Wiest – In Treatment

Thoughts: The smart bet would be for one of the In Treatment gals. Out of the bunch, I’ve only seen Rachel Griffiths performance so I have no input on the others.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television

Neil Patrick Harris – How I Met Your Mother

Denis Leary – Recount

Jeremy Piven – Entourage

Blair Underwood – In Treatment

Tom Wilkinson – John Adams

Thoughts: Another competitive one, I think. All these guys are talented but Neil’s Barney is the highlight of HIMYM for me.

Obvious snubs: Grey’s Anatomy– Even with all the strange plotlines of late, there have been some good performances. I think people may just be too frustrated with the series to even consider it. Also, Lost, Friday Night Lights, Pushing Daisies (cancelled, I know, but fantastic nonetheless).

Dexter, Go your own way, Showtime TV series, Episode Recap and Review Blog

What is a serial killer with a disobedient protégé to do? If you’re Dexter, you carefully scrutinize your options. This is one of the characteristics that separate him from ordinary murderers. He has a process.

Option 1: Kill Miguel. Although it’s a sufficient comeuppance for the death of Ellen Wolf, Miguel would be a hard man to kill. Or rather, he’d be a hard man to get away with killing. He’s high profile, close to Dexter, and perhaps most importantly, Dexter would have to fake grief.

Option 2: Get Miguel out of his life. Not an easy task considering how clingy the guy is.

Option 3: Get Miguel under his thumb and keep him there. Controlling a stab-happy district attorney? Impossible for most people. But Dexter isn’t most people.

During a fancy double date dinner with the Prados, Miguel gives them the gift of catering for their upcoming wedding. On the way home, Dex lets it slip that Miguel is hiding something from Silvia. He lets Rita assume this means he’s having an affair, surmising that LaGuerta must be his mistress.

While the newly engaged couple are out to dinner, Debra and Anton co-babysit Rita’s kids. A surprisingly domestic activity for a recently skinned ex-con with a cereal box full of herb. Dexter, after arriving to relieve the pair of their babysitting duties, takes a moment to create social awkwardness by asking Deb if she’s now got a “plus one” for the wedding. The next morning at Deb’s apartment, she awakens in a panic after oversleeping, freaking out about Anton staying the night. Since the Skinner is still on the loose, Anton has protective detail. And they make notes. Quinn makes it clear that Deb’s ethics are going to be questioned when higher-ups catch wind of her comingling with the key witness in the Skinner case. After dating the Ice Truck Killer, how can anyone be surprised by her inappropriate romantic choices?

Anton shows up at the station and Quinn, assuming Deb let it slip that he was never officially on the books, apologizes for getting the guy peeled like a potato…and gets punched in the face. Anton then has it out with Debra. He’s pissy she failed to disclose Quinn’s shady non-bookkeeping and he hates keeping their relationship a secret. The guy obviously has no concept of secrecy which was evidenced by the whole “rat” thing. The fact that she’s risking her career to be with him doesn’t appease his selfishness and dramatic sensibilities. Debra later talks to her brother about being in love with the wrong guy, to which Dexter shrugs. He’s not exactly an expert on romance. Now, if she had asked him for advice on how to properly dispose of a dismembered body…

When a suspect in the Ellen Wolf murder appears, Dexter uses it as an opportunity to scare the only other member of Club Serial Killer. He tells Miguel that the suspect probably saw him the night he went rogue. Dex is in a position to help but will only do it if Miguel agrees to go his own way after the wedding. Miguel doesn’t want to give up on their friendship. I can imagine it will be tough to find another dude he can golf, fish, and kill people with.

Back at the station, Miguel, apparently not trusting Dexter to keep an eye out, hangs around while the suspect is being interrogated. The suspect (bartender guy Ellen came on to when she was out with LaGuerta) has got an alibi but he was outside long enough to spot a “douchebag” in a dark SUV with halogen headlights. Oh, Miguel. You dumbass. I guess he skipped the lesson in serial killing where you should avoid being witnessed at the scene of the crime.

In wedding preparation news: Miguel is still best man despite being a complete pain in Dexter’s ass, Masuka wants to throw a bachelor party where attendees “vomit and have an erection at the same time,” and Rita tries on poufy bridal gowns while telling Silvia her hubby is a cheater.

Being the perceptive chap he is, Dexter sees that LaGuerta is vulnerable and knows a certain DA will try to exploit that vulnerability. He shows up at LaGuerta’s in time to interrupt her and Miguel, who are alternately reminiscing about his dead druggie bro and making out. Shortly following Dexter’s exit, Silvia arrives to see if what Rita said was true. She yells at her husband, loudly making the assumption that he was with LaGuerta the previous Thursday when he was out all night. I think that little tidbit might come back to haunt him.

Miguel, certain Dexter is to blame for Silvia’s recent enlightenment to his adulterous ways, shows up at his morning coffee place, tells him he made a “bitch move,” and threatens to investigate Debra’s relationship with Anton. Mr. Prado makes it clear that he expects to be looked after and have his every whim obeyed. To this, Dexter sweet talks the Prado maid so he can find Ellen’s missing ring in the den. He leaves a dry cleaner’s receipt in its place. A receipt for the bovine-blood-stained shirt Miguel gave him.

That undercover hooker cop that Angel is sleeping with gets beat up. She says she swiped at the attacker with her keys so Angel has Dex run DNA tests on them, off the books. When Dex figures out why, he gives Angel a little talk about the lure of vengeance. He explains that it’s a door that’s hard to close once open. Angel heeds his advice and brings the perp in. This is in interesting juxtaposition with Miguel’s complete unwillingness to listen to Dexter’s warnings.

On the police station roof, Miguel is super cranky about being jerked around and shows it by stomping and puffing out his chest like a threatened gorilla. He exclaims that he’ll do what he wants, when he wants, to whomever he wants. It’s clear that someone is watching. At first, I thought Dexter had set up a video camera to record further evidence of Miguel’s guilt, but it turns out Miguel arranged for George King to observe so he could get a good look at Dexter. The Skinner is instructed to have a “long conversation” with our lovable serial killer which will, in turn, lead him to Freebo and his money. Inside, Dexter resolves to use option 1. Before he can make a move against Miguel, he’s stuffed in the trunk of a Cadillac. Would it really have been so easy to capture such a wily opponent? Could it be Masuka kidnapping Dex for the bachelor party?

If it is George King who pulled off the snatch and grab, I’m confident that Dexter will come out the victor. But next week’s episode is sure to be explosive if the battle of serial killer v. serial killers commences.

“You’re a creature of habit.” -Miguel