Dexter and Californication ended their seasons with episodes built around men who are trying to be the best person they know how to be. As we've seen a couple times over the course of the year, the normally empty Dexter (Michael C. Hall) appears to be capable of displaying real emotion when it comes to his offspring. This time, he even sheds a tear, though it actually comes vicariously out of Harry's (James Remar) eye during another one of their father-son chats. With Miguel Prado and the Skinner behind him, Dexter arrived at his wedding and, in a rare moment of true honesty, vowed to show himself and his new wife Rita (the subdued Julie Benz) just what kind of man he is. This sentiment was punctuated by a drop of blood that fell from the cast on his hand (broken during his run-in with the Skinner) onto Rita's pure white wedding dress, a constant reminder of the darkness that is never too far away.
On Californication, Hank's (David Duchovny) biography on the recently deceased Lew Ashby (Callum Keith Rennie, a questionable cast addition) is done, Charlie's (Evan Handler) a salesman shacking up with a "retired porno chick," and Karen (Natascha McElhone) got a job in New York. After a few off weeks where the show traded in comedy for a bit of self-seriousness, it returned to form with this second-season finale. For all of its debauchery, the show tries hard to maintain some modicum of heart, something for the audience to hold onto. Never has that been more in evidence than in this episode's final moments when Hank selflessy let Karen go so he could stay and let daughter Rebecca experience her first love. A perfect ending to a season in which Hank wanted so badly to do the right thing.
Over on CBS, the finale of Survivor: Gabon--Earth's Last Eden had a perfect ending of its own, as 57-year-old physics teacher Bob Crowley deservedly won the show's million-dollar prize. What started out as a lopsided, uneventful season concluded in a flurry of deception and an ultimate feat of fairness. Down to the final four of Sugar, Bob, Matty, and Susie (who had immunity), Sugar, in a wonderful example of sportsmanship, forced a tie, too difficult was the choice between her newfound brother- and father-figures. In a firemaking challenge to decide who would go to the final three, Bob easily outperformed Matty, and essentially secured the grand prize right then and there. When asked by Matty during the final tribal council why Susie and Sugar are more deserving of the million than he was, Bob answered flatly, "I don't think they are." And he couldn't have been more correct. Bob played an admirable game, while Sugar, as likable as she was most of the time, connived her way to the finals, and Susie rode coattails from the outset. In fact, Susie may just be the most boring, nondescript player ever to make it this far in the game. I'm just glad that annoying weasel Kenny didn't have a chance to plead his case to the jury. Bob became the oldest winner in Survivor history and tied for the most individual wins in a row (five, including three immunities). In a game where older people are usually voted out early, it was nice to see someone on the verge of AARP status finally get his due.
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I agree about Callum Keith Rennie being a questionable cast addition. He stole the show right from Duchovny. What an awesome actor he is! I absolutely loved Lew Ashby. Although I will miss him, I understand why they had to get rid of him. With Lew on the show, Hank wasn't the most attractive or compelling character and that didn't make much sense, since Hank was supposed to be absolute king. Now things are back on track.
Actually, I felt the whole Lew Ashby story was a bit misbegotten. The character bordered on annoying, more the fault of the writing than the actor. Until his death, Lew never seemed to have to face any consequences for his actions. Hank should have kicked his ass a dozen times over the course of the season.
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