Dexter Season 6 Episode 7 - Nebraska

When I saw the trailer for this episode, I was initially skeptical. Why would Dexter take a road trip with his dead brother Brian in the middle of the Doomsday case? But in watching "Nebraska", I realized that Dexter's road trip is the second act of the classic Hero's Journey. According to Joseph Campbell, stories from all over the world hold a basic structure in which

A hero ventures forth from the world of common day into a region of supernatural wonder: fabulous forces are there encountered and a decisive victory is won: the hero comes back from this mysterious adventure with the power to bestow boons on his fellow man.

This means that Season 6 is Dexter's journey. If it stays true to the formula, then Dexter will emerge from this season very changed.

What will that change look like? Let's see what's happened so far:

Act 1: The Ordinary World

[click to enlarge the Hero's Journey to the right] The first half of the season has been the first act of Dexter's Hero's Journey. We began in Episode 1 with Dexter back to his old self, in the Ordinary World (Step 1 in the Journey). But then, through Harrison, Brother Sam and the Doomsday Killer, Dexter begins to realize that there's a bigger world out there than he realized - the world of God, and the possibility of redemption. In Episodes 6, Brother Sam pleads with Dexter to embrace God but Dexter refuses (2-3), instead killing Nick and remaining his old self.

Specifically, Dexter believes that he is irredeemable, that there is no light in him. This is Dexter's Ordinary World.

This refusal results in Dexter meeting his mentor (4), in this case a manifestation of Brian/Rudy, his dead brother. All of this prepares us to experience Act 2 of Dexter's story, which takes place when Dexter is transported to the mythical land of Kearny, Nebraska.

Act 2: Into the Special World… of Nebraska

Dexter learns that there's been another Trinity killing in Nebraska, where Trinity's family is in hiding. Since Dexter killed Trinity, he (and Brian) assume that Jonah, Trinity's son, killed his mother and sister, then blamed it on his father (whom no one else knows is dead). Dexter knows something's not quite right, and Brian convinces him to visit Kearney to kill Jonah. Thus, Dexter crosses the threshold (5) and sets off on his mythical journey.

But what's the point of the journey? Brian thinks this will transform Dexter finally into a pure, coldblooded killer.

Dexter begins to experiment with being bad (6). At a convenience store along the way, he hooks up with the clerk, and kills the motel manager who tries to steal from him. In Nebraska, Dexter confronts Jonah and is convinced of his guilt, so he and Brian prepare for the big kill (7).

But when Dexter faces Jonah, he learns that Jonah actually wants Dexter to kill him. He didn't kill his sister; she committed suicide. Because his mother had gone crazy, pining for Trinity to return. In his rage at finding his sister dead, Jonah killed his mother. Jonah fears he's becoming his father, and wants Dexter to enact justice. As Brian says, "Death by Dexter. Fantastic idea."

But when Dexter learns the whole story, he refuses to kill Jonah. He imagines that Jonah could be his own son, Harrison. As Brian eggs him on, begging Dexer,

Brian: "We have come so far." Dexter: He's not a monster. Brian: "Don't you want to see the light in his eyes go out? Dexter: No. Brian: "Think how good it will feel." Dexter: He has a conscience. And regret.

This is the moment of change (8). In rejecting Brian's mentoring, refusing to kill Jonah, Dexter subverts the Hero's Journey. Instead of becoming fully Dark, Dexter realizes that there is Light not only in the world, but in him (9). When Jonah asks, "How am I supposed to live with this?", Dexter takes one last look at his dearly departed brother and offers the only advice that's worked for him:

Forgive yourself.

And with that, Dexter heads back to the Ordinary World.

Act 3: The Road Home

In the Hero's Journey, the Hero returns from the Special World changed for the better. He returns equipped with special knowledge that enables him finally to overcome his obstacle.

Dexter returns from Nebraska confident that he is not wholly a creature of darkness (10). As he says to himself,

Brother Sam believed Light can keeps Darkness at bay. But I wonder if Darkness is defined by Light. If so, Darkness can't exist on its own. If so, there must by definition be Light somewhere, waiting to be found.

As he crosses back into the Miami City Limits, he sees Harry waiting for him, ready to welcome him back into the Ordinary World. Dexter has completed his journey. Now it's time to find his redemption.

Prophecies and Resolutions

Nothing much happened in the way of resolutions this week. We see Gellar preparing the installation of the Whore of Babylon tableau, and we get a little more insight into his mission: he sees the world as wholly evil, irredeemable. Thus, his mission is to cleanse the world of all Evil.

We did learn that Gellar and Travis were giving the Whore their blood to drink. I didn't call that, but before we award points, let's wait to see how the final four installments turn out.

Again, the comparisons between Dexter and Gellar are fascinating. Both think Evil is irredeemable. Both kill to keep Evil at bay - Gellar in order to bring about the End of the World, Dexter to keep his Dark Passenger happy.

It's a no-brainer, but I think Dexter will get a happy ending, involving some sort of redemption. Gellar will die.

If we're looking at a typical Hero's Journey, Dexter's relationship with Travis may be his final chance to find redemption (11). He'll save Travis from Gellar (12) and then kill Gellar.

But then what's ahead for Dexter? Will he become a Brother Sam sort of rehabilitator who only kills the hopeless cases (like Nick)? What will Dexter's redemption look like? Surely it won't be a conversion. Could Dexter possibly find God? And what would that even look like on Showtime?

What did you think of Dexter's Hero's Journey? What will redemption for Dexter look like?