Image Credit: Paul Morigi/WireImage.com; ShowtimeAs EW’s Michael Ausiello first reported in late May and confirmed last week, The Bourne Identity‘s Julia Stiles has signed on for a major role in the next season of Dexter. Yesterday, The Hollywood Reporter revealed some more details about Stiles’ character, “a mysterious young woman who forms a unique relationship with Dexter (Michael C. Hall) in the wake of the death of his wife.”
As someone who is still dealing with the miserable, buzz-killing hangover brought upon by the sheer presence of Dex’s much-hated lover Lila (Jaime Murray) during season 2, this sentence about Stiles’ character gives me pause. Because even though Rita’s bathing in a pool of blood, I don’t like to even consider the possibility that Dexter can forge a relationship with anyone other than his sister and late wife. (And that lady he likes to feed key lime pie to.) Luckily, sources told Ausiello that it’s unlikely Stiles will play a love interest (phew). So I’m going to jump on board with the rumored idea of Stiles playing Dex’s grief counselor. Either way, it would be a crime if Stiles didn’t have more than a few scenes with fellow strong lady Deb (Jennifer Carpenter). They’re kind of two peas in a pod, right?
If you ask me, Stiles has chosen the perfect project to make the leap from film to television. As we’ve seen with her previous work, Stiles excels when playing dark (The Bourne Identity, and, yes, 10 Things I Hate About You) versus peppy (The Prince & Me, A Guy Thing). And based on the final scene of last season’s Dexter, I’d bet things are going to get pretty dark on the Showtime series.
At least she doesn’t have an annoying British accent, right? Stupid Lila.
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I actually loved Lila…at first. Then when they made her all crazy I was like, WTF?! I still liked her better than Rita though.
I agree with the character Lumen cmniog back because she is both Dexter’s female alter ego and his opposite both at he same time, and this is a very complex achievement on the writer’s part. She is obviously Dexter’s alter ego and this point need not be more developed here. But as the one who resolved her dark passenger , she is also his opposite. She is in some ways the ultimate serial killer the one that will get away with it and still live a humanly complete and fulfilled life. The very fact that she has resolved her compulsion to kill is the single best case of redemption possible in Dexter’s world. From here there are three ways this can go. The first way is that she remains steadfast in her newfound freedom and enjoys it and this means that she will not come back. The second way is that she feels guilty of what she did and considers Dexter as a loose end and comes back to attempt to kill him, the student trying to be better than the teacher. The third way is that the compulsion takes over as she discovers criminals where she decides to live and returns to serial killing and either asks Dexter for his help again in a place other than Miami or returns to him as a kind of sidekick. As for Julia Stiles, if there is a real drive against she personally taking over the role, a convenient plastic surgery may be the resolve to bring in another actress, although I personally really liked and appreciated her acting.I think the Latin root of the names of both Dexter and Lumen are not coincidental. As the very smart Rosy Archer points out her name is both Latin for Light and for Luminol, the substance used to detect blood. The very fact that the writers pointed this out when she kills the first of the Chase Tribe is significant enough to emphasize the connection between both characters. This is one of the reasons why I think she will come back either this season or the next. but the question is which way will the writers go, what will be the thematically richer avenue to investigate?
How could anyone not like Rita? After Dexter, she was the best character on the show.
…..hands down harrison was the best character after dexter .. hullo.
I didn’t like Rita either. She went for all puppy dog innocent annoying to overbearing whiny wife annoying. She humanized Dexter too much and distracted him from his calling to rid the world of scumbags.
If she’s like Lila, I will NOT pardon her t!ts.
Yeah, I liked Lila as well; I mean, not as a human being, but I thought she was an interesting character who was a great foil for Dexter and pushed him to face some things. I loved Season 2 because the tension was coming from all angles…Doakes, Lila, etc. But in any case, I agree that it’s too early for a new love interest.
Agree. I hated the character Lila, but I thought her storyline with Dex was a yet another great source of tension for the awesome season 2. I wasn’t sad to see her go, but I thought it was interesting to see Dex with a woman other than Rita for a bit. Can’t wait for this season. Last season was phenomenal!!
again I say LAME.
Could not stand Lila from the beginning. I hated the way she said DEX-TAH.
I’m game if she walks around in the buff like Lila..
I still think she’s going to play Rita’s sister or some sort of relative.
lila may be the one character i hate the most out of any TV show i’ve ever seen. and it was real hate. not the ‘love to hate them’ type of hate. i just COULD NOT stand her or her dumb accent. and i love accent. julia stiles doesn’t have to do much to be more likeable than lila.
accents*
The Dexter team has hardly been known for repeating their ideas, they wouldn’t let the show fall into any predictable plot moves. Which is why I can’t wait to see what Stiles’ character is going to be.I still think she’s going to be part of the investigating team.
Wow…diss Lila if you like, but don’t bash Jaime Murray. She is from England, and so the accent is legit.
I hated Rita so. much. In fact, I saw that actress in another movie and instantly hated that character because I couldn’t stop thinking of her as Rita.
She couldn’t be a new Lila, she doesn’t have the same vibe as that actress.
I find everyone on this show annoying except for Dexter. I still love it though!!