Random Musings: THE VAMPIRE DIARIES Marathon, THE SIMPSONS & DEXTER’s Not-So-Killer Ending

This week, in lieu of your regularly scheduled CW favorites, the perennial fifth place network has opted to re-air the entirety of THE VAMPIRE DIARIES second season to date. And while that means 10 fang-tastic and thrilling episodes for fans and potential newcomers to sink their teeth into, our inexplicable need to root for the underdog has us asking, “Why?” After-all, one might argue that THE VAMPIRE DIARIES, having already cemented its status as the network’s highest rated and most buzzed about show, is in the least need of a promotional push. And that another show, say NIKITA, which has more than made up for its somewhat slow start with a fantastic string of episodes would serve to benefit that much more from the extra airings. We’re just sayin’

As much as we hate to further perpetuate the “blogger” stereotype, last night’s episode of THE SIMPSONS leaves us with choice but to channel our own inner comic book guy as we type the words, “Worst. Episode. Ever.” Okay, not really. But as someone who has watched every single episode of the iconic animated series, not to mention, fully appreciates that at 22 seasons and counting, original ideas may be more than a little hard to come by, we do find ourselves scratching our head over last night’s episode. Which is to say, we wouldn’t have so much of an issue with last night’s poorly timed Goodfellas/Donni Brasco homage if it was the least bit funny.

And while we’re on the subject of lazy, well, awfully convenient writing, we of course wanted to take a moment to address last night’s DEXTER season finale. Now, don’t get us wrong, despite the obvious and predictable fashion in which the fifth season came to a close, DEXTER’s writing staff deserves serious points for answering the question, “Just how many actors does it take to equal that of John Lithgow’s Emmy-winning performance from last season,” by taking the series in an entirely different and unexpected direction. Unfortunately, where DEXTER loses points and continues to drop the ball is when it comes to the show’s inability to take chances. For instance, rather than have Deb (or even Quinn) come face-to-face with Dexter’s true nature which may-or-may-not elevate the show to uncharted levels of excitement and daring, last night did little more than serve as yet another reboot for next season, where our titular anti-hero will yet again be forced to struggle with the loss of somebody he loved as he takes another — for lack of a better word, stab — at humanity. Which is all well and good if you’re content with being a cut above your average run-of-the-mill CBS procedural. That said, if Showtime is truly committed to becoming HBO’s heir apparent, it’s going to need to have the stones to pull a LOST by not only giving DEXTER an end date, but in the process freeing the writers to pen a killer ending fans deserve.