As the newest season of Showtime’s Dexter winds to a close (the season finale is coming up on Sunday, December 18), it’s worth noting–once again–that this bizarre little series on the far side of the cable TV firewall is the home of some of the most amazing, effective, and powerful Latino acting on anywhere on the tube.
Since the very beginning, we’ve seen David Zayas and Lauren Vélez turn in disturbingly passionate performances week after week, as troubled cops, lovers, spouses, and now enemies. And in previous years, we’ve seen equally awesome work by other Latinos, most notably Jimmy Smits as a crusading D.A. who ultimately loses control and makes Dexter himself look like a normal guy. Christian Camargo, Valerie Cruz, April L. Hernandez, Jesse Borrego, Jason Manuel Olazabel, and Pablo Soriano have all contributed multi-episode arcs of their own, portraying characters on both sides of the law, and we’re not even including one- or two-episode victims, witnesses, and innocent bystanders.
But this season’s performances by Edward James Olmos and Aimee Garcia have to be at the top of anyone’s list–especially OImos’ stunningly sinister work as Professor James Gellar. He’s so convincing, so hypnotic in the role that the wrenching twist that came a couple of weeks ago actually worked, where a revelation of this size and shape in the hands of a lesser actor would have been laughable at best.
You have to have a strong stomach and a love of the dark to truly appreciate Dexter, but whether it’s your cup of tea, generically speaking or not, the continuing stream of strong Latino roles, the series’ ongoing submersion in Miami and Cuban culture, and the use of Latino guest stars and regulars is truly impressive.
It’s great to hear that Dexter will be with us for a couple of more years–and that Michael C. Hall is in good health and ready to continue. We just hope that the characters Zayas and Vélez play so beautifully can somehow make it through a couple more years without killing each other…but we’ll be there to watch, whatever weirdness comes next.
