138 replies to this topic

[American Snob]

I have mixed feelings on the character Doakes, he's kind of a jerk but he's a good cop and is very psychologically interesting. Its so weird that he's the only one who senses something different about Dexter but its also a good thing because I think everybody's a little bit preoccupied to deal with Dexter. It would be boring if Dexter didn't have anybody on to him.

Its going to be great this season with him and Dexter head to head. Can't wait.

[ScarlettLynn]

I hated him for most of the season but I think by the end I came around to him. Still not my favorite guy but considering we're on the side of the serial killer on this show... maybe my perceptions a tad askew.

[Novus Questus]

Aw, I've always thought Doakes was awesome. I'm on Dexter's side, but if he does ever get caught I want Doakes to have the collar.

[ScarlettLynn]

I'm on Dexter's side, but if he does ever get caught I want Doakes to have the collar.

I completely agree with that. I think if Deb was ever concretely confronted with the truth of what Dexter was... she'd somehow cover for him. And I couldn't stand it if it was LaGuerta that caught him. If it was Doakes... I think that would probably be the best option as he's the one who always suspected him. Who always sensed something was off with him.

[anyfluids]

My reading of Doakes is that he's Dexter's clearest enemy but also the one of the 'good guys' who is most like him. He killed that guy in prison who was going to get off with a deal, he shot that Haitian guy -basically, he's the only other character other than Dexter who we've seen killing people who deserve it. It's the other side to the whole 'Dexter's always right when it comes to killers' idea which Doakes brought up: Doakes sees Dexter for what he is clearer because of their similarities.

[topdeck]

I look at them this way:

Doakes is Batman, Dexter is The Punisher.

[the fresh maker]

Doakes is Batman, Dexter is The Punisher.

My reading of Doakes is that he's Dexter's clearest enemy but also one of the 'good guys' who is most like him.

What would be absolutely awesome is if Doakes found out what Dexter is, and vice versa. That would provide a real crisis of conscience for them both. Ultimately, at the heart of their actions is the same motivation. For that reason, I don't think either could take the other out. Plus, Doakes would respect Dexter more without having to like him, and I think that would be true to Dexter's character.

A Dexter and Doakes tag team where they worked together on the down low to take somebody out would be kind of interesting, especially if LaGuerta ever become suspicious of their (begrudgingly) newfound respect for each other. A nice scenario would be if they absolutely had to have each other's help to catch someone who slipped through the system or was constantly getting around it.

Still not my favorite guy but considering we're on the side of the serial killer on this show... maybe my perceptions a tad askew.

I really, really like him, and I think perception is key. When he's around Dexter, he comes across as obnoxious, gruff, and aggressive--a real flat, one-dimensional character. However, in the scenes sans Dexter, Doakes becomes more dynamic, which makes sense. He is a crabbity bitch around Dexter, and that's all Dexter gets to see. But Doakes is a perfect foil who has a lot of complexities we haven't been exposed to yet.

[LolaRuns]

Word, Dexter really brings out the dick in Doakes. But I really, really love his interaction with Deb and La Guerta. He has a really nice rapport with them. Also liked this hint of backstory with the Haitian guy under the bridge.

I think it would be fun to have Doakes and Dexter competing for a victim, who gets to kill the badguy first :D

[Watchmaker]

Personally, I've always like the telepath angle for Doakes - that is, from the scene towards the end of the season where Dexter is narrating various questions in his head, the last of which Doakes seems to partially hear, asking Dexter "what did you say?" when Dexter didn't say anything aloud. At least, that was my read on the scene - it may not have truly been intended as any kind of ESP, but I like the practical demonstration that Doakes is far more sensitive to what Dexter actually is than anyone else.

And the symmetry of the Doakes/Dexter relationship appeals to me - just as Dexter seems to be a cut above other serial killers, Doakes seems to be a cut above the other cops in the department. Which is not to say they don't both seem to meet up on the other side when it comes to extra-legal killings, but they're yin and yang in a lot of other ways - Dexter's publicly amiable persona vs. Doakes' abrasiveness, Dexter's generally cerebral nature vs. Doakes rush to action, etc.

[vallegirl]

I've only seen it once, but Showtime has this great promo for Season 2 that features D&D's greatest hits that ends with "To Be Continued." Edited down, you really see how much jacked up chemistry Erik King and Michael C. Hall have as Doakes and Dexter.

And I don't mind that he's a dick to Dexter. Dexter's a serial killer and he's a homicide cop. It stands to reason. But he's like the German Shepherd in the pilot. Only he can smell what's rotten about Dexter. He's like the opposite of Brian. While he can see, in a way, what's wrong with Dexter, he won't be asking Dex to team up and tear a swath across Florida like Brian did.

If Doakes is the one to discover the full truth about Dexter, he's more likely to "take care of it himself" and then work up a good cover story. I don't see him letting Dexter go to trial.

[darkestboy]

I saw that promo, it was funny the amount of times that Doakes kept referring to Dexter as being psychotic.

[LolaRuns]

Personally, if Doakes and Dexter ever do find out about each other, I do hope Dexter pulls the "How different are we really/where do you get off judging me when you do the same?" card on him.

Because I think that is something that Doakes should be worrying about, technically. But with Doakes' temprament maybe he won't.

Though maybe we'll get to see only Dexter pulling a fast one on Doakes, Dexter finding out something tangible about Doakes and that giving him the ammo to get Doakes off his back.

(though considering how Dexter yearned for Brian and having somebody to "talk shop" with, I wonder if that could ever affect his relationship with Doakes. If he would seek him out in a "brothers of the mind" kind of way.)

Edited by LolaRuns, Aug 19, 2007 @ 11:51 AM.

[Puds38]

The 2nd book explains Doakes issues with Dex. I haven't checked the spoilers lately, but I hope we get somme of that plot added to season 2.

[xtreme]

The best I can figure it is that Doakes knows the painting isn't quite straight. You know, he can tell something's wrong but he isn't sure what. And it grates on him. Like Lana Lang on a Smallville fan.

[LolaRuns]

See, now I picture Doakes as Season 2 Lana, running around and insisting Clark, errr, Dexter has a seeeecret. At least we can expect that Doakes won't be running around, begging Dexter to just tell him the secret without putting any additional work into it.

[RepairmanBob]

See, now I picture Doakes as Season 2 Lana, running around and insisting Clark, errr, Dexter has a seeeecret. At least we can expect that Doakes won't be running around, begging Dexter to just tell him the secret without putting any additional work into it.

I see it the other way - Doakes would be the character telling everyone else in Smallville Lana is evil.

Doakes: The Bitch is crazy! Why can't any of you see she is evil?
Clark: What do you mean?
Doakes: She leads you around by your balls! She has a double digit body count! She bitches and moans about secrets and lies, but tells you bullshit stories! And you believe her!
Chloe: But she is Lana. Lana is good and holy.
Doakes: She locked your ass in a freezer!
Lex: I don't understand. Everyone loves Lana.
Doakes: She was going to leave your ass on your wedding day! She left you to die!
Clark: But... she is Lana.
Doakes: What the fuck is the matter with you people? This bitch is evil! She's a stone cold killer!
Dexter: I'll take care of this one, Sergent.
Doakes: You know what, psycho? She's all yours.

I do that the idea that Doakes senses there is something off about Dexter. Doakes (more than the other Deb, LaGuerta or the other cops) seems to operate on his instincts. Dexter should set off his alarms, make him uncomfortable.

Edited by RepairmanBob, Aug 20, 2007 @ 12:35 AM.

[LolaRuns]

Speaking of great Dexter/Doakes scenes. Doakes going: "Hah! You never rented a single porn movie in your life!", like he had found out something earth shattering since Dexter always hides his research under porn. Cracked me up.

BTW, isn't it funny that there are some so called boss programs that are supposed to help you hide your porn surfing while at work? Where you hit one button and all porn windows disappear and get replaces by something inconspicuous? And for Dexter it's just the opposite. His real interests get replaced by inconspicuous porn surfing :D

[beebs]

I love Doakes. He would so be the one to see through Lana. LOL!

[darkestboy]

And If he could ice her then that would be awesome.

[xtreme]

I'm with RepairmanBob DB, Doakes would be tempted. But I think when it comes down to it he's too much of a company man to go that far. If he thought Dex could talk some sense into the others though he might be prepared to leave them alone for a while.

[yb125]

What guy in prison did Doakes kill?

[trioxity]

Doakes: The Bitch is crazy!

I don't even watch Smallville, but just imagining Doakes screaming "The bitch is crazy!" is hilarious.

[kiacook]

Ultimately, at the heart of their actions is the same motivation.

I disagree with this. Dexter's motiviation is that he enjoys killing. He would kill anyway - even if there were no corrupt, guilty, evil or dangerous people in the world. Doakes doesn't enjoy killing - his motivation is to clean up the world a bit. I think it's Dexter's enjoyment and obsession that Doakes senses that creeps him out - not simply the fact that Dexter is a killer.

Also, I love Doakes and I think Dexter does too - or at least is greatly amused by him. I don't think Dex takes him a bit seriously and actually respects Doakes for being able to see through him - like Harry did...

Edited by kiacook, Sep 4, 2007 @ 5:17 PM.

[smurfty]

He killed that guy in prison who was going to get off with a deal

Could someone refresh my memory on this? Was it something that was mentioned in passing because I don't recall it happening in an episode.

Regarding Doakes - his character in the first few episodes really helps to get us on Dexter's side. His bullying, agression towards and animosity for Dexter automatically elicits sympathy for Dexter from the viewer.

[vallegirl]

He killed that guy in prison who was going to get off with a deal

Could someone refresh my memory on this? Was it something that was mentioned in passing because I don't recall it happening in an episode.

It was mentioned earlier, but Doakes wasn't involved in killing Cervantes. (The guy in jail for killing the cop and his wife.) Guerrero had him killed, probably because he figured out/got word of the deal.

[luvdave]

Dexter's motiviation is that he enjoys killing. He would kill anyway - even if there were no corrupt, guilty, evil or dangerous people in the world. Doakes doesn't enjoy killing - his motivation is to clean up the world a bit. I think it's Dexter's enjoyment and obsession that Doakes senses that creeps him out - not simply the fact that Dexter is a killer.
Also, I love Doakes and I think Dexter does too - or at least is greatly amused by him. I don't think Dex takes him a bit seriously and actually respects Doakes for being able to see through him - like Harry did...

I’m with this.

I wish they'd mellow out the level of abrasiveness with which Doakes expresses himself all the time, but I like him, and I agree that Dexter respects the fact that Doakes “gets it”. Doakes adds a necessary balance to the show. It wouldn’t be as interesting to me if no one ever had a clue what Dexter was about.
There’s something about Dexter that doesn’t inspire me to give him a complete pass, or to root for his total getaway. Some of it is the way I see him pull the “Who, me?” reactions when Doakes calls him out. And some of it is knowing that Doakes IS technically right about him.

I’ve enjoyed seeing the plot delve into Doakes’ personality apart from his reactions to Dexter. The writers have been good about giving the supporting characters some backstory without making me feel that they’re taking too much time from Dexter.

Doakes, at least as written for the show, is much more in the world of his other colleagues than he is in Dexter's. He can embark on a relationship (his affair with Kara Simmons) and is on the opposite end of the spectrum from Dexter in that you have no trouble understanding where he’s coming from – even if he only uses about 1-1/2 ways to express it. He’s capable of self-deprecation (he and LaGuerta sharing a laugh over being the least-liked people in the department), and he has a good rapport with her. As was said upthread, he’s a serious yin to Dexter’s yang.

Edited down, you really see how much jacked up chemistry Erik King and Michael C. Hall have as Doakes and Dexter.

They do – and I hope they find a way to keep it going though the life of the series.

[rowanceleste]

I think it's Dexter's enjoyment and obsession that Doakes senses that creeps him out - not simply the fact that Dexter is a killer.

Considering that Doakes doesn't consciously know that Dexter is a serial killer, I actually think its Dexter's lack of normal human emotions that truly creeps out Doakes. I think Doakes can tell that Dexter is faking it in general and that there's an almost clinical curiousity about every crime scene and even enjoyment, except in 'I See Red'., which Doakes finds 'twisted'.

Granted, cops tend to have a morbid sense of humor in order to deal with their jobs, but I think as a veteran cop and a member of special forces, when Doakes is angered, upset or disgusted by a crime scene and Dexter is blithely detached, Doakes has got to wonder what's wrong with him. I also think Doake's special ops background enables him to see beyond the mask that Dexter wears to the fact that Dexter doesn't really seem to connect to anyone or anything.

[Care Bear Love]

Doakes' my second favorite character after Dex and the idea that he would kill Lana is just all kinds of awesome. Wouldn't it be nice if both Dex and Doakes went to Smallville to clean house? Ah, such a thing would be greater than all the magic and all the treasures and all the world-- I digress...

I wish they'd mellow out the level of abrasiveness with which Doakes expresses himself

Doakes abrasiveness is a large part of why I like Doakes so much. I went searching for the promo that vallegirl and darkestboy were talking about and here's why I love him so. In the beginning, I didn't like him too much but, as has been said, it was when he was shown away from Dexter and he was no longer Dexter's one-dimensional foil that I began to like him. He really started to grow on me when they revealed that LaGuerta stole his thunder and what would have most likely been a promotion from him and yet he has shown no hard feelings and is still there doing his job. It's the same thing with Angel and how he let everyone in the precinct know that he had no ill will towards Angel for ratting him out. And there's his crush on Deb and how he's so socially awkward that it'll probably be season three before he does anything about it. He's complex character, Doakes is.

[kamy]

I posted a part of my opinon on Doakes on a different thread...But i'll add it here too. When I first started watching Dexter, the chararcter that just drove me nuts - annoyed me, pissed me off, and make me crack up in laugher - was Doakes. He was just this Angry!Black!Man! = i didn't even remember his name half the time when i watched the first season. And I'm black too. And i used to just call him "Angry black guy".

Then i saw the Showtime preview with all the Dexter/Doakes interactions. And that preview is why i cannot wait for the new season. I love the messed up Dexter/Doakes partnership. The whole finger-to-eyes "I'm watching you" thing just makes me giggle. So big fat WORD to Care Bear Love's post. Except...

And there's his crush on Deb and how he's so socially awkward that it'll probably be season three before he does anything about it

What crush on Deb?? Unless i was too focused on Dexter or spent too much time going "Look, the Angry!Black!Man! is on the screen again", to notice, but what crush?? (Then again, I'm always the last one to notice things like this that are probably really important, so dont mind me...)

Anyway, to summarize: Doakes = growing on me = overall just cool.

Edited by kamy, Sep 17, 2007 @ 8:02 PM.

[vallegirl]

He started softening on her as they worked together but it started taking root when Deb joined Doakes and his family of all women for dinner and got along famously with them. Then one night, quite nervously, Doakes asks Deb to join him and others from work for drinks and dancing and she's about to accept when Rudy shows up with white roses and cockblocks poor Doakes.