72.66.87.83: /* Plot */

2025-08-13T07:55:23Z

Plot

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{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}

{{Infobox television episode
| series = [[Dexter (TV series)|Dexter]]
| season = 6
| episode = 2
| release_date = {{Start date|2011|10|9}}
| length = 53 minutes
| director = [[S. J. Clarkson]]
| writer = [[Tim Schlattmann]]
| story =
| teleplay =
| music =
| photographer = Alan Caso
| editor = Keith Henderson
| production =
| guests =
* [[Colin Hanks]] as Travis Marshall (special guest star)
* [[Yasiin Bey|Mos Def]] as Brother Sam (special guest star)
* [[Edward James Olmos]] as James Gellar (special guest star)
* [[Geoff Pierson]] as Thomas Matthews
* [[Aimee Garcia]] as Jamie Batista
* [[Molly Parker]] as Lisa Marshall
* [[David Monahan]] as Nathan Roberts
| prev = [[Those Kinds of Things]]
| next = [[Smokey and the Bandit (Dexter)|Smokey and the Bandit]]
| season_article = Dexter season 6
| episode_list = List of Dexter episodes
}}

"'''Once Upon a Time...'''" is the second episode of the [[Dexter season 6|sixth season]] of the American [[Crime fiction|crime]] [[drama]] television series ''[[Dexter (TV series)|Dexter]]''. It is the 62nd overall episode of the series and was written by co-executive producer [[Tim Schlattmann]], and was directed by [[S. J. Clarkson]]. It originally aired on [[Showtime (TV network)|Showtime]] on October 9, 2011.

Set in [[Miami]], the series centers on [[Dexter Morgan]], a forensic technician specializing in [[bloodstain pattern analysis]] for the fictional Miami Metro Police Department, who leads a secret parallel life as a vigilante serial killer, hunting down murderers who have not been adequately punished by the justice system due to corruption or legal technicalities. In the episode, Dexter is introduced to Brother Sam, an ex-con turned minister who helps other ex-cons start a new life. Meanwhile, Debra receives a promotion, while Gellar seeks Travis' full cooperation.

According to [[Nielsen Media Research]], the episode was seen by an estimated 1.71 million household viewers and gained a 0.9 ratings share among adults aged 18–49. The episode received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised its performances, but felt that the themes were redundant.

==Plot==
[[Debra Morgan|Debra]] ([[Jennifer Carpenter]]) finds an engagement ring in the refrigerator, giving [[Joey Quinn|Quinn]] ([[Desmond Harrington]]) to propose to her. However, she turns it down, saying they must wait. While she states she is content with their relationship, Quinn is left disillusioned and asks her to move out of his apartment.

Miami Metro investigates Omar Rivera's murder in the beach, noting he worked at a body shop. They question the shop's owner, Brother Sam ([[Yasiin Bey|Mos Def]]), an ex-con turned minister who helps other ex-cons start a new life. Brother Sam is not a suspect, and he considers that everyone can change, but [[Dexter Morgan|Dexter]] ([[Michael C. Hall]]) is unconvinced. He visits him at his shop, and is told that he killed a man in the past, but religion helped him move forward. Despite [[María LaGuerta|LaGuerta]] ([[Lauren Vélez]]) advocating for [[Angel Batista|Angel]] ([[David Zayas]]) to become lieutenant, Matthews ([[Geoff Pierson]]) instead gives the position to Debra after her act of heroism at the restaurant goes viral. Debra reluctantly agrees, while Angel and LaGuerta are left disappointed.

While he remains committed to helping Gellar ([[Edward James Olmos]]) on his plans, Travis ([[Colin Hanks]]) often asks to arrive a few minutes to tend other activities, to Gellar's disappointment. Travis meets with his sister Lisa ([[Molly Parker]]) to dine at her house. When he returns to a church they use as their hideout, he finds Gellar awaiting him. He burns his own arm with a hot iron, lamenting Travis' selfishness. A horrified Travis agrees to prioritize their work. Later, they abduct a jogger ([[David Monahan]]) to use as their next victim.

Dexter follows Brother Sam at his shop, finding him take a body to his trunk. As he is almost attacked by his dog, he is caught by Brother Sam. He reveals that the body, Nick, is actually alive and he tried to have him killed. Nick's gang arrives to kill Brother Sam, but are forced to leave when Dexter reveals his badge. Nevertheless, Dexter finds that the leader of the gang is also a murderer and subsequently tracks and kills him.

==Production==
===Development===
The episode was written by co-executive producer [[Tim Schlattmann]], and was directed by [[S. J. Clarkson]]. This was Schlattmann's 11th writing credit, and Clarkson's second directing credit.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://directories.wga.org/project/928624/dexter/|title=''Dexter'' – WGA Directory|website=[[Writers Guild of America West]]|access-date=August 24, 2024}}</ref>

==Reception==
===Viewers===
In its original American broadcast, "Once Upon a Time..." was seen by an estimated 1.71 million household viewers with a 0.9 in the 18–49 demographics. This means that 0.9 percent of all households with televisions watched the episode.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2011/10/11/sunday-cable-ratings-nothing-keeps-up-with-kardashians-plus-housewives-nj-finale-boardwalk-empire-breaking-bad-dexter-more/106761|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111013095735/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2011/10/11/sunday-cable-ratings-nothing-keeps-up-with-kardashians-plus-housewives-nj-finale-boardwalk-empire-breaking-bad-dexter-more/106761/|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 13, 2011|title=Sunday Cable Ratings: Nothing Keeps Up With Kardashians; Plus ''Housewives NJ'' Finale, ''Boardwalk Empire,'' ''Breaking Bad,'' ''Dexter'' & More|work=TV by the Numbers|last=Gorman|first=Bill|date=October 11, 2011|access-date=August 24, 2024}}</ref> This was a 22% decrease in viewership from the previous episode, which was watched by an estimated 2.19 million household viewers with a 1.1 in the 18–49 demographics.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2011/10/04/sunday-cable-ratings-cardsphillies-new-jersey-housewives-top-night-boardwalk-empire-hung-breaking-bad-much-more/105957|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111005145953/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2011/10/04/sunday-cable-ratings-cardsphillies-new-jersey-housewives-top-night-boardwalk-empire-hung-breaking-bad-much-more/105957/|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 5, 2011|title=Sunday Cable Ratings: Cards/Phillies, New Jersey ''Housewives'' Top Night + ''Boardwalk Empire,'' ''Hung,'' ''Breaking Bad'' & Much More|work=TV by the Numbers|last=Seidman|first=Robert|date=October 4, 2011|access-date=August 24, 2024}}</ref>

===Critical reviews===
"Once Upon a Time..." received generally positive reviews. Matt Fowler of ''[[IGN]]'' gave the episode a "good" 7.5 out of 10, and wrote, ""Once Upon a Time" tried its very best to present the theme of Dexter not wanting to show Harrison his "monster" side, but there's only so many times you can attack the same theme from different angles. Dexter's been fretting about Harrison ever since the beginning of last season, which means he's empathetic. And that he cares. And that he's way more capable of being a real human being around his son than the show would have us believe. The scenes between him and Harrison, at the end, were as normal as one could hope for."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tv.ign.com/articles/119/1195106p1.html|title=Dexter: "Once Upon a Time" Review|date=October 9, 2011|access-date=August 24, 2024|last=Fowler|first=Matt|work=[[IGN]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111011115632/http://tv.ign.com/articles/119/1195106p1.html|archive-date=October 11, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Joshua Alston of ''[[The A.V. Club]]'' gave the episode a "B" grade and wrote, "If ''Dexter'' is to remain compelling for the subsequent seasons that are probably in store, this season, which is the closest thing yet to a full-blown reboot, has to set that agenda."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.avclub.com/articles/once-upon-a-time%2C62715/|title=''Dexter'': "Once Upon A Time"|date=October 9, 2011|access-date=August 24, 2024|last=Alston|first=Joshua|work=[[The A.V. Club]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111013152433/http://www.avclub.com:80/articles/once-upon-a-time,62715/|archive-date=October 13, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> Richard Rys of ''[[Vulture (website)|Vulture]]'' wrote, "Beyond the questions of faith and forgiveness, this season poses an even bigger one — can a monster ever truly change? Dexter isn't convinced. If Brother Sam can't prove him wrong, they both seem destined for grim final chapters of their own."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vulture.com/2011/10/dexter_recap_father_figure.html|title=''Dexter'' Recap: Father Figure|last=Rys|first=Richard|date=October 10, 2011|access-date=August 24, 2024|work=[[Vulture (website)|Vulture]]}}</ref>

Chase Gamradt of ''[[BuddyTV]]'' wrote, "The season is picking up steam, let's just hope that it doesn't stray too much into a [[Dan Brown]] novel before too long."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.buddytv.com/articles/dexter/dexter-recap-best-of-once-upon-42122.aspx|title='Dexter' Recap: Best of 'Once Upon a Time'|date=October 9, 2011|access-date=August 24, 2024|last=Gamradt|first=Chase|work=[[BuddyTV]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111011150851/http://www.buddytv.com/articles/dexter/dexter-recap-best-of-once-upon-42122.aspx|archive-date=October 11, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> Ian Grey of ''[[Salon.com|Salon]]'' wrote, "at least this episode was better than the sixth season premiere, thanks mainly to the focus on Dexter's sister Deb, the show's MVP, played by professional exposed nerve Jennifer Carpenter."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.salon.com/2011/10/10/welcome_to_god_talk_starring_dexter/|title=Welcome to "God Talk," starring Dexter|last=Grey|first=Ian|date=October 10, 2011|access-date=August 24, 2024|work=[[Salon.com|Salon]]}}</ref>

Billy Grifter of ''[[Den of Geek]]'' wrote, "For the second episode of the season, ''Dexter'' appears to be firing on all cylinders somewhat earlier than I'd anticipated. The only problem with that is, can the writers keep cranking up the tension continuously from this point onwards? They managed it in season four, but that was exceptional."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/dexter-season-6-episode-2-review-once-upon-a-time/|title=Dexter season 6 episode 2 review: Once Upon a Time...|last=Grifter|first=Billy|date=October 10, 2011|access-date=August 24, 2024|work=[[Den of Geek]]}}</ref> Matt Richenthal of ''TV Fanatic'' gave the episode a 4 star rating out of 5 and wrote, "I watch ''Dexter'' solely for Dexter and I also like my Dexter as part of a cat-and-mouse game. I like it when he hunts and when he's on the run and when he's doing all he can to stay one step ahead of the police or whatever Big Bad the show is featuring that season. There's only so much reflection I can take, which is why the start of season six feels a bit slow."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tvfanatic.com/dexter-review-once-upon-a-time/|title=Dexter Review: Gotta Have Faith|last=Richenthal|first=Matt|date=October 10, 2011|access-date=August 24, 2024|work=TV Fanatic}}</ref>

Claire Zulkey of ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' wrote, "One of the biggest issues I've had with ''Dexter'' in seasons past is how comparatively weak the Miami Police Department storylines are compared to the rest of the show — they're murder cops, after all, not accountants. Why did they have to be so dull? But from what I've seen so far, ''Dexter''{{'}}s co-workers are getting better treatment in Season 6."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/showtracker/2011/10/dexter-recap-an-evening-full-of-wonders.html|title='Dexter' recap: An evening full of wonders!|last=Zulkey|first=Claire|date=October 9, 2011|access-date=August 24, 2024|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111011132814/http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/showtracker/2011/10/dexter-recap-an-evening-full-of-wonders.html|archive-date=October 11, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> ''[[Television Without Pity]]'' gave the episode a "C" grade.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.televisionwithoutpity.com/show/dexter/once-upon-a-time-dexter-1/|title=Dexter: Once Upon a Time... – And They Lived Stabbily Ever After|date=October 16, 2011|access-date=August 24, 2024|work=[[Television Without Pity]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140408172910/http://www.televisionwithoutpity.com/show/dexter/once-upon-a-time-dexter-1/|archive-date=April 8, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb episode|1890880|Once Upon a Time...}}

{{Dexter}}

[[Category:2011 American television episodes]]
[[Category:Dexter (TV series) episodes]]
[[Category:Television episodes directed by S. J. Clarkson]]

Once Upon a Time... (Dexter) - Revision history

72.66.87.83: /* Plot */