María LaGuerta
Fictional character in Dexter
Fictional character
María LaGuerta
Dexter character
Lauren Vélez as María LaGuerta
First appearanceNovels:
Darkly Dreaming Dexter (2004)
Television:
"Dexter" (2006)
Last appearanceNovels:
Darkly Dreaming Dexter (2004)
Created byJeff Lindsay
Portrayed byLauren Vélez
Christina Milian (Original Sin)
In-universe information
Full nameMaría Esperanza di Alma LaGuerta
GenderFemale
OccupationPolice captain
SpouseÁngel Batista (ex-husband; deceased)
NationalityCuban American

Captain María Esperanza di Alma LaGuerta[1] (/ləˈɡwɛərtə/ or /ləˈɡwɜːrtə/; Spanish: María LaGüerta) is a fictional character portrayed by Lauren Vélez in the Showtime television series Dexter, and as a younger version of LaGuerta by Christina Milian in Dexter: Original Sin. In the original series, she holds the position of lieutenant at the fictitious Miami-Metro Homicide Department. While initially depicted as a protagonist, Maria LaGuerta, who serves as the superior officer to main characters Dexter and Debra Morgan, evolves into one of the primary antagonists by Season 7.

Character history

Discussions between LaGuerta and Angel Batista in the first and fourth seasons provide minor insight into LaGuerta's backstory. According to the dialogue, her family is located entirely in Cuba, and she mentions the experience of being alone in a foreign land, suggesting that she was sent to live in America independently.

Season one

In the series' beginning, LaGuerta is depicted as a determined and ambitious woman with a stronger aptitude for political maneuvering than practical police duties. She holds a deep animosity towards Debra, Dexter Morgan's sister,[2] but harbors an attraction to Dexter. In the conclusion of the first season, Captain Tom Matthews, her superior, removes her from her leadership position due to her inability to apprehend the Ice Truck Killer.[3]

Season two

In the early episodes of season two, LaGuerta grapples with her demotion and dissatisfaction with her replacement, Esmee Pascal. To retaliate, she engages in a romantic relationship with Pascal's fiancé, Bertrand, which fuels Pascal's growing paranoia and instability. As Pascal's behavior becomes increasingly erratic, Captain Matthews is compelled to remove her from her position and reinstate LaGuerta.

When her friend, former partner, and former lover, James Doakes, becomes the primary suspect in the Bay Harbor Butcher case, LaGuerta endeavors to vindicate him. She receives information from a dubious source regarding two Special Forces missions undertaken by Doakes, which coincide with the deaths of two Butcher victims. In the season finale, Doakes and drug dealer Jose Garza are discovered dead in an apparent accidental explosion, leading to the case's closure. Despite the evidence LaGuerta uncovers, it is disregarded. Following Doakes' demise, LaGuerta appeals to police officers for contributions to his memorial fund, refusing to accept the notion that her deceased friend was a serial killer.[4]

Season three

LaGuerta announces Batista’s promotion to sergeant, and she is reunited with Miguel Prado (Jimmy Smits) after his brother Oscar is killed. After Debra unintentionally badmouths Oscar in front of Miguel, LaGuerta convinces Batista to drop her from the case, and attends Oscar’s wake.[5] LaGuerta tries to reassure Miguel that the police will find Freebo, though he is doubtful. After Batista and Quinn are offered information exonerating Chickey Hines, who Miguel convicted, LaGuerta confronts Miguel with the new evidence.[6] At Batista’s mention, LaGuerta confronts Miguel over not speaking with Chickey Hines. LaGuerta gets frustrated when evidence suggests Freebo is probably gone.[7] When LaGuerta again confronts Miguel over not talking to her witness, Miguel suggests that having to accept Doakes was the Bay Harbor Butcher may be clouding her judgement. LaGuerta gives a witness statement granting Hines an alibi to his attorney, Ellen Wolf.[8] Ramon meets with LaGuerta after he begins working on the case of a woman murdered by the Skinner, and suspects him of using the case to insert himself into the investigation of his brother's death.[9] LaGuerta is enraged at Wolf after finding out she is investigating Miguel for misconduct. Batista keeps her out of the loop while Debra looks into the possibility of Ramon as the Skinner, and LaGuerta compliments Debra after Ramon is arrested for false imprisonment.[10]

LaGuerta gives Ramon a deal where he has to give up his shield and retire to not be charged, which mends her relationship with Miguel.[11] LaGuerta asks Wolf to accompany her to a police charity and the two develop a friendship.[12] After Wolf stops answering her phone, LaGuerta becomes worried and is horrified when her body is found at a cemetery.[13] LaGuerta reports Toby Edwards as the suspect in Wolf’s murder, and interrogates him. She believes he is the killer until Quinn tells her of evidence that exonerates him. Miguel visits LaGuerta at her home, and the two kiss before being discovered by Miguel’s wife Sylvia (Valerie Cruz).[14] Through her own personal investigation and input from Dexter, LaGuerta uncovers that Miguel is responsible for Wolf's death. LaGuerta confides in Dexter, considering him the only other person aware of the truth.[15] After Miguel's demise at Dexter's hands, LaGuerta becomes distressed by the possibility of the Cuban community honoring Miguel by naming a highway after him. She desires to obtain solid evidence to prove Miguel's guilt in Wolf's murder. However, Dexter manages to persuade her that pursuing the case would only inflict further pain upon Miguel's family and the community, and even if successful, the evidence would be insufficient. Reluctantly, LaGuerta lets go of the matter.[16]

Season four

In the beginning of season four, it is revealed that LaGuerta is involved in a romantic relationship with Detective Angel Batista. They choose to keep their relationship hidden from their colleagues at the homicide department, except for Dexter, whom both Batista and LaGuerta confide in. However, their situation becomes complicated when LaGuerta discloses their relationship to their superiors to prevent it from being used against them in a trial. As a consequence, they face the possibility of being reassigned, requiring one of them to leave the homicide department. Recognizing the significance of their jobs for their identities, Batista and LaGuerta decide to end their relationship and provide signed affidavits to confirm this. Despite their intentions, staying apart proves challenging, and they resume their secret encounters. To avoid potential consequences from higher authorities, they clandestinely marry, with Dexter serving as a witness.

Season five

In season five, LaGuerta and Batista experience difficulties in their relationship. LaGuerta becomes increasingly demanding of Batista, while he starts displaying more impulsive behavior. Their problems escalate when LaGuerta publicly blames Debra for a mistake that she herself made, resulting in the loss of multiple lives. This incident further strains Batista's perception of LaGuerta. However, by the conclusion of the season, they had reconciled and mend their relationship.

Season six

LaGuerta and Batista go through a divorce after realizing their divergent desires. Following her blackmailing of Matthews with a contact list belonging to a madam, which includes his name, LaGuerta is promoted to the position of captain. Matthews assigns Debra as the new lieutenant, a decision that upsets LaGuerta, as she had promised the role to Batista. Initially uncertain, Debra seeks advice from LaGuerta, who intentionally provides her with unsound guidance in an attempt to undermine her. However, Debra gains confidence in her own abilities and becomes self-reliant. When evidence of Matthews' involvement with another prostitute emerges, LaGuerta initially instructs Debra to conceal it. However, LaGuerta warns Debra that she will face consequences if she deviates from the expected course of action.

Season seven

At the start of the season, LaGuerta discovers a blood slide containing the blood of serial killer Travis Marshall at the scene of his death. Recognizing similarities to the Bay Harbor butcher's methods, she begins an investigation to determine if the butcher is still alive and seeks to prove Doakes' innocence. Her suspicions turn toward Dexter when she learns about his boat's relocation during the Butcher investigation. LaGuerta seeks assistance from Matthews, who assures her that her suspicions are unfounded.

As LaGuerta and Matthews delve into the case, they revisit the cabin where Doakes died and uncover evidence linking Santos Jimenez to the deaths of Dexter and Brian Moser's mother. LaGuerta's suspicions of Dexter escalate after learning about his background and the disappearance of Jimenez. They search the area and discover evidence implicating Doakes, which LaGuerta believes was planted.

Eventually, LaGuerta devises a plan to confirm Dexter's identity as the butcher. She orchestrates the release of Hector Estrada, the man who ordered the killing of Dexter's mother, hoping that Dexter will target him. Dexter indeed tracks down Estrada but realizes LaGuerta's setup. Reluctantly, he releases Estrada to ensure his own escape, though LaGuerta deduces his intentions upon discovering the kill room.

LaGuerta has Dexter arrested for Estrada's murder, but forensic specialist Vince Masuka provides evidence that proves Dexter's innocence, leading to his release. Despite this setback, LaGuerta remains determined to apprehend Dexter, especially after finding circumstantial evidence linking him and Debra to the scene of Marshall's death. She confronts Debra with the evidence, but Debra defends herself.

As tensions escalate, Dexter concludes that the only solution is to kill LaGuerta. He abducts and kills Estrada, then renders LaGuerta unconscious upon her arrival. His plan is to stage the scene to make it appear as if LaGuerta and Estrada killed each other. However, Debra interrupts him and pleads for LaGuerta's life. LaGuerta implores Debra to kill Dexter, asserting her own moral superiority. Dexter relents and drops his weapon. Tearfully, Debra shoots a surprised LaGuerta in the chest, resulting in her death.[17]

Difference from novel

In the novels, LaGuerta's first name is "Migdia". In Darkly Dreaming Dexter, LaGuerta is depicted as a person who engages in political gamesmanship and exhibits manipulative behavior. The TV series presents a more sympathetic portrayal of her character. In both the novel and the TV series, LaGuerta flirts with Dexter to some extent, which annoys him. In the first book, Brian, Dexter's brother, fatally stabs LaGuerta, whereas in the TV series, LaGuerta remains alive and continues to play a significant role in Dexter's life until her demise at the conclusion of Season 7.

Reception

The relationship between LaGuerta and Batista was met with mixed responses,[18] with some finding their romance forced.[19] Emily St. James said the twist of Batista and LaGuerta being in a relationship "would be more of a shock were either of these characters developed beyond a stock series of character traits."[20] Comic Book Resources noted their compatibility as a couple in an entry on the best duos in the Dexter series while TV Fanatic wrote their relationship was "not an office romance that’s funny, original or particularly interesting."[21][22]

Jeffrey Bloomer of Slate believed LaGuerta's "entire crusade against Dexter felt like a catalyst to move the show along".[23]

References

  1. ^ "Hungry Man". Dexter. Season 4. Episode 9. November 22, 2009.
  2. ^ "Dexter". Dexter. Season 1. Episode 1. October 1, 2006. Showtime.
  3. ^ "Seeing Red". Dexter. Season 1. Episode 10. December 3, 2006. Showtime.
  4. ^ "The British Invasion". Dexter. Season 2. Episode 12. December 16, 2007. Showtime.
  5. ^ "Our Father". Dexter. Season 3. Episode 1. September 28, 2008. Showtime.
  6. ^ "Finding Freebo". Dexter. Season 3. Episode 2. October 5, 2008. Showtime.
  7. ^ "The Lion Sleeps Tonight". Dexter. Season 3. Episode 3. October 12, 2008. Showtime.
  8. ^ "All in the Family". Dexter. Season 3. Episode 4. October 19, 2008. Showtime.
  9. ^ "Turning Biminese". Dexter. Season 3. Episode 5. October 19, 2008. Showtime.
  10. ^ "Sí Se Puede". Dexter. Season 3. Episode 6. November 2, 2008. Showtime.
  11. ^ "Easy as Pie". Dexter. Season 3. Episode 7. November 9, 2008. Showtime.
  12. ^ "The Damage a Man Can Do". Dexter. Season 3. Episode 8. November 16, 2008. Showtime.
  13. ^ "About Last Night". Dexter. Season 3. Episode 8. November 23, 2008. Showtime.
  14. ^ "Go Your Own Way". Dexter. Season 3. Episode 10. November 30, 2008. Showtime.
  15. ^ "I Had a Dream". Dexter. Season 3. Episode 11. December 7, 2008. Showtime.
  16. ^ "Do You Take Dexter Morgan?". Dexter. Season 3. Episode 12. December 14, 2008. Showtime.
  17. ^ "Surprise, Motherfucker!". Dexter. Season 7. Episode 12. December 16, 2012. Showtime.
  18. ^ Fowler, Matt (September 11, 2009). "Dexter: "Living the Dream" Review". IGN. There are new romantic interests for Batista (David Zayas), Laguerta (Lauren Velez) and Quinn (Desmond Harrington); for Quinn, in the form of Roberto Orci's sister Courtney Ford. These new romantic pairings might be unnecessary, but they still feel organic. These characters are so great that they can really just "exist" within the confines of their own procedural context. The fact that we get more from them is just gravy.
  19. ^ "Dexter: The 5 Best Couples (& The 4 Worst), According To Reddit". Screen Rant. May 26, 2021.
  20. ^ St. James, Emily (September 28, 2009). "Dexter: "Living the Dream"". AV Club.
  21. ^ Yang, Katrina (January 8, 2025). "10 Best Character Duos in Dexter (& Why Fans Love Them)". Comic Book Resources.
  22. ^ "Dexter Review: "Hello, Dexter Morgan"". TV Fanatic. December 7, 2009.
  23. ^ "Dexter season 7 episode 12 surprise mother reviewed". Slate. December 17, 2012.
  • Maria LaGuerta on IMDb
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