Dexter - Beauty and the Beast, S05E04

So lets talk about Julia Stiles, who is portraying Lumen Ann Pierce. Now, I recall one of my prominent drama professors say these words about her: "Whoever told Julia Stiles she could act?" And I can't say that I've ever disagreed on this point. But as a completely messed up kidnapping victim, she's doing okay.

Alright, so we had to have a woman who was, in her own way, as messed up as Dexter (Michael C Hall) because otherwise the bond of trust between them would not be believable. But this does have a ring of Season 3 to it, where Dexter is trusting his secret to someone who is equally insane and who will probably expect his help in the murders she herself is planning. The difference is that her murders are far more justified that those of Miguel, but it's not going in the best direction.

On the other hand, I love the change between Harry (James Remar) and Dexter. Remar is hardly given credit for his role. As a part of Dexter's subconscious and his multiple personalities, Harry isn't his own character, and so becomes a benefit to Hall's performance. The two play so well off each other, and in the past, Harry has been the side of Dexter's personality which most resembled us. He is the logic, the one who understands the rest of the world, or at least he was. In Season 5, with his prompting of Dexter to get rid of the girl to preserve the First Rule, never get caught, we side with Dexter who claims his First Rule as never hurt an innocent. Between his accidental murder of an innocent man last year and the horrible murder of his wife, innocence has taken on a position of importance above and beyond anything else in his code. Even if Lumen promised up and down that she would escape and inform on him to the police, he still could not kill her.

And as Dexter continues dealing with the aftermath of his latest killing, Deb (Jennifer Carpenter) continues to have major issues over her feelings of inadequacy as a cop. Again, I love that she is turning to Quinn (Desmond Harrington). I can't help but believe that what he would love more than anything else is to be with her, to care for her and love her. Too bad that doesn't work with his belief that there is something very wrong with Dexter. It makes the relationship very interesting for the same reason I find this season interesting. I have no idea where it is going. And I am very much enjoying that feeling because, while the show is not being predictable, I firmly believe that it has a solid direction and is following it carefully.