Dexter - First Blood, S05E05

Alright, so the cast that the precinct is pursuing is actually moving forward, while Dexter (Michael C Hall)'s personal quest remains both unclear and centered around Lumen Pierce (Julia Stiles). Sure, I continue not to be impressed with the Angel (David Zayas)/Maria (Lauren Valez) story arc. I am never a fan of relationship drama - I'd much rather see the complications of a couple getting together, like Quinn (Desmond Harrington) and Deb (Jennifer Carpenter).

Quinn is such an interesting character. First of all, he's hot (and I've thought so of Harrington since I saw him in Taken). And then you have the interesting balance of this likable guy, who clearly cares a great deal about Deb, both as his partner and as a woman, with a complete jerk. Okay, so he's right that there is something wrong with Dexter, but the way he's been going after him, especially when he's got Deb in the middle, it just extreme. Plus, there's the side of him that's a dirty cop, taking money from crime scenes, not reporting his CIs, and bribing other cops into doing his dirty work. When he told Deb he wasn't good for her, he was telling the truth, but how bad can he really be if he is warning her off? As a lady who has always had a thing for the redeemable bad boy, I choose to believe that Quinn will in fact be good for Deb, regardless of the tensions between him and Dexter.

Again, I want to praise the plotline about the serial killers from Venezuela. The discovery of the advancement of their style and technique is terrific fodder for development. I also continue to love watching Deb with an excitable and positive young cop because it is so endlessly amusing to see her so cynical with someone who has not yet reached that point. I also like the fact that for once Dexter is not trying to kill the main suspect of the murders his people are investigating. Sure, that might change before the season is over, but for now I am enjoying the idea that the cops might actually catch their suspects.

As for Lumen and Dexter, well, again it's hard to say where that's going. Dexter has developed a saviour complex after the death of his wife, and Lumen is a perfect target for his own release. Sure, he wants to help her and kill her assailants - as long as they are guilty. And that segment with him and Harry (James Remar) where he nagged himself into recognizing the impossibility of the sex offenders guilt, well that was just a beautiful moment of watching Dexter's disconnect with reality.

And now that Lumen has again refused to leave Miami, but Dexter believes that she has, there are even more possibilities for future outcomes.