Dexter - Those Kinds of Things, S06E01

I did not think that anyone could be so creepy as John Lithgow as the Trinity Killer, but Edward James Olmos and Colin Hanks may give him a run for his money this season. The master-apprentice serial killer bond is one we have not explored fully, despite Dexter (Michael C. Hall)'s dabbling in it in various manners. It also gives us many possibilities for seasonal development since we are dealing with two men, instead of one, but Dexter and Miami PD don't know that yet.

Otherwise, we seem to have returned to the status quo. Dexter is back to killing other murderers and serial killers, and things are going well since his new baby sitter lives next door and really doesn't mind his frequent absences. She chalks his odd behaviour off to still mourning his wife. Angel (David Zayas) and Maria (Lauren Valez) are divorced already, but still have a running tension between them. Maria has been manipulating her way towards promotions, and may help Angel climb the ladder as well.

My favourite development is between Quinn (Desmond Harrington) and Deb (Jennifer Carpenter). As soon as the arguments started, I knew that Quinn was planning on proposing. I think these two are so well suited for each other, and I hope that Quinn's attempts to propose continue to get delayed until he does it right. Was he really going to ask her in that bar?

So the developments this season are likely to be very interesting, with a strong spiritual theme to them. I loved Dexter's conversation about God with Angel. Not everyone is able to be eloquent about their beliefs. And when Dexter went to speak to that nun to get his son in daycare, and she was so impressed that he bothered to come in person, while it never occurred to Dexter that he was doing anything that was unusual. Indeed, if he realized how markedly different his attempts to always do the right thing made him, he probably would not bother.

What are your thoughts on the new season?

Dexter - Take It!, S05E08

While I am enjoying this season, some of the errors in storyline and possibility (as opposed to probability) are getting excessive. I mean, every show requires some willing suspension of disbelief, but for Dexter, we already give a lot just based on the small risks he takes that never result in him getting caught. Big ones are completely unnecessary, and I can only hope the writers will take the one in this episode into account.

So Dexter (Michael C Hall) pursues his victims, sometimes meeting up with them before hand in public areas like a cafe or a restaurant, and only in the case of the Trinity Killer, with his massive involvement as Kyle Butler, did any of his pseudonyms come up in a case. Granted, there are no bodies and most of the victims are scum, but the idea that no one has ever IDed him before is a little incredible. Lets also point out that it is strange that an intelligent detective like Quinn (Desmond Harrington) couldn't imagine that Kyle Butler might be recognized by anyone outside the Miller family, like another volunteer on those construction sights?

I digress. There are many small points of contention which we choose to ignore, but now there are big ones which don't actually make any sense. It started 2 episodes ago. Yes, the ending was quite humorous, and we can all imagine Mazuka (C.S. Lee) truly believing that it was a sex crime, but the events in no way explained how Dan the Dentist got shot and lost too much blood in a warehouse before ending up with his neck broken tied up in another building, or how the man who allegedly shot him then broke his neck managed to strangle himself for sexual gratification all at the same time. Not possible guys. Not possible.

This episode, things were worse. Dexter rented out a hotel room beside his intended victim, using what name, I cannot guess. That might not seem so bad, only both the victim and his boss knew who Dexter was, and it is a matter of public record that he was at this convention where the victim was last seen. So Dexter is known to have been at the last known location of a soon-to-be missing person. Danger, I say. Will no one know that he was staying in that hotel room?

The fact that that missing person broke down the door between his own room and Dexter's is the critical detail. Unless Dexter had the power tools to fix up the busted down door, which we did not see him have or do, then there is an obvious violent confrontation between the missing man and the person in the next room. What cop worth his salt would not investigate such a thing? There is no way Dexter's involvement would go unquestioned, regardless of whether or not the dirty cop Quinn sent after Dexter saw anything being tossed into the lake.

So, while I do enjoy this season, the stretching of the storyline beyond the realm of the possible or the believable is beginning to annoy. Do you feel the same way?

Dexter - Circle Us, S05E07

And suddenly Dexter (Michael C Hall)'s world crashes right back into that of the rest of the officers at the precinct. Again, I love the fact that the Santa Muerte case remains a separate affair, the development of which was pretty intense this episode, so the fact that it is Dexter`s extracurricular that has become a joint effort makes me pretty happy. I'm also quite liking the development of Dexter`s friendship with Lumen (Julia Stiles).

The Santa Muerte case has been a PR nightmare from the beginning, and the latest development has not improved things at all. Did Maria (Lauren Velez) make a bad call in sending Officer Manzon (April Hernandez) to the Fuentes brothers' table? It is hard to say - the results certainly were devastating, with the informant and another bystander ending up dead, although Deb (Jennifer Carpenter) got to accomplish what she should have in her last encounter with the murderers. One of the brothers is dead, the woman he was threatening safe. Would things have gone better had that brother not asked Manzon to join him, tried to feel her up, and discovered her gun? Was the potential of its discovery a negligible risk that did not pan out, or did Maria not consider it a potential danger? I would say Manzon's reaction time from the moment she was discovered was too slow. We'll see how that develops, and, remember, there is one brother still out there.

On the other side of things, we finally got to meet Jordan "Take It Now" Chase (Johnny Lee Miller). His security guard is one of the men who hurt Lumen, and he is obviously equally connected to the crime. When a man panics, he makes mistakes. Moving the bodies of the women was never a good idea, but being hit by a drunk driver and having the bodies strewn across the highway is one of the worse possible outcomes. Lucky for them Dexter is coming to claim them, and therefore he will help them avoid being arrested by the police. Good thing Dexter doesn't care about PR; his kills continually hurt his precincts' track record.

Now, there are a lot of comparisons between Lumen's relationship with Dexter and Miguel's in season 3. Both of these people have been allowed into his life, have been told of his secrets. The big difference is that Miguel's desire for Dexter's skill came from a dark place he created inside himself, whereas the darkness in Lumen was imposed by the men she seeks to kill. Unlike both the men, she is obviously damaged and does not pretend to hide what she has become. She also has a brightness which is neither an act, nor believed to be an act (in Dexter's case, since he would never actually be able to believe that he had a positive side). I can only hope that by the end of the season, Lumen will be healed, will not resent Dexter for who he will continue to be, and will not hurt him when she inevitably has to move on.

So the race is on, will Dexter be able to kill everyone he intends to without his own colleagues catching them first, or without them catching him?

Dexter - Everything is Illuminated, S05E06

Two clear and concise plot lines with just enough crossover to feel cohesive is making for an excellent season of Dexter. I continue to enjoy Dexter (Michael C Hall)'s lack of involvement with the Santa Muerte murders, while his relationship with Lumen (Julia Stiles) appears to be providing him with exactly what he needs to heal.

Yes, he is very frustrated with the damaged girl's attempts to make herself feel better - she is a mind coming undone, but with a focus similar to his, she could make it through. I am glad that by the end of the episode Dexter agreed to help her out, conceivable preventing himself from getting into more danger because of the trouble she has been causing, but also because it gives him a mission. He cannot save Rita, or avenge her. Her killer is already dead, and at his own hands although he did not know it at the time. But perhaps killing someone specifically to help another individual will accomplish what he needs.

Meanwhile, Masuka (C.S. Lee) has been killing me. Watching him describe the crazy sex antics which led to the deaths of two people Dexter actually killed was almost as funny as when we got to see his dragon tattoo an episode or two back. I laughed for the entire scene and had to rewind and watch it a second time so that I could find out what was actually going on in it.

Finally, I was actually happy with the Angel (David Zayas)/Maria (Lauren Velez) developments. Bringing in a lady who might lead to the capture of two serial murders is definitely a step up from a puppy. Not only is Angel finally redeeming himself before his wife, he is also reminding us that he is a capable cop. I'd almost forgotten that. Plus, Quinn (Desmond Harrington) and Deb (Jennifer Carpenter) are a couple!!! When Deb asked him to tell her that the relationship wouldn't end badly...well what relationship of Deb's ever has. I suppose when she broke up with Anton, that wasn't so bad, but she clearly didn't have deep and true feelings for him. I just hope that Quinn doesn't break her heart because he is convinced Dexter isn't the stand up guy everyone else believes he is. It's probably a really good thing that Doakes and Quinn were never at the precinct together, or else Dexter would have had a really hard time of things.

Can't wait to see the second half of the season.

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.

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.

Dexter - Practically Perfect, S05E03

And finally I feel as though the season has been launched. Of course, I could be wrong, but the direction appears clear, and while we are back to two main plot lines, we have forward momentum and little confusion.

On the one hand, we have the cases of the detectives of the precinct, and on the other, Dexter Morgan (Michael C Hall). It would be nice if those two things came together - and naturally we do have the crossover of Quinn (Desmond Harrington)'s vendetta against Dex - but for the present the decapitations have little to do with the animal clean-up expert or the young lady he was holding hostage.

I'm enjoying Deb (Jennifer Carpenter) a whole lot this season. I have always found her foul mouth highly entertaining, but between watching her interact with an enthusiastic uniformed cop who is not so different from the Deb we met at the beginning of season 1 and watching her fend off the advances of Quinn who can't seem to shake his desire to bed her again, she is my favourite character this season. I LOVED her nanny interviews at the beginning of the episode. Her expectations and terrifying questions made it near impossible to not trust the nanny that she and Dexter ended up picking.

Watching Dexter, on the other hand, isn't entertaining. It's too heart wrenching. Even while he was chasing his victim around and got shot in the chest with a tranquilizer, I wasn't really laughing because I'm still too upset over the effect Rita's death has had on him. When he finally got his kill, his dissatisfaction was equally dissatisfactory to me. What it led to - a still living victim who had witnessed his crime - will lead him to a problem far more complicated and far less easy to let take care of itself than he had when Doakes was on his trail. And when you add Quinn's hunt and the mysterious trail to locate Kyle Butler to the mix, I can't help but feel that getting over Rita's death is one of many major difficulties in his life.

But as long as the plots remain cohesive and tight, bring on the complications.

Dexter - Hello, Bandit, S05E02

At present, we are without a clear and obvious plot for Season 5. Yes, Dexter (Michael C. Hall) is currently on the trail of another serial killer whom he plans on eliminating (and I have to wonder just how many serial killers there are in Miami for him to so constantly have his pick of them), and there is the question of the whereabouts of Arthur Miller and Kyle Butler, but will those carry us through the season? And what about the latest set of murders being investigated by the precinct? I am concerned about the directionlessness - it reminds me of the multiple arcs of Season 3, which was the show's worst season. So far, however, I remain excited and interested by what is going to happen next.

As always, the side plots are either really exciting or very annoying. Maria (Lauren Valez) and Angel (David Zayas) are only just married and already they are having major conflicts. Not over minor disagreements but over the sorts of things they really ought to have discussed before they go married. Besides which, I'm unimpressed with Maria's response to Angel's questions about her money. Sure, it is hers, and there is no reason that she needs to be sharing it with him now (although, if that's how she feels, why didn't they sign a prenup?), but when they get to be 80 walking together down the beach hand in hand, is she going to have him living in poverty while she is secure? I really don't see the point of that tension.

On the other hand, I am loving Deb (Jennifer Carpenter) and Quinn (Desmond Harrington). Deb's continual issues with men, her turning to her partner when she needed physical comfort, and her refusal to admit that any of it happened never cease to entertain. Plus, Quinn's desire to act so supportive and caring towards her makes him seem like an ideal boyfriend, even though he's got plenty of his own issues. We don't need to get into the tension that would exist in their relationship if Dexter were ever accused of a crime. Quinn would be only too ready to believe it, while I don't think Deb would accept what she was seeing even if she stumbled into the middle of one of his executions.

The focus, of course, has to be on Dexter. How he is coping with the loss of Rita and the distance between himself and his children makes complete sense with all the character development until now. I love that he wants to be on the hunt, wants to continue to find peace and purpose in killing other serial killers, but that somehow he is no longer entirely fulfilled by the practice. Hopefully this won't result in more random murders (although who would have missed his irritating neighbour?).

What I want is for next episode to pick up and give me a clearer sense of where this season is going. Dexter is such an excellent show and I am delighted to have found the time to watch an episode; I hope it continues to be worth my time.

Dexter - My Bad, S05E01

If you had already recovered from last year's shocking finale, the quick recap did an excellent job of bringing all those horrified emotions. Not a moment has passed in all that time for Dexter (Michael C. Hall), and not a moment has passed for any of us. Still stunned, the passage of time has started again, and we can only hope that we will heal along with the characters on the show. But is that even possible for them?

Rita's death last year is only the beginning of...well...of something. It's still hard to see where we are going. Dexter's utter and complete shock over finding her body rendered him almost non-functional. Naturally, he blames his sociopathic condition for his inability to feel rather than understanding that it is not an unnatural place for his mind to go to protect him from his pain. Everyone deals with grief differently. Dexter can't even acknowledge his until he is suddenly confronted by that jerk as he is trying to run from his past and from everyone who loves him. The surge of emotion he felt as he knocked that man's head in for saying something rude and unfeeling about Rita, and then the screams of pain as he broke down. Michael C. Hall is certainly deserving of every award and nomination he has ever received.

Whether that man truly deserved to have his head bashed in is an argument for another day.

And while, as usual, Dexter moves the story along and is its focus, I really loved what was going on around him in it. Deb (Jennifer Carpenter) also deals with her grief in the most interesting ways. She managed to be strong for Dexter, protecting him as she could, taking care of his child, and arranging everything for Rita's funeral. He was really checked out of reality for a while, and Deb stepped in and took care of it. Eventually, of course, she demanded physical comfort in the form of sex on Dexter's kitchen floor with Quinn (Dexmond Harrington). Now that was HOT and something we've been waiting for for years.

I've always liked Quinn's issue with Dexter. It works better for me than the issues that Doakes had. Plus, the balance of his feelings for Deb, whom he cares about as his partner if not as more than that, compared to his dislike of her brother...it's just such a tentative balance which the writers know how to play with so effectively, and it makes for fantastic television.

The big question for the season is if Dexter is going to be discovered for who he is or not. If he manages to keep it all hidden, how is that going to happen, and if it all comes out, how is he going to manage to shift the blame? He is far more capable of humanity now that when Doakes was supposed to take the fall for him, but has that capability been destroyed by Rita's death? So many questions and only 11 more episodes to get all the answers.

Season's Review - Dexter, Season 4

After watching Season 4 of Dexter, I was certain it was the best season of the series yet. The villain, the Trinity Killer, was the most terrifying, violent, yet visible serial killer we have met so far - other than Dexter (Michael C. Hall) of course. And Dexter's own relationship, both with the Trinity Killer and with the serial killer within himself, created an understanding of how the two halves could be a functioning whole. Plus, those last few minutes of the final episode will definitely remain the most unforgettable of the series. Yet, saying it was the best season ever might not have been accurate.

Season 1, in my mind, remains the very best, better than 4. This is because we learned so much more about Dexter and his back story. It was the season in which is origin was explored, and I don't think any storyline can actually top it. Two serial killers so permanently entwined...it's the stuff of comic books, the stuff that makes the dark hero and the twisted villain so compelling and understandable. Without Harry (James Remar), Dexter would have become the villain. Thus, no matter how wonderful Season 4 was, it can't compare with 1.

Now that we have that out of the way, let's sing the praises of 4. Certainly back to the quality we want and expect from Dexter. We had the focus back - Dexter vs the Trinity Killer (John Lithgow), instead of the multiple plot lines of seasons 2 and 3. Plus, most of what was going on in Dexter's personal life was tied right into that relationship, as he tried to learn everything he could from Arthur Mitchell. While Harry had been the guiding force to keep Dexter from being discovered, Arthur gave him the possibility of remaining hidden while still having a full life. He began to understand that a wife, kids, and friends weren't just a cover to keep people from suspecting that he had a darker side. He could have the things he wanted, the things he was beginning to realize he needed, without compromising them or himself.

Sure, it turned out that Trinity's version of happy family life was not actually what Dexter was looking for, and in the end Dexter stopped Trinity from ever killing again (a bit too late, but at least it happened), but that option became possible. Dexter as a human being and not just the carrier of a dark passenger began to emerge and to understand that he too had a place on this earth.

And as much as the focus of this season was on Dexter and Arthur, I think that Deb (Jennifer Carpenter), Quinn (Desmond Harrington), and Christine (Courtney Ford) deserve praise for the way they developed their storyline as well. I loved the tie in of this seemingly unrelated subplot. I loved what it did to Deb and Quinn's relationship, and how far the two have come as partners. Plus, Dexter's ability to get under Quinn's skin, while not the same sort of suspicion as Doakes (Erik King) had, gives me great pleasure. It's nice to know that Dexter hasn't quite got everybody on the force entirely fooled.

Otherwise, the only questions that remain are about what's going to happen next season. I can only hope that the writers, producers, and directors have properly understood what made this season SO great and keep the quality at this level.

Dexter - The Getaway, S04E12 - Season Finale

Wow. Just...wow. The Season 4 finale left me shocked and winded, though completely impressed with the choices of the writers and producers. In fact, I would go so far as to say that Season 4 surpassed Season 1 in brilliance and suspense.

I'm not sure if anyone saw the end coming. Oh, sure, we all knew that Dexter (Michael C. Hall) was finally going to catch up with Arthur (John Lithgow) and put an end to the man known as the Trinity Killer. That's the thing about this show, each season has always ended on a fulfilled note, leaving us wanting to see more not because of a cliffhanger of any sort, but because we know there is another story to tell and we want to hear it. The question has become "How will Dexter catch and destroy this threat to the world and the people in his life?"

This entire season, the theme has been the question of whether Dexter is a threat, maybe not to the world or at least the serial killers in it (which we know he is), but to the people in his life. In this episode, with Deb (Jennifer Carpenter) discovering that Dexter is the brother of the Ice Truck Killer, and Rita (Julie Benz) catching yet another glimpse of his Dark Passenger, some of his skeletons have been pulled from the closet, and in the light of day, they don't appear nearly so scary. Both his sister and his wife believe that Dexter is a positive force in their lives, that he makes their world better for being in it.

As the end of the episode approached, and with it Trinity's death, Dexter is overcome with a calmness, an understanding that perhaps, after all this time, he might be able to begin to curb his Dark Passenger to his will, rather than being a slave to its primal urges. His family makes him want to be a better man, and makes him believe that that is actually possible. But amid that peace, I could not stop the feeling of waiting for the other shoe to drop, though I could not imagine what that would be.

Dexter caught Trinity, he killed him, and he made the decision that he would be in control from now on. He goes home to grab his back so that he can join his lovely wife in the Keys, at peace with himself, but when he tries to call Rita, he discovers her purse is in the house. And she and their baby son Harrison are in the house - Rita in the bathtub, and Harrison on the tile floor, sitting in red water. And my heart broke.

So many people have complained of Rita of late, for getting in Dexter's way, for being annoying, but the last couple episodes, she has shined and so had their relationship. Ever since the therapist pointed out that she had her own set of issues to work out. Finding her like that, seeing her like that, so beautiful in her blue dress in the blood-filled tub, for the first time, Dexter ended before the story was finished. Arthur Miller may be dead, but before he died, he changed the playing field. And Rita is gone.

I can't say where this will go. Dexter seemed to absorb the shock with a certain numbness, unsure of what to do as he stood in the blood-soaked bathroom, his son crying on the floor, his wife...Will this awake a mad vengeance and rage in him? Or will his need to be a good single father to 3 children keep him on the level? Will he even be able to function at all?

So many questions about what will happen next season, and I'm still breathless from the shock of those last few moments.

Dexter - Hello, Dexter Morgan, S04E11

Many of you watched the last episode of season 4 of Dexter last night, but I did not. Instead, I caught up by watching the penultimate episode of this season.

The episode was not rife with tension and suspense as some previous episodes, granting almost a reprieve from the darkness until next week. Not that many important and serious things did not occur, but there was so much of the positive, that side was outweighed.

Let us address the positive first. Laguerta (Lauren Velez) and Batista (David Zayas) got married. Their boss was highly unimpressed, accusing them of making marriage a sham since it was clearly a political maneuver, and in the wake of that accusation, a shadow of a doubt crossed the couple's faces, but I know he was wrong. True, Maria and Angel were getting married to get him off their backs, rather than because they had already come to the decision that they wanted to spend the rest of their lives together, but that does not mean that they do not feel one day they would have made that decision anyway. Particularly in this day and age, where divorce is so common, it is really not inexcusable to marry someone that you want to date when you could not date them under other circumstances. We will have to see if next season, or even next episode, their relationship proves that they took the right course of action...but it is better that they know how things will be between them than to always wonder what might have been.

I also have to say that I loved Dexter (Michael C. Hall) and Rita (Julie Benz)'s relationship bump. With Masuka (C.S. Lee) having witnessed Rita and Elliot's kiss, things could have gotten very bad. Instead, when Rita told Dexter, he didn't really let it faze him. Rita still wanted to be with him, right? So then there was no issue. But in the end, some instinct he did not know he had, one completely unconnected to the serial killer in him, still punched out Elliot and told him to stay away from Rita. And as a result, Rita's issues were dramatically decreased, knowing that Dexter did care after all. Sure, excessive jealousy is not a good thing, but a man really ought to care when another man kisses his wife.

But let's not forget the true reason we watch Dexter - I'll give you a hint, it has nothing to do with the romantic plot lines. Even though the main events of this episode were not without them. Poor suffering Christine (Courtney Ford), journalist and unloved daughter of a serial killer - she wanted to be just like her dad, and he did not love her any more for it.

There was the beautiful moment where Quinn (Desmond Harrington) and Deb (Jennifer Carpenter) realized that both had the misfortune of dating psychos. As Deb pointed out, Quinn was only dating Christine, while Deb had actually been engaged to the Ice Truck Killer.

Christine finally decided to do the right thing - which Deb ruined by telling her they had already I.D.ed her father when they hadn't. Still she did apologize to the woman she'd shot, for the lover she'd killed. And Jennifer Carpenter's performance then, as she tried to absorb the apology, as she shook with her grief and pain, that was brilliance! With the terrific finish of Christine blowing off her own head. What a moment!

And now, Arthur (John Lithgow) is safe from the police, and knows Dexter's true identity. With only one more episode to go, what will happen? Will Dexter kill Arthur? Will he keep his serial killer persona secret? Will Deb resume her search for their father's former lover and discover Dexter's true identity or will that wait for season 5? I'm planning on finding out soon!

Dexter - Lost Boys, S04E10

Though not the heart-stopping, emotionally devastating episode of last week, the 4th season of Dexter continues to be on par with the 1st.

Arthur Miller (John Lithgow) is a villain for the ages, and a terrific counterbalance to Dexter Morgan (Michael C. Hall)'s dark passenger. Last week, we learnt that Arthur terrorized his family; this week, we learn that he is not actually a trinity killer - he kills in 4s. A little boy, representative of him, is preserved (while still alive) in concrete, to remain pure for the ages.

However awful Arthur Miller was before, he continues to become even more so. Such a horrid monster who still manages to hide in our world, to exist with students and congregations, to appear not normal, but better than that. And he has killed children, young women, mothers, and fathers again and again and again. And yet, when Dexter had to chose between eliminating his prey, present before him, and saving the boy from the concrete, he picked the boy.

Dexter may have a dark side, and a deep need to kill, but not only is it directed at monsters, it is not so deep as his desire to protect the young. He sees his sons, Cody and Harrison, but most of all he sees himself, and his way of preserving a child's innocence is by preventing him from coming in contact with the horrors he and Arthur suffered as children.

Harry (James Remar) - who helped focus Dexter's urges - may not have taught Dexter a perfect way to exist - there are errors in his thinking- but he did help forge a serial killer who lacks some of the things that would make one call him psychopathic.

Only two more episodes left - will Arthur be killed by Dexter or will he end up in jail? And will Dexter's secret remain so? What are your thoughts?

Dexter - Hungry Man, S04E09

A week ago, Sunday, the most enthralling episode of Dexter graced the television screen as Dexter (Michael C. Hall)'s newest idol, the terrifying Trinity Killer, Arthur Miller (John Lithgow), feel from his pedestal.

Dexter has met with quite a few deranged friends whom he idolized and whom he thought he could trust - Brian, Lila and Miguel in seasons 1, 2 and 3. He was taken in by all of them, but never for long, and as much as he admired them, he never wanted to be them. But Arthur was different - oh, Arthur kills innocent people, and for that he cannot live, but his life, his perfect family, his ability to be adjusted in this world while Dexter struggles so hard, that he envied, that he wanted.

But it was all a lie. It began with temper directed at his son, Jonah (Brando Eaton). Dexter saw Arthur be stern with the young man and followed him. Jonah revealed to Dexter that he was suffering under the oppression of his father, as well as fearing him. And when Dexter showed up at Thanksgiving at the Millers to protect Jonah if he could, he discovered that the entire family was mad. The wife was cowed and terrified, the daughter locked in her room and trying to escape - her preferred method was to offer sexual favours to the men her father befriended.

In the house of insanity, where Dexter tries to play the good guy, his dark passenger also gets riled up, and when Arthur starts to strangle Jonah, Dexter pulls him into the kitchen, intent on stabbing him to death then and there. Luckily (maybe?) the mom and daughter appear just in time to stop him.

Poor Dexter. He had been so intent on learning how to be a better man that he did not realize that Arthur was all in all a monster. His lesson from Harry, be sure and then take care of it, applies in both senses. Know that your victim deserves it (and is not an innocent like the man Dexter offed not too long ago) AND get rid of him so he can hurt no one else.

The emotional rollercoaster in the Miller household was one of fear and pity. And the question remains - can Dexter be a good husband and father despite his dark passenger? Arthur clearly couldn't.

If that wasn't enough of a reveal for you, Deb (Jennifer Carpenter) also made her own discovery. Arthur did not shoot her and Lundy; it was Christine, the annoying journalist, as I posited in my last Dexter entry. Of course, I has said it was out of a need to get a good story, but she is even more crazy than that. Turns out Arthur Miller is her dad. Can't really dislike her so much now that I picture such a terrible upbringing for her.

But where do we go from here? Christine and Arthur are both crazy and need to be killed or go down. Deb is after Christine - does this mean she's stopped looking into Harry's past and will not discover anything about Dexter's mom? And what about LaGuerta and Angel?

Dexter - Road Kill, S04E08

When this season of Dexter started, I assumed that the Trinity murderer's murders would span the season. I was very much surprised when he finished his cycle of murders before the season was half over. And I am even more surprised that he has remained alive.

John Lithgow's Trinity Killer is a brilliant variety of emotional moments, and I will miss him whenever it is that Michael C Hall's Dexter manages to kill him. Not only has be been a worthy adversary for everyone's favourite serial killer, but Lithgow's performance is sublime.

And it could easily have become tedious. It took little time for Dexter to find Arthur Miller, the mask of Trinity, and in the previous seasons once Dexter had labelled you a killer, well, you weren't really going to last. But Miller has staying power, and the writers have made us believe it.

Dexter doesn't want to go through with the kill because, as Miller pointed out this episode, they are the same. They have killed innocents, and regretted it, and they also have to kill, yet both manage to mascaraed as normal, happy family men with perfect but slightly flawed families.

In watching Trinity, we see what Dexter might become, or what he might have become even more so that with his brother. It forces us to think about how we feel about what Dexter does. After all, despite his caution he still managed to kill an innocent man. His victim did not deserve to die, and so we remember why we think that capital punishment is questionable and why police investigations have so much protocol.

Yes, Dexter is full of morality, and it is also full of interesting questions. For instance, who shot Deb and Lundy and why? The Trinity Killer made SO much sense, but he is too damn tall for the shot that was taken. Plus, now that we know Arthur Miller, it does not seem his style to kill bystanders with a gun. But we had already determined it wasn't the vacation murderer...so perhaps it was Christine, the annoying journalist, out to get the best possible stories in this tough economic climate.

What are your suspicions? And how do you feel about Dexter as a serial killer of late?

Dexter - Slack Tide, S04E07

I've been waiting for this to happen all season. I think we all were. The moment when Dexter (Michael C Hall) would screw up irreparably. No, he did not leave evidence behind somewhere to implicate himself, but he did make a mistake.

He killed an innocent man.

Regardless of anything else that has happened this season, this is the moment that will show us who Dexter truly is. Did he enjoy taking that man's life? Well yes, but at the time, he was convinced that he was guilty...basing it entirely on circumstantial evidence. Hence why circumstantial evidence often means almost nothing.

But the moment he realized his mistake, something happened. He felt something. He was greatly distressed, shocked, angry with himself. A psychopath who will be forever haunted by the one murder he committed that he had a reason to regret. How many murderers has he killed that he felt nothing for, regardless of family members and friends who might have been pained? They were all dangers to society; they weren't innocent.

And whose fault is it that Dexter was not careful? What caused him to take such a short cut without thinking carefully about it? Dexter has too much on his plate, and an innocent man died for it. How will he live with that?

What do you think?

Dexter - If I had a Hammer, S04E06

Where could we go from where we left off? Dexter (Michael C Hall) in trouble with Rita (Julie Benz) for keeping his old apartment. The Trinity Killer (John Lithgow) turning out to be father and husband of the year after completing his cycle. Deb (Jennifer Carpenter) in depression because Lundy is dead.

Forward, my friends, we go forward.

Dexter is still on his hunt; he will not relent to kill Trin just because he has family. It doesn't stop him from being a serial killer. It does, however, put him in the unique position of being able to give Dexter sound advice about how to deal with the responsibilities of family while satisfying the dark passenger. They might have ended up great friends, part of the club of awesome family-man serial killers if only they had the same code, but instead Trin in the prey and Dexter the vicious beast hunting him.

Again, I got to say that I love seeing that part of Dexter emerge. He can see so normal and adjusted, simply facing the trials of every day, like the rest of us, and than that urge, that need to kill comes out. Uncompromising, Dexter would not listen to the argument that Trin is a father and has kids either. Alright, the man he is killing is also a monster, and Dexter knows that, but it's good for us to remember from time to time too.

Though, lately, I have wondered why Dexter so desperately wants to hold on to his family. He's trying and he doesn't know what he needs to do, and Rita certainly isn't helping him out. I loved when the marriage councilor reamed her out for expecting Dexter to change, like she had expected Paul to change. That's right, she needs to take responsibility for everything that's going on as well. It's not like Dexter is presenting new behaviour, it's just that she's expecting him suddenly to be able to read her mind. We women have to remember that men just can't do that, and if we want something from them, we have to tell them.

But Dexter's drama is not as bad as Deb's. She nearly claimed to have witness the Vacation Murderer, Nikki, shoot Frank. She would have borne false witness to put the girl away, until she realized that some of Frank's notes were missing. Suddenly it occurred to her it must be Trinity.

Better work fast Dex, Deb is on your trail.

What did you think?

Dexter - Dirty Harry, S04E05

Frank Lundy is dead.

Debra blames herself entirely for his death.

She broke up with Anton as well.

Angel told reporter Christine to publish that the Vacation Murderer had syphilis.

The Vacation Murderer's girlfriend killed him.

Quinn reconciled with Christine.

The Chief ordered Maria to transfer Angel so their relationship could not be used against them.

Rita discovered that Dexter kept his old apartment.

Dexter and Rita's marriage is on the rocks.

The Trinity Killer completed his ritual.

Dexter discovered that the Trinity killer is a family man, just like him.

And that is the episode in a nut shell. Can't wait until next week, can you?

Dexter - Dex Takes a Holiday, S04E04

This episode felt very much like the first season, probably because the sum total of Dexter (Michael C Hall)'s personal plot line involved the pursuit and subsequent murder of a woman who shot and killed her child and husband.

At first, I thought it might be a twist, that Dexter was wrong, and though some evidence pointed to Zoe Kruger (Christina Cox*) as a murderer, she was innocent. But she wasn't. No, she killed her own family because she was suffocating. And Dexter used his typical dark-passenger ingenuity to be certain of it and to catch her unawares. He also discovered that he was not like her. Despite his very dark side, he loves his family and would choose any other option before seeing them dead.

Speaking of Dexter's family, Debra (Jennifer Carpenter) was her typical inarticulate self as the tension between her and Frank Lundy (Keith Carradine) grew. Though the two were distracted the one by the other, they still managed to find the Trinity Killer (John Lithgow)'s third murder from 30 years ago, and therefore his upcoming murder's location. Unfortunately, Trin noticed Lundy scoping out the place. He intentionally bumped into our super-agent, and Lundy noticed something wasn't right there either.

He never got to go into detail though; the next time he and Deb saw each other, they ended up in bed together. I'd say poor Anton (David Ramsey), but I never really liked him much. Still as Deb and Lundy said good bye, and she promised to tell Anton, gun shots rang out. Deb went down with a bullet in her side and Lundy for good.

I'd heard that an important character was going to die, and I suspected it was Lundy all episode, but I never expected this. Did Anton see he and Deb together and go gun crazy? Or did the Trinity Killer completely change his tactic to eliminate his hunter? Or was it some thief? Or was it the vacation murderer?

I guess we'll have to wait until next week to find out.

Dexter - Blinded by the Light, S04E03

I continue to be pleased with this season of Dexter. I am completely intrigued by the Trinity Killer (played by John Lithgow). He has already killed two women - one in a bathtub, by cutting her femoral artery, and one by persuading her to throw herself out of a building. Now he has only one kill remaining - apparently he will bludgeon a man to death. That two of his three murders have taken place in the first 3 episodes makes me wonder when the third will happen. Will he actually commit this murder, as no one seems to be in a position at all to catch him? And if he does complete his pattern, how will they be able to find him after the fact.

I also love the excitement Dexter (Michael C. Hall) feels over the Trinity Killer's success in committing murders for so long without getting caught. In so many ways, Dexter is normal. He doesn't realize how normal he is, and that is the beauty. This episode took particular pains in his interaction with Astor (Christina Robinson) to demonstrate that, though he thinks he is alone in his inability to relate to the pre-teen, he fails in the same ways other fathers do. In some ways, he gets along better with others because he tries to behave in a way that will make them happy and him inconspicuous, rather than being selfish like everyone else. But even with these parallels drawn, when Dexter contemplates the idea of remaining undetected and yet leaving bodies for the police to find, the dark passenger inside of him gets excited.

Poor Quinn, though, has such issues with Dexter now because he can't understand him. He can't understand that someone would simply keep his mouth shut without getting something in return. And because Dexter doesn't understand that if he takes something as an agreement to stay silent, Quinn will stop annoying him about it. Of course, Quinn's going to get himself in trouble to way he does not watch his mouth in bed with that journalist. The Trinity Killer is probably going to hit the front pages. I wonder where that will take the story.

And so, we continue to watch our favourite serial killer trying to deal with the trials of life and living in suburbia. I wonder how Rita is going to deal with Dexter's decision to break the neighbour's floodlights. Are you excited for next week?