Dexter recap: A Little Reflection

And we’re back. It feels like a new start after Dexter vanquished the Brain Surgeon superhero style and claimed his family as a priority. Order seems to be restored as we see our three vigilantes go back to their comfortable positions: Dexter, brother, father, blood splatter analyst, killer; Debra, sister, investigator; Vogel: psycho whisperer.

Debra and Dexter Morgan are mending their relationship after a series of months filled with shocking revelations, murders, and messy attempts to make things right. Their initial meeting over steaks and beer is awkward at best, but they do seem to connect about one topic: the new addition to the “family,” Vogel.

Vogel has a code of her own, and it focuses on creatively dealing with those with a predisposition to kill. Her newest client is Zack Hamilton and as she is counseling him, Dexter and, to a lesser extent, Quinn set out to prove he is behind Nora’s murder and prevent a similar fate for Sofia. Vogel, again dressed in white (illustrative or skin tone?), won’t immediately give Zack up to Dexter as the killer until after Dexter investigates and confirms Zack’s bloodlust. Vogel then plants the seed of a mentor/mentee relationship between the two and again proves her knack at dealing with the unbalanced. This chick is good! Dexter sets Zack’s death table, but instead of taking him for a ride on A Slice, unwraps his former victim and an intern is born.

Drawn to blood and the process to kill, Zack Hamilton is seen as a cold blooded killer or a potential disciple of the Code. His current situation of saving his mother by murdering his father and his mistresses is noble in theory, but a bit off the mark of killing by the Code that Vogel and Harry designed and Dexter follows. Throughout the episode, Zack proves to be a willing student and Dexter agrees to teach him the way. However there is no denying that teaching someone else to control their murderous urges is much different than any other ill-intentioned victim Dexer has come across. Dexter can control himself to a certain degree, but will filling Harry’s shoes lead Dexter to a similar fate as his father?

Dexter may take on Zack as a protégé and be his ‘Harry’, but he also has a son who is growing, and learning, and lying. The relationship between Dexter and Harrison has always been significant, but as his son grows, Dexter will have to manipulate the concept of right, wrong, and the gray in between. Don’t lie about a broken remote. Lie about a blood soaked puppy toy.

In what seems like another world, Quinn, the Batista’s, and non-relevant Cassie are loving and losing and disappointing one another. Angel favors the female, African American Miller for the Sergeant position over Quinn, who goes on a quest to prove that he is a good detective. Quinn sets out to solve the Nora case which means tailing Zack, which really means some fun Quinn/Dexter time! Bro-time between these two has been one of my favorite interactions of this season. Dexter couldn’t be less interested, and Quinn couldn’t be more clueless. I smell a spin-off!

Speaking of clueless, Cassie gets her date with Dexter and learns he likes to take his boat out and has a passion for bowling. After this dud of a date, she shows up at Jamie’s birthday party with another dude. It felt like Dexter had an obligation to care, but little else. Perhaps he was looking for his own version of normalcy, but realized his heart just wasn’t in it for someone who didn’t share a passion for killing.

Enter Hanna McKay! It was no secret that she was coming back this season, but her entrance was undeterred by this knowledge. Taking down Deb, then Dexter with some secret poison in their beverages and appearing in a cloudy image was eerie and fabulous. As a sucker for romance, I’m looking forward to seeing if these two lovebirds make it!

Notes:

– It’s good to see Deb sober, but I think this is new and improved Deb. She helps Masuka by investigating his newly identified daughter and revealing that Nicki is in a mountain of debt. In any other season, Deb was quick with a big paranoid FU, but she advises Masuka to take give her the benefit of the doubt, and to take time and be with the family he has.

– I’m still unclear as to what the Masuak/daughter plot will lead to besides ensuring that he has an end game. Anyone else have a theory?

– Creepy boss likes Deb! To be honest, I kind of liked him this episode. When the topic of him comes up between Dexter and Deb, her primary reason for shying away from the relationship is that he doesn’t really know her, specifically the recent murders she has committed. Considering he is a PI, could he already know and be ready and willing to give Deb an absolved happy ending? I think knowing and understanding all aspects of Deb will be crucial in getting her in the end.

This episode seemed to re-start season eight. We have a mini Dexter, a couple potential romances, and villain back from the past. This episode set us up for a great series finale and we’re ready to see how it all ends!