Dexter 5x01

The new season of Dexter started way back in late September. We are reminded that initially, Dexter had been drawn to Rita because he felt that she, like him, was damaged emotionally – while she honestly believed that he was an good and decent man. Well, Dex remembers that even on their first date, he slipped out to satisfy his urge to kill someone – someone who, no doubt, deserved to die according to the twisted Code of Harry, the man he thought was his foster father, but was actually his biological dad. Having Rita and her kids was a great camouflage for his Dark Secret. But things got more complicated – as they tend to do in life – as they became family, got married and had a baby. Now Rita is dead, the last victim of “The Trinity Killer.” Over the course of the previous seasons, our Darkly Dreaming Dexter also had to deal with “The Ice Truck Killer” (his brother), “The Bay Harbor Butcher” (Dexter himself) and “The Skinner,” in his profession as blood-splatter analyst at the Miami Metro Police Department of Homicide. Who is going to be his main antagonist this season? How is he going to cope with Rita’s kids? And, more importantly, how is Dex going to cope with the loss of his emotional and moral support, the only human connection to reality besides Debra?

At Miami Homicide, Lt. LaGuerta warns her department that the FBI is in charge of the investigation of Rita’s death, but everyone wants to be in on the case, because it’s Rita and because it’s Dexter, and because they have so many unanswered questions. In fact, Det. Quinn soon suspects Dexter. “When a wife is murdered, 90% of the time it’s the husband,” he offers. What is his alibi? That he killed “The Trinity Killer”? That he was the only witness at the secret ceremony of LaGuerta and Batista’s wedding? Personally, Dexter is incapable of displaying his emotions and unable to deal with the funeral arrangements. Debra’s undying support for her brother is simply heart wrenching. Astor, Rita’s daughter, responds as teenagers do, bitterly angry – blaming Dexter for not protecting her mother, which is exactly what Dex feels himself. So, he acts on impulse, torching his storage space, taking off on his boat with a fresh set of clothes, the tool of his trade and a memento of his past, of who he really is – the blood slide collection of his victims. When he happens upon some hick in a bathroom, he brutally beats him to death, in full daylight, covering himself in blood. Venting his rage, his loss and sense of guilt all sink in, and he breaks down crying.

This episode certainly added another layer or two of emotional depth to the main characters. The human dimension of everyone’s loss and grief is depicted excellently. I am less sure about Deb’s hook up with Quinn on Dexter’s bathroom floor. (Is it me, or does Desmond Harrington really look frightfully thin?) What this episode didn’t give is much of a hint of what’s to come this season. The Cricket has heard that Julia Stiles will play the new woman in Dex’ life ... interesting! That Maria Doyle Kennedy (Katherine of Aragon of The Tudors) will guest star as an Irish nanny. That there will be a few new police offers at Miami Metro. That Chris Vance (Burn Notice) will join the cast, as will Jonny Lee Miller (Trainspotting). This all sounds exciting – and I can’t wait to see what’s coming. (Of course, when you’re reading this, I’ll be already mid-season.) Do check back in for more!