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Dexter Season 4 Episode 4

Dex Takes a Holiday

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9.2

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Episode Summary

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AIRED: 10/18/09

Dexter is left home alone and with free time as Rita takes the kids on a vacation which may prove interesting for Dexter in several ways. In the meantime two other relationships are on the line: LaGuerta and Batista debate about their future and Debra's own, as she helps Lundy with the Trinity Killer investigation.moreless

Fan Episode Reviews (11)

Dexter gets 72 hours alone to kill someone.

9.5

By DexterMorgan2, Mar 11, 2013

When Rita and the kids leave for 72 hours Dexter picks a challenging kill who starts to realise Dexter is on to her This episode had some good scenes between Dexter and Zoey but she had no idea who she was messing with I think the ending was unexpected and has left a cliffhanger for the next episode because it now looks like Lundy's serial killer hunting days are over but there is no way Deb will be killed I think there are a few people who could have shot them from the Trinity killer to Anton.moreless
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Best episode of Dexter in a long time.

9.3

By JaCkKbAuEr2424, Nov 14, 2010

This is the episode where everything goes haywire in Season 4. Based on the incredible ending, the great preview for next week and the way that the pace of the show is slowly building up, Season 4 could very well be the best since the first season.

The premise is somewhat misleading.. when I first heard about the episode, I wasn't too excited. I mean, Dexter on vacation? I had an image in my head of him sitting around and not knowing what to do with himself. However, as the episode started, I knew this would be a classic episode, in the vein of older episodes where an episode of Dexter would focus mainly around his need to kill instead of the bizarre relationship between two supporting characters who have never had any romance between them for three seasons.

The episode follows Dexter on a three day, 72 hour vacation. Rita and the kids are gone for the weekend, so he has a limited amount of time to pursue his next target, something he hasn't been able to do since Benny Gomez. He chooses a female cop named Zoey who's family died from a home robbery gone bad. However, Dexter suspects that she was responsible for their deaths and that she used a fall guy to take the blame. He believes she wanted to get out of the marriage and used this as an opportunity.

The writers and director kept the episode burning at a medium pace, slowly building it up and building up the tension until we get to the tragic final scene, where multiple plot lines are left hanging in the wind. This is the way an episode of Dexter should be. There's nothing wrong with last week's episode, but I'd rather be watching Dexter being Dexter than Dexter being a family man who hunts down neighborhood vandals. In this episode, we see Dexter slowly worm his way out of being shot by Zoey, being killed by her as she breaks into his house, hide all of this from his family and eventually, kill her.

As for the Trinity Killer plot, it truly got a lot more interesting. This was definitely a powerful performance by John Lithgow. The scene with him in the bar seemed to be him reenacting a scene from his past.. I still can't figure it out, and that's a testament to the power of this season: there's a lot we don't know still, which means there's still another eight episodes to build everything up.

I won't spoil the final scene for anybody who hasn't seen it, but it's incredible and leaves you guessing as to who's responsible, what really happened.. It's just something that sweeps you right off of your feet, and not in a romantic way. In a "OH MY GOD" sort of way. That description could actually be applied to the rest of the episode as well. Best of the season, and easily one of the best episodes since Season 1 and 2.moreless
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Who shot JR?

8.2

By thefanof, Nov 14, 2010

Dexter may not be as good as it once was (so many relationships that I often think I am watching an episode of Grey's Anatomy) but at least things are starting to pick up. I predicted from the get-go that the Trinity Killer would go after Lundy and it looks like I was correct. But did he shoot them? I am guessing no. I think Anton did that.

Dexter fighting a woman was entertaining though and it was a refreshing change of pace for the female to actually be the inferior sex on television for once. Usually the men are made to look like such fools so seeing Dexter pwn somebody was great.moreless
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Dexter finally gets a well deserved break from his family of course

9.5

By vman85, Oct 27, 2009

Dexter gets three whole days to himself as Rita and the kids go away for a bit. Dexter wants a challenge and chooses his mark, Zoe she's a police officer who gunned down her own family. Dexter doesn't believe her version of events of course he doesn't otherwise he wouldn't be interested in her. He decides to go to the house where she is putting the place up on the market, he comes by as a house hunter and to see what evidence he can find.

In Zoe's waste disposal unit he finds a fragment of the rubber glove she used when she shot her family before turning the gun on herself, but Zoe isn't that stupid she finds he's a blood splatter expert, she lets him know and Dexter has to back off for a sec. Wait a sec, this isn't Dexter, Zoe follows him to the gas station where she thinks about killing but don't work. Dexter waits to pounce when she pops by his home and does what he does best after a little struggle. Lundy closes on where the "Trinity" will strike next unfortunately so does he as he indentifies Lundy from his picture in the paper, Trinity bumps into Lundy and Lundy gets a hunch. Debbie can't stop thinking about Lundy so she goes around to this hotel room and does what she was going to in the first place, both of them are arm in arm, all of a sudden a couple of shots ring out both of them hit the ground.moreless
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This was a fantastic episode, this season is yet to disappoint and is really shaping up to be one of the best. I can't wait for the next episode to air.moreless

9.5

By karp_47, Oct 25, 2009

Throughout the whole episode I felt like something more was going to happen and the ending completely caught me off guard, I did not expect what happened to happen. The best thing about this particular episode is that it really starts to get the story flowing and starts to fill in some of the pieces that weren't quite final yet. I would definitely have to say that Dexter has easily become my favorite TV drama. Its got such a unique and captivating story-line that it seems to just drag people in.

Dexter's 'victim' in this episode is well thought out and really steps away from the stereotypical 'criminal' that Dexter would normally encounter. There are also new found emotions that are brought up in this episode that make Dexter seem more 'real' and they help to develop his unique persona. A truly great episode.moreless
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Cast & Crew: STARS

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Michael C. Hall	Dexter Morgan
Jennifer Carpenter	Debra Morgan
Julie Benz	Rita Bennett
Lauren Velez	Lt. Maria LaGuerta
C.S. Lee	Vince Masuka
David Zayas	Angel Batista

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Cast & Crew: RECURRING AND GUESTS

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Christina Cox (I)	Zoey Kruger	Guest Star
Jason Rogel	Landsbury	Guest Star
Sharon Sachs	Sunny	Guest Star
Preston Bailey	Cody	Recurring Role
Courtney Ford	Christine Hill	Recurring Role
Christina Robinson	Astor	Recurring Role

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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TRIVIA (4)
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- When Dexter is watching Zoey at the gun range, she fires her gun with her left hand, the camera cuts away, and when it cuts back to her, the gun is in her right hand.
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- A front license plate is shown on the police car. However, Florida does not use front license plates.
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- When Dexter gets pulled over, he mentions he was using hands-free for his phone. However, Florida does not have a hands-free law.
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- Goof: After Dexter repaired the disposal he doesn't close the door. When Zoe helps Dex to get up the doors are closed.
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QUOTES (1)
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- Zoe: You're gonna rape and kill me?
  Dexter: What is it with you and rape?! No one's raping anyone!
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NOTES (2)
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- Although credited, C.S. Lee (Vince Masuka) does not appear in this episode.
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- Featured Music:
  
  Bobby Matos - Mi Alma Latina
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ALLUSIONS (1)
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- Title: Dex Takes a Holiday
  
  The title of this episode is a play on the title of the 1934 romantic drama Death Takes a Holiday.
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