Dexter

I loved how the chance of getting caught brought some real emotions out in dexter. I felt bad for his girl cause he kinda left her hanging to deal with his own stuff, but in the end it worked out better. It gave her a changes to gain more of a backbone. His sister was super mad but I thought that it was messed up that she asked for his help and got mad when he told her what's up. She only got promoted because of him. I promise of Dexter really starting to engage the killer what interesting, he's got to do something if the killer gets caught he could tell the police all about dexter and then he would be screwed.

its so good, bascially dexter thinks hes going to be caught by the cops so he trys his best to destroy all of his evidence. The ice truck killer is reallly onto him and its hard for him to go through his normal life with the ice truck killer always behind him, or well, maybe it is more like he is one step ahead of him. He can not go to the cops, or his sister, or his girlfriend. Dexter has no body to help him out, he is truly on his own on this one. Somehow he gets through it and comes out alive and all is well,

This was the first episode I ever saw of this serie and after that one episode my sister made me watch, I fell for the show. I mean, the idea of that episode is brilliant, twisted and refreshing - serial killer working in police tries to avoid being caught. In all those CSIs and other cop dramas we always get police trying to catch killers.. So to have the table turned around and seeing it from different viewpoint, it is refreshing and the deep they try to explain what Dexter feels and does.. it is something what makes this show different and makes me watch it.



So, I really think this episode was good one.

Un 9 a Dexter, porque los personajes van evolucionando y humanizándose, porque la historia se asienta y gana en interés, entusiasmo y solidez, porque hay alguien siempre más inteligente que uno y the ice-truck killer lo es, porque no fue tan fácil para nuestro protagonista, porque LaGuerta es querible, porque no tienen miedo de hablar en español, porque sí.

Lo que no me gusta son esos flashbacks, y lo que no entiendo es por qué Dexter es tan malito, está bien que seguramente haya presenciado la muerte de sus padres pero no puede ser tan seco y freak, no sé, hay algo en ese personaje y en la actuación de Michael que no terminan de convencerme.

The comparison to Dexter as Jesus Christ was funny. Dexter saved the boy and the people locked in the storage locker, but I'm not sure if he has the turn the other cheek side down.



With all these people knowing his identity I knew it couldn't be long before the heat was on. Dexter lucked out this time, but with the ice truck killer still around it could only be a matter of time.



The ice truck killer is really brazen to break into Dexter's house and then pull up Valerie's body of the watery depths. I only imagine he'll become more in your face as Dexter and his relationship blossoms.



I did feel sorry for Deb. She is so close to finding out his secrets and yet so far away.

OMG this is one of the best episodes ever! Could Dexter really get caught this early in the season? This is great writing at it's best. The twists and turns and danger had me at the edge of my seat. All the coulda, woulda, shoulda, it was almost to much to take. This show has made me cheer for the bad guy, what other show out there can say that? Hoping that Dexter doesn't get caught, whispering to the tv "Dexter, run, get out of there" instead of the usual, cheering for the victim.

This show is such a turn from the usual i can't wait to watch the next episode. Eventhough i've seen all of season one now, I still think this is the best one to date, and the one that really got me hooked!

tootles

tish

Okay, this episode was just fantastic. I really don't know if I will be able to resist watching the rest of the first season in a nonstop mode.



Okay, my theory about the Ice Truck Killer being a woman is dead. The eyebrow we saw was thin because it belonged to a kid. But if you really expect me to be sad or angry, you don't know me at all. I was taken by surprise by this episode so much that I can barely start to name the reasons. To see Dexter cornered the way he was by his "friend", having to work in favor and against himself at the same time, the despair he was sinking into... everything was perfect! Dexter ended up even being a little more human in the end and he made up his mind. He's going to strike back and I'll be here to see it.



Regarding theories, I have a new one. Why the Ice Truck Killer cuts his victims into pieces? I had this idea while watching the previous episode and my newest suspect is the orthopedist who's Deb is hitting at. His work with prosthesis is, in short, incriminating.



But let's stay tuned and find out if I'm right this time, although I really wanted Deb to be the Ice Truck Killer.

Wow. Loved seeing the usual calm, figured everything out Dexter in a massive amount of trouble in this episode. With the Ice Truck killer taking a small break in the last episode, he returns in this episode in a big way - returning the body of the woman to the original crime scene where Dexter is left to fend for himself when everything starts coming down on him. Loved the interaction with his sister in this episode as the profile that she got on the man was pretty much spot on connected to Dexter. This episode was very Dexter heavy, which I think is a very good thing for this series. They expanded on the eye thing - which is another thing I loved to see. Dexter was going through so much internal conflict in this episode as he tried to piece together the puzzle. The scene with him throwing away his tools was a very powerful character devolopment scene as it prooved even Dexter will go to the utmost in measures to make sure that he isn't caught in the act. He is always very careful, but the Ice Truck Killer once again seems to be one step ahead of him in every single way.

So here we are, the most original series of last year and it went completely below my radar, hidden in the flock high profile series from last year, like Heroes, Lost and others. I am now catching up and enjoying every minute of this clever, quirky, extremelly well crafted adaptation.



Curiously enough, this episode is the one that separates the most from the original novel's plot. I thought that was going to be a good thing when it eventually happened. I don't think much of "Darkly Dreaming Dexter". It reads like a lesser Silence of the Lambs rehash, and I was amazed, reading it, that so much of its plot and characters could be salvaged into such a great tv series with so little modification. A bit like how Hitchcock turned lesser novels into movie masterpieces, this series transceds its source material.



But without it, it seems, it feels a bit lost. This episode had a few inconsistencies when it comes to Dexter and his reactions to people and events. We get him giving out sappy speeches about the hope birthdays generate in people, getting angry, desperate and regretful despite previous indication that he's physically unable to do so. Even the one element of the novel, the dream sequences, that was mercifully absent so far makes an appearance. In the book, the dream sequences are this close to breaking the fourth wall and make a point of cheaply misleading the reader away from the ending. The dream sequence in this episode is better designed and more symbolic, but it opens the door for cheaper developments in upcoming episodes.



All that said, Dexter as a whole remains a solid series. The acting is fabulous, with Michael C. Hall getting the message across, right from the title sequence, that he's just a little off in every situation he's forced to endure... except for the killing. The writing and adaptation is similarly great, and the direction in this and other episodes crafts a Miami that feels different from every other rendition on film or television. As a Spanish speaker myself, I also enjoy the careful attention to detail when using other languages. It's extremelly annoying when you hear wrong accents or grammar mistakes on supposed natives of other countries. I'm even willing to forgive Lt's LaGuerta's name being misspelled (a more natural spelling would be LaHuerta) and accept maybe the name got deformed with all the travelling across the Atlantic.

What an absolutely fabulous episode. The best of the series so far. What this a nerve-wracking episode was the fact that Dexter was under soo much pressure and it seemed like he was going to be caught.



I didn't like that he didn't support Debs but I understand that it was live or die, from his point of view, so the choice he had to make was obvious. Debs and Doakes seem to be getting along very well, I wonder what will come of that.



I loved that Rita stood up to her ex and I loved that Dex decided to enjoy life as much as possible, almost like a second chance...

Dexter: "Life is so fleeting. So fragile. Every breath with it's potential to be our last".



You know the phrase "biting off more than you chew"? Well there's a good reason for such a phrase and this week Dexter learns the cons of being risking with his killing regime when the Ice Truck Killer decides to have a little fun at the man's expense. Hey even serial killers have a sense of humour. Just not a very healthy one.



While Dexter might have done the world a favour by sending the likes of Jorge and Valerie to the afterlife no sooner than they deserved it, Dexter was pretty careless in how he chose to despatch of Valerie's carcass and there's some fun to be had when the next day Dexter is called out to the car lot where he killed her and guess who the corpse is in the caravan?



It's Valerie of course and Dexter is naturally none too pleased in seeing his former victim again, especially given how eager his colleagues are to find out what the hell happened to Valerie. If ever there was an episode where Dexter could feel the noose wrapping around his neck, then this is the very one.



Having to find Valerie's body back in the very place he killed her was bad enough but Dexter's impending doom is made worse when LaGuerta finds a traumatised seven year old named Oscar in the boot of a car and the child is then seen as a potential witness who could easily describe a mug shot for a sketch artist to draw.



It's the not the only thing that would put Dexter in the frame for Valerie's murder but even Dexter is nervous by Oscar and tries to get a peek at the sketch only for LaGuerta to provide a distraction to him. Still the artist captured Dexter's eyes rather nicely if nothing else during that scene.



Then there's Masuka, who halfway through the season is still the least vocalised cast regular on this show but still manages to provide some light relief if nothing else really. Masuka is however smart enough to detect a needle mark on Valerie's neck and Dexter's insistence that it's a mosquito bite doesn't jibe with him at all.



In fact Masuka is then quick to realise that the drug inside Valerie is naturally the same one Dexter has used on all of his victims and the man doesn't waste time compiling a list of people who are licensed to use that particular brand of paralysis. Is it me or is that noose really beginning to tighten around Dexter's neck. People back in Salem may have had fun with this.



With time running Dexter really has to find a way of not drawing any kind of attention to himself and because he isn't going to intimidate a seven year old, Dexter is then forced to betray the people he works with to save himself.



For the first time in the series, Dexter is actually shown to be afraid of something and to further contradict his inability of feeling anything. This is wonderfully highlighted in a dream where the sky rains blood, Harry mentions an oncoming storm and Dexter finds himself laid out like many of his victims as Deb prepares to keep a sample and dispose of him. It's scenes like that show the creativity of this show and anything that delves further in Dexter's dark psyche is a plus. Dexter really does seem to have an actual fear of being found out as a killer. He actually does care how people, Deb in particular view him. Plus Doakes would have a field day.



In terms of the betrayal, with Masuka it's really a case of going through his emails and editing his name from that list and like a smart killer, the name Dexter erases is only a pseudonym but he's smart in taking the risk. Of course seeing as Masuka has no idea what Dexter has done, the name removal is easy.



More difficult however was getting Deb to drop her detailed profile on Valerie's killer being a sycophantic copycat inspired by the ITK. Deb was pretty adamant about her not entirely wrong theory and while Dexter did mention LaGuerta's not so secret desire for demoting Deb he was perhaps a little less subtle in his determination to keep Deb off the scent.



It also then worked to his advantage when he realised that the ITK wasn't actually out to get revenge on him but was testing to see how Dexter would be able to get out of a tricky situation with his wits about him. He used this later knowledge to make it look like Jorge had murdered his beloved Valerie and then disappeared and while Deb didn't know that Dexter had actually sabotaged her conclusions, there was something rather just in her anger towards him.



As much as Dexter and Deb have a great but realistic enough brother/sister rapport with one another, it's not entirely surprising that there's also a little bit of a sibling rivalry on Deb's part. Dexter always seemed to be the favourite among Harry and even in the precinct they work in.



Flashbacks even highlight the closeness between Harry and Dexter to the point where Deb was being deliberately shunned by her own father when the weekly hunting trips had Deb response by improving her gun skills and getting punished by Harry because all she wanted was a bit of attention.



Harry talks about blending in and not drawing attention to yourself but treating Deb like she's a basic leaper really does the man no favours. While Deb was perhaps a bit too cruel with what she said about Dexter, it is a little hard to not understand her anger. She does love Dexter but she also doesn't want to be shoved aside for him too. That's more than understandable.



However as Dexter seems to be at odds with Deb, the latter's relationship with Doakes seems to be moving along swiftly as not only is he less dismissive about her theories in the ITK case but when he's avoiding a particular phone call, it's Deb who is able to get him to call the person back.



The person in question turned out to be Doakes' mother and Deb soon finds herself sharing a delightful with the rather foul mouthed mother Doakes and sisters Jess and Roni. They are a delightful bunch and the girls' sheer enjoyment of embarrassing Doakes seems to know no bounds. Any chance we can get them back sooner rather than later?



It's nice to actually see Deb in her element and even it's even better than a show this dark can deliver the comedy so well too. You feel bad for Doakes during that dinner scene but if you were there, you'd probably be teasing him too. Plus Deb and Doakes seem to work exceptionally well. Perhaps there's a future coupling there.



As for the Ice Truck Killer saga the man certainly had fun working Dexter up to a sweat this week. What's also fun if how Dexter spent the first half of the episode convinced the ITK was mad at him for not killing Tony Tucci and then realising that he was being tested instead. Surely the ITK must've known Dexter would never kill an innocent man anyway?



What's even better about this episode is the much awaited realisation for Dexter that it's time to stop acting like a gushing fan boy and start taking precautions against his newfound pal or else Dexter will wind up bound and gagged to one of those operating tables before long. After all this guy has been clever enough to break into your house to leave you doll parts, use childhood photos to use the locations to leave body parts and dredge one of your victims from sea. Its high time Dexter took this seriously, just too bad that nearly being caught forced him into doing it.



It's also great that the rather cold and abrasive LaGuerta is also getting deepened as a character as this week, not only did the traumatised little Oscar bond with her but the not normally maternal LaGuerta took a shine to the kid even to the extent where she asked Deb of all people about adopting before killing the scene when Deb asked why she hated her so much and LaGuerta didn't hold back on what she thought.



LaGuerta's scenes with Oscar were quite sweet and you can tell she was disappointed when the lad's Uncle Roberto showed up to take him home. Still anything that helps deepen LaGuerta can only be a good thing.



Kids are also a centre point with Rita too as Astor's birthday party caused unnecessary strain when Rita learns her abusive ex-husband Paul has been released from jail and wants to show up to his kid's birthday. I think anyone who spent most of their time using their wife as a punch bag and who seems to be a loose cannon should be kept the hell away from kids and evidently Astor would rather cancel her birthday party than spend anytime with her biological father.



Luckily Rita sees sense and insists that Paul keeps his distance but the fact that Astor had to ram home how bad a person Paul is only shows that Rita still has quite a way to go before resolving her own issues. Astor's delight at her father not being there serves as a good reminder to Rita of how better her life is with the kids and Dexter.



Also in "Return To Sender"



As much as I love this show I have to admit that the "Previously On" is far too long and really needs a trim. It's even longer than the Opening Credits.



Cody: "I hate coconut"

Rita: "You never had coconut".



There was something kinda ironic with the fish rising up after Dexter flushed the toilet. This really was a cautionary episode for him.



Dexter (re Valerie): "Did you find anything else?"

Doakes: "Wasn't that enough?"



Deb (to Mrs Doakes and Doakes): "You know what I would love some cheesecake. You can wait in the car".



Deb mentioned Tony Tucci's optimism after his run in with the ITK. Shanda must've done the trick then.



Angel (re Valerie): "Yeah it sounds like she got exactly what was coming to her. Personally I'd shake the guy's hand"

Dexter (in voiceover): "Eh, you say that now".



Harry: "Better get inside son, storm's on it's way".



I can't describe how much I loved the blood rain sequence of this episode. The FX team went all out with that.



LaGuerta: "Go get me the artist, I think someone is ready"

Angel (re pastry): "Save me some".



Deb: "Let me ask you a question, why do you have it in for me?"

LaGuerta: "You're loud, impulsive and you constantly question rules"

Deb: "Fair enough".



The director of this episode, Tony Goldwyn has also helmed episode for The L Word. Some of the actresses from that show also did promos for Dexter for Showtime.



Deb: "You really think it's the husband?"

Dexter: "It's the deep seamen who know their knives. Plus he's still missing".



Both Angel and LaGuerta bonded over the times they first came to America. It's nice seeing certain characters connect on a subject like being a stranger in a strange land.



Deb (to Dexter): "It was the husband. You were right all along"

Doakes: "Shake it off Morgan, it takes time to get into homicide".



Standout music: "Party" by Daniel Licht. It was the song played during Astor's birthday.



Rita: "Make a wish but don't tell anyone or it won't come true"

Astor: "It already cam true, Dad's not here".



Chronology: A few days after "Love American Style".



"Return To Sender" should serve as a warning for Dexter to be further on top of his game but it's also a reminder with how creative this show is able to be with it's premise and with the rivalry between Dexter and The Ice Truck Killer being taken up a few more notches, this show only becomes more engaging by the minute.

Okay, this episode was just fantastic. I really don't know if I will be able to resist watching the rest of the first season in a nonstop mode.



Okay, my theory about the Ice Truck Killer being a woman is dead. The eyebrow we saw was thin because it belonged to a kid. But if you really expect me to be sad or angry, you don't know me at all. I was taken by surprise by this episode so much that I can barely start to name the reasons. To see Dexter cornered the way he was by his "friend", having to work in favor and against himself at the same time, the despair he was sinking into... everything was perfect! Dexter ended up even being a little more human in the end and he made up his mind. He's going to strike back and I'll be here to see it.



Regarding theories, I have a new one. Why the Ice Truck Killer cuts his victims into pieces? I had this idea while watching the previous episode and my newest suspect is the orthopedist who's Deb is hitting at. His work with prosthesis is, in short, incriminating.



But let's stay tuned and find out if I'm right this time, although I really wanted Deb to be the Ice Truck Killer.

After getting a call to investigate his own crime scene Dexter wonders what he did wrong. Upon arriving Dexter finds that the Ice Truck Killer has brought the body of Valerie Castillo back to the crime scene. Dexter realizes he is in danger of getting caught and begins to panic when Sargent Doakes opens a trunk in the junkyard to find a young Cuban boy who has been looked in the truck for days. After hours of trying to cover his track Dexter is relieved finds out that the person who the boy saw at the junkyard appears to be Jesus.

This episode was great. It brought out a little of Dexter's human side. We finally saw some feelings with him. Fear of being caught, being sensitive to the kids, and being nice to his sister. I felt bad that he had to throw away his equipment, and when he was about to throw away his collection of slides, I thought, no, no, no... But now I realize how serious the Ice Truck Killer is, because of him diving to retrieve the body. How does he follow Dexter so closely and Dexter not realizing? Dexter is so careful. If his Dad hadn't died, I would think it was him.

The layer upon layer of themes in this show are interwoven artfully in this episode. The most prominent theme is obviously family and how important they are, even for serial killers. We see three kinds of family relationships here. The begrudging relationship, Doakes, the fearful relationship, Rita's daughter and her father, and the holy one, Harry has paved a way of life, a sort of religion, for Dexter to follow.



Debrah and Doakes:

I like the switching of positions here. It's Doakes that resents his family this time and Debrah is enjoying herself. Do they share more in common than they know? Both loud, impulsive and question authority. Okay Doakes doesn't question authority and isn't much impulsive but he's definitely loud after all the first words out of his mouth were 'Got milk, motherf*cker?'



Lt. LaGuerta:

How alone is this woman? She's connecting with every stranger connected to a case.



Dexter:

We come so close in this episode to seeing the end of Dexter's mania for blood. Can it end? Not only does it not end but blood saves his life. But while in a corner Dexter is forced to have an emotion, fear, and with it something else slips. Is it concern? After he plants the evidence incriminating Jorge he considers destroying his sister's hunches 'the hard part'.



Overall:

Wonderful writing that allows for Dexter to release some feelings from inside. Also the writers did a lovely reference to 'American Psycho' (Patrick Bateman) and I loved it because when I watched the pilot straight away I thought Dexter was Patrick Bateman, but with an instilled conscience.

It was the best episode of Dexter the whole season. I was very impressed by the writing and how well the characters portayed the storyline. It was the firt time we get to see any real emotion from Dexter, even though it was only the fear of being caught. It made him seem more human which enables the viewers to finally connect with him. I hope the next session has more episodes like this one. If it does, it will definatley keep the viewers in their seats and their eyes glued to the screen! Thank you Dexter for a great first season!

What a great episode. Dexter plays a game with the ice truck killer and relives the kill he thought he had thrown in the water. The ice truck killer brings back the girl and sets everything up in the way dexter kills to see if he is up to standing by his choices. Dexter must hide evidence to prevent the truth from surfacing and lie to his sister. In the meantime a witness at the crime scene was hiding in the trunk of a car and see everything. So he must try to prevent this boy from exposing himself. The little boy bonds with LaGuerta and tries to put a face on the man he scetch's as "Jesus"

This was one excellent episode.

I enjoyed every bit of it.



I love how Dexter's past is shown through flashbacks; gives a nice opportinity to develop the character.



The only small complaint I have is that we are getting VERY small clues of the ice truck killer. However, instead of clues of the ice truck killer, we are getting something else.



We are getting BRILLIANT drama here, people. No water-trading. Each episode is like a novel. It's beatiful. Episodes are not closed with a cliffhanger. They are all connected, yet so individual. This episode was one of the best, up to this point.

It's very rare I give a 10 for anything, especially since last ep didn't impress me that much, but I'm not surprised to see this ep currently has a 9.7.



Some much needed character development for Doakes and LaGuarda (spelling?), which my assesments of the previous eps have noted as lacking. What a brilliant episode. I was begging Dexter not to do away with his 'other' career (of course we knew he wouldn't, especially now the show's been picked up for a second season - AWESOME!), and realised just how hooked I've become on this show. I don't know what it is about this show, I really don't. Normally, whilst I obviously need it for a show to be great, I'm not normally alerted to complex characters and their development, as in I don't normally NOTICE, but this show really brings it out there, maybe due to Dexter's monologue, I don't know, but the characters in this show have moved from 'possibly too one-dimensional' to 'family'. This IS my new favourite show. 'Bye bye!' X-Files, 'see you later' Sopranos, and 'you're close but not there yet' Heroes, Dexter is ahead of the pack!

Even though we could all tell that Dexter was scared out of his mind obout getting caught, none of the other characters could tell. This is because Dexter's odd eccentric behavior saved him. No one on the show can say that Dexter is acting weird because, well, he is weird. So at least he has that going for him whenever he feels the heat.





Debra's profile matched Dexter to a tee, so I think it's just a matter of time before she puts two and two together. But she looks up to Dexter, I don't know what she would do. I missed the pilot episode so I don't know if this information had been givin, but I didn't know Debra and Dexter were not biological siblings. I thought they were both adopted together, so they didn't have to be separated, but it was just Dexter. That's interesting.





After intervieiwing the boy and seeing that the sketch they came up with was that of Jesus, I think the show may have been suggesting that Dexter's work, as a serial, is like the work of God, because there really is no resemblance. In a way I guess it is the work of God, in that Dexter is the one deciding on who lives and who dies. But Dexter is only human, and when he felt the heat, we saw the most human-like behavior in this episode than all of the other ones prior. "What's happening to me?"

Wow! That was a great episode. The tension was tangible. I have been vicariously enjoying Dex's utter disgust (or maybe lack of comprehension) for the rest of the human race. Finally a show that shares my misanthropy. But this episode threatened all of that. I never imagined he might get caught! I was upset for my friend Dexter. The other characters started to really get some solidity to them. His sister finally got a backbone and just didn't go along with him. LaGuerta shows that she might have a soul after all and the scene with her and Deb in the ladies room was great. The flashbacks are really adding to the plot now like slowly peeling away layers of his psyche. Spoiler Alert - I entertained the thought that he might have to kill the kid and then I realized that he wouldn't do that. Sure, he's a serial killer but he's not a bad guy! Just the fact that this show makes me think that way makes it a great show.

How about that last line? How are we to take it? Does he have to make the most of his time with Rita and the kids (as he lifted the boy up and spun him around) or did he mean that there's more killing to be done? I can't wait to find out!

So I think that the description that the boy gave of supposedly Dexter, who turned out to be Jesus was interesting. Brings up a lot of moral issues. We could be superficial and say that the boy pictured Jesus because he was dehydrated and Catholic and whatever don’t read into it. I disagree. There had been times through out the show (including this episode) where it has been mentioned that sometimes the bad ones that get away from the law need to be punished. The cops were happy when the “bad woman” was dead and it even went to far as Doakes saying that he wanted to shake the hand of the person who killed her. Dexter doesn’t feel that this is true…he feels that people may say it, but they don’t believe it. But who knows – maybe the boy saw Dex as Jesus because he punished the bad and saved the good. Who knows?!?

Yet another great episode. Full of suspense and great interplay between the characters.



I'm reminded of the first half of the movie 'Psycho' when you find yourself rooting for Anthony Perkins as he goes around cleaning up all evidence of 'mother.' Similarly, we root for Dexter and this makes up complicit in his killings. His goals may be somewhat noble - he only kills killers, but he clearly enjoys his rituals. Dexter getting caught would mean the end of the show and we can't have that!



Dexter's relationship with his sister takes on a new dimension as not only is he protective of her but there is a rivalry because of the way their father treats them. Debra has suddenly become a much more complete character. Her interplay with Doakes may lead to something and she is out to prove something to Laguerta.



I'm also happy with the way they revelaed the character in the trunk and what a resolution - I was on the edge of my seat! The ITK killer seems all-knowing but Dexter has taken the challenge and at the half-way point of the season I can safely say this is one of the finest programs on TV.



Great inside joke btw - Dexter uses the alias 'Patrick Bateman' the name of the main character in 'American Psycho.'

Previously we saw how Dexter killed Jorge Castillo and his wife Valerie.

He then dumped their bodies in the keys ( His boat by the way is called Slice of Life...nice).

What he didn’t know was that inside the trunk of one of the cars someone was watching him.



Dexter is with Rita, and he and Cody ceremoniously flush Bob the goldfish down the toilet.

It’s Esters birthday party, and she is picking a cake. Dexter doesn’t see the point of birthdays. Celebrating another year of just being alive seems…forced.

Then Dexter gets called away to a crime scene. His own crime scene.

He immediately starts questioning himself. What did I leave behind?

And then the shock of seeing Valerie’s body. The one he dumped. The “ice truck killer” – it has to be him, he is watching Dexter, returning his body to him. Getting back at him for not killing the security guard he left for him.

He dove 100ft to retrieve it!

Masuka – germofobic as usual ;) – spots a needle mark on her neck. Dexter tries to tell him it’s a bug bite.

And then they find the kid in the trunk. Dexter watches from out of the caravan, through the luxaflex blinds.

His neat little world is crumbling around him, and he can’t tell anyone. Especially not Deb.

Throughout the whole episode we see some flashbacks to Dex’s and Deb’s childhood. She always wanted to go with them when they went hunting, and was jealous when she wasn’t allowed to. Dad obviously had a good reason for not letting her come – she never should know about Dexter. But she blames Dexter and in a burst of outrage even tells him she often wishes her dad never brought him home ( he found Dexter at a crime scene ) and that he is HER father.

They also find a phone number scratched in the floor of the garage where Castillo was keeping the illegal people “hostage, not giving them food or water ( and from what little Spanish I know I think they were pretty cold as well.)

They find the woman the number belongs to. She was in that garage and tells them what happened, and than a man let them out. He saved them. Masuka shows Dexter the prelim. He found the needle mark suspicious and ordered a tox screen. It showed M-99, an animal tranquilizer for which one would need a DEA licence. So Masuka requested the list of people. Dexter knows he is on that list, albeit under an alias ( Dr. Patrick Bateman) , and they will find out sooner or later.

Meanwhile Rita also has a problem. He very abusive druggie soon to be ex husband Paul got out of jail sooner than expected ( apparently it got too crowded there) and he wants to come to Esters birthday party. Obviously just hearing his voice brings back memories to her. Ester was the one who called the police last time her dad was abusing her mom. Rita is scared and calls Dexter who says he’ll try to come by later that night, but he also tells her she is a different woman now.

And just when Dexter thinks he can catch a breath he learns they will be bringing the kid from the trunk in for a sketch.

So he goes back, crawls in the trunk and knows the kid really did see him quite well.

Doakes takes Debra to his mom’s house for dinner ( oh, god, my sisters are here as well, we leave before the cheese cake!). But Deb has a great time and ‘poor’ Doakes who usually is a strong presence just sits there annoyed and slightly embarrassed. He is not liking this. At all.

Night time, and for the first time in his life Dexter has a nightmare. ( Or, if that was a normal dream – even his dreams are deviant and disturbing ). He wonders what is happening to him – he has never ever felt remorse or doubt like that.

Next day Deb proudly shows him the profile she made for the copy cat killer. No clue she is profiling Dexter, but she has him spot on. The copy cat feels a strong connection to the ice truck killer (check), the cut on the cheek was not fatal but it appears to be a signature ( check), the fact that the copy cat left no evidence behind suggests that he is familiar with law enforcement or forensic procedure ( check), and it’s a white male in his thirties, living along, disconnected from his emotions.

Dexter tells her he thinks it’s a little too ‘textbook’ and tells her to keep it to herself.

But Debbie knows she is onto something, and is hurt by Dexter not having her back on this.

LaGuerta brings the kid in, past Dexter – thank goodness ( for Dexter ) the kid does not look up. But when Dexter takes a glance at the sketch later on ( after nearly getting caught by LaGuerta) it are his eyes looking back at him.

Debbie and LaGuerta in the ladies room was a fun scene as well. Poor snappy boss had something in her eye, Deb helped her and asked why she had it in for her. You’re loud, impulsive and you constantly question authority. And before she can ask about the interesting profile/theory Deb came up with, Deb has semi stormed out of the bathroom.

Dexter knows they’re getting very close now, and he packs all his tools in garbage bags and duct tape and throws that all over the side of his boat as well. He hesitates a little with the slides, taking a good look at them first, with each one remembering the victim…and then the most recent one is NOT the one he put in. Instead, this one has a smiley face on it….the ice truck killer again.

And as it turns out it is surprisingly easy to transfer dry blood and a fingerprint to a knife and plant that inside one of the cars in the junkyard. ( Blood and print are Castillo’s).

Dexter thinks in time Debbie will forgive him.

The kids uncle also comes pick him up. For a few seconds there is still a chance they’ll get to Dexter ( were it not for the fact they just ordered a season 2 ;) which would be a bit hard if he went to jail) but when no one says his name I knew he was safe for now. It turns out the kid described a real nice Jesus portrait to the sketch artist.

Dexter was wrong about birthdays. It’s all about celebrating the hope of seeing another one.

He knows he barely escaped getting caught. My days are numbered. So – I’d better make the most of my days.