Dexter: Circle of Friends

Dexter: "Hardly looks like a guy capable of terrorizing Miami. A science camp, maybe."

This one was about mistakes. Letting Jeremy go was a mistake. Neil Perry was a mistake, too. Dexter, who needed to connect to someone, tried to reach out to two other killers that he thought were like him. But they weren't like him at all.

As soon as I saw the ridiculous taxidermy whatevers, I knew Neil Perry wasn't the guy. Dexter walking through Perry's trailer looking at bunnies with antlers and raccoon heads on a plate to the accompaniment of absurd latin dance music just made me laugh out loud. It nailed it, too: absurd, sick, but not frightening. The Ice Truck Killer is too cool, pun intended, too smooth, scary and professional to be a lunatic in a trailer experimenting with dead animal carcasses.

Dexter has been going back and forth about Jeremy, probably because Jeremy was so young. Ultimately, Dexter decided to try to do for Jeremy what Harry had done for him, but Jeremy wasn't like Dexter, after all. That scene in the interrogation room with Jeremy was really fascinating. I've discovered that I just love scenes when Dexter's mask comes off and he tells people the truth.

Like the double footrub scene, which I loved. It was so comfortable. Dexter looked right at Rita and told her there was darkness inside of him, and she didn't believe it. Maybe Rita feels safe with Dexter because she senses that he would never hurt her or her children, and that he would kill to keep them safe. She simply interprets that feeling as Dexter being incapable of hurting anyone.

Unlike Paul. I can't stand guys like Paul, constantly pushing boundaries and trying to get away with stuff. It's obvious that he'll eventually hurt Rita again; he's not only dangerous, he's a waste of space. Can't Dexter find an excuse to kill him? (Dexter actually appeared to be considering it.) My favorite scene in the episode was Paul unsuccessfully trying to threaten and psych out Dexter. Dexter's secret persona is like a joke that only we know. Paul had no idea that he was way, way out of his league.

Debra had a positive change in her love life; cute Rudy the prosthetics guy asked her out and she jumped at it. (So much for the Doakes/Debra flirting.) I thought a quality guy like Rudy would be good for the unlucky-at-love Debra. Dan said Rudy gave him the creeps.

Bits and pieces:

-- Debra is getting way too good; she found Neil Perry by researching how serial killers are usually caught. Dexter had better be careful, or his own sister will find him out.

-- When Neil Perry left his trailer, he pushed aside a garden gnome. Did it mean anything other than making Perry look silly?

-- Maria got Neil Perry to confess, and then the Captain stole her thunder with the press. Not good.

-- Rudy got into his profession because his mother was in a car accident when he was small and she lost her legs. He wanted to put her back together again, like Humpty Dumpty. Interesting story.

-- Rita made Paul sign the divorce papers. Good for her. Not that Paul is going to back down permanently; he's just not the type.

Quotes:

Dexter: "The FBI estimates that there are less than fifty serial killers active in the United States today. We don't get together at conventions, share trade secrets, or exchange Christmas cards. But sometimes I wonder what it's like for the others. The only sound I hear, the only sound in the entire world, is my heart beating."

Debra: "Holy mother of fuck. Is this him?"

Angel: "This is where Perry lives."
Debra: "Him and his seven in-bred cousins, by the look of it."

Debra: "Can I have permission to run Masuka's prints as the Ice Truck Killer?"
Vince: "No need for that. I can give you some warm DNA right now."
Bleah.

Paul: "I'm Paul Bennett. Father on parole."
Dexter: "Dexter Morgan. I can't think of anything clever to say."

Dexter: "I have a dark side, too. (Rita laughs) What? I do."
Rita: "Somehow I doubt that. You have a good heart, Dexter. You're not like Paul. You don't hurt people."
Dexter: "Innocent people. I don't hurt innocent people."
I love conversations like this. He told her the absolute truth. Again, I loved the expression on his face while he was saying it.

Dexter: "The Ice Truck Killer drains the blood from his victims, freezes their bodies, and only then severs their limbs. It's clean and efficient. That's his psychological signature. Neil Perry, on the other hand, stuffs roadkill."

Dexter: "For weeks, I've felt like a student in a master class. Is it really possible that the master's on the run? And even more tragic, does he live in a double-wide?"

Dexter: "He might be a crack-addled, wife-abusing yahoo, but he refuses to abandon his kids. I'm not sure that's a good thing."

Rita: "Did he threaten you?"
Dexter: "No. nothing like that. He was just marking his territory."
Rita: "Fucking bastard."
Dexter: "Only you could make those words cute."
Rita is so sweet and gentle, until someone she cares about is in danger. That's so endearing. I like Julie Benz so much as this character, much more than I did as Darla.

Rita: "Why can't he just go away and disappear forever?"
Dexter (to himself) "He can do that. Very easily."

Rudy: "Here's to one crazy bastard."
Tony: "Kiss my atrophied ass."

Another clever, witty, well-written episode. Three stars,

Billie
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Billie Doux loves good television and spends way too much time writing about it.

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