I have to agree with Stupidhead, this episode really sticks out as one of the best episodes so far. Everything about it was great. The writing, the directing and of course, the acting.

I think that Dexter is really blossoming and embarking on a interesting journey. We know he's a very neat monster, but is he susceptible to mistakes? Of course. He is human after all, even though he's essentially emotionless. But, Dexter killing the husband and wife simultaneously he was bound to make a mistake and the eyeball looking from the trunk of the car definitely had me fear for Dexter's safety.

Once you see the next episode which goes into greater detail on the advancements made in this week's episode, you'll know what I'm talking about.

A point of clarification--"coyote" is a generic term for someone who smuggles illegal immigrants into the country (for money, of course).

I thought it was pretty cute how Angel sees Dexter as a good friend, and the type of guy he wants to celebrate a pay rise with. Although, Dexter DOES act like a good friend, taking his drunk friend home, and then after finding out that Angel is no longer welcome at home, taking him back to his place. It's actions like this that make me wonder if Dexter really is more "normal" than he claims to be, or if he acts the part of a good friend solely to maintain his cover.

I have a question for Stupidhead that came about as a result of reading the recap for this episode, so hopefully this is the appropriate forum to ask this question. I was wondering if he knows spoilers for what happens in Season 1 and writes as if he doesn't know, or if he honestly does not know what happens beyond the episode he is recapping.

I think its more that Dexter has observed enough human behavior that he knows how a good friend should act, so even though he doesn't necessarily feel the emotional obligation of friendship, he knows what a friend should or would do.

I've had the notion from the first episode on that Dexter's character arc is him realizing that he actually isn't a monster - whatever trauma he experienced as a child resulted in his psyche creating a protective monster who will defend the real Dexter from the brutal world by being more brutal than anyone around him and convincing himself that he can't feel, therefore can't feel pain. He's definitely screwed up psychologically, but his assumption that the monster is the persona at his core is wrong. There's someone else down there and we keep getting glimpses of him. That's what makes this show so compelling - we're rooting for the prisoner to finally escape, even though right now he's in a deep, deep dungeon with an unbreakable lock on the door. We see him looking through those bars so of course we have to keep watching - can't abandon the poor guy!

Dex always seems to be doing normal things! Helping Rita with the kids, letting a drunk friend crash on his couch, listening to sis bitch about how all men are jerks...is that the pose or the real Dexter peeking through the protective shell? Plus his claim that he doesn't have a "next level" in regards to his romance with Rita has already been belied by his reactions a couple times when Rita tried to start something (tho I gotta admit, I screamed out loud in hilarity at his extremely poor timing in the "reciprocation" scene.)

Heroes is in real danger of being booted out of its current slot as My Favorite Show on TV. Dexter is incredibly great! And as much as I love ya Sylar, I'm afraid you're no longer the coolest serial killer on TV. :D

I love this show. I normally have difficulty watching stuff that's dark, but this show has just the right touch of humor to make it bearable, it's like a palate-cleanser.

I physically recoiled when Deb suggested to Tucci that they blindfold him. I guess I don't have the stomach to be a cop.

Also, I'm reading the recap of this episode now -- I really appreciate them, because they let me see what was cut from the episode for CBS -- and I am cracking up at Mr. Stupidhead referring to the coyote as The Coyote.

Does anyone know if they show Dexter committing his murders in more detail on Showtime? I wonder if they showed us all the grisly details, if we would feel differently towards Dexter?

They don't show a lot of details on Showtime either. I couldn't tell much difference between the murder scene last night and the one from Showtime.

The Showtime version is no more violent than the CBS version, so no, there would be no, you wouldn't feel any differently about Dexter the way you do now.

However, from what i recall, the SHO version of this episode has Dex at the morgue saying, "The inability to feel has its advantages...sometimes". However, the CBS version has the "sometimes" part cut out.

For some reason that bothers me. I guess it's because it shows Dexter's "more human" character a little more.

I am loving Julie Benz as Rita. I love the way she plays off of MCH, and that scene in the morgue was so fantastic. The look that she gives him as she's comforting the maid, just so haunting and beautiful. I loved her as Darla, but I think she's really come a long way.

And I was surprised to see Doakes back down and let Deb have her way with blindfolding Tucci. Was he relenting and admitting she may have a good idea, or is he trying to humiliate her and prove a point because of the way she yelled at him?

Why did Doakes have stitches on the right side of his head? Presumably something that happened in the previous episode but I don't remember.

I had to stop and think about it too, but didn't Doakes get beat on by Guerrero's thugs before the other cops came in and rescued him?

Yeah, he got beat up pretty badly.


Deb and Dexter both had some pretty cringe-worthy scenes in this episode with Deb proposing the blindfolding and then Dexter with Rita. I was so embarrassed I could barely watch, when he somehow gets it in his head that when Rita is in tears watching Terms of Endearment is the appropriate time to get down on his knees and "reciprocate." It's funny though, how different he feels from everyone else after those rather common clueless moments. He should watch a sitcom every once in a while, he'd feel better about himself. I love "maybe if I don't blink, my eyes will tear up". Young Dexter asking his dad if he'll ever really feel it makes me so sad for him though.

I'm pretty sure he was just admitting she may have a good idea. He's not exactly warm, but he's not really a malicious person either. And when he has a problem with someone he's straightforward to a fault. I like him a lot more this time around. "Stop grinning like a fucking psycho and get back to work!" cracks me up.

This is the episode where Deb brings one of her hooker friends to Tucci's room at the end, isn't it? I understand why they cut that out, but I kind of missed it. That was a good moment for Deb.

I noticed that to. It was a great moment but I understand why it got cut. Not something CBS wants to show, although it was very sweet in a demented sort of way. Getting a guy who is unsure of himself a hooker. Sometimes I really do like Deb.

Well, that's good to know, because I'm uber-squeamish, yet I'm falling in love with this show. I know I'm going to have to watch Original Recipe Dexter as soon as Sanitized For Your Protection Season One is over, and it's good to know I'll be able to handle the violence. (I just kind of look above the TV during the killings and think of England.)

I've only watched a couple of episodes but this makes sense to me. This is how I see him. A bona fide sociopath wouldn't even care about doing the right thing in private moments such as getting down on his knees to reciprocate. In this episode alone Dexter worries a lot about relationships and whether he's capable of sustaining one for its own sake; it seems to me that a real sociopath would only care about relationships as means to an end.

I've been able to resist the temptation to peek into the other episode threads as I just started watching the CBS versions. That being said, for some reason, the eyeball peering through the trunk seemed like a woman's eye to me. Regardless if I'm right or not, the ice truck killer mystery is riveting. I'm not able to predict anything that happens next and I have no suspects. Murder, She Wrote or CSI, Dexter is not.

Having watched every season of Dexter on Showtime, does anyone else find Doakes more likeable without all the expletives? Just me?

I don't find him any more likeable, just kind of unnecessary. What was funny in last night's episode, was LaGuerta's comment to Deb that she was "loud" and "constantly questioning authority". Deb CBS version, doesn't come off anywhere near that. She just seems meek and, honestly, quite sweet.

I liked the contrast we get between Doakes and LaGuerta here - Doakes acts like an asshole, but is at least prepared to listen to Deb (and possibly even Dexter): LaGuerta is just an asshole, no matter how good Deb is. Sure, at first he reacts badly to suggesting they should blindfold Tucci, but he ultimately accepts her suggestion (even supplying his tie!) and then gives her credit for the idea afterwards. From what we've seen, LaGuerta wouldn't thank Deb for pulling her out of the sea when she was drowning.

I'm a recent convert to the show, and this is the episode that finally won me over 100%. I love how intrigued Dexter was by how two monstrous people found each other and found love, and how he really wanted to know how they made it work.

Wasn't that a great scene? Mr. S said it better than me. From the recap:



I also loved the dinner scene at the end of the episode where Dexter actually takes their advice. Fantastic acting by MCH. He's incredible.