Dexter TV Show - My Bad - Dexter Recaps, Dexter Reviews, Dexter Episodes | TWoP

Recapped by Jeff Long · Aired 2010-09-26

We join Dexter where we left him at the end of last season, with a dead Rita in the bathtub and a bloody baby. Deb and the homicide team show up shortly afterwards and deal with the scene. Dexter, stunned, says "It was me," to Deb, which, naturally, causes all sorts of confusion, but later he explains that he should have protected her and it's his fault.

He's in a daze as he organizes her funeral arrangements. He remembers back to his first date with Rita, when he picked a restaurant, not for the steak tartare, but to be closer to some dude he was going to kill. It was a really bad date. Laguerta insists that everyone in the department offer Dexter support, but Quinn decides to offer him some suspicion. First, he bones Deb, which I guess isn't terribly surprising. She acts really strangely afterwards and doesn't want to talk about it. Meanwhile, Quinn talks to Elliot the neighbor and finds out about his kiss with Rita and the subsequent beatdown that he got from Dexter. He tells Laguerta what he learned, and she freaks out that he's trying to implicate Dexter, but he reminds her that, in most murders, the husband is the culprit.

When Dexter tells the kids that Rita is dead, Astor flips out and says that she wishes Dexter were the one who was dead. On that note, Dexter decides that he should leave town, because everyone would be better off without him. He confesses to dead Rita in a coffin that he is a serial killer. He ditches his interview with the FBI as Deb is completing arrangements for Rita's funeral. As Dexter is heading out for his new life on his boat, he remembers a phone call he had with Rita after their first date and, when they say good-bye to each other, it of course has a lot of metaphorical weight. His boat breaks down so he ends up at a place where this redneck is really rude to him, so he kills him in fury. Harry appears and tells him that it's OK to show his feelings, so he shouts with a lot of rage and sadness. Afterwards, he shows up at Rita's funeral, much to an antsy Deb's relief. He gives a eulogy recounting all of Rita's tenderness.

We are where we were at the end of last season's finale. Dexter is holding Harrison, but now he's outside of his house. The police arrive and ask him if he called the police. He doesn't answer. Then, he asks him what happened there. Still no answer. Dex VO's that he has seen 67 people die. Damn. It. That's a lot of killing. At the moment of "truth," he could see in their eyes that they knew they were getting what they deserved. But, what if that's not what you deserve? Like Rita, what if you deserved all sorts of nice things and a loving husband (at least someone human), but you ended up with Dexter? Well, Dexter, I think you just answered your own question. You end up dead in a bathtub. Rita really had a lot of blood. Poor Julie Benz. I hope she got a big paycheck for her last day at work. The lady created a character for four years and ends it all immobile in a bathtub full of food coloring.

The policeman starts asking for the baby when Deb arrives. She tells him to back the fuck off, then asks Dexter what happened. He hands her Harrison and you can see, as she's looking at the blood all over the baby, that she's going to be horrified by his answer. "Rita's inside. It was me." Now Dexter. Really? You're making this too easy for everyone. Deb looks at the policeman, hoping that his statement doesn't register with them the way it does with her. I'm just going to put this out there right now -- if she gives a performance this season like she did last year, I am making this the official year of the Jennifer Carpenter Emmy Moment Watch. She was great just then, but I bet she'll have more in store for us.

Inside the house, Vince is taking pictures of the crime scene as Quinn looks on. After describing the crime scene (and telling us that Rita was cut on her thigh per the Trinity Killer's M.O.), Vince says that he had imagined Rita naked many times, but never in this scenario. Classy. Quinn asks if the Trinity Killer had ever killed a married woman before and Vince says that there is a first time for everything. Laguerta and Batista enter. Vince says that they are waiting for the coroner to retrieve the body, but he thinks she has been dead for 8 to 10 hours. Stricken, Laguerta leaves the room.

Batista follows her and asks her if she's OK (she's not). Vince and Quinn are close behind. She says that Dexter will need their support. Then, she tells them to pack up and leave the bathroom. They begin to protest, but she says that the Trinity Killer case belongs to the FBI and they have arrived. Then, she freaks out and asks them why Vince and Quinn are looking at Batista. He says that it's what he "was saying on the way over." Since Rita is a part of their family, they should be working on the case for Dexter. OK, so he was saying that to Laguerta on the way over? They came into the room together didn't they? They did, but maybe Batista was already there and was talking to Vince and Quinn on the way over. Anyway, Laguerta seems surprised and tells them that her word is final and stomps off. Batista tells Vince and Quinn that she's stressed. Yes, the women and their hormones.

By Jeff Long

As Rita's body is being wheeled past him on the lawn, Dexter recalls that Harry taught him to never kill an innocent person and to never make a scene. He imagines Harry in uniform amongst the other policemen and he calls out to him. We see Elliot the neighbor standing outside of the police tape holding his daughter and wiping his eyes. This is totally the scene you should let your daughter witness. You're as good a parent as you are a neighbor, Ells. Dexter notices that everyone can see that Elliot is crying and he isn't.

An FBI agent approaches Dexter and tells him that he's ready for him. They head to the back of a van. He reminds Dexter of his "It was me" statement and Dexter says that he doesn't remember saying it. "I'm very upset." Heh. Deb is inside the van and holding Harrison. She witnesses the questioning and interrupts to tell Dexter that he needs to take off his clothes, then they're going to her house. The agent says that he was asking him a question but Deb says that he already told them that he came home and found her there. Deb's nervous. She tells the agent that, if he wants to help, he should find the Trinity Killer. The she calls the FBI a bunch of fucking idiots. Excellent. Laguerta arrives and gives an eye to Deb. She tells the agent to make an appointment to talk to Dexter and he coldly agrees to do that.

At Deb's, she says to Dexter that Harrison can sleep on the floor until they can bring his crib from his house, because that would be safest. He mumbles in agreement and lies down on her bed. Deb says that he shouldn't say things like "It was me" because people might misconstrue. That is what we call an understatement. Deb adds that she herself is not so sure what he meant. But, he is in some weird place and doesn't answer her.

By Jeff Long

The day, Vince, Quinn and Batista are listening to Dexter's call to 911. It's very clinical. Batista knows what Quinn is thinking and shuts off the recording. He says that Dexter was in shock and just acting out of habit by noting exactly where Rita had been cut. Quinn thinks it was odd, since Dexter's WIFE HAD JUST DIED. He points out that Elliot, "the guy with the forehead," was more emotional than Dexter at the scene. I'm assuming they wrote that line especially for the actor playing Elliot. That must feel nice.

Laguerta approaches and asks them what they are working on. Always the master of discretion, Vince closes the laptop they were using and announces "not Rita." Laguerta is pissed and asks them if they heard her the day before. The case is with the FBI now! As she stomps away, Quinn says that Batista should have taken her on a honeymoon. Vince tells Quinn that he wishes he hadn't told Dexter about witnessing Rita and Elliot kiss at Thanksgiving, especially since Rita is dead. Quinn acts like he's just gotten some big news.

Dexter is still asleep in his clothes on Deb's bed when he gets a phone call. It's Rita's mother. She's got Astor and Cody and they're at DisneyWorld. He doesn't say anything about what happened. He tells them to come to Deb's apartment. Deb hears the conversation and asks Dexter if he shouldn't tell them about Rita. Fine, Dexter is not what anyone would call emotionally astute, but I think he's made the right decision. Who wants to make anyone associate Chip and Dale with their mother's death? That was rhetorical.

, they're being greeted by Bill Brochtrup, the inspirational gay actor from NYPD Blue. Seriously, I love this dude. And, he's the funeral director. Interesting. Michael C. Hall reveals nothing. He tells them that he's sorry for their loss and Dexter VO's that he doesn't know how the guy sounds like he means what he's saying. Notice, Deb has been standing behind Dexter, stock still, for many of the shots so far. It's menacing, frankly. Joe Reid, our illustrious recapper of the former season, though he's now dead, mentioned that, with the arc of the seasons, it's become sad to watch Deb with Dexter. Because, you know she knows something's wrong. She's getting it. Poor girl is such a wreck and her own life is in shambles, but she's noticing the stuff that's going on around her. And, I don't think I'm blowing anyone's world here, it's clear that she's going to be the person that eventually ends Dexter or is the final person Dexter kills before killing himself. Thanks for the sadness, Joe. Sorry you're dead.

By Jeff Long

Bill tells Dexter that they need to think about the obituary and how they are going to describe Rita. Jesus, y'all, Rita's dead. I'm still not handling it. I should be more like Dexter, minus the stabbing. Suddenly, Dexter asks to be excused. I may be risking getting annoying early in the season, but Jennifer Carpenter is pretty expert already in this scene. She's displaying the signs of someone who hasn't done this sort of thing, an aunt taking care of a baby when she doesn't really know how, and a sister who thinks her usually rock solid brother is falling apart. Probs not our Emmy moment, but it's worth notice. So, Dexter leaves and Deb takes care of the rest. Girl knows something is up.

Dexter is walking around the home and watching another funeral. He sees a weeping bride and reckons that is what Rita would have wanted. It's our first taste of the dreamy music. I'm starting to have trouble figuring Dexter out. He's clearly troubled by what he's not. And, he's so smart. Shouldn't he be able to merge the two ideas? Just saying.

FLASHBACK. Dexter is thinking back to when he first met Rita. He gives her small talk but is clearly looking over her shoulder. So, Dexter chose his location so he could kill someone. He's very polite though. Deb introduced them. He makes a joke about Deb describing him as an ax murderer, which seems bold for a first move on Dexter's part. They start ordering and Dexter zones out on the dude he's gonna kill. Back to the other funeral.

Deb catches up with him and asks him what he's doing. He's thinking about Deb. And, without saying it, now he lied to her. She tells him the details of the funeral. There will be white roses. She tells him that he needs to pick out a dress, but he doesn't know which one to pick. She tells him that he's worrying her. Jesus, Jennifer Carpenter, whoop, whoop!

We see Quinn sitting on Dexter's lawn as Deb arrives. She asks him what he's doing there. He's there to help. They walk into the bathroom with all the blood and Deb is freaked that Dexter saw that. He's fine with that, trust us. Then, they start cleaning. Quinn notices that Deb is scrubbing much more furiously than he is.

By Jeff Long

When they're done, Deb is squeezing Rita's blood out in the sink and Quinn cracks that they usually call Dex when there's that much blood. Then, he asks her how she's doing. She says that she's used to Dexter being the strong one, but Quinn says he always thought it was the other way around. Then, she gets emotional and says she doesn't know what he's thinking. They embrace and she starts to kiss him, at which point he asks her what she's doing, but he never stops for a second. And, they do it. On the freshly cleaned floor.

Dexter is at Deb's apartment as there is loud banging on the door, which he finally decides to answer. It's the kids. They present Mickey ears embroidered with both his and Rita's names. Coldly and Dexterly, he tells everyone that he has something to tell them. While wearing his sad Mickey ears, he tells them that a man came into their house and killed their mom. Yeah. The sight of him saying that in those ears is chilling. Then, he says that he's sorry for their "loss." Astor freaks and knocks the ears off his head and walks out.

Dexter follows Astor out and finds her crying on the curb between two cars. Been there. She doesn't want to talk to him. He tells her that everything will be alright but she disagrees. She thinks that Dexter should have been around to protect her mother. Also, she thinks that they would have all been better off without Dexter and she wishes that he were the one who was dead. She closes herself into a car and continues crying. I hope she knows the owner of that car.

So, Deb and Quinn have finished fornicating and Deb is still wearing her bra. Way to stick to that contract, Carpenter. She looks like she regrets it. She gets up from the floor and says that she's going to look around. She's in the bedroom when Quinn shows up butt naked. Miami does not do the body good. The tan lines on that crack ass are a sad state. She, for all of us, asks him to put on some clothes. So, he wraps a sheet around himself.

Deb starts to pull clothes out of Rita's closet. Quinn finds a simple blue dress that would actually be great for a burial outfit, or maybe more for a person attending a funeral. She hauls stuff out to her car as Quinn follows her and asks her if they're going to talk. She says there's nothing to talk about -- he came there without her asking. It's clear that maybe she thinks he took advantage of her pain. Then, she drives away. That's my Deb. Meanwhile, Quinn is looking at Elliot, who is apparently always outside.

By Jeff Long

He goes over to talk to him. Elliot tells him that he's divorced and his children are with his ex-wife, which he thinks is a good thing after what happened to Rita. But, it was OK to have your daughter watch the lady get wheeled out? Quinn insinuates that Elliot and Rita have been more than friends and Elliot offers that Dexter punched him out.

Dexter has just gotten Harrison to sleep when Deb arrives with dresses for Dex to chooses for the funeral. She asks how things went with the kids and he tells her that Astor is angry with him and should be since her mother is dead because of him. Deb says that Rita was lucky to have him because he loved her. Then, she walks away. Dex remembers the other half of his first day with Rita. She's talking to him when his target gets up from his table, at which point he interrupts her. He follows the dude to the parking lot and injects him with some drug then stuffs him in his trunk. Dexter's feeling toxic. And that everyone would be better off without him.

Dexter is busy erasing his life the day. Deb reminds Dex that the eulogy has to come from him. He's thinking about his escape plan. She tells him that he should have his FBI interview that day. Dex says that Harrison is going to need a decent mother figure and asks her to be that figure that loves him. She says that he is her own. She seems upset and confused and she reminds Dexter that he's good too. He disagrees but she disagrees right back.

At the station, Quinn wants to talk to Laguerta and Batista reminds him that the soft ladybug is his boss. For shit? He goes in and tells her that he talked to Elliot, which pisses her off that he was interviewing witnesses. Quinn says that, if it weren't Dexter, they would be remembering that the majority of murdered wives are murdered by their husbands. Snap. She takes a phone call. Then, she calls Deb, who is carrying large photographs from a ghetto printing place, to tell her that Dexter did not show up for his FBI interview. She says that she will take care of it.

She arrives at her home to find a strange woman feeding Harrison a huge plate of sweets. She asks the lady who the fuck she is, which is confusing for her. She's the downstairs neighbor. Deb calls Dex and tells him that the cat lady from the downstairs was watching the baby. She's pissed. She leaves a voicemail for Dex telling him that he needs to talk to the FBI pronto.

By Jeff Long

Dexter is at the funeral home with Rita. He picked the dress that she was wearing when they met. Dex tells her dead body that he is a serial killer. Then, he starts packing. Part clothes-part killing stuff, including the blood slides. He VOs that he doesn't need the rest and sets it all on fire. Strange, most of it is metal, so don't know how well that's going to burn.

, Dexter is boating away to lovely Cuban music. Meanwhile, Deb is setting up Rita's funeral. She sees the FBI there. She calls Dexter but he doesn't answer. Dexter uses a Nokia phone. Root of all of his problems. He VOs that it's easier to breathe on the water. He remembers disposing of the body on his first date with Rita as he calls her. She tells him that she has children and he says that he likes kids. He suggests getting together again and she accepts the idea. She tells him that he makes her feel good. He says she makes him feel that way too, but who knows if he actually felt that way? Back on the today boat, he says goodbye to her and apologizes. Then, his boat stops.

Dexter finds some dump where a bearded redneck is demanding keys to the bathroom. Dexter looks at the dude and he calls Dex a retard and tells him to stop looking at him. Dex follows him to the bathroom. The guy is like what the fuck and Dex says that he's had a bad week and his wife died and it was his fault. The redneck says that his wife can suck his dick. Wrong answer. Dexter unfurls this sharp anchor thingy and kills the fuck out of this dude in a huge fury. Then, he walks to the mirror where he sees Harry, who tells him that was the first human thing he's ever seen Dexter do. Not sure if that's a compliment or not. Dexter says that he thought that Harry had left him. Then, Dex falls to the floor. Harry tells him that it's OK to express what he's feeling.

Dexter lets out this primal scream that's still inhibited by all of Dex's crazy. It's chilling. Huge and childish and soaked in sadness. Harry tells Dex that the people in his life are better with him and vice versa. Then, Dex collapses on the floor.

By Jeff Long

It's Rita's funeral and Dexter is still not there. Laguerta tells Batista that she is sorry for being nutso, only she thinks that Dexter may have been witness at their wedding while Rita was being killed. She doesn't want to be reminded of it.

Quinn tells Deb that he spoke to Elliot. Then, Dexter arrives as everyone is getting antsy. He takes Harrison from Rita's mother, otherwise known as Ellen Dalton Chandler from All My Children, one of the greatest performances in all of daytime television. Anyway, then, he apparently gives the kid to someone else and starts his eulogy. He says that Rita had the heart for both of them. She was innocent and never hurt anyone. She died a brutal death and he can't fix it, but he knows he has to try. He has to try to fix it around the people who loved her -- like he did. He just realized that.

Jeff Long is a writer/performer in Brooklyn. He can be reached at jeff.long75@gmail.com

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