Dexter: Love American Style

 "She doesn't know yet, but I don't have the next level..."

The way the theme of this episode is handled is very well done here- love is not something Dexter can ever understand but, after Harry's training as shown in the flashbacks, Dexter, by "acting" seems to be pretty good at it as far as Rita is concerned. Throughout the episode she likes him more and more... and he's fortunate in not having to, er, return last episode's favour.

Others are less successful. Most notably Angel, whose strained relationship with his separated wife is revealed to Dexter... and things at Dexter's home are almost revealed to Angel. What will eventually come of this? Chekhov's Gun and all that...

Then there's Rita's poor maid, who's lost her beloved fiancé to... well, we're coming to them. Then there's the poor Mr. Tucci, forever deformed but happy to be alive. Deb using her feminine wiles on him is an important plot beat here: after distinctly failing to impress Doakes for most of the episode, she has a lozenge-related breakthrough that leads to a semi-breakthrough... and has her prostitute friend pleasure Mr Tucci. And, if the lady is willing, why not? Mr Tucci, while perhaps not a lucky man, is not unlucky with the opposite sex here.

And then we have the killing of the week, as Dexter goes after a people trafficker who extorts and murders... and we get the big twist: it's him and his wife, and they love each other. To Dexter's shock, people like him are capable of love...

And then the final twist: cutting corners slightly, Dexter is seen...

This is a compelling, fascinating and eventful episode. The season feels as though it's in full swing...