Dexter “A Beautiful Day” 

I did not expect to enjoy the game of cat and mouse Charlotte Rampling‘s Dr. Evelyn Vogel seemed to be playing with Dexter in this episode. It wasn’t clear at first why Dr. Vogel decided to consult – for free – on this case. They’ve only got one body, so there’s no pattern to make it look like a serial killer at work. But Dr. Vogel seems to know something that the cops of Miami Metro don’t. She thinks this killer might be a former patient of hers. But even more important than that, she knows what Dexter is. And she lets Dexter know that she knows.

It’s six months after Deb killed LaGuerta and she is a mess. She’s working as a glorified bounty hunter for Elway Investigations, taking the cases she’s interested in and only checking in sporadically. And she’s also not making the best choices. But Deb thinks she’s exactly where she belongs – in hell. She tells Dexter she wishes she’d shot him instead of LaGuerta and that when she looks at him all she sees is her hatred of him. Dexter made her compromise everything about herself she ever valued. So understandably, Deb’s been doing everything in her power to avoid him. She won’t take his calls and she certainly doesn’t want to see him. But Dexter’s worried enough to find out what case she’s working on and he discovers Briggs, the guy she’s trying to bring in, has a hit out on him. So he does what he thinks he needs to: he tries to save her. But Deb doesn’t want to be saved by anyone and certainly not Dexter. Dexter isn’t leaving Ft. Lauderdale without her. Briggs gets in the way and he ends up dead. Big surprise. Deb decides to do the right thing (kind of) by calling it in. When the cops show up, Deb pretends like she doesn’t know what happened.

Back in Miami, Dexter’s having a bit of a panic attack about just who this Dr. Vogel is and what her angle might be. Dexter thinks he might be acting paranoid, but Vogel seems to be talking directly to him when she describes the mind of a serial killer. When she asks specifically to talk to him about Robert Bailey, Dexter tries to act like a normal human being. At this point, I just don’t think that’s possible. It’s not until the end of the episode that we find out Vogel knows about Dexter and about Harry’s code. Very interesting. She claims she just wants Dexter to help her find her former patient, but it can’t be that simple can it? What else does she want from him? Is she looking for material for her next book? Can Dexter trust her at all?

It’s scary, but also kind of exciting to see Dexter fly off the rails. He totally loses it with the guy who cuts him off on the road. Thank God his kid was in the car or who knows what Dexter might have done to him. And Dexter flies off the handle again when Harrison breaks LaGuerta’s vase. Dexter didn’t want that thing in his office anyway, but that’s not the point is it? Now that he knows how Deb feels and now that he knows he needs her in his life, how is he going to be able to control his urges? Yes, he’s got the code but he’s so angry right now and he’s lost. Even having Harry talking incessantly in his ear isn’t helping. His anger is so close to the surface that it’s probably only a matter of time before he slips and does something out of character, something that can get him caught. Maybe it’s time for the real Bay Harbor Butcher to go down for his crimes. Maybe it’s time for Dexter to take a look at everything he’s done and take responsibility. Or maybe not. Either way I’m very excited to see what happens over the next 11 episodes as the series comes to an end.

Other interesting developments

• Did I say interesting? I meant kind of weird, at least where Quinn and Jamie are concerned. I don’t know how to feel about this right now, other than I’m not a fan. That could change. I doubt it.

• I like that Angel is back on the force. It was weird when he retired. Too bad it took LaGuerta’s death to bring him back, but at least he’s back and he’s committed.

• When can we get some more of Sean Patrick Flanery? I almost didn’t recognize him, but I’m excited to spend a little more time with him.

• Detective Angie Miller has joined the team. We don’t know that much about her yet, other than she called Angel out for checking her out. Turns out he was just wondering if she was the same size as LaGuerta. He doesn’t want hid ex’s clothes to go to waste. Oops.

Dexter airs Sundays at 9/8c on Showtime.