I’ve been a tremendous fan of Showtime’s Dexter ever since its debut, and despite the fact that the series has overstayed its welcome by a season or two, I’ve remained a committed viewer throughout the show’s seven years, and while it’s certainly time for the story of everyone’s favorite serial killer to come to an end, it’s still a bit sad to see him go.
It’s been six months since Lieutenant LaGuerta was shot and killed by Deb, and in the interim Deb has left Miami Metro to work for a private investigator, wallowing in drugs and booze in an attempt to cope with killing her former mentor. She’s cold and distant, and the more Dexter tries to reach out, the more she tries to force him away. Dexter is convinced that Deb needs someone to rescue her, that she can’t survive without him, but Deb seems determined to prove him wrong.
There’s also a new serial killer on the loose, which is par for the course when it comes to a new season, but this one in particular draws the attention of Evelyn Vogel, a neuro-psychiatrist who specializes in profiling psychopaths. She offers her services to the investigative team, and seems to take more than a passing interest in Dexter, which immediately puts him on edge. By the end of the episode, we still aren’t sure of her motives, but one thing is for certain: she knows much more than she should.
There’s a yawn-inducing subplot revolving around Quinn secretly dating Batista’s sister that doesn’t seem to have any bearing on the overall story, and seems to accomplish little else other than to reaffirm two things we already know: Quinn still sucks, and Jamie is still smoking hot. Also, Masuka is still hilariously creepy and awkward, but you already knew that.
Overall, the season premiere is a solid episode that lays the groundwork for what to expect from the final chapter in the Dexter saga, and closes with a startling reveal that should allow for plenty of speculation before next week’s follow-up. Things are about to get very, very interesting….
★★★☆☆