Dexter - Father Knows Best

Fellow serial killers together unbeknownst to Dex

***/****

I think in time we have learned (BTK killer such an example, along with John E List, among others…) that serial killers adopt their personas within “functional society” in order to adapt to daily life while taking advantage “when time permits” to conduct their business of murder or commit murder and hideaway from authorities through disguise. Prosthetics doctor, Rudy (Christian Camargo), revealed to be the Ice Truck serial killer in the episode, Shrink Wrap, decides he wants to meet Dexter, motivating Deb to visit her brother as he heads for Dade City to prepare the house of his biological father, Driscoll (with a distinctive spiderweb prison tattoo on his elbow), willed to him, for sale. Dexter is conflicted as he verifies whether or not Driscoll is in fact his dad as Harry had told him his father died long ago. So here is this Driscoll just now dying, and all the time Dexter could have visited him (and got to know him). Why would Harry lie to Dexter so he wouldn’t know that his father was still alive? A brief memory riding in a convertible with Driscoll is all Dexter has. Meanwhile Rudy is recognized by the elderly neighbor as the “cable repairman” in the neighborhood, driving away before he could revealed to Deb, Dex, and Rita as perhaps Driscoll’s killer, later returning to [implied] arrive in uniform at her house [presumably] to silence her. Dexter is wondering if Driscoll did in fact die as pronounced (seizure/heart attack) or was injected with insulin to fake it. And why would Rudy be so interested in Driscoll?

That Paul would “revert” (I don’t think anyone felt he had rehabbed himself) back to the darkness of his past, toss stuff off the table, look as if he could just level Rita, bark at Rita for taking the kid’s to another person’s house because Paul couldn’t be supervised, call Rita up while away with Dex in Dade City drunk and complaining, and show up late at night at her house drunk and disorderly shouldn’t be of any real surprise. That Rita found a bat and defended herself against Paul before he could savage or molest her might also be a surprise. What are the implications of using the bat, packing up her sleepy kids, and fleeing from the home Paul owns (admitting the house is his to Dex when asked)? Paul is certain to make Rita’s life continually difficult…unless Dex does something about it.

The subplot involving Doakes shooting a man carrying groceries he recognized puts Angel in a difficult position, although the end result leaves him a snitch to his fellow officers. Doakes has a history in the Black Ops, with dealings in Haiti, and knows the man he shot, which calls into question the motives behind it. Angel is sure he hears Doakes fire first and Dexter’s blood evidence (“Blood doesn’t lie”) goes against the Sarge’s testimony. Because Angel didn’t see the shooting, he doesn’t know all the details. Doakes later reveals to LaGuerta that this was tied to a horrible military terrorist treatment of Haitian citizens. IA, told of the truth that Angel knows appears to be detrimental to Doakes but nothing ever comes of the testimony. All that conflict inside Angel was for naught. His loyalty to his fellow officers is now in question although he felt he did what was right…be an honest cop. It is a little Miami subplot on the side while Dexter and Deb are away.

That Deb is in love with the Ice Truck serial killer has its definite irony. Rudy certainly hides it well. No different than perhaps many of the 50 serial killers projected to be acting on their indulgencies in the US. Deb also fights off the notion that Harry was wrong in hiding the truth from Dexter, feeling he was justified for some reason. Harry is so beloved and respected by Dexter and Deb this sudden development causes tension and curiosity. Will the show leave Driscoll’s history (prior to his 30^th birthday, his identity is sketchy) such a mystery? Deb wants it to stay that away and for Dexter to just leave that house and sell it for whatever he can get. Dexter can’t help but be curious.

As far as Rudy and Dexter meeting, one knowing a lot more than the other, it does provide a fascinating dynamic. Seeing the way Rudy almost acts so "brotherly" and friendly to Dexter, seemingly affectionate towards him, this behavior does beg to question why he is this way. Picking up Dexter after stealing Driscoll's ashes from the morgue (hoping to inspect his body), Rudy seems to encourage him to accept this man as his father. Earlier, Rudy initiates an active, playful dance with Deb, while Dexter just kind of shrugs them off. Nothing about Rudy seems to lend a sign to Dexter that he's suspicious. Rudy gets close to him, spends time with him, and even persuades him to set free Driscoll's ashes. How gratifying is this to the Ice Truck serial killer?

*Carefully placed garment and elbow assured Carpenter kept her body from being exposed. Not a problem with it but it does appear rather unrealistic if her character has no qualms being naked for Rudy.
*Of course those involved with the show carefully hid Benz' body through clever lighting when she finally felt empowered to encourage their first real sexual encounter.