Dexter - Circle of Friends

Dexter tries to have an "ex" conversation with Rita

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There is a particularly ironic conversation in Circle of Friends that amused me to no end. Rita mentions in a conversation with Dexter regarding her “ex”, Paul (Mark Pellegrino), having “darkness” inside him. Dexter tries in his own inimitable way to suggest he might but Rita kind of grins it off, not believing such a “nice guy” as him would be capable of the same ugliness and cruelty as Paul. Dexter tries to plant “towards good people” would he not hurt but she just dismisses the idea of him hurting anyone altogether. Dexter has been trying to string her along despite his inability to feel much of anything, with their relationship nothing more than a façade he has conducted in order to satisfy the tenants of Harry’s principles towards leading a fake normal life. Prolonged because she is “damaged” due to Paul’s abuse, her recovery has been in large part due to his imprisonment, only overcrowding resulting in his release. Paul’s darkness does peep out in the rising of the voice and just intimidating presence despite efforts to utilize the affection of their kids as a type of bait to secure Rita’s comfort and ease. It is all there, really, regarding Paul’s attempts at manipulating his way back into Rita’s good graces. Inserting himself into her life through whatever means he can (convincing the kids that he’s changed), it produces friction with Dexter (Well, Dexter doesn’t really feel anything but Paul is certainly the monkey wrench that obviously complicates the idyll of his façade). This “side bar” of subplot “off to the side” works as a type of “after work” activities to Dexter, functioning as best he can under the circumstances. Rita appears comfortable with Dex although he often considers that at some point she might find him a “science project” and once day “slam the door in his face”.

This episode has Paul attempting to verify if he could intimidate Dexter as he does Rita, with a fist that just stops short of his "competition's" face. Dex doesn't even flinch and Paul realizes that he's no patsy or pushover. Rita does eventually confront Paul at his apartment with divorce papers and stern orders to sign them and she might eventually agree to unsupervised visits. He just complies, a bit too happily, admitting she's the "boss". Obviously a ploy to secure her peace, Paul more than likely understands she is still fragile despite her appearances on the contrary.

Dex is desperate to meet with a potential protege

In Circle of Friends, Dexter confronts a familiar killer he allowed to live instead of finishing off as he had in previous encounters with those who he felt deserved to die according to Harry’s principles giving him a “rite of passage” towards his selective serial killings. Jeremy Owens (Mark L Young) was a young man who murdered the person responsible for his rape, but this second victim (knife wounds fit his MO, according to Dexter) doesn’t appear to be someone deserved of such a grisly fate. Knife wounds on major arteries, looking as if erratic and crazed, but Dexter knew there was a certain artistry on the rise. Trying to benefit Jeremy as Harry did him, Dexter would prefer to mentor and befriend the kid…kind of similar to a very warped Big Brother sort of deal. But Jeremy committed to the second murder (a bright high school kid with a promising future) just to see if he could “feel something”. Dexter got just a brief few minutes with Jeremy in an interrogation room because most of the police officers in the department were focused on Neil Perry (Sam Witwer), presumed to be the Ice Truck killer. But Jeremy does indeed follow Dexter’s advice. Of course, killing those who deserve to die, Jeremy took it to heart, putting an end to himself! Dexter, during the entire episode, is searching for someone similar to him he can bond or connect with. His relationship with Rita and her children (with her husband Paul returning to the scene of the relationship, even if unwanted, complicates matters) isn’t fulfilling as Dexter has to fake it all. Through the lack of intimacy, discussing serious relationship issues, combating the small talk discomfort, and sexual awkwardness hasn’t necessarily helped Dex and Rita, but bring Paul also into the equation and it is all just further conflict gumming the works. Not having someone like his dad to confide in and get wisdom/guidance from is a bit of a pill. Dexter needs it, with the narration to us his way of working through his thoughts and life/professional developments. Jeremy was perhaps that chance (Neil looks into Dexter’s face during a brief visit and doesn’t know him) for Dexter to find a friend he can communicate with. That certainly wasn’t going to be his homicide detective sister, Deb.