Dexter - Waiting to Exhale

 

This episode was quite a trip. Little Chino...Dexter wasn't giving up on killing his ass. He just needed that one opportunity. A prod for a gator and a hell of a lot of tap for the table this time made sure Chino wouldn't go anywhere. When Dexter stabs Chino, he leans back, eyes closed, and takes a rush of a breath. He needed that kill in order to push away his brother's hallucinatory presence, the peace to have a clear head. Now his murders uncovered, all those body parts surfaced thanks to the police, and FBI's "Best Man" arriving to Miami in Keith Carradine (this should be fun!), Dexter has a new problem. With Deb living with him at his apartment, and Rita mourning the loss of Paul (well, sort of) with questions about his shoe and accusations towards Dexter, his complicated life (with his night excursions not exactly easy to explain) isn't helping his "anxiety" (only known to us because we are privy to his thoughts and "alone time"). Carradine will be putting together a task force to locate the Bay Area Butcher (Dexter's appalled at that nickname as much as Carradine), and those in Miami Homicide are hoping to be a part of it. Lt Esme (Judith Scott) taking personal calls from her estranged fiance tickles LaGuerta...she doesn't want to remain just a homicide detective and clearly sees a vulnerability. Doakes is more of a leader than a team member...that is why Carradine doesn't want him on his task force. Chino kills the sister of the brother she wanted Dexter to avenge on her behalf in the previous episode...well, his thugs do. Speaking of the thugs of Chino, thanks to Deb's chasing down a boy who called her bitch at the crime scene of Eva, the sister who wanted her brother's death avenged, and pulling a gun on him (causing him to piss his pants), she learns of the location hideouts (and where their drugs and money are). Angel goes to Dex about Deb's antics on the job after her "pull gun out and press on the neck of a child" stunt. Dexter admitting to Rita he hit Paul over the head with a rock and planting "his drugs" in her dead husband's system after she pressures him seems to create yet another problem...she believes Dexter is an addict! Oh, he's an addict, just not the kind she's led to believe. Dexter's expression at the table as Rita applies the pressure "for answers" is priceless. This episode was a blast. A very, very morbid blast (Dexter's brother and his visitations come and go), mind you, but blast nonetheless. Dexter being hunted by Chino's thugs in Miami and hiding in a sewer drain, later encountering Rita while all filthy at his door would beckon some curiosity from his girlfriend...cracked me up, perhaps something's very seriously wrong with me. 4/5