Dexter - The Dark Defender / 1/2

 A comic book based on Dexter's Bay Harbor Butcher activities...and the poor guy who was responsible for that comic book ends up with bludgeoned in a comic book store. Doakes and LaGuerta work the case while Dexter determines the way a weapon was used for the blood spatter. LaGuerta tries to get Doakes to see someone about defending himself in shooting the wife killer, while Doakes tricks her into admitting sleeping with Pascal's fiance to get her leadership job back. They eventually pursue a suspect with the means to kill the victim, just operating the store, arresting him after an argument. Doakes remains defiant against "opening up" and "talking about his feelings". He's all business, like a rock that won't be budged.

The Dark Defender comic book even inspires a dream to Dexter, falling asleep at one of the Narcotics meetings. He rescues his mom against the three men who ultimately killed her. A Dark Knight dressed in hooded cape, prevailing over those who wronged him, his mother and himself as a boy escape intact. It really is the perfect dream. It certainly would have been better than how he ends up. 

"The Dark Defender" really was a compelling watch. He has a come apart when he is urged by Lila to confront the "chainsaw man" who brutalized his mother, Laura, in front of him. Being in the Miami police department does have its perks. Dexter could get the whereabouts of the killer, having fled to Naples to start a new life, operating a bar. Lila even wants to go with him. They get a hotel room and she just gets out of her clothes for a shower, not at all away from the eyes of Dexter. In face she clearly purposely leave the bathroom door open so he can see her. Dexter looks startled at her uninhibited behavior. She even admits to him that a boyfriend who ended up her dealer left her, with her enacting in rage by burning his house down...with him unconscious in it! Dexter feels she has no reason to feel guilty if he deserved it. Lila's own struggles, it does seem to drive her to help Dexter. Without her convincing across the phone, Dexter would have killed Chainsaw Man. Chainsaw Man certainly got a good beating, though. He wasn't getting off that easy. Dexter had to get his pound of flesh.

The episode does go out of its way to describe how Dexter feels a kinship with Lila he doesn't with Rita. He protects Rita from who he really is while Lila gradually "sees behind the mask to know who he truly is". So you have these two women, both entirely different. Rita, the side that Dexter can't quite feel totally comfortable with, though he puts on a good act, and Lila, the sultry recovering meth addict who seems to "get Dexter".