Dexter Season 5, Episode 1: “My Bad” Recap (Part 3)

Dexter becomes overwhelmed and breaks down in tears and sobs in the bathroom. Following his break down he returns to Miami and the funeral, delivering a surprisingly heartfelt eulogy for Rita as the episode ends.

Season 4 ending with Rita’s death meant that was where Season 5 had to begin. Considering the show’s hands were tied on this it came out pretty well. Dexter himself is wonderful, as always, and there is some groundwork laid for what will doubtless become season long arcs. There are however also several points of concern. The first two involve Quinn. Firstly Quinn’s sudden physical relationship with Debra, while somewhat justified by the emotions of the moment, feels like it was done “just because.” Adding to the weirdness of that, since the season starts literally the same night that the last season ended, that means Quinn’s girlfriend shot herself in the head only a day or two ago.

There’s also Quinn’s pursuit of Dexter of a suspect. It feels very much like a retread of Doakes (a cop who always suspected Dexter in Season’s 1 & 2.) It’s a little better constructed that Doakes’ obsession had been, that had just been over a “weird vibe” but Quinn is using actually police work to lead him to Dexter. But it still feels like it’s ground that’s been covered before. There’s also the continued relationship, now marriage, between Sgt. Batista (David Zayas) and Lt. Laguerta.

The whole thing felt weird and unnecessary when it was introduced last season and it’s not much better now. This relationship also gets a strangely large amount of screen time.

Despite a few worrying points this is a strong opening for Dexter. The show in many ways has been freed up to go in new directions now that Dexter no longer has to work so hard to maintain his marriage. It will be interesting to see what the show does with that freedom and what directions the main character will take now that the person who tied him down the most is gone from his life.

If the spring alters blood fans Dexter Season 5, we are in a continual state of insanity. Watch out live Dexter Season & all other series of Dexter.