This episode starts fast and furiously, with a heated exchange between Deb and Jordan Chase. Deb knows that there's one common thread between all of the recent mishaps: Jordan Chase. She also knows that Julia Stiles has escaped and is eliminating Chase's buddies. And that Jordan's next.
Meanwhile, Dex and Lumen are planning on they're going to do it. But—oh, geez. I forgot about the sex. And now there's awkward shoulder touching. And gentle kisses?! Deb and Quinn are actually turning into my favorite couple on the show. Quinn is adorable lately; humble, sweet, smart, honest. His character has had a nice transformation this season that's believable. This can only mean one thing: He's going to die.
Dex and Lumen talk about the topic of Dexter's sister not knowing what her brother's been up to all these years. My favorite topic this season, though I can't say that I actually want her to find out about Dexter, or just to get some vindication for all of the hard work she's been putting in. Then Dex sees a camera signal via his baby monitor and knows someone is watching his apartment. Creepy! Dexter at first suspects Jordan Chase is spying on them, but soon sees the camera is from Miami Metro. And when he sees who checked it out? Uh oh. (It doesn't help that after Dexter sees "Joseph Quinn" checked the camera out, he and Lumen break into Quinn's apartment and find photos of them that would indicate Quinn knows everything. At this point especially I fretted that Quinn would be the ultimate victim in this scarily close-call game Dex is playing with his sister and the force.)
Meanwhile, Quinn's buddy Stan wants Quinn to help him bust Dexter, because he needs a real cop's help. He is officially terminated from the force, and wants to prove to them that he's still got what it takes. Lame; I don't buy it. Stan is way cooler than that and now maybe a little too past the crazy line to go back to being a real cop.
The Dex/Lumen thing is turning into a we-must-continue-to-kill-for-the-sake-of-the-relationship, and it's totally stupid. Taking their relationship in that direction was a big mistake, and it complicates things that don't need to be complicated (Lumen feeling weird about inviting herself to Harrison's birthday party). Plus, it's distracting and I don't think Julia Stiles is playing it off well enough. Also, her character has made such a giant emotional leap in the span of one bedroom scene that it's almost unsettling.
The good news is that the show has finally realized what's important and has kept Batista and LaGuerta off screen long enough for me to actually enjoy seeing them back working the rape case. I especially enjoy this talk of vigilantism, and the fact that Deb knows exactly what's going on. "Vigilantes in love."
Deb and Dex have the best conversation of the season. She reveals that Quinn had suspicions Dex was involved in Rita's death. Dexter kind of freaks out, but maybe decides not to kill Quinn when he hears that Deb still cares about him? Then Deb gives Dexter some relationship advice about him and Lumen, or the female vigilante and her helper, calling their devotion to kill together "love". I can't come up with a solution for how this all ends that doesn't involve Dexter losing another woman he "loves" to death. Since Julia Stiles is a guest star (right?), she's either got to be the one who gets caught for all of this vigilantism, thus preserving Dexter's serial killer secret, or she's got to die.
Then, Stan tases Dexter. WHAT! Hot damn. While stupid Lumen is at Dex's apartment, unknowingly cutting open coffee bags with a new knife Dexter bought her. She's duped by Great Actress Emily into going over to Emily's house, where of course Jordan is waiting for her. I liked Lumen a whole lot better when she was a cautious squirmy freak who couldn't leave the house. Dexter and Stan are en route to somewhere to talk, and this is the part where Stan needs Quinn's cop help. Stan gives his crazy self away in front of Dexter, revealing that he is the dangerous one who has been looking into things, not Quinn. He's the one who deserves Dexter's death plunge.
Aaaannndd he gets it. Unluckily for everyone involved, Quinn shows up right after, and gets Stan Liddy blood on his boot. But then he leaves. And it's all just a bit too easy for Dexter. After all Stan's been through this season, after he got so close to the truth, to let him die in that van in a few seconds? Disappointing. I can only hope Quinn still has enough gumption left in him to be suspicious and take the evidence into his own hands.
In Casa Creepy, Emily and Jordan and Lumen are having a strange time. Jordan is apparently a very angry man, lashing out at Emily and Lumen, and for the first time apparently taking things into his own hands. He ends up killing Emily, who quite frankly deserved to be put out of her misery. Then Dexter arrives to find no Lumen and no Jordan, but a trail of blood and footprints. The episode ends with Dexter hovering over the blood, contorting his face into a purely primal expression that's apparently supposed to hold us over for an entire week. Woo!
This was a thrilling hour. See you back here next week for the final episode of season 5: "The Big One." From the previews, it looks to be even more thrilling than this week's, and I hope (desperately) that Deb successfully outs someone for their deep, dark secrets. If not her brother in a way that would send him to jail, then Lumen or Jordan or even Stan Liddy.
This article appears in Dec 2-8, 2010.