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Dexter’s living the dream. or is he?

Dexter’s 4th season opens with Dexter (Michael C. Hall) apparently living the American Dream. He’s moved into a nice house in the burbs, with his gorgeous blond wife Rita (Julie Benz) and his new baby son Harrison. By all rights, Dexter should be happy his disguise of normality would be that much closer to complete, but instead America’s Favorite Serial Killer is busier than a one-armed man juggling chainsaws. All of his responsibilities have stretched Dex thin, and like any father of a newborn, sleep is the first thing to go.

When that lack of sleep causes Dexter to blow the case during his testimony at an important trial of a vicious washed-up boxer, Dexter’s “Dark Passenger” drags him back into the ring. Dexter stalks the palooka determined to correct his mistake. But he finds it hard to find the time and energy to abduct the man, even going so far as to fall asleep while staking him out outside a bar. Dexter has to alter his plans when he’s awakened by a cop who takes him for drunk, occupying Dexter while the boxer slips away unknowingly. He eventually is able to avenge the victims of the man. But even then, is interrupted in the middle of killing by an ill-timed phone call from Rita to pick up medicine for the baby.

But will he be able to avenge the victim’s of “The Trinity Killer” (John Lithgow), as returning Special Agent Frank Lundy (Keith Carradine) dubs this season’s new Big Bad. Lithgow’s performance is creepy, tormented, and disturbing as only he can pull off.

Trinity offers a glimpse at what Dexter might have became if he hadn’t had the influence of his father’s “Code of Harry” to live by, and what it is still possible that Dexter might become if his mask ever fully slips.  Lundy calls Trinity the most successful serial killer in history when Dexter finds evidence linking him to a case from thirty years ago at the site of a murder Dexter is working this episode. 

Trinity makes a good nemesis for the hyper-controlled Dexter, paralleling him with his own exacting and precise way of killing, but also contrasting him with Trinity’s own cruel streak, such as Trinity’s kill in the opening moments of the show when he holds a mirror up to his female victim’s face as he chokes her so she has to watch her own face as she dies.

Has Dexter finally met his match? Will the toll on Dexter finally cause the mask to slip? This episode is slow getting going, but as a set-up episode for the season does a fine job of setting the bar for the other episodes to reach. I for one am looking forward to the coming battle of wits between Dexter and Trinity. And isn’t that what a first episode of a new season is supposed to do?

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