SPOILER WARNING! The following contains MASSIVE SPOILERS for the eighth episode of ‘Dexter: Original Sin’ titled ‘Business and Pleasure’ - Proceed with caution.
The first season of Dexter: Original Sin has officially reached a tipping point. The seemingly unrelated sub-plots are starting to collide, the villain has revealed himself, and despite some bumps in the road, the complete picture of Dexter Morgan - serial killer - is starting to come into focus. As we close in on the finale of the season, episode eight delivers thrilling developments for long-time fans and newcomers alike and shows us just how sinister and manipulative Dexter’s first “big bad” actually is. On top of all that, it confirms one of the wildest (and most exciting) theories that has been taunting fans since episode two. Needless to say, there is a lot of ground to cover this week so let’s dive in.
"You’re like a Hammer. Everything you see is a F*cking Nail!"
After a quick tease of Spencer’s latest plot to misdirect the police, the episode returns to the Morgan household where tensions are starting to form between Dexter and Harry. Dexter reveals his suspicions about Captain Spencer but it doesn’t go over well. Harry loses his patience and accuses him of being over-eager in his killer pursuits or, in his words, “projecting his darkness onto everyone around him.” To be honest, it’s an apt description coming from someone who was clearly hoping that Dexter’s proclivities would be few and far between.
With Deb MIA and now openly galavanting about in a wildly inappropriate relationship, Harry tries to refocus Dexter on finding his sister. Once again, Harry’s sense of paternal authority comes across as a bit misplaced. Dexter’s admiration of his father keeps him in check but it’s hard to shake the feeling that he is starting to recognize his own agency in the relationship. As Harry’s demands try to steer Dexter further and further away from embracing his destiny, the more cracks continue to form in the foundation of their relationship. It’s a recurring theme throughout the episode and one that seems destined to lead Dexter to a fork in the road; One where he must choose between honoring Harry’s wishes or taking down a dangerous killer.
"Murder Vacation"
As Dexter’s search for Deb hits the ground running, Harry takes off for Tampa with Maria to chase down a lead on the NHI killer. On the way there, the two develop a nice rapport as Harry opens up about Deb’s latest rebellion. Unfortunately, Maria’s attempt to provide comforting advice only ends up amplifying his fears (Thanks Maria!).
When the two arrive at the potential suspect’s home, they find that the house has already been sealed off as a crime scene; Forcing them to finally reach out to the local talent so they can take a look inside the house. After squabbling about the necessity of professional courtesy and a rather hilarious quip from Maria that calls attention to the detective’s hilariously bad toupee, they all make their way into the house where the locals walk them through the details of a 3-week old murder.
As it turns out, the occupant of the home was a psychiatrist who worked at “Harbor Light Mental Hospital” before he was bludgeoned to death in his living room. As they pour over the evidence, Harry and Maria eventually reach the same conclusion as the local detectives: That this victim was murdered by a former patient who then removed a page from his calendar which would have clued them into their identity. This leads the group back to the police station where Harry and Maria are left with no choice but to comb through hundreds of patient files in the hopes of catching a break. Little did Harry know that that break would come much easier than expected but it would open a whole new can of worms that threatens the stability of his entire family.
That’s right folks; Harry discovers a file for one Brian Moser and immediately recognizes it as the missing puzzle piece in their investigation of the NHI killer. It’s a theory that fans have been unable to ignore since that strange man approached Dexter at the restaurant in episode two (‘Kid in a Candy Store’) and just in case you still had your doubts, a headshot included in the file confirms the connection! Harry creates a brief distraction for LaGuerta and then quickly combs through the notes; Recognizing damning evidence that would forever link this killer to his family and ultimately lead police down a rabbit hole that could potentially expose Dexter for who he really is. With only moments to react, he squirrels away the file in his bag but it doesn’t change the reality of the situation; That Harry now has a huge problem on his hands.
"I had to know..."
Among other things, Dexter and Harry’s earlier conversation finally called attention to the inappropriate nature of Deb’s romantic relationship with Gio (THANK GOODNESS). With Dexter so focused on his latest theory, Harry quickly moves to refocus his attention on finding Deb; To Harry, a much more acceptable use of his tracking skills but to Dexter, a mild annoyance designed to keep him from giving in to his dark passenger. Regardless, a dejectedly deflated Dexter kicks off his search at the high school where he is able to learn Gio’s last name from Sofia (and her new boyfriend Chad!).
Meanwhile, Deb is basking in the glow of a night with Gio before being whisked away to Bimini for a day of partying. Dexter uses the name that Sofia provided to find Gio in the police database but he is distracted when a suspicious request from Captain Spencer pushes his search for Deb to the backburner. Next thing you know, Dexter is following Spencer who has suddenly taken a leave of absence from the station in the middle of his son’s investigation.
Much like his sister, Dexter is beginning to exhibit his own form of rebellion against his father. In spite of his loyalty to Harry, the pull of his own intuition (of his inner darkness) is just too great. In fact, he repeats in several instances that he “has to know” what Spencer is up to; Indicating that not even Deb’s imminent danger is enough to overpower his urges.
Dexter doesn’t act without hesitation though. His inner monologue acknowledges the doubt that his father has planted in his head but it soon gives way to vindication when he spies Spencer handing a bag and a wad of cash to a shady looking character. When the two part ways, Dexter follows the man to a house that appears to be a drug den. The contents of the bag remain a mystery for now but it’s clear that alarm bells are going off in Dexter’s head.
"I’ve got a big night tonight… Give me the works."
Of course, the flashbacks in this episode also lead us directly into the most pivotal moment of the entire series: The moment that Dexter witnesses his mother’s murder at the hands of the cartel. While the event itself is no secret, the episode did quietly drop several bombshell revelations that might change or impact the way we view the rest of the series.
The first moment comes when Harry meets Laura in a park to discuss the details of the invitation she received from Hector Estrada. The two sit on opposite sides of the bench facing away from each other as they talk. It’s a classic move for discreet meetups where you don’t want witnesses to catch on to the details of your conversation or the nature of your relationship. Unfortunately, as Santos Jimenez watches from afar, Dexter runs to Harry and tries to play which immediately disrupts the conversation and blows their cover.
Can Dexter be blamed for outing his mother as a confidential informant? Of course not, but it does add an extra layer of tragedy to the whole affair and potentially shapes the way we perceive Dexter for the rest of the series. I can’t help but wonder if he felt some sense of guilt which ultimately contributed to his ability to block out that memory entirely. Whatever the case may be, I find it to be a welcome wrinkle to an already tragic backstory.
To further enhance the impact of the tragedy, another small detail was added which further shakes up our understanding of Brian’s backstory at the same time. In the original series, we learned that Brian, now exposed as the Ice Truck Killer, had an obsession with the way his mother painted her fingernails; An obsession (or darkness) that he went on to project onto his victims. But now we have learned that Brian was actually the one who painted Laura’s nails this way on the night she was murdered. It’s a minor retcon but one that feels deeply unsettling to think about. I don’t know about you, but it’s a detail I am sure I will remember in every future rewatch of the series.
"It’s like he was some other person and I didn’t even know."
After talking to Harry on the phone, Dexter is eventually forced to continue his pursuit of Deb. As he closes in on her, the blissful relationship between her and Gio reaches a crescendo before plummeting into the depths. While partying on the beach, she notices people loading large crates onto Gio’s boat and despite his attempts to distract her from what he claims is a simple business operation, her curiosity gets the best of her. While Gio is distracted, she makes her way to the boat to grab her jacket and a quick peek at the contents of the crate. Unfortunately for her, Gio catches her in the act and we finally get a good look at his true nature.
As many suspected, Gio’s gentle nature and warm personality was little more than a facade. Underneath lies a condescending womanizer (did I mention he has a fiance?) and probable criminal. Unfortunately for Deb, her transgression not only ends their relationship but it also leaves her stranded on Bimini. Luckily for her, her big brother finally comes to the rescue and the strong bond between the two grows even deeper.
On the ride back to the mainland, Deb expresses disappointment in herself for not seeing through Gio’s smokescreen. It’s a normal human reaction to feelings of betrayal but given what we know about Dexter and the eventual suffering his earth-shattering secret brings upon her, I found this moment to be especially difficult to watch. Still, he assures her that he understands her plight with Harry and does an admirable job of trying to comfort her in the moment.
When Deb decides to toss her expensive new diamond bracelet (a gift from Gio) into the ocean, she quickly realizes her mistake. She may be missing her opportunity to make some quick cash but that small act of defiance ends up becoming the final piece of the puzzle for Dexter to figure out his body disposal problem. The two continue on their journey home feeling closer than ever before but when they arrive, their bonding time is cut short when Dexter is called into work; Once again leaving Deb alone to wallow in her misfortune.
"I wasn’t projecting darkness, I was witnessing it."
What starts as an efficiently executed raid eventually devolves into utter chaos when Bobby locates a high-school basketball jersey belonging to Nicky Spencer. The Captain begins threatening the detainees for information and before you know it, someone pulls a gun and the whole house erupts into a hurricane of gunfire and death. Amidst the chaos, Bobby takes a bullet to the neck but is eventually rushed to an ambulance thanks to the quick thinking of his colleagues on the SWAT team.
When the dust has finally settled, the ranking officer relieves Aaron of his firearm and the forensics team enters the house to process the scene. Tanya gently pulls the jersey from Spencer’s hands and bags it as evidence while Dexter quickly locates the yellow bag which he now realizes held Nicky’s jersey. When the SWAT team completes their sweep of the house and comes back empty handed, Aaron devolves into an angry and grieving father; A performance that does nothing to convince Dexter of his innocence.
Michael C. Hall provides a chilling monologue as Dexter takes in the scene and watches Miami Metro deal with the aftermath of the fire fight. As Spencer puts on a dramatic performance, Dexter revels in the realizations that are finally starting to crystallize in his mind: That everyone has darkness that they think they can keep hidden from everyone else and that he has a sixth sense for seeing that darkness even when nobody else can.
"The sins of the mother."
The episode could have easily ended with Michael C. Hall’s iconic narration and Pat Irwin’s chilling soundtrack but instead, we take one more trip back to the 1970’s where the moment of truth has finally arrived. Laura, Dexter, and Brian are huddled in the back of a shipping container along with several other poor souls who are also guilty of crossing the cartel. As Hector Estrada and his goons entered the container armed with a chainsaw, I felt my stomach drop.
Laura begs for him to spare the life of her sons and in a wonderfully poignant moment, Estrada reinforces the ongoing theme of the entire series: That children are often victims who are forced to pay for the sins of their parents (Laura / Dexter, Harry / Dexter, Dexter / Harrison). He gives the signal and the chainsaw roars to life before cutting into one of the other scared occupants of the container. Blood covers the walls and stains Hector’s bright white shirt as Laura does her best to shield her sons from the grisly sight. The episode ends as the camera zooms into Dexter’s wide and terrified eyes.
Business and Pleasure is a remarkably tight episode with a lot of storytelling that I think is representative of peak Dexter. It finally starts to delve into some of the most popular theories that have been bubbling to the surface since early in the season and moves all of the pieces around on the board in preparation for what I assume is going to be a very exciting finale. It also happens to feature some of the best performances of the season so far from the likes of Molly Brown and Patrick Dempsey. But as the penultimate episode of the season approaches, I find myself most excited about all of the questions that have yet to be answered and all of the shocking developments that are just around the bend.
Score:
Next Week: “Blood Drive"