What I’m Watching: Dexter

Dexter: Season 4, Episode 6 “If I Had A Hammer” (B+)

Yet another terrific title for a show that just keeps getting better and better each episode. The show never quite got this good last year, and I’m happy to see it return to the stellar quality of the first season and first half of the second season. Dexter going undercover to pose as someone else is very worrisome because Arthur will reverse Dexter’s process of tracking him down and find out who he truly is. It’s fascinating to see him as a family man, and to discover such a calm, loving side of his personality. Dexter really is a daredevil, opting to hold out the jar of Arthur’s sister’s ashes instead of putting it back to purposely incite Arthur’s fury. John Lithgow and Michael C. Hall are pretty mesmerizing onscreen together, and hopefully their bonding will continue and Dexter will reveal some of his psyche to Arthur, prompting a connection on their part. I have to agree with Entertainment Weekly’s last page Bullseye feature which deems Rita annoying and necessitates euthanasia for this marriage before she really ruins all of Dexter’s hard work and serial-killing lifestyle. The intensity of Angel and LaGuerta’s relationship is a bit strong, mostly because the two of them seem to be much more into each other than I imagine most viewers are into them. I think Dexter’s primary quest is enough to sustain the show, and keeping the focus on the blood spatter expert is more than satisfying.