What I’m Watching: Dexter

Dexter: Season 5, Episode 3 “Practically Perfect” (B+)

There’s little I can think of that’s more alarming than the sight of Dexter being the one waking up in a groggy state, unaware and not in control of the situation around him. Dexter has had trouble wrangling his prey before (remember the giant guy?), but Boyd shooting him with a tranquilizer dart as he stuck a needle in his neck was one of the most dangerous and threatening mishaps that has occurred to Dexter yet. Fortunately, the hospital was a bad place for both men, and Dexter is a much more emotionally strong person, despite his own problems at home. His method of luring Boyd into his trap was, as always, fantastic and creepy. It’s incredible to see Dexter actually becoming a family man after all of his arguments to the contrary, starting to freak out after he couldn’t find his nanny and his son. Of course, he didn’t even think to check the fridge, so he still has considerable work to do. I’m not sure how much I love the focus on the cops since Laguerta has never been a particularly strong character (I liked her better when she used to hit on Dexter and be cruel to Deb). An internal affairs investigation into Batista will only serve as a distraction to the more interesting cases, and will only give Quinn more time to go solo in his dogged pursuit of Kyle Butler. The end of the episode finally introduces one of the advertised guest stars of this season, Julia Stiles, as a woman who Dexter will now have to keep hidden away until he figures out just what to do with her. I’m intrigued.