What I’m Watching: Dexter

Dexter: Season 5, Episode 7 “Circle Us” (B+)

I’m very impressed with the way that this season is playing out and the way that all of the guest stars are being incorporated in a remarkably compelling and intricate fashion. It’s especially gratifying since the idea of having another killer present each season might have seemed like it would get old (season three wasn’t particularly compelling), yet the show has managed to make it work, and then some. The bonding between Lumen and Dexter towards the end of the episode there, complete with hug from Lumen and delightful realization that Dexter said “what do we do?” Brits Jonny Lee Miller (“Eli Stone”) and Chris Vance (“Prison Break,” “Burn Notice”) are well-cast as the well-dressed duo secretly involved in group-oriented torture and murder. Dexter was clever to frame Boyd as the person driving the car to divert attention away from Cole so that he can kill him himself. The fact that local celebrity Jordan Chase is actually involved too is sure to complicate things, and I’m eager to see what happens. I’m very worried about just how close Stan is to uncovering some of Dexter’s secrets as he starts to research Lumen and her background. The shot of a smiling Lumen holding Harrison is particularly powerful, since it represents, as Dexter says in voiceover, a coming together of his separate lives. Things on the non-Dexter front got pretty violent too as once again Laguerta made a dumb call while Deb made the right one. These brothers are bad news, and the one who’s still living is sure to continue causing trouble for at least a little bit.