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EPISODE 5: "The Dark Defender"

Dexter Episode 5 - "The Dark Defender"

Episode summary:Dexter finds out that the man who killed his mother, right in front of him, is still alive. When he tells this to Lila, she suggests he face the man, as part of his road to addiction recovery. But then as his sponsor she insists on tagging along.

Lila's urging and as part of his 'recovery' Dexter agrees to face his past. He learns that only one of the three men who killed his mother while and him and his brother where in the shipping container is still alive and living in Naples, Fla. With Lila in tow, decides to face the man who has, as he says, taken his life away. Deborah is still seeing Gabriel but blows up at him when she sneaks a peek at his e-mail. Rita's mother Gail tells Dexter he should leave, but when Rita hears of it, she tells her mother in no certain terms that it is she who will be leaving. Gail has other ideas. The police investigation continues and they narrow the Bay City Butcher's marina down to three possible sites. Dexter decides to give his boat a thorough cleaning but doesn't realize he's being watched

Original air date: 10-28-2007

Written by: Tim Schlattmann

Directed by: Keith Gordon
Dexter's Open Case Files
Add image of victimDescription of crime:Man bludgeoned to death in comic book store.

Victim(s): Denny Foster

Assigned officer(s):Sgt. Doakes, Lt. LaGuerta

Crime scene: Behind the counter of a comic book store.

Suspect(s): Benjamin Alvaro

Clue(s):Blog documenting feud of suspect and victim, Alvaro truck tag was seen by a security camera around the time the store closed.

Blood evidence suggests: The victim was hit repeatedly over the head with a snow globe. He tried to run for the door, but he was struck down.

Add image of victimDescription of crime: The continued investigation of the Bay Harbor Butcher.

New Developments: The algae from last episode has narrowed down the task force's search for the BHB's marina down to three (one of which is Dexter's). Lundy orders 24/7 video surveillance of the three marinas. Unbeknown to Dexter, he is recorded suspiciously scrubbing his boat down of forensic evidence at the end of the episode.

Add to Dexter's victim files
Santos JimenezVictim Name: Santos Jimenez

Age/Occupation: Bartender in Naples

Where/how Dexter stalks victim: Dexter discovers that Santos was in the witness protection program and relocated to Naples and no lives a life completely unpunished for his past deeds. Dexter and Lila drive to Naples on a sort of whim in order to confront him for his wrong doings.

Why victim deserves it: He chopped Dexter's mother into pieces in front of Dexter and his brother Brian.

Why Dexter lets him live: Dexter initially only meant to confront Santos emotionally but was overcome with rage and got prepared to kill him right there in his own bar. What stopped him was Lila calling him and her talking him down from doing it (she thought he was about to shoot up some heroin).

FLASHBACKS

  • While Dexter listens to an old recording of Harry and his mother speaking about a drug bust (the one that will lead to Dexter's mother's death), Dexter can imagine vividly the scene that took place in that interrogation room.
  • When prompted by Lila, Dexter remembers his mother twirling him in her arms.
 CLUES TO DEXTER'S PAST

  • Dexter discovers that his mother was actually an informant and working closely with Harry. It wasn't just a coincidence that Harry found Dexter in the cargo container that day.
  • Later, Dexter discovers that his mother was having an affair with Harry.

DEXTER'S RELATIONSHIPS
Developments with Rita:
  • Rita's mother tries to intimidate Dexter into leaving Rita and her kids.
  • Rita defends Dexter when her mother insists that he is no good for her.
  • Dexter lies to Rita about his real reason for going to Naples.
 Interactions with others:
  • Dexter interrupts Doakes' interview with a witness to ask about the Dark Defender.
  • Dexter sees Lila undressed again, ends up crying in her lap after he walks away from almost killing the guy who sliced up his mother.
  • Dexter confronts one of the men that killed his mother at the tavern he works at.

SIGNIFICANCE OF EPISODE TITLE

The title of this episode refers to the bogus super-hero that was being created around the Bay Harbor Butcher, named the Dark Defender. Dexter even imagines himself as this hero once in the episode.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
Best Moments:

  • Dexter dealing with the guy who killed his mom "his way" after Lila's way failed.
  • The docks searching for the killers boat, Debra is acting figgity. Lundy finds a way to relax.
Episode 5: "The Dark Defender" - Dexter Wiki

  • Deb gets help regarding Gabriel from a very unexpected source

Episode 5: "The Dark Defender" - Dexter Wiki		Best Lines:

  • "Most people hate long lines. The bank, grocery store, coffee bar. Not me. Want a real glimpse of human nature? Stand in the way of someone's mocha latte. It also reminds me that the good people of Miami and I aren't so different. They have no more idea of what I am than I do" (Dexter, to himself).
  • Deb: "If dad taught us one thing, it's the value of human life"
Dex: (to himself) "Yeah, but I think we had different homework assignments".

  • "Healing is all about focusing your rage on the person who hurt you" (Lila, to Dexter).
  • "Harry taught me to lie and keep my darkest secrets from those around me, which is why I need to make sure there's not a trace of blood left on my boat. He also taught me not to rush to judgement. Things aren't always what they appear to be- including Harry. And what about me? Am I the twisted Bay Harbor Butcher? Or the valiant Dark Defender? Only time will tell. Funny thing is, I've met someone who doesn't care what I am. I suppose every hero needs a sidekick. Every villain a partner in crime. All my relationships have been built on not knowing, but that may be changing. Imagine that- a life with no more secrets" (Dexter, to himself).
  • EPISODE TRIVIA

    • The title of Gabriel's book is "The Ice Princess". Erik King, who plays Doakes, was in the Disney movie Ice Princess (2005).
    • LaGuerta mentions that, counting the incident with Curtis Barnes, Doakes has been involved in two shootings in less than six months. The other shooting occurred in the episode "Father Knows Best", in which Doakes shot and killed Jacques Bayard, a Haitian war criminal.



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    Threads for this page

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    nosignal Song right after opening credits? 1 Aug 19 2010, 11:30 AM EDT by R3Mi_PL
    Thread started: Jun 25 2008, 10:39 PM EDT  Watch
    The guitar bit when Dexter is talking about queuing up for a coffee, does it have a name? It plays elsewhere in during the episode as well.
    4  out of 6 found this valuable. Do you?    
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    peachykeen Lila 8 Mar 13 2010, 6:00 PM EST by oxoree
    Thread started: Oct 29 2007, 11:45 AM EDT  Watch
    Am I the only one who finds Lila annoying??
    14  out of 25 found this valuable. Do you?    
    Keyword tags: Lila
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    IronChefCrazy Sad Sophomore Slump 3 Nov 10 2007, 8:19 PM EST by Cyndawg
    Thread started: Oct 29 2007, 6:34 PM EDT  Watch
    Dexter is this decade's Dirty Harry: I certainly can't speak for everyone, but it's Dexter's inner monologue and (justified) killing sprees that makes this show so magnetic, and that's why it kills me to see the direction the series appears to be taking.

    None of the new characters have any real substance to add: they just seem to be fodder for standard storylines (e.g. Lila as Dexter's confidant/Rita's romantic rival, Lundy as Deb's surrogate father figure/mentor/potential lover, Rita's mom as the mother-from-hell).

    Instead, all we have to live for are little nuggets, like LaGuerta's next power play, Masuka's perverse giggle, Angel's rays of hope and humanity.

    I truly love this show and will continue to watch it, but it won't be with the same enthusiasm I had for the first season, or even the first three eps of season two.
    3  out of 7 found this valuable. Do you?    
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