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| Dexter discovers the inconveniences of popularity. |
So, after nearly a full year without
Dexter, everyone's favorite serial killer has, at long last, returned, with a few notable changes since last season's finale. For one, a year has passed since "The Big One", instead of the usual requisite weeks or months (or in the case of 4 to 5, no time at all). This allowed the writers to finally put the specter of Rita behind them, along with them also conveniently being allowed to dump Lumen in the process, as there was nary a mention of either of them in this episode, save references to Dexter's loss of wife. So what did I think of "Those Kinds of Things"? Well, for the most part, I got that usual morbid glee that came over me whenever I watched early-season episodes of
Dexter. After the muddled, somewhat repetitive, and overly somber season 5, season 6 looks to be a fresh start for the series, and the premiere perfectly reflected the new mentality. Dexter appears to have been reborn in the past year, operating almost identically to how he handled his killings in season 1, from the syringes to the boat to the cover life. The only difference is one small case of personal investment: his little toddler, Harrison. After some fairly creepy foreshadowing about Harrison in season 5 (that indicated that Dex's Dark Passenger may have passed on to him through Rita's death), Dexter is absolutely sure that he wants Harrison to live a life free of his burden, but he doesn't know what he wants to give to him instead. Eventually, through looking at a Miami Catholic prep school, he comes across religion, and is (understandably) perplexed by the concept. As a man with a monster inside, who's always acted with a strictly one-track mind, religion must seem almost trivial to him, a mask to protect believers from the nitty-gritty of the world (in this case, people like him). Nevertheless, he is intrigued, and much as he attempted to discover about relationships in season 1, he attempts to glean information about God here, from asking Deb and Batista, to asking one of his victims. His main drive of the episode is the pursuit of a former high school classmate, who he believes killed his own wife. That is the weakness of the episode, as both the reunion plot and his murder strategy feel like a road already taken many times, though the payoff scene where he interrogates the killer about his beliefs was worth it. We are also introduced to the presumed seasonal antagonists, one Professor Gellar (played by Gaff himself, Edward James Olmos), and Travis Marshall (played by a very creepy Colin Hanks). We don't learn much about them here, other than that they have a penchant for very theatrical and ritualistic killings, which include replacing a poor fruit seller's intestines with snakes, as well as writing Alpha Omega on his chest, presumably as part of some twisted faith-based cult. The manner in which they're introduced is not unlike the introduction of the Salamanca cousins in season 3 of
Breaking Bad, in which we learn very little about them, other than that they're very dangerous, and that they're bound to cross paths with Dexter at some point. No sign of Mos Def in this episode, though it looks like he'll appear next week. Also, Debra becomes a hero at a restaurant (where Quinn was about to propose to her, no less), and Batista's sister (and Harrison's new nanny) is hot, so hot that he acts like an overprotective father around her. LaGuerta's been promoted through blackmail to her old nemesis, Captain Matthews, and Masuka is still the best comic relief, the eternal pervert. Dream Harry also showed up a bit, including a hilarious sequence where he's egging Dexter on during a flag football game.
So, again, did I like "Those Kinds of Things"? Yes, I did, but the new antagonists better have something big planned, or this season may fall into repetition quite quickly. Luckily, Mos Def looks to shake things up next week, and things should be interesting. A welcome return to form. Welcome back, Dex.
"Those Kinds of Things" - 4/5 stars
