Last night's opening scene with Dexter and Debra in a sort of "couples" therapy session with Vogel after their near-death experience was kind of ironic; it might be the closest Deb will get to living out last season's fantasies of getting all romantic with Dex. But alas, the session is more of a "family" group therapy. Debra tried to kill herself and her brother, but she was rescued and then went back for Dexter, so now she's over the whole suicide thing.
Back at Miami Metro, things are business as usual. The team is investigating a murder, which leads them to the house of a rich man named Hamilton. Though he may be the prime suspect for Quinn and the gang, Dexter has a familiar hunch when he encounters the man's son, Zach Hamilton. Nothing big happens with Zach in this episode, but the previews for next week's episode indicate he may Dexter's progeny.
As Vogel relaxes in her house, Yates takes the opportunity to come crashing through her window and abduct her. Quick shout out to the Lost fans, who'll recognize the Mama Cass Elliot song, "Make Your Own Kind of Music," as the song of choice Vogel puts on the record player before her abduction.
While Yates is busy freaking out Vogel, Dexter is with Miami Metro at Yates' place, digging up some interesting finds. Yates had three graves in his backyard, with a rose bush planted on top of them. The bodies found belong to his previous victims - each of them had broken toes, a missing right shoe, and was buried with wallets and handbags. Oh, and key fact, all were women...with their skulls intact. It's beginning to look like Yates might not be our Brain Surgeon after all -- just a creep with mommy issues.
Luckily for Vogel, Debra was on her way to seek her council, so when she walked into a messy room and a missing doctor, she went straight to Dexter. When Deb arrives at the crime scene Dexter is working to tell him about Vogel, he asks an important question: why did she save him? Why not let him die and let all her imaginary problems disappear; in what is a big moment for Deb, she responds, "I saw the car going under water, I knew you were going to die, [and] I couldn't imagine my life without you in it." Applause for Debra Morgan!
Deb is doing so well that she is even showing up to her private investigator job -- mostly to use their resources, but, hey, it's a start! Our favorite little pervert, Masuka, actually signs up to be a client of Deb's. He's a bit suspicious of his newest family member, Niki. Is she just milking him for cash? It could be a coincidence that she left her wallet in the car and orders an insane amount of food for Masuka to pay for. Time, and investigative work, will tell.
Despite this being episode five of the final season, it's never too late to introduce a new possible love interest for our killer guy. When Dexter arrives home at night, he walks into a double date that Jaime set up for him with his new neighbor, Cassie. Bethany Joy Lenz guest stars as the hottie, but something about her rubs us the wrong way - maybe she's the real brain surgeon. Or maybe it's just her brunette hair, since Dexter usually falls for blondies -- Rita, Lumen, Hannah. Plus, his last dark-haired lover, Lila West, was a nutso. In any case, Dexter has to leave dinner early to help Debra find Yates and save Vogel. Serial killer duty calls.
Vogel is holding up well on her own while waiting for her hero to rescue her. She uses her knowledge of Yates' abusive past to manipulate the situation. Yates apparently used to be beaten by his mother, so Vogel tries a "You're not angry at me, you're angry at her" approach, and when that doesn't work, she hits him and calls him a "little shit." This tactic buys her just enough time so Dexter and Debra can find her location and break down the door.
By the time they arrive, Vogel is left tied up in the upstairs bathroom while Yates hides under the bed. Knowing where he is hiding, Dexter quietly takes a window pole and jams it through the mattress and into Yates, killing him.
Could this really be the end for our Brain Surgeon? It's looking more like Dex and Vogel just accused the wrong guy.
Killing Yates with Deb and Vogel in the room somehow brought the trio even closer together. Disposing of the body is usually done with immense secrecy and solitude, but this time, Dexter decides to include Debra and Vogel. He "wanted to be with family," he tells them. After all, in Debra's words, "a family that kills together" stays together.
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