“Living the Dream”
Episode 401
Written by Clyde Phillips
Directed by Marcos Siega
Dexter has always managed to get himself out of tough situations. But he suddenly finds himself in unfamiliar territory – life in suburbia. Now a husband and father of three, Dexter struggles to balance his family’s needs with his ongoing duties as a blood spatter analyst for Miami Metro Homicide. The exhaustion is taking its toll, and as sleepless nights start to threaten his job performance, Dexter wonders if maybe he’s taken on more than he can handle. And he’ll need to stay sharp – the department is busier than ever, with two new murders on their hands. The detectives, Debra included, are surprised when Special Agent Frank Lundy returns to share his theories on the case. Lundy believes they’re dealing with a serial killer he’s been chasing for years, whom he’s dubbed “the Trinity Killer”. Meanwhile, Dexter’s Dark Passenger drives him to seek out a fresh victim. But with so much already on his plate, is Dexter up to the task?
“Remains To Be Seen”
Episode 402
Written by Charles H. Eglee
Directed by Brian Kirk
The pressures of fatherhood threaten to bring Dexter’s world crashing down. In his carelessness, Dexter realizes that he’s misplaced crucial evidence, something that could expose his dark side to the world. But his search will have to wait, as Miami Metro’s two simultaneous murder cases continue to escalate. Their top priority is to solve ‘The Vacation Murders’, a series of robberies gone bad that threaten Miami’s lucrative tourist industry. Lundy, however, remains convinced that the bigger problem is dealing with the Trinity killer, who unbeknownst to them is already stalking his next victim. Dexter has to weave a web of lies to extract himself from his duties, hoping to bury his secret before someone else finds it first.
“Blinded By The Light”
Episode 403
Written by Scott Buck
Directed by Marcos Siega
It’s hard enough for Dexter to fake one-on-one relationships. Now he finds himself at the center of a bustling suburban community. When a local vandal begins stirring up trouble, the neighborhood becomes vigilant and wary, two things Dexter certainly doesn’t need. His mobility is also hampered by Rita, who insists on driving him around after his incident. Dexter’s not the only one feeling trapped – Debra is less than thrilled when Anton announces he’s taken a local job to spend more time with her. Meanwhile, the Trinity Killer dispatches his next victim. Debra becomes drawn to Lundy’s theories about Trinity, while Dexter finds himself in awe of Trinity’s masterful killing technique. Despite their enthusiasm, LaGuerta threatens to shut down the investigation, instead focused on bringing the Vacation Murderers to justice.
“Dex Takes A Holiday”
Episode 404
Written by Melissa Rosenberg & Wendy West
Directed by John Dahl
Rita takes the kids out of town for the weekend, leaving Dexter time for some much needed R&R. And for him, that means stalking a new victim. He sets his sights on a woman accused of murdering her family – a fellow cop, no less. The more Dexter learns about this woman, the more he begins to question his own judgment. Can Dexter handle the pressures of family, or is he headed down a similar dark path? Meanwhile, LaGuerta and Batista argue over department protocol, which threatens their professional relationship. And Debra aids Lundy in his quest to find the Trinity killer, neither of them realizing just how close Trinity is to achieving his goals.
“Dirty Harry”
Episode 405
Written by Tim Schlattmann
Directed by Keith Gordon
Recent events spur Dexter into his own investigation of the Trinity killer. His motivations are now personal, and the clock is ticking. But the closer Dexter gets, the more he realizes that Trinity is unlike any monster he’s previously encountered. Meanwhile, Debra blames herself for events that were out of her control, and in so doing pushes away those closest to her. As LaGuerta and Batista close in on the Vacation Murderers, Batista realizes he can use Quinn’s relationship with a certain reporter to his advantage. And when Rita discovers a secret Dexter’s been keeping from her, she begins to realize just how little she knows about the man she married.
“If I Had A Hammer”
Episode 406
Written by Lauren Gussis
Directed by Romeo Tirone
Dexter knows it’s only a matter of time before Miami Metro discovers the Trinity Killer’s latest handiwork. Therefore, he has to work doubly hard to stay one step ahead of their investigation. Dexter has begun to realize that the closer he gets to Trinity, the more he stands to learn from this very different beast. Trinity hides behind a well-kept mask, and getting behind that facade will require some extra prodding on Dexter’s part. Meanwhile, Debra becomes frustrated when she finds herself shut out from her own case. She considers bending the rules in the name of justice, risking her career in the process. LaGuerta and Batista come to regret a major decision, and realize that by playing by the rules they may have painted themselves into a corner. And when the friction between Rita and Dexter comes to a head, Dexter gleans relationship advice from a most unlikely source.
“Slack Tide”
Episode 407
Written by Scott Buck
Directed by Tim Hunter
Dexter finds himself enjoying a brief moment of tranquility. He’s finally managed to strike a balance between work, family… and other pursuits. But he’s keenly aware that times like these aren’t meant to last. When Miami Metro discovers a string of murders connected to a prominent photographer, Dexter sees an opportunity for a clean kill. However, his plans seem to be thwarted every step of the way. Quinn has taken a renewed interest in Dexter’s nightlife. Dexter’s plans to keep Astor and Cody distracted with new activities soon backfire. Even Harry disapproves of Dexter’s choice of pastime, urging him instead to focus his efforts on the Trinity Killer. Meanwhile, Debra returns to work, frustrated to find everyone treating her with kid gloves. She decides to concentrate on her pursuit of the Trinity Killer as well as delving into her father’s checkered past – investigations which Dexter fears might lead her to danger – or worse, the truth.
“Road Kill”
Episode 408
Written by Melissa Rosenberg & Scott Reynolds
Directed by Ernest Dickerson
Dexter has always known his father’s Code was meant to protect him from exposure. But after committing a serious mistake, he wonders if it could have been designed to protect him from something even more dangerous – human emotion. When he discovers that Trinity is planning an out-of-town trip, Dexter sees an opportunity to ride along and gain insight into the mind of a fellow monster. Even so, Dexter isn’t prepared for the startling revelations Trinity makes along the way, revelations about his own past which only serve to convince Dexter of what he must do. Meanwhile, back at Miami Metro, Debra refuses to let a technicality keep her off the Trinity case. She works through others to ensure her voice is heard – that is, until she realizes that her single-minded pursuit of the Trinity Killer may have blinded her to the truth.
