Well...he is the beeper king.

So...if Trinity's daughter has been following Trinity...hasn't she seen Kyle/Dexter...???

Quick! Somebody make a Rescue Me reference before this gets old.

He just yelled at Tommy all the time. I couldn't think of anything to fit in.

You see, I look at it differently. If they had gone through with resolving the boy's story, showing him get found, watching him in the police station giving a description, etc. that would have felt more like another CSI or L&O. This way they kept the focus on Dexter, where it should be.

And I don't have a problem with Trinity's retreat. I think he must have figured he couldn't kill/defeat Dexter right then and bailed. And I think DeputyDave spoke well about the physical effects that Trinity would likely have been felling after getting knocked on the head.

It's interesting that you say the Trinity they have shown us would have knocked out Dex and finished the job. Really? The same Trinity who cowered when Dexter put a knife to him, the same Trinity who was unable to kill an injured deer? We've seen many times that Trinity doesn't always react to things the way we might expect from a killer. And I think the previews for next week show what also might have been going through Trinity's mind when he decided to flee.

Exactly my point, it wasn't something that really mattered to the overall story.

I don't watch the previews, as they usually show way too much, so I'm glad to know that they'll attempt to offer some sort of explanation.

I think maybe my issue with the missing boy resolution wasn't properly stated. I could care less how it was all resolved. I don't need to see all of that. My problem is I just think there is way too much shit to be explained and questioned from that whole experience and to say none of the fallout from it matters to the story is confusing to me. To assume it all got neatly resolved without anyone raising suspicion based on the circumstances and the location is too far of a stretch for me.

As for the other stuff, the cowering at Dexter, that I imagine was a form of surprise. He didn't know to expect that from Dex. At the point of the shovel fight, he knew what was going on to some extent. The deer posed no threat to his habits or maintaining his lifestyle, and was really only a device to make Trinity look all the more fucked up and out of whack morally IMO. Dexter showing up at the site of his ritual and ruining it affects him on both the habit and lifestyle level. Of course, maybe I'm just understanding the character wrong.

We haven't seen Trinity kill anybody outside of his "process". It's not unlikely that he froze up when he had the opportunity to bonk Dexter.

But seriously, Dexter...haven't you seen "Halloween"? Don't turn your back to the "incapacitated" serial killer!

In fairness, we don't know how neatly resolved that situation is. We know the boy was returned to his family. I don't think we know much more than that. The same can obviously be said about a number of things from this episode. That's why there's a new one Sunday.

But no, I don't think the boy matters too much to the story anymore, although I can see where he will probably give a description of his kidnapper (offscreen) and the detectives will then realize it matches the photo of the reporter's dad.

He must have been really surprised that Dexter came at him then! You would think a man so accustomed to violence would have reacted a bit differently, at least when he was finally let up, instead of crying with his family. Once Dexter got off him, he could have easily grabbed a knife or something because Dex was threatening his life and lifestyle at that point. I think what can be taken away from that is that Trinity is crazy but not stupid. He knew he couldn't best Dexter, especially under those circumstances. So why would he try to take him on after getting whacked on the head with a shovel? Doesn't it make more sense to retreat and lick your wounds?

Yeah..that's why I keep closing with "I guess I'll see how it plays out." But hey...what else are we supposed to do between now and then?

I think part of the controversy over Trinity's reaction is that we really don't have a clear insight into his victim selection process. If there is some importance to THIS boy or completing the ritual in a certain time then I can see Trinity trying to beat Dexter.

However, if those things are not important, but just the act itself - why not run and try again later. Perhaps try to defeat Dexter when he cannot see you coming.

Perhaps it seems cliche, but it makes enough sense to me. And I think there would be enough problems dealing with a head wound.

Michael

I have a big problem with this as well. If she just discovered the connection with her father, it's very hard to believe she could easily change who she is and attempt to kill two people. Even if she felt she had no choice and had to do it (much like someone defending themselves from an attacker) she doesn't seem to be torn up about it in later episodes. You figure she would take herself off the story and maybe take some time off work altogether. Hell, even at the scene of the crime after shooting Deb and Lundy - she slowly and carefully took Lundy's wallet and watch without trembling hands and walked away. Definitely not the actions of someone who just tried to kill people for the first time.

I know it's only a show and it doesn't have to be perfect - but this stuff bothers me. Of course, it doesnt bother me enough to stop watching.

Why would Dex waste time watching a serial killer movie when he is his own ongoing slasher movie?

Fantastic episode. Great season. Outside of the bullshit Laguerta/Batista crap and Rita junk, this has been great. I think Masuka will finally get to Dex and tell him what happened, but that will be in the season finale.

I kinda think that Dexter will let his sister take trinity down or arrest him. With it being the holidays it would be the ultimate gift that he would have to part ways with.... somebody he wants to kill. Just my guess. I also think that the reporter/daughter may actually be the daughter of one of his victims.

What if Trinity kills Rita in the bathtub in the last episode?

i hope you are right!

Since she's a mother, I think the rooftop fall would be much more likely.

He can't really do that.

Trinity and the family will recognize "Kyle Butler" eventually. Dexter collected evidence from Trinity's kill sites, so he'll have to testify in court.

Having the family and the accused recognize the blood splatter analyst as the weird guy who showed up at Thanksgiving dinner uninvited and tried to kill the family patriarch with a butcher knife might raise some questions.

Cody in the concrete, Astor in the tub, Rita on the rooftop...

...see you next season!

And an attempt to smash Dexter upside the head.

Taking the season in retrospect, this was probably one of the best episodes. Too bad it was overshadowed by the finale.