Dexter Episode Recap: "The Damage a Man Can Do"

• Nov 19, 2008 05:30 PM ET
• by Paula Paige

It's no surprise that this show revolved around a gambling man who paid his debts by getting rid of other gamblers. Everyone takes a gamble in this episode of Dexter. Dexter shares his deepest "code" secrets with his BFF, Miguel. Harry is completely against the idea, but Dexter, wanting to define himself beyond the grip of his father, jumps head in and builds Miguel a starter kit. From identifying the target to the kill, Miguel entangles himself in Dexter's world.

Dexter warns him, "The No. 1 rule of 'The Code' is to not get caught." It was all very Fight Club. But Harry warns Dexter that it was never the plan to "Preach the code, my son." By allowing Miguel in, Harry advises, "Everything Miguel does now is connected to you — it's a lot of responsibility." And while Dexter may be able to shoulder the burden, it is not certain how Miguel will cope. We'll get to that in a moment.

Debra crosses a line by sleeping with Anton, but what line exactly? Quinn finally tells her that Anton is not a real CI and she can't help but set him free. She gambles with Anton — assuming that by letting him off the hook, he will still be there. But someone else got to Anton before she did. Once again, I ask, is Quinn setting Deb up? She inadvertently trusted Quinn and then finds out that he wasn't on the level. Can Anton be trusted? Anton's an herb-loving, musician. Chances are he's on the up and up. But he is even alive?

In a silly and endearing message, Angel breaks a date with the ball-busting Barbara and fears he's lost her for good when she doesn't return the call. Angel gambles on Barbara and she on him. She surprises him with Chinese take-out, telling him she laughed every time she listened to his message. They are too sweet.

Debra brings in all the tree people to try to get a lead on the Skinner. George King names his employee Mario, adding he was in trouble in Nicaragua for stabbing a guy. When they question Mario, he's so frightened by his boss; he begs to be sent back to Nicaragua without his son.

Rita is a hormonal hoot. I love her raging mood swings and thought for sure she would break down and cry at some point. She's obviously going through the anger stage of pregnancy. Of course, she wanted an engagement ring. Men. Really. How could Dexter take her for her word on that? Thank goodness Deb was there to set him straight.

Oh, Miguel, Miguel, Miguel. Let into Dexter's world, he is at once energized and traumatized. He tells Dexter he feels, "fantastic," after the kill. That he wandered to Ellen's apartment and she let him in was too much. He looked sad, or lost, somehow seeking comfort, forgiveness?

I am thoroughly confused about why Miguel would have shown up at Ellen's, (rubbing the door handle in that way). Someone shed some light on this for me. If he tells her is he giving her more power?

Possibly my favorite part was when Dexter spins the table that Billy is on like a roulette wheel — oh the pun. Gambled his last gamble. Dexter threw the dice and gambled on Miguel. He took a risk by not following Harry's wishes and letting Miguel get so close.  Miguel gambled with Dexter and ended up at Ellen's.

Ellen tries to convince Maria to take more chances. Ellen's own power play with the bartender is telling of her power play with Miguel. Perhaps Miguel has some power over her and so she plays hardball with him when they are in public. If they are having an affair, how long has it been going on and what is keeping them together?

(Total aside: I read that when they were shooting the scene in which Miguel kills Billy Fleeter, Jimmy Smits somehow grabbed a real knife, not the prop knife, and really stabbed him. Luckily the actor was wearing protective gear, so while he was injured, it wasn't fatal).

There were so awesome lines, even if Masuka was absent.

• "Ah, boundaries."
• "Rita's pregnancy hormones are ganging up on us."
• "Look for something bludgeon-y."
• "Dire ethanol emergency here!"
• "He shows up looking like the Unabomber."
• "You're such a y-chromosome cliché."
• "And Dex, size matters."
• "This is Sergeant Angel Battista — Angel, to you."
• "It's like I have this monster inside me and I don't know how to control it."

Only four more episodes and I don't know where this is all leading. I'd love to hear your theories!