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Lead Critic for the site, as well as serving as an editor when needed.
Dexter: New Blood Episode Four is titled “H is for Hero”. Tony Saltzman serves as the episode’s writer and Sanford Bookstaver returns to the director’s chair. This week, Dexter (Michael C. Hall) and Harrison (Jack Alcott) discover a shared hobby that is unique to them, and Kurt (Clancy Brown) continues his nefarious activities.
You can also read our reviews on Episodes One, Two, and Three!
The cast does another fine job this episode, and Alcott & Hall continue to make their chemistry a centerpiece of any scene they’re in. Harrison also seems to be a decent enough liar and by the end of the episode, while Dexter plans to take his relationship with his son to a whole other level. We also get a sneak peek at John Lithgow’s return as The Trinity Killer, and it seems there will be more to come of his return later in the season. Molly Park (Jamie Chung) is a rather obnoxious podcast host. Although, she will probably become an integral character as the season goes on.
As the episode’s title states, a big theme here is heroes, as Harrison performs a huge heroic act in the episode’s start. Harrison also remarks later on that “maybe we’re a little bit hero and a little bit monster”; this is said over a rather questionable scene of Kurt. We also spend a little more time with our heroes of the story: Chief of Police Angela (Julia Jones) and Logan (Alano Miller). Harrison’s heroic act also changes where his story will end by the end of the season, and it also solidifies Dexter’s feelings about his son.
As the episode begins, Dexter sends Harrison off to school and chaos ensues at the local high school, but is quickly resolved. The episode gives more time for Angela to develop and reveals her keen interest in missing person’s cases from the area. After some regular investigating, Dexter makes a huge discovery and it puts more than a smile on his face, confirming what he thought was true about Harrison. The writing is fine in this episode; however, there are a couple of moments that could’ve been placed elsewhere or taken out entirely. Otherwise, though, there’s a lot that is discovered in this episode and it’s exciting to see where the story will go.
The cinematography is great this week, and there are a couple of times in the episode where it’s just a one-shot and the camera moves around the actors; the camerawork’s just extremely smooth. I also enjoy the director’s return for back-to-back episodes as well. Overall, the cinematography and writing were an improvement this week and besides the main plot of the episode, other elements of this week’s episode could’ve been thrown out.
The end of the episode was great as it revealed what Dexter was always wondering: does Harrison really have his own Dark Passenger? It’s also going to be interesting to see what happens with Kurt next week as well, as he does some shady stuff this week. The show continues to roll out more backstory on Harrison and reveals more about our season villain, Kurt, and his schemes, while furthering Dexter’s motives, as they seem to change more than anyone else’s.
What’re your thoughts on this week’s episode? Dexter: New Blood is available anywhere you watch Showtime. For more from everyone’s favorite serial killer, stay right here with TCS.
Lead Critic for the site, as well as serving as an editor when needed.
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