'Dexter' Recap: Circle Us
This week's episode of Dexter continues with Lumen Pierce's (Julia Stiles) pursuit of the men who kept her captive and raped her. Following Dexter Morgan (Michael C. Hall) killing Boyd Fowler and Lumen sloppily eliminating Dan the dentist last episode, Lumen tries to remember the rest of the group. She recalls the ticking in her ears of "Watch Guy," and "Suit and Tie," who would carefully fold his jacket after removing Lumen's blindfold before attacking her.
Later, the man who is presumably "Suit and Tie" is shown removing several barrels full of the other girl's remains back from the swamp in a pickup truck. As he drives back from the swamp, his truck is barreled into by a drunk driver. Miami Metro is called to the scene, but there's no sign of the driver; the man who hit him said he fled immediately. But left behind for Dexter and the rest are the barrels and the neatly folded jacket, which gives Dexter another chance to find and get rid of one more of Lumen's assailants.
The truck was registered to Jordan Chase, the "Take It" motivational speaker Boyd Fowler obsessively listened to. After examining the bodies, two of the women were identified as visitors or recent transplants to Miami, much like Lumen. Chase is brought in with Cole Harmon by Miami Metro where Chase he claims the truck was stolen by an employee who had access to the keys. Sgt. Angel Bautista (David Zayas) doesn't buy it and names Cole Harmon as the prime suspect, since Chase's alibi for the night of the accident checks out.
Harmon's hair and fingerprints are found in the jacket and in the truck. Dexter shows his picture and Chase's to Lumen, who easily identifies him as "Suit and Tie," although she doesn't recognize Chase. She and Dexter argue; Dexter says the law will bring these men to justice, but Lumen doesn't want justice to serve these men. She wants to "take care of it" herself.
Dexter helps Lumen steer the police to Fowler so they can derail the investigation and buy more time to take care of the rapists together. Dexter goes back to Fowler's house where he takes his wallet and plants it in the truck. Vince Masuka finds it, and Miami Metro examines Fowler's house, finding the locks of hair, barrels, and other evidence of the murders. When asked about Fowler by the police, Cole denies any knowledge of him and claims Fowler was one of Chase's stalkers.
Lumen and Dexter go to Harmon's house with the intention of Dexter killing him, but Lumen sneaks in and ends up finishing Dexter's job. In the house, the two stumble upon a photo of Dan the Dentist, Cole Harmon, and Boyd Fowler together from years ago. It becomes clear that Lumen's attackers had known each other for years, and likely can be identified thanks to the picture.
Miami Metro puts together a sting inside Club Mayan to find the Fuentes brothers, the presumed heads of the Santa Muerte murders. Miami Metro use the Fuentes associate Jasmine, who they convinced to help them in exchange for some of her crimes dropped, as a way to lure and capture the brothers. Another female club-goer whose help was enlisted last episode flirts with one of the brothers, Carlos, who inadvertently discovers she's armed. A standoff ensues; Jasmine gets shot, Carlos holds a woman at gunpoint until Deb corners him. She tries to get Carlos to drop the weapon and let the woman go, but is forced to shoot him. Lt. Maria Laguerta (Lauren Valez) is later accosted for her game plan during the sting.
Meanwhile, Deb Morgan (Jennifer Carpenter) and Joey Quinn's (Desmond Harrington) relationship seems to be progressing, despite Quinn's continued attempts to find out Dexter's secret and Deb's insistance on keeping their relationship a mystery. He finds out from his informant that Dexter took his house off the market and a pretty blond girl had been staying there. Quinn asks Deb if she'd like to find a place with him, but she resists.
Harrison's nanny Sonya briefly sets off Dexter by saying a "circle us" prayer and displaying a Saint Bridget figurine in his apartment. After being asked to reconsider, Dexter allows Sonya to pray and display the figurine, and even joins in on the prayer over his sleeping son.
It seems Dexter is again taking on a partner in crime, although this time he seems hesitant perhaps due to how it turned out with Miguel Prado (Jimmy Smits). Dexter seems unsure how - and if - he should should help Lumen by killing the men who hurt her, but he knows she won't just give up and move on. It also appears that Dexter and Lumen's relationship may be progressing beyond partners in crime, as evidenced by Lumen's occasional gestures of affection and Dexter's reaction to her holding Harrison.