Dexter: New Blood Episode 5 review: An episode of revelations and a ghost from the past

3.5/5

Story:

Angela begins to unravel more information about Matt Caldwell and runs into Angel Batista. Harrison overdoses at a frat party after Dexter confronts him about the blade, and Kurt's psyche is further explored as he corners another victim.

Review:

The chaos that is unravelling in the secretive life of Dexter Morgan as Jim Linsdey appears to be far more concerning than Dexter had originally envisioned. Being a father to Harrison has brought forward its own baggage of troubles, ones that Dexter hopes he will be able to cherish as the responsibilities of being a parent. However, Harrison is no ordinary teenager, there is darkness in him. This darkness that might consume him could be toned down with the help of his father as there are probably not many people who could understand ‘the dark passenger’ better than the Bay Harbour Butcher himself.

This by no stretch of the imagination indicates that father and son would go on a killing spree hunting down criminals. On the contrary, Harrison being a teenager refuses to communicate with his father about his problem and goes on a bender and overdoses, barely surviving the ordeal. His son’s near-death experience enrages Dexter and he sets about to seek vengeance on the drug supplier. These scenes are a throwback to the original series with Dexter stalking his victim and following the ‘Code of Harry’.

There are hints of Dexter slowly but surely getting back to his old self. This could further complicate things as Iron River is a small town unlike Miami where he could operate relatively undetected thanks to its large population and high crime rate. The fact that Logan and the police officers nearly stumbled onto Dexter while working on the drug supplier reaffirms this. It wouldn’t be too far-fetched to imagine Dexter finding a new routine to carry out his deeds.

Kurt Caldwell appears to be the primary antagonist, but there is very little context given as to why he has become a sadistic killer. But with each passing episode, more layers of his characters are revealed. The narrative has also teased that Harrison will play a crucial role in whatever happens between Dexter and Kurt.

Verdict:

Five episodes into the season, and the quality has not dropped off even the slightest, from the high standards set in the pilot episode. It continues to excel and keeps the audience hooked till the very end of each episode. The cliffhanger at the end certainly raises the stakes for the next episode.