film / tv / politics / social media / lists celeb / pajiba love / misc / about / cbr
film / tv / politics / web / celeb

The-Trinity-Killer-dexter.jpeg

John Lithgow's Brief Return to 'Dexter' as the Trinity Killer Was Suitably Creepy

By Dustin Rowles | TV | December 20, 2021 |

By Dustin Rowles | TV | December 20, 2021 |


The-Trinity-Killer-dexter.jpeg

Here is something I never thought I’d say eight weeks ago: Dexter: New Blood is running even right now with the fourth season as the best of the series, behind only the opening season. I’m eager to see if it returns for another season, knowing that if it does, it might ultimately ruin this season if it needs to rely on an unlikely coincidence, sloppy incompetence, or a Deus Ex Machina to save Dexter from being caught or killed in order to extend its run.

Still, I’m enjoying the hell out of this season — and the back-to-back Dexter/Yellowjackets double bill on Showtime — which only seems to be getting better with each new episode. It’s moved into Classic Dexter territory now: Dexter has unmasked Kurt Caldwell, and Kurt Caldwell has unmasked Dexter, and now the two serial killers have to figure out how to take down one another without implicating themselves. The dynamics of that are particularly challenging because Dexter is dating the chief of police, who now knows that he’s living under a new identity, and Dexter has to navigate being a single father to Harrison, a burgeoning serial killer in his own right.

Thematically, much of this season has also been about fathers and sons. Dexter killed Kurt Caldwell’s son, and now Kurt Caldwell is trying to play mentor to Dexter’s son, but what he really wants is revenge. Dexter is also trying to learn how to be the father to Harrison that Harry Morgan was to him, while Harrison himself is trying to decide who the better father figure is for him: His own dad, Dexter, or Kurt Caldwell? This week’s episode revealed a third serial-killer father figure in the mix, as well: John Lithgow’s Trinity Killer.

Harrison had only met the Trinity Killer once, and he was but an infant left in a puddle of his mother’s own blood thanks to the handiwork of Arthur Mitchell. That brief encounter with Mitchell, however, left an indelible impression on Harrison, and the memory of it seems to be a guiding force for him now. It’s ridiculous that an infant could remember a brief moment from when he was a baby, but also: How could you forget this?

Honestly, the behind-the-scenes shot doesn’t help much, either.

This photo, however, will help wash the ick away.

There are three episodes remaining of this season of Dexter: New Blood, which airs Sundays on Showtime.