7 Storylines To Watch For In This Season Of ‘Dexter’

We won’t be putting Dexter in our weekly rotation of recapped, GIF’d, and discussed shows simply because it has proven to be inconsistent and frustrating, and the middle episodes in each season tend to be a slog. Also, because I suspect it will only invite gripes, as Dexter is one of those shows for many of us that we love to watch and complain about. That said, we will check in when there are major developments on the show, and last night’s season premiere — as has been teased for the last nine months — certainly represents a major shift. Let’s look at seven storylines to look out for in season seven.

1. Debra Knows — Debra doesn’t just know that Dexter killed Travis, which she witnessed. She now knows he didn’t do it in self-defense, and in one of the show’s better HOLY SH*T moments, she found out that Dexter is an actual serial killer when she discovered his blood slides and Dexter confessed. It was a surprisingly chilling moment, and in a way, viewing Dexter through Debra’s eyes transformed Dexter from this kind of awesome serial killer guy who takes out only bad people into a less sympathetic and more evil character. In the coming episodes, I have no doubt that Dexter’s justifications and explanations will soften him as a character, but seeing Dexter simply respond “Yes,” to “Are you a serial killer” made his crimes more real, at least in the context of a fictional television show.

2. Will Debra Prevent Dexter from Killing More People? — The answer is obviously no, but we can deduce from the scenes in upcoming episodes that Debra — in the midst of learning what Dexter is — will also attempt to prevent him from further killings. It won’t work. After all, Dexter — even with his sister on his scent — didn’t hesitate to kill someone in last night’s episode. With a fire extinguisher, no less. The stress of having his sister on his case may actually make him even more bloodthirsty. Let’s hope so.

3. Louis is F**ked — Louis is a weird character in the show, clumsily tying together a few other characters. He was Masuka’s lab intern. He idolizes Dexter. He’s sleeping with Dexter’s nanny, who is Batista’s sister. And now, after using Dexter’s laptop without permission, he’s on Dexter’s sh*t list. If Louis looks up to Dexter, will he find out about Dexter’s secret and become a serial killer himself? Either way, Louis will almost certainly get a knife plunged into his chest before the season is over. I say HOORAY.