Living and Dying, Grieving and Lying in the 'Burbs
.
.

The domestication of Dexter continues in "Father Knows Best." This is another of those episodes that quietly explores the dichotomy of his personality while revealing more of his past. A lot more.

.

If there was any doubt that Dexter has finally accepted that he's in a relationship with Rita, this episode quells them. It opens with the couple showering together--or at least attempting to. Before any good stuff can happen, though, the kids break things up, as kids do, with an ill-timed need to pee. If that's not "family-oriented", than nothing is. We also find out that Dexter has a nasty scar running down his side, and as with most everything else in this series, its origins are shrouded in mystery. Dexter plays it for laughs, though, telling the kids he got in a swordfight.

.

The day seems to be off to a good start, but when Dexter gets to to work, Deb presents him with a registered letter that brings more mysteries come to the fore. Seems Dexter's real father has died and left Dexter his house. This comes as shocking news to both Dexter and Deb, since Harry had raised Dexter with the belief that his real parents had died in "a horrible accident" of unspecified details. And we all know that Harry was nothing if not honest.

.

Still, Dexter's curiosity is piqued, and so is Rita's. She finds a sitter for the kids, and informs Dexter she's going with him to Dade to help him clear up matters. As I said, Dexter, like it or not, is in a serious relationship now. Apparently, so are Deb and Rudy, since they show up, unannounced, at the house to help put this inconvenience behind him. (Hmm... Dex and Rita, Deb and Rudy. Are the writers playing games here, or drawing connections?)

.

Meanwhile, in subplot land, Doakes is involved in the shooting of a fleeing suspect. Complications ensue when Doakes's version of what happened don't jibe with the evidence. We do learn, however, that Doakes was involved in Special Ops during the Haitian Crisis, and that the man he shot was a member of death squads there. It makes you wonder if Doakes is quietly dispensing his own peculiar brand of justice.

.

Getting back to the main thrust of this episode, Dexter--carefully plotting his every move Dexter--has finally come face to face with the Ice Truck Killer, and apparently has no clue that Rudy, his foster sister's lover, is his nemesis. Given that discovering his real father didn't die in a horrible accident, and all that Harry had made him believe is a lie, this is understandable. DNA tests prove that the dead man, Joe Driscol, is Dexter's "biodad", much to Deb's dismay. Dexter is the only family she has left, and this development threatens that stabilizing thread in her life.

.

Complicating matters even more is the fact that Dexter is convinced that Joe was murdered, and not the victim of a heart attack, as the death certificate says. Proving that might prove to be difficult, though, since Joe is cremated before Dexter can uncover the proof of that.What he does find out, though, is that had a visit from the cable guy right before he died. Anyway, that's what the old lady across the street tells him. Admittedly, she's not the most reliable witness around, since she does tend to ramble. Dexter and Rita leave Dade with a whole new bag of questions.

.

But as Deb and Rudy prepare to leave, the old lady recognizes Rudy as the cable guy. She just wants a cable problem repaired, of course. We, on the other hand, realize that Rudy killed poor old Joe, and the nice, but senile, old lady is now in harm's way.

.

Before "Father Knows Best" fades to black, we find Rita back at home in Miami with an unexpected guest. Paul, the -ex, greets her in his customary abusive way. This time, though, Rita fights back, giving him a well-deserved (and long-awaited) whack upside the head with a baseball bat. She quickly gathers up the kids and flees, presumably to Dexter's house.

.

There are three episodes remaining in this run of Dexter, and things couldn't be much more taunt. I'm thinking Rudy must be related to Dexter, but what secret was he squashing by murdering Joe? And what did Joe do to prompt Harry to lie to Dexter the child? There must be a connection between Joe and Harry, but since they're both dead, will it progress beyond ambiguity? Will the nice old lady be the Ice Truck Killer's next victim, or is Deb the ultimate fool for love? Is Doakes some kind of government assassin with a cop cover? Will Dexter have to eliminate the Paul problem, or will Rita handle matters on her own? (My money's on Rita. After all, the family that slays together, stays together.)

.

We have approximately 156 minutes, spread over three episodes, to unravel the mystery. I suggest taking some serious notes through the duration.