The following article contains spoilers for Dexter: New Blood.New Blood is nearing the breaking point for the protagonists as Dexter is shown at his most vulnerable, getting frustrated over the fact that Harrison is unable to open up to him, while the teenager reveals part of his dark side through drugs and a near-death experience. Kurt Caldwell's true character is also revealed as he continues to display strange behavior, while Angela and Molly try to finalize Matt Caldwell's disappearance but come away with strange results. Officer Logan of Iron Lake also becomes more involved as he tries to comfort Dexter after Harrison's unfortunate overdose with drugs.
This latest episode, as Dexter points out in the end, is about how individuals believe they can have everything under control, but fail to do so because of their behavior, their anxiety, and (in some cases) their history. Dexter becomes even more anxious because he cannot protect his son nor prevent him from causing harm to himself because Harrison is lost and unclear in his path towards understanding his own identity. Even when Dexter tries to follow his own code, he can't hold in his frustrations nor do things go according to plan.
Dexter Is More Vulnerable Than Ever
There's a moment in this episode when Dexter says that he hates being vulnerable, right before he is about to take down the drug dealer responsible for selling the drugs which led Harrison to have an overdose during a party. However, as Debra correctly points out, Dexter is seeking vengeance for his son rather than following the code that applies to taking down other serial killers. This behavior is uncharacteristic of Dexter because he's almost never gone after drug dealers, and is acting more out of anger and frustration (understandably so since his son almost died, and that dealer's drugs are responsible for the deaths of other young individuals).
Dexter is usually capable of keeping his emotions and frustrations to himself, but when Harrison is in the hospital, he uncharacteristically lashes out at Officer Logan by telling him to back off and that he's not a parent who understands what he is going through. However, Dexter also appreciates Logan's persistence when it comes to taking down criminals. For instance, he is impressed by Logan's interrogation techniques towards the drug dealer, which makes Dexter realize that Logan is a good cop who knows how to do his job. Despite this, Dexter is also left annoyed because, while he's able to track down the dealers responsible on his own, Logan is not far behind, and nearly compromises Dexter's position, showing that Logan is a policeman who isn't easily fooled by anyone.
Kurt Caldwell Is A Killer
It is pretty much confirmed that Kurt Caldwell is a cold-blooded murderer, thanks to his heinous actions in this episode. The woman he was driving at the end of the previous episode turns out to be the latest female victim (before Kurt most likely shot and killed the last woman who stayed at the same shelter). While some of Kurt's suspicions are answered, there are still several questions: what motivates Kurt to kill, and why does he target young women?
There's a scene in which the young woman in the shelter is looking at the camera (knowing she's being watched), and tries to trick Kurt with seduction by removing her clothes in order to find a way out of the room. However, Kurt isn't after a young woman's beauty or seduction, since he yells at his computer (surveilling the room) and tells her to stop stripping. Kurt also becomes way too emotionally invested with Harrison as he sees the young man trying to flee town. Not only does Kurt offer Harrison a job at his diner (like he did with the woman), but he tells the boy that he has potential.
Kurt's behavior towards Harrison and the young woman may be an attempt to find young people who he considers better than his son since Matt was a deeply flawed person. While his female victims have ended up dead (and are likely used for sport rather than purpose), perhaps Kurt views Harrison as the son he always wanted and is trying to lure him towards his direction (recognizing that Harrison is at odds with Dexter). Kurt may be leading Harrison towards a much darker path, while Dexter is desperately demanding to understand and help his son.
Angela and Molly are Becoming a Duo
Chief Bishop and podcaster Molly Park are continuing their team-up, and this time take a road trip to see if Matt Caldwell is really alive (of course the security cameras show otherwise). However, this trip becomes even more engrossing when Angela meets a surprise guest star (Hint: he was a regular favorite in the original series), which leaves her questioning Dexter's true identity. This trip is essential in showing Angela and Molly's friendly and evolving partnership, while also allowing both women to broaden their horizons and receive advice from fellow cops about how to tackle complex cases.
Dexter will undoubtedly become more vulnerable as the series progresses because the police (especially Angela and Logan) will potentially become more suspicious of Dexter and his secret identity, especially due to Dexter letting his emotions for Harrison cloud his judgment. Kurt Caldwell appears to be a killer who enjoys watching women become vulnerable and helpless because he must have experienced hardships in his past and wants to take control of other people. Fans will have to keep watching as the series heads deeper into dark territory.
New episodes of Dexter: New Blood air Sundays on Showtime.