A Little Reflection was yet another disappointing episode in this final season of Dexter. On paper, this sounds like it could be an interesting episode. For instance, Dexter takes on an “intern”; the boy he was going to kill, Zach Hamilton. Last episode we got to meet Zach for the first time and you could tell right away that he was bad news. In this episode, we found out that he is in fact a killer and a psychopath, so much so that he is being seen by Dr. Vogel. This obviously was not a surprise.

Vogel suggested that she and Dexter teach Zach “the code”. What the hell is Vogel’s deal?! Let’s take this guy who’s already killed an innocent woman, who is drawn to the blood like Dexter, and who was going to kill his father, and give him a set of rules to live by. If Dexter has this much trouble following his own code, what do you think will happen when this kid is told it’s okay to kill?! Zach pulled on Dexter’s heartstrings when he said he was killing to protect his mother… something Dexter has always wished he could have done. This seems like another situation like Miguel Prado or Lila; where Dexter lets them know who he is, they kill someone innocent, and then Dexter kills them. Only this time, we know little to nothing about the killer in question. Yawn.

There is something unsettling about Deb being fine suddenly. She was psychotic and tried to kill Dexter and herself, and now she is like regular old Deb. She keeps saying she has PTSD, but you can’t just shut off PTSD merely because you want everything to be like it used to be. She has just decided to let Dexter be Dexter.

I don’t even care that Hannah McKay is back. Like… at all. I cared so little about her when the whole season (7) revolved around her, it is obvious why I cannot muster up an ounce of give-a-shit now that she is back. We’ll see what happens, but I suspect I will continue to feel disinterested. I feel no connection to most of the characters. I feel little connection to Dexter anymore, as he just comes off as tired and aging.

I don’t know what to say, really, other than hopefully this show gets better. Unless I see some wicked action in the next few episodes, I will be horribly disappointed with the final season of a show that should have ended after season 4. It can never get any better than Trinity! Speaking of which… did Astor & Cody die or something? Where the hell have they been?

I give this episode a 1/5.

[Ed. Note – Just want to say, despite the show spiraling into mediocrity, I really enjoy that Dora Madison Burge is here.]