Circle of Friends (Dexter)

"Circle of Friends"
Dexter episode
Debra and Angel discover Neil Perry's records.
Episode no.	Season 1 Episode 7
Directed by	Steve Shill
Written by	Daniel Cerone
Production code	107
Original air date	November 12, 2006 (2006-11-12)
Guest stars
Christian Camargo as Rudy Cooper Lizette Carrión as Shanda Daniel Goldman as Cody Bennett Brad William Henke as Tony Tucci C.S. Lee as Vince Masuka Mark Pellegrino as Paul Bennett Geoff Pierson as Captain Tom Matthews Christina Robinson as Astor Bennett Sam Witwer as Neil Perry Mark L. Young as Jeremy Downs
Episode chronology
← Previous "Return to Sender" Next → "Shrink Wrap"
List of Dexter episodes

"Circle of Friends" is the seventh episode of the first season for the television series Dexter, and the 7th episode of the series as a whole. It introduces Mark Pellegrino as Paul Bennett. The Ice Truck Killer is supposedly identified, but Dexter is skeptical. Meanwhile, Rita must deal with the return of her menacing, recently paroled ex-husband.

Plot

Debra and Angel identify the Ice Truck Killer as Neil Perry, a taxidermist with a history of mental illness and violence. After tracking down Perry to a sleazy motel, Debra and Angel arrest him where he gleefully confesses to the crimes. But when Dexter later meets Perry, something about his confession does not sit right with him. Lt. LaGuerta sees the arrest of Perry as a way to further advance her political career, but feels betrayed when her superior, Captain Matthews takes the credit. Debra begins to have a meeting of minds with Rudy, the prosthetic manufacturer who works at the hospital, and asks him on a date. Meanwhile, Rita must try to adjust herself when Paul, her violent-tempered and recently paroled husband, shows up and throws his weight around by attempting to be compassionate to their children, Astor and Cody. Also, Dexter tries to cover up his past mistake when Jeremy Downs, one victim who Dexter allowed to escape, is arrested again for a murder charge. Dexter confronts him in a police interrogation room and asks Jeremy why he killed again. Jeremy admits that he can't feel anything (like Dexter), and he thought that killing would bring him something different. Dexter explains to Jeremy that he is the same way, and tells him only to kill people that deserve to die.

Meanwhile, Rita stands up to Paul and tells him that if he can handle supervised visits for 6 months, then she might consider letting him have unsupervised visitation. She then hands him divorce papers agreeing that he will follow these orders, and Paul submits very quickly and signs them. Rita, very surprised that Paul didn't put up a fight, smiles. Dexter wants to give Jeremy more of a guiding light, but when he goes into prison for a visit, he finds that Jeremy committed suicide. He took Dexter's advice and killed someone that deserved to die. Dexter, disappointed that the Ice Truck Killer was nothing more than a mentally disturbed psycho, requests to see him so he can ask questions. Neil walks into the room and Dexter says "Hi." Neil replies "Who the fuck are you?" Dexter then looks into the camera and grins while music plays, and the episode ends.

Reception

Eric Goldman of IGN said: "Dexter continues to move along at a brisk pace, and this week delivered one of its busiest and best episodes yet."^[1]

Allusions

• Dexter Morgan uses the alias Patrick Bateman, an homage to the psychopathic serial killer character in Bret Easton Ellis's books, to procure the animal tranquilizers he uses to abduct his victims.
• The hot dog trailer seen in this episode is identical to that seen in the NBC series, My Name is Earl.^{[citation needed]}
• A Latin styled version of the song "Perfidia" plays when Dexter arrives at Neil Perry's house to witness the patio excavation.^{[citation needed]}
• The song Neil Perry sings is the gospel, "Now the Day is Over".

References

1. ^ http://tv.ign.com/articles/745/745652p1.html

External links

• "Circle of Friends" at the Internet Movie Database
• "Circle of Friends" at TV.com