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EPISODE 8: "Shrink Wrap"
Episode 8: Shrink Wrap

Episode summary: The suicide of a wealthy and powerful businesswoman leads Dexter to suspect that her psychologist may have killed her. But Dexter gets a surprise of his own when he pays a visit to the suspect, Dr. Emmett Meridian, a visit which forces Dexter to open up dark secrets from his past. Elsewhere, as Rita becomes warmer to her ex-husband Paul, who claims to be a changed man, she also wants to move forward into intimacy with Dexter, who is afraid of physically consummating their relationship. Meanwhile, Lt. Laguerta's visits to Neil Perry makes her become more ever more skeptical to his claims of being the Ice Truck Killer. Also, Debra's romance with prosthetic specialist Rudy begins to heat up.
Original air date: 11/19/2006

Written by: Lauren Gussis

Directed by: Tony Goldwyn

Dexter's Open Case Files
Dexter Episode 8 victim: Vanessa GayleDescription of crime: Apparent suicide

Victim(s): Vanessa Gayle

Assigned officer(s): Sgt. Doakes, Angel Batista

Crime scene: Woman shot in bathtub: bloody walls, bloody water, gun

Suspect(s): Suicide

Clue(s): Shot angle

Dexter Episode 8 victim: Vanessa GayleBlood spatter evidence suggests...suicide, although there seems to be no apparent reason for this high-profile woman to kill herself


Dexter Episode 8: Neil PerryDescription of crime: Continued Ice Truck Killer Questioning

Assigned officer(s): Currently Lt. LaGuerta

Conclusion: When LaGuerta confronts Neil with a frozen, severed head and informs him that she knows the Miami PD firewall was breached, Neil Perry tearfully confesses that he is not the ITK. Dexter's intuition was right: the ITK will kill again.

Add to Dexter's victim files
Dr. Emmett Meridian | Dexter's Victim | Episode 8Victim Name: Dr. Emmett Meridian (played by Tony Goldwyn)

Age/Occupation: Psychotherapist

Where/how Dexter stalks victim: Goes to therapy to talk about his "friend's" suicide under the alias "Sean". Ends up making a major psychological breakthrough with Dr. Meridian, and even confesses that he's a serial killer before offing him.

Why victim deserves it: He's got female clients addicted to anti-depressants. When their prescriptions run out, he refuses to renew them and instead suggests suicide. Three of his high-profile female clients have killed themselves because of his brainwashing.

Dexter's kill methods and rituals: Rubber sheets, surgical saw, shrink wrap, duct tape

Victim's last words: None. Blamed the killings on "mother issues"

Location of killing: Dr. Meridian's office

Close calls/slip-ups: Dexter was careful with this one.

FLASHBACKS

  • Dexter sneaking up on his father and gagging him at night while he is at the fridge. Dexter thinks it is a game, his father says it is survival.
  • Dexter being teased by a kid at school then telling his father he felt like killing him. Harry says he's proud of Dexter for walking away. Dexter asks if the feeling will ever go away.
  • Dexter once again has a flashback about the kid at school teasing him. He goes back up to school presumably after Harry talked to him. The kid is playing basketball while Dexter is walking up from behind with a knife or box cutter of some sort. Harry grabs Dexter away to stop him.
CLUES TO DEXTER'S PAST

  • While Meridian leads Dexter through a hypnosis session, Dexter has a vision of a little boy crying in a pool of blood. He doesn't know who it is at this point, but it disturbs him.

  •


DEXTER'S RELATIONSHIPS
Developments with Rita:
  • Because Rita feels in control with Paul, she decides she is ready to sleep with Dexter. Dexter makes an excuse to get out of it.

  • After an emotional hynposis session with Dr. Meridian, Dexter visits Rita and finally spends the night.

  • In the morning, Rita tells Dexter that nothing he could do would scare her away.
 Interactions with others:
  • Doakes is keeping an eye on Dexter.
  • Lt. LaGuerta flirts openly with an awkward Dexter.


SIGNIFICANCE OF EPISODE TITLE

Shrink Wrap is the air tight plastic wrap that most things are wrapped in when they leave their respective factory of origin. In this episode however, Dexter visits a psychiatrist, commonly referred to as a "shrink", and kills him at the end of the episode.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
Best Moments:

  • Dexter is totally relieved when he admits he's a serial killer to Dr. Meridian (who at first thinks he is joking).

  • Debra Morgan sleeps with her new boyfriend for the first time.

  • The Ice Truck Killer is revealed to be Deb's new boyfriend, the prosthesis doctor.


Best Lines:

  • "I can't kill Meridian yet. I need another therapy session."

  • Dexter's Craigslist ad: "Dear Ken, I'm in pieces. Why the cold shoulder?"
  • "He must be terrible at his job." Dexter's voiceover when he discovers that all 3 suicides had the same therapist.
  • The Ice Truck Killer's reponse to Dexter's Craiglist ad: "Barbie, Be Patient. One day we'll share a cold one."


    • EPISODE TRIVIA
    • Dexter used frozenbarbie@hotmail.com as an email address for a web site. (See goofs)

    • The alias Dexter gives the shrink is Sean Ellis, the first name of Patrick Bateman's younger brother as mentioned in American Psycho and main character of The Rules of Attraction. The last name is that of the author of both original works, Brett Easton Ellis.

    • Dexter strangles Dr. Meridian with a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu move known as "Lion Killer."

    • The song that Deb is singing and dancing to is "Make Me Lose Control" by Eric Carmen.

    Goofs:
    • Crew or equipment visible: The camera crew is reflected in the side of the minivan when Dexter goes to help the guy pick up his dropped cantaloupe.

    • While removing blood from Dr. Meridian's cheek, the level of blood inside the pipette changes. When collecting the blood he barely fills the tip and then removes it from his face. When placing it on the slide the pipette is nearly full.

    • Dexter's email address on the Frozen Barbie ad says "frozenbarbie@hotmail.web." When Brian clicks on "reply," he replies to "frozenbarbie@hotmail.com."

      ORIGINAL VERSUS NETWORK BROADCAST
      This one is for the superfans, tell the newbie fans what they're missin' out on!
      Showtime Original Series: DexterIN THE SHOWTIME SERIES
      In the CBS Broadcast of DexterIN THE CBS BROADCAST









      ◄ Episode 7: Circle of Friends Dexter Season 1 Episode Guides Episode 9: Father Knows Best ►






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      skepticbutbelieve The irony of removing and replacing limbs? 1 Apr 6 2008, 10:59 PM EDT by skepticbutbelieve
      Thread started: Apr 6 2008, 10:35 PM EDT  Watch
      Has anyone else seen the irony between the ITK removing limbs and Deb's new boyfriend Rudy who replaces limbs?
      0  out of 2 found this valuable. Do you?    
      Keyword tags: c hall michael Deb Morgan dexter dexter episode online watch dexter tv show hall michael ITK showetime dexter
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      cvncvb The gadget in Emmett Meridians office 1 Apr 4 2008, 12:52 PM EDT by CKrelax
      Thread started: Feb 14 2008, 3:19 PM EST  Watch
      I'm trying to find the gadget that dexter plays around with when hes waiting in Emmett Meridians office. Its a gizmo that are in extended mode a ball and folds together like a star. Anyone know where I can buy such a giz?
      0  out of 1 found this valuable. Do you?    
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