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EPISODE 3.8: "The Damage a Man Can Do"

The damage a man can do

Episode summary:
 Miguel brings Dexter another “project,” but this time he wants to get his hands dirty. Dexter realizes it’s time to teach Miguel the Code – for his own safety as well as Miguel’s. As Dexter walks Miguel through the process, Dexter both struggles with, and enjoys, letting Miguel into his private world so completely. But Dexter doesn’t realize that this has only whetted Miguel’s appetite. Rita finds herself losing control because of the pregnancy. She becomes worried that Dexter may get fed up with her. Because of her hard work, Debra finds herself one step closer to catching the Skinner. But after she finds out a secret about her new boyfriend, Anton, he disappears on her.
Original air date:
 November 16, 2008
Written by:
 Scott Buck
Directed by:
 Marcos Siega
Guest star(s):
Notable music:


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Dexter's Open Case Files
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Suspect(s):

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Blood evidence suggests...

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Add to Dexter's victim files
Victim Name:Billy Fleeter Billy Fleeter

Age/Occupation: Ex-college football player, current gambling enforcer

Where/how Dexter stalks victim: Along with Miguel, Dexter follows him around to various sports bars and eventually knocks Billy out in his own home.

Why victim deserves it: He killed people to pay off his gambling debts.

Dexter's kill methods and rituals: Dexter set everything up as he normally would, but then handed the reigns over to Miguel and let him actually do the killing. No blood slide was taken.

Victim's last words: 1st) "What the fuck?" 2nd) "Who are you?"
3rd and last) "Hey man, I just do what I had to do."

Location of killing: A small storage room where broken slot machines were stored.

Close calls/slip-ups: Trying to teach Miguel "The Code" proved very difficult and risky as Miguel was prone to cut corners and even tried to take evidence from the kill-room.
Add image of victimVictim Name:

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Where/how Dexter stalks victim:

Why victim deserves it:

Dexter's kill methods and rituals:

Victim's last words:

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Close calls/slip-ups:


DAYDREAMS
CLUES TO DEXTER'S PAST
  • Numerous times throughout the episode, Dexter would imagine Harry was right next to him, giving him hell for trying to include Miguel in on "the Code".
  • The final time Harry appeared to Dexter, he wasn't convinced the kill went as well as Dexter had thought. He told Dexter that from now on whatever Miguel did, that he (Dexter) would be connected to it. Harry insinuated that it was for that reason exactly that he killed himself.





DEXTER'S RELATIONSHIPS
DEVELOPMENTS WITH RITA
INTERACTIONS WITH OTHERS
  • Rita's hormones were on overdrive and she wouldn't stop being angry at Dexter.
  • She put him in charge of getting a band for the wedding.
  • Dexter bought Rita an engagement ring and she loved it.
  • Deb accompanies Dexter as he goes engagement ring shopping. She can't believe how stupid he is sometimes.
  • Dexter and Miguel take their friendship to the next level by Dexter teaching Miguel how to stalk and kill somebody successfully.


SIGNIFICANCE OF EPISODE TITLE
Throughout this episode Dexter internally refers to "The Butterfly Effect" a phenomena that explains how the actions of one being can affect events played out all over the world. Legend has it that the effects of a butterfly beating its wings can eventually cause such a powerful gust of wind that a storm is born. The Damage a Man Can Do is a similar musing that exemplifies the consequences of one man's actions. With Miguel now taking part in the hunt for lowlifes deserving of death, Dexter has an outsider's perspective on how each step in the process affects the balance of nature.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
BEST MOMENTS
BEST LINES
  • Miguel opening up about when he beat up his father and how great it felt.
  • The cliff-hanger at the end that shows Miguel entering Ellen Wolf's house (presumably to kill her).
  • Angel's long, awkward phone message to girlfriend Barbara to cancel their date because of work.
  • LaGuerta and Wolf flirt with a young bartender after a long, boring police banquet. Wolf encourages LaGuerta to have more fun.
  • Miguel presses Dexter to divulge "The Code" that he lives by when it comes to stalking and killing. Dexter sort of gets choked up talking about the significance of the code.
  • The creepy, orgasmic look on Miguel's face after he thrusts the knife into Fleeter's chest.
  • Dexter fakes having trouble with picking locks to mislead Miguel into thinking he's not so experienced
  • Dexter and Miguel at the outdoor sporting goods store shopping for a "starter kit" for Miguel. Miguel keeps grabbing the wrong items as Dexter teaches him how to avoid common mistakes.
  • "I tell Miguel to be inconspicuous and what does he do? He shows up dressed like the uni-bomber" (Dexter)
  • "I'm more of a National Geographic guy. Sharks, bears, the occasional penguin..." (Dexter's aversion to sports)
  • "Uh, boundaries?" (Dexter's internal reaction to Miguel opening up his computer.
  • "I'm ready to get my hands dirty." (Miguel)
  • "Your brother's kind of a dweeb, huh?" (Quinn to Deb)
  • "Call it off. I didn't teach you the code to share with your buddies." (Harry to Dexter)
  • "You're such a Y-Chromosome cliche" (Deb to Dexter)
  • "I hope you're a stronger man" (Harry to Dexter)