Dexter Episode 15: An Inconvenient Lie

Dexter is forced by Rita to start attending Narcotics Anonymous meetings after she believes he has a drug problem, and he goes along with the lie while struggling to keep up the act. At the same time, he pursues a new target, a polished used-car salesman named Roger Hicks, while Lieutenant Lundy assembles a task force to investigate the Bay Harbor Butcher case, bringing Debra into the group.

Dexter’s problems with lying become obvious right away at the NA meetings, where he feels out of place and leaves early, upsetting Rita. When he does not take the program seriously, Rita threatens to end the relationship unless he commits to it, so he reluctantly agrees to continue attending.

While Dexter is juggling the meetings, he keeps tracking Hicks and investigates him as a possible killer of brunette women. During this pursuit, Dexter is manipulated into buying an SUV from Hicks at the dealership, and he later notices a pattern in the victims that points to brunettes.

Lundy’s new task force begins taking shape, with Debra, Angel, and Masuka selected to help investigate the case. Debra is unhappy to be pulled into the hunt for another serial killer, but she starts noticing a pattern in the evidence when she learns that two of the victims had criminal records and brings that information to Lundy.

At the NA meetings, Dexter meets Lila, a mysterious and flirtatious woman who quickly sees through his story and is intrigued by him. She volunteers to be his sponsor, and Dexter is drawn to her candor in a way he does not expect.

Dexter’s work and his cover story collide when Doakes keeps a close eye on him, making it harder for Dexter to act freely. Dexter eventually creates an opening by sabotaging Doakes’ car tire, which lets him get to Hicks and finish what he has been planning.

The situation with Hicks turns personal when Hicks insults Rita, and Dexter reacts with anger and kills him.

Afterward, Dexter returns to NA and gives an unusually honest speech, even naming the “dark passenger” inside him as something that drives him. Doakes overhears the meeting and takes it as confirmation that Dexter is hiding something serious, then confronts him about the flat tire and tells him to clean up.

Dexter later goes back to Rita and admits he was wrong, which leads Rita to take him back. She brings him to another NA meeting, but she becomes uneasy when she sees Dexter greeting Lila, who is now his sponsor.