‘Dexter’ Recap: Vogel Picks Between Dexter & The Brain Surgeon

Dexter always talks about how family is everything to him, and then he goes and underestimates Dr. Vogel's bond to her Brain Surgeon son, Daniel. NOW look what you've done, Dex! Dr. Vogel (Charlotte Rampling) turned to the dark side, after Dexter (Michael C. Hall) arrogantly underestimated the family of family ties. He simply can't do it alone anymore -- will he finally call on his own family and friends to defeat the Brain Surgeon?

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Reading Time: 3 minutes
September 8, 2013 10:00PM EDT
Dexter Season 8 Episode 10 Recap
Image Credit: Courtesy of Showtime

Will Vogel Choose Brains Over Blood?

Vogel learned from her mistakes with her son, brain scooper aficionado Daniel (Darri Ingolfsson), in order to craft Dexter into a killing machine. And that’s why Daniel has been going around murdering a ton of people — he’s jealous! There’s so much mommy drama going on my head hurts.

Against her best judgment, Vogel is under the impression that she can help and fix her son. She’s hiding Zach Hamilton’s (Sam Underwood) death from the police, she’s protecting him from Dexter, and worse, she thinks she can still get him to go back to a mental institution.

But he doesn’t want to go to a loony bin; He wants to become the next Bay Harbor Butcher.

Dexter continuously tries to show Vogel the truth — at one point going so far to show her a video of her son sawing Zach’s head in half. I can’t tell if Dex wants to protect Vogel or is just thirsty for some Brain Surgeon blood.

Viva La Argentina?

As if there weren’t enough headaches, Dexter is actually serious about moving to Argentina with Hannah McKay (Yvonne Strahovsky). Debra’s (Jennifer Carpenter) initial reaction — she uses the F word more the once — is similar to mine. Thankfully, he’s not going to go anywhere before killing the Brain Surgeon.

I’m glad they’re showing Dexter do all the mundane stuff you have to do when you move to a new city — quitting his job, saying goodbye to friends. I just wish they showed him calling the bank to change his address. On the other hand, what’s going to happen when Dex doesn’t actually leave Miami?

He’s going to have a hard time leaving with that pesky U.S. Marshall still on his tail — he’s sort of interested in the fact that Dexter is trying to skip town. Stick with Hannah McKay, Dex, that one’s a winner!

Best Laids Plans Totally Fall Apart

In legitimately the dumbest thing that has ever happened, wily little Harrison slams face-first into a treadmill at Deb’s house, and instead of just patching him up, Hannah BRINGS HIM TO A HOSPITAL!!! I don’t know who’s dumber — Harrison for trying to run 30 miles per hour, or Hannah for going out in public when she knows how much heat is on her. And oh yeah, she totally implicates Dexter by attaching herself to his son. I do know who’s dumber — Hannah is.

The recurring theme here is that Dexter can’t decide whether to protect his family or protect Vogel. At his father’s (aka his own subconscious’) urging, he begrudgingly heads to Vogel’s to finish off Daniel.

Unfortunately Vogel isn’t as good of a liar as a psychopath, so Daniel realizes that he’s being set up. Dexter gets to Vogel’s house just in time to see Daniel slit her throat.

I really enjoyed our time with Dr. Vogel. Meeting Dexter’s maker was a real treat. But Dexter’s reaction — sadness followed by total rage — after seeing her die indicates that this is not nearly over.

Two more to go, guys.

— Andrew Gruttadaro

More ‘Dexter’ Recaps:

  1. ‘Dexter’ Recap: Dexter Gets A New Protege & Sees An Old Friend
  2. ‘Dexter’ Recap: Dexter & Debra Team Up To Save The Day
  3. ‘Dexter’ Recap: Vogel Pushes The Morgans Over The Edge