photo: showtime
Hungry Man
Original Air Date: Nov. 22 2009
Karen Belgrad- Two Cents Reviewer
karenbelgrad @thetwocentscorp.com
The bloodless season may be continuing, but tonight’s episode had such a twist at the end that it will be overlooked! In an episode centered on Thanksgiving, there were plenty of Trinity, Christine, and family revelations to be grateful for!
This episode also marked the return of Harry’s ghost/Dexter’s conscience, a device which has long since lost its luster. Dexter voiceovers tend to be a far more direct approach to the “wise” ramblings of Harry.
The episode opens with Dexter eyeing his underused kill tools, which, sadly, remain unused this episode. He arrives at Arthur/Trinity’s house and eyes his first real glimpse of the discord in the Miller household as Arthur breaks all of his son’s (Jonah) baseball trophies. Jonah takes off and Dexter (going by Kyle) follows him and watches as he beats the snot out of his father’s car. Jonah reveals that his father is abusive and invites Dexter to Thanksgiving, hopefully to be a mediator. Meanwhile Arthur eyes Christine’s article about the unsolved bludgeoning.
Deb is busy obsessing over the Trinity case. She can find no pattern in his selected kill months. She reveals to Dexter that Trinity was not her and Lundy’s shooter. She has no plans for Thanksgiving and wants to work, so Dexter arranges for her to be emotionally blackmailed by Cody, Astor, and Harrison via video to attend Thanksgiving with them. She drags the eager Masuka along to be her (his words) “thigh man” (aka wingman).
Angel and Laguerta go to give a man the news that they caught his wife’s killer from ten years prior. The man is in a vegetative state, much like this whole story line. Later they tell each other they love them. Yawn.
Quinn is beginning to feel overburdened by Christine and her self-labeling as his girlfriend. He tries to dodge her for Thanksgiving and she shows up at the precinct. She continues to bug Deb for an interview, and empathizes about how difficult it must’ve been for Deb to see Lundy die in front of her and take his last breath. Deb convinces Quinn to spend the holiday with Christine.
Dexter, having arranged to arrive late for his own family’s dinner, arrives at the Miller home. He senses something is amiss when Arthur’s wife (Sally) asks if Rebecca (daughter) can come out. In short succession, Dexter find’s Arthur’s homemade coffin (explained away by suicide attempt from last week) and realizes Rebecca is being locked in her room. Dexter is now confused and intrigued by the man he admired as a perfect family man. Rita has called him and advised that Cody, trying to retrieve a ball, has fallen through the roof of his (hiding place) shed. Nothing disturbed inside, but the door was removed the get Cody out.
Back at the Morgan home front, Rita and neighbor Elliot have run out of oven space and head over to his house for additional culinary preparation. He pulls her into a kiss, which Rita quickly brushes off and declares herself “not lonely”. Unfortunately for her, the kiss is witness by Masuka, who seems sad at the turn of events.
Deb is trying to work, but distracted by the kids. When discussing school vacation time with Rita, Deb realizes that the school break times are the same as Trinity kill times. Best moment of the night is Deb disguising her usual vulgarity in front of the children. “Fuuuu…dge”
Back at the Miller home, things have gotten tenser. Jonah returns with the busted car and in return, out of Dexter’s eyeshot, Arthur violently breaks his hand. Outside, Rebecca has begun to beg Dexter to take her away and even comes on to him. Dexter easily rebuffs the fifteen year olds advances and Sally anxiously pleads with him not to tell Arthur.
As the Millers sit down with Dexter to dinner, they go around giving their thanks. Nobody gives thanks for Arthur and it does not go unnoticed. Arthur begins to crack, calling his wife the c-word and his daughter Vera (his dead sister). In a rage, Jonah tears from the table and begins to tear Arthur’s plaques from the walls. Arthur shoves an intervening Rebecca aside as Jonah throws Vera’s urn against a wall. Arthur begins to strangle Jonah. Dexter jumps in with his belt, dragging Arthur into the kitchen by his neck. He grabs a kitchen knife, expresses remorse for letting Arthur live, and just as he’s about to lose it, Rebecca and Sally come screaming in the kitchen and stop him. The three cower and hug together in the kitchen.
On his car ride home Dexter is clearly agitated about having revealed his “monster” to Arthur. He surmises that his family life is nothing like Arthurs. Ghost Harry wonders what it will be like after many years pass of them living with Dexter and his dark passenger.
At home, Deb and Cody share a moment as he asks to see her shooting scars. He asks about watching Lundy die and Deb realizes that Christine had no way of knowing that she saw Lundy take his last breath. Once again, “Fuuuuuuuu…dge”.
Dexter arrives home and survey his shed, realizing he may need a new secret place. Cody apologizes for the damage, and Dexter, aware of his differences from Arthur, hugs him with no scolding. The family sits down to dinner. Masuka uncomfortably eyes Rita who is overcompensating with affection for Dexter.
Dexter realizes that not all families are alike, as Cody gives thanks for his new stepfather.
And then… the twist of all twists…. Quinn leaves Christine’s for the evening and then, a knock on her door. It’s Arthur. Is he there to seek revenge for the bludgeoning article.
“Hi Dad.”
Holy fuuuuu…dge!
That’s my TwoCents! Were you as shocked by the ending as I was?
TheTwoCents 
Totally saw it coming unfortunately