This episode opened up with an image of serenity: Dexter (Michael C. Hall) and his family relaxing on the boat out in the water. But as we know, things are never peaceful for long in Dexter’s life. A phone call calls him to examine an arm that was found in an alligator’s belly. Great opener, guys. Let’s jump right in with the gore.

The arm belongs to a beautiful model, and all clues seem to lead to her photographer, who was once charged with rape and whose photography is disturbing (even to Dexter). When the photographer comes in for questioning, his attitude towards Deb (Jennifer Carpenter) further convinces Dexter that this dude is dirty.

An investigation of the photographer’s studio shows blood traces all over the place, leading Dexter to be sure of this guy’s guilt.

In other news, Deb is moving in to Dexter’s old apartment…I wonder if he’s going to keep his blood slides in the air conditioning unit.

On Dexter’s family front, he’s still trying to figure out how to learn from his new role model: Trinity, a.k.a. Arthur Mitchell (John Lithgow). Desperate times call for desperate measures. He anxiously asks Arthur for advice and goes on to take it, signing up Astor and Cody for various activities that will “push them out into the world.” But Dexter didn’t count on having to participate. He ends up on a camping trip with Cody and a bunch of dads and sons, and in a moment of hilarity, our forensics analyst tells an ultra-creepy fireside story that the other dads deem a little over-the-top. Wussies.

He also goes out to help Arthur with some “chores”…which equates to chopping down a tree. Two serial killers playing with axes and chainsaws? For some reason, this doesn’t seem like a good idea to me. There’s tension galore between the two men, starting with Arthur being unable to start up the chainsaw…and Dexter getting it going on his first try. But don’t worry, readers—Dexter doesn’t choose this occasion to take down Arthur. If you ask me, I think he kind of likes Arthur.

When Arthur hits a deer, we get to enjoy one of the most insightful scenes of the episode. Arthur can’t kill the doe to put her out of her misery. He’s close to tears, he’s so tormented at the idea of planting an ax in the animal. So Dexter shows him how it’s done.

Dexter chooses to take down the photographer during the night of Cody’s camp out, while the rest of the sons and dads are sleeping. It’s gory, and it’s classic Dexter. However, something seems off. I found myself wondering if the photographer was really a killer—if he really killed that gorgeous model. Just because he takes creepy pictures doesn’t mean he’s a killer, does it?

My hunch turns out to be a valid one. The episode closes with the photographer’s assistant being taken in for questioning. Everyone’s sure that he’s the killer…and Dexter finds himself facing a question that he doesn’t want answered: did he kill an innocent man?

Next week promises to bring Dexter and Arthur closer, and I’m wondering how it will all pan out.