Many fans ofDexterhave been watchingDexter: Original Sin, andthe fantastic prequelhas prompted some, present company included, to re-watch the original. The original show premiered in 2006, which was almost 20 years ago. So, it’s easy to forget a lot of the minor details. One such detail is just how close Dexter Morgan (Michael C. Hall) came to being caught… on more than one occasion.
In Season 2, the dismembered bodies wrapped in garbage bags that Dexter had been so neatly disposing of for years finally rose to the surface. Piecing everything together (literally), Miami Metro P.D. theorized that there was a serial killer in action, whom they named the Bay Harbor Butcher.They brought in Special Agent Frank Lundy(Keith Carradine) to assist, a man with a reputation for solving cases and a specialty in investigating serial killers. His reputation for sniffing out serial killers was impressive, so why didn’t he ever suspect Dexter to be the killer? It appears that he very well might have.
The first real clue that Lundy might have had his suspicions is whenhe headed to the scene of a potential new Bay Harbor Butcher victim, and he specifically requested that Dexter come with him. He later explained this away to Debra (Jennifer Carpenter) by suggesting that Masuka (C.S. Lee) irritated him, so he asked for Dexter instead. But at the site of the murder, it seemed like he might have had ulterior motives.
While in the train car where the murder had taken place,Lundy talks with Dexterabout the killer as Dexter preps his blood spatter kit to get to work.He flat out asks Dexter if he would use a place like the train car if he were the killer. He watches Dexter intently as Dexter compulsively arranges his kit, Lundy simultaneously talking about howa killer like the butcher would likely have an obsessive-type personality and be meticulous, just as Dexter is being in that moment.
The look in his eyes suggests that he’s goading Dexter, waiting to see if he senses any awkwardness, something off. Dexter’s back is to Lundy for most of the conversation, making this challenging. But it’s clear there’s a lot more to Lundy’s conversation than meets the eye.
Further, he does this the day after setting up security cameras at Coral Cove Marina, which has low security and is therefore the perfect spot for a killer to dock their boat and do their deed. Not surprisingly, that is where Dexter keeps his boat. What’s more,Dexter went out to clean it and remove evidence, using a black light to detect any traces of blood, the night before, not knowing about the cameras.
Further convincing fans that Lundy knew more than he let on is that, while discussing the likely traits of the killer with Dexter, explaining why he doesn’t think this particular murder was committed by the Bay Harbor Butcher, Lundy casually mentions the cameras that he set up at the marina and how this might yield some leads.Dexter is internally reeling from this revelation, and it seemed like Lundy was trying to get a reaction out of him.
More Subtle Hints Throughout
Lundy Makes a Knowing Comment
There were other subtle hints throughout the season that Lundy was suspicious of Dexter.In one instance, he tells Dexter that the only excuse for killing someone is to save an innocent life. By this point, they have already discerned that most, if not all, of the Bay Harbor Butcher victims were people with long rap sheets. They were known drug dealers, murderers, and rapists who were either directly or indirectly responsible for the deaths of innocent people.
Dexter’s Shoddy Blood Work
In another instance, an old case of Sergeant James Doakes (Erik King) is unearthed and reveals thatDexter did shoddy blood work, which ended up letting the killer go free. Dexter’s inner narration clears up that he did this on purpose because he wanted to take care of the bad guy himself. But Lundy knows Dexter, knows his work is impeccable, and finds this strange.
He brings it up to Dexter, calling him one of the “most cautious and precise forensics specialists” he has ever come across.How does someone like that make a mistake so huge that results in a killer going free? The answer is they don’t. And Lundy knows this. Despite Dexter’s quick thinking, suggesting he was overworked at the time, it’s obvious that Lundy lets it go but doesn’t believe a word he says.
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Most interestingly is that after all the evidence begins to mount against Doakes,Lundy admits to Maria LaGuerta (Luna Lauren Velez) that she’s “probably right” about his innocence, but there’s far too much evidence to try and defend. What’s more, she violated protocol by not disclosing when Doakes called her, which would effectively make any of her evidence suspicious and inadmissible.
Lundy appears simultaneously relieved that the case is going to be closed and guilty for believing it’s likely the wrong man going down for crimes he didn’t commit. Because of his experience, however, he knows that in the court of public opinion, not to mention the actual legal court of justice, it would be an uphill battle to try and prove Doakes’ innocence. Without definitive evidence for an alternative suspect and to disprove the evidence against Doakes, it wasn’t possible.
Repeated Hints
When Lundy returns in season four to hunt down The Trinity Killer, played by John Lithgow in one ofthe most killer performances inDexter,he makes comments with clear double meanings, like when he compliments Dexter’s “caliber” as a blood analyst, suggesting it’s more than just a job for him.He repeatedly mentions how lucky they are that Trinity is killing in Miami and thus Dexter is on the job to analyze the crime scenes.
It was almost, at one point, like Lundy was trying to encourage Dexter to read between the lines. “Find this killer for me and I’ll continue to keep my mouth shut.” Maybe he let the case with Doakes go, but in this instance, The Trinity Killer is the one case he could never solve, and he wants Dexter’s help even if he doesn’t outright say it.
Did Lundy Really Know, and Why Didn’t He Arrest Dexter?
In re-watching the original series, it’s clearer than ever that Lundy likely knew the whole time. This begs the question:why not take Dexter down?There are many reasons beyond just the fact that Lundy had no proof nor evidence to warrant tailing Dexter and confirm his gut feeling.
First,his line about saving innocent lives could allude to the fact that Lundy had seen horrendous individuals through his career and might actually be okay with what Dexter was doing. He knows Dexter is ridding the world of one person at a time who would almost definitely kill many innocent others if left alive. He isn’t necessarily helping him by staying quiet, but in never expressing his thoughts to anyone, he can live with it. In essence, he truly is finding bliss in his feigned ignorance.
Second is that as Lundy grew closer with Debra,his deep love and affection for her might have influenced his decision not to pursue Dexter. He knew what Debra had been through as one ofTV’s most tragic characters. He knew her personality and that discovering what and who her brother was would completely break her. Even if he couldn’t prove it, the mere suggestion that Dexter was up to no good would have sent Debra into a tailspin.
Do You Really Need To Watch ‘Dexter’ Before ‘Original Sin’?
‘Dexter: Original Sin’ is a prequel series to ‘Dexter’, which ended more than a decade ago. Is it really necessary to go back and watch the original?
Seeing Dexter live a fruitful life outside his nighttime hobby, including helping raise two (at the time) lovely children, being in a wonderful relationship, and bringing joy to the office might have been worth the sacrifice in his eyes. Plus, Dexter did great work. He helped take down all types of bad people the right way, too. Thus,exposing Dexter would have done more harm than good. Lundy may have been weighing the same moral dilemma viewers found themselves in: reconciling their adoration for a serial killer with his heinous actions.
It’s possible that Lundydidhave a greater plan that never came to fruition, but once Doakes was named the killer, then died, it was almost better to let sleeping dogs lie. When he returns to hunt The Trinity Killer, his “white whale” that he had been chasing for so long, Lundy may have accepted the mentality that it “takes a killer to find a killer.” In this particular case, Lundy has a much greater desire to finally solve this huge case and bring justice than to worry about Dexter. Having hunted serial killers for much of his career, his one final act might have been to let Dexter do what he does and not just find but also get rid of these killers in a way that he never could.
Yes, Lundy was a noble agent who always did things by the book. But at some point, he likely grew tired of the cat and mouse chase of it all. Dexter did things his way. Maybe Lundy didn’t condone it. But after all those years, he probably made peace with it.
