| "Are You...?" | |
|---|---|
| Dexter episode | |
| Episode no. | Season 7 Episode 1 |
| Directed by | John Dahl |
| Written by | Scott Buck |
| Original air date | September 30, 2012 |
| Running time | 55 min. |
| Guest appearances | |
| |
"Are You...?" is the first episode of the seventh season of the Showtime television series Dexter and the seventy-third episode overall. The episode originally aired on September 30, 2012. It was directed by John Dahl and written by newly appointed showrunner Scott Buck.
The series revolves around Dexter Morgan (portrayed by Michael C. Hall), a psychopathic serial killer who was raised by his adoptive father, Harry (James Remar), to adhere to a "Code." Known to Dexter as "Harry's Code", this set of rules states that Dexter only kill criminals who deserve it, usually ones who have escaped legal justice, such as other serial killers, murderers and rapists. He works as a blood spatter analyst for the Miami Metro Police Department. Dexter has spent the last six seasons hiding his identity from his friends and family (only a few characters have learned of him and his MO throughout the series); especially from his sister Debra Morgan (Jennifer Carpenter), whom he is the closest to. The previous episode ended with Deb walking in on Dexter killing Travis Marshall (Colin Hanks), a religious-themed serial killer who Dexter and the police had spent the last season trying to apprehend. Dexter convinces Deb to help him cover up the murder, while trying to convince her the murder was a one-time event. The episode also introduced plotlines that would continue throughout the season, such as the introduction of the Russian Mafia. Dexter kills Viktor Baskov (Enver Gjokaj) for killing Miami Metro Detective Mike Anderson (Billy Brown), which prompts the arrival of Baskov's superior, Isaak Sirko (special guest star Ray Stevenson) in Miami. The episode also introduced a subplot involving Miami Metro Captain and Dexter and Debra's boss, María LaGuerta (Lauren Vélez).
The episode received near universal acclaim from critics. Many viewers had felt that the series had grown stale, repetitive and formulaic over the years, and especially criticized the sixth season as the series' low point. They welcomed the new and fresh direction the episode took, the fast pace, the relationship and interaction between Dexter and Debra and the acting of Hall and Carpenter. The Nielsen ratings were higher than any episode in the previous season.[1]