Dexter: Episode 108 – Shrink Wrap – flashback review

In “Shrink Wrap,” Dexter meets a psychiatrist with some dark motives, but  who still helps Dex with his intimacy issues. We also meet the real Ice Truck Killer!

“My therapist wants me to accept the things that are out of my hands. Tragically for him, he’s not out of my hands.” — Dexter Morgan

Shrinking The Problem

Is it murder to manipulate someone to commit suicide? That’s a big question posed by “Shrink Wrap,” as three successful women are linked to a suspicious psychiatrist named Dr. Emmett Meridian (Tony Goldwyn). Who links their deaths to the Doctor? Dexter Morgan (Michael C. Hall), of course!

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Using the pseudonym “Sean Ellis,” Dexter meets with Meridian in person, with the intention of verifying his suspicions. The initial question is, has Meridian just been a bad therapist or is he essentially trying to murder these women? As an added benefit, Dexter gets some genuine therapy from Meridian, who helps him resolve his intimacy problems with Rita Bennett (Julie Benz).

Still, there are compelling pieces of evidence against Doc Meridian. Not only has he been recording Dexter’s session, but Dex is able to find video backlogs of his other sessions, which end up looking more like psychological torture sessions than quality therapy (well, they probably were quality moments for Meridian, the sicko). Dr. Meridian had a questionable treatment plan, which involved cutting off certain women’s medication supplies, spiraling them off into withdrawal. Simultaneously he would discuss suicide with them, even making them think there’s a nobility to it.

So, quite obviously, Dexter found his man. That’s where this episode’s title comes from. “Shrink Wrap” is a cute way of summarizing the episode up in its title. Dr. Meridian is ultimately wrapped in plastic, making him like a “shrink” in shrink wrap. It also brings to mind food imagery, like a wrap sandwich, intended for something to be conveniently devoured. While Dexter isn’t a cannibal, there’s a sense that he has an appetite for death, being a serial killer.

That’s where Dr. Meridian comes in. Still, not long before Meridian gets his career shortened, Dexter has a breakthrough moment where he confesses his crimes, protected by doctor-patient confidentiality. One can certainly see how Dex can breathe a sigh of relief! How many people can he confess his deeds to so openly? Maybe to his victims before they die, but they haven’t been true professionals like Meridian. Anyway, Meridian meets his match in Dexter, and no fancy diploma on the wall prevents him from becoming trash bags in the ocean!

The Real Ice Truck Killer

As Dexter already knows, Neil Perry (Sam Witwer) isn’t the real Ice Truck Killer. Not only did he not recognize Dexter when meeting him in a police interrogation room, but Perry simply lacks the style, the class, the art and skill of the real deal. So, when Perry freaks out at the sight of a real human head, it becomes obvious to police that Perry’s a poser. He may be a creepy and weird guy, bot not the ITK.

Who is the actual Ice Truck Killer? None other than Debra Morgan’s (Jennifer Carpenter) new love interest, Dr. Rudy Cooper (Christian Camargo)! We see Rudy respond to one of Dexter’s Ice Truck Killer messages online, then join him as he walks into his freaky freezer full of body parts and assorted murder paraphernalia. The implication is that Rudy has some unique plans in store, and that both Dexter and Debra are going to be involved. What a freaky, frozen treat!

That’s it for this Dexter recap! What are your thoughts? Let us know in the comments!