The Trinity Monster

Season four of Dexter was by far one of the mostone. The fact that he leaves a small amount of human
complicated, and compelling seasons of any show Iremains behind at each of his crime scenes also puts
have seen in a long time. There is so much takinga dent in the calm and collected persona. When
place from week to week that it is sometimes hard,Dexter confesses to him that he killed an innocent
but enjoyable to keep up. Often times; I found myselfman, that is when we really start to see the insanity of
on the edge of my seat, or barely unable to make it tothis character. Dexter makes the mistake of stopping
the next episode. When a show is done this good, ithim from jumping to his death, and that re- invigorates
makes it difficult to wait for the next episode. But thehis personal sense of purpose. All the while that this is
faithful viewers do, even though they are cravinggoing on, we get to see that the perfect little family
more. So we usually end up watching re-runs to holdimage is nothing more than a front. This, to me, was
us over. I know the show is not for everyone, butthe moment I really could not stand the Trinity
season four was brilliant. Of course if you have notcharacter any longer. Once you find out that he locks
watched Dexter before; it would be a good idea tohis daughter in his room, beats his son, and has his wife
watch the first three seasons, or else you are reallyfearing for her life; any stock he had as somewhat
not going to fully understand what I am about to say.decent is gone. Factor in the fact that he used to take
Season four finds Dexter trying to balance everythinghis oldest daughter with him on his kills when she was
in his life. Before he really only had to worry aboutonly 5, and you find yourself rooting for Dex to kill this
dealing with work, and dealing with his after hourguy soon and in the worst way possible. Personally, I
activities. In seasons past he had his own space.thought a hammer was too good for him. Poetic
Dexter still has his apartment in season four, but hemaybe, but still too good.
has kept it a secret from Rita. That is until a pipe burstBy seasons end we find out just how much damage
in his apartment. Of course Rita gets the call and thethe Arthur Mitchel character really has done. Not only
cat is out of the bag. So, Dexter moves his personalto the general public, but to Dexter as well. The sad
belongings, along with his very (extremely) personalfact is that there are monsters out there that exist like
belongings to his house; that he shares with Rita andthis in the real world. They have gone their whole lives
his new family. Dexter's sister ends up taking overkilling, never having been caught, and with no Dexter
Dexter's apartment for him so that works out. Havingout there to bring them down. Trinity paints a very
lost his personal space, the season also has himgood picture of what such a man might actually be like.
getting into a car accident, losing his temper, framingWe find out, in the end, that he really should be called
another killer so he can have trinity all to himself, and allthe Quadity killer. I know it does not have the same
the while he is questioning whether or not he can pullring to it. He liked to include ten year old boys to start
off the family man routine. Unfortunately Dexter turnshis killing cycle. We start out believing that he was only
to the Trinity killer's life to hopefully find some answers.responsible for sixty some odd murders, but in reality it
What makes Dexter such a likable character is theis more like ninety or a hundred.
fact that he only hunts and kills other serial killers. Let'sThis character really helped drive season four to its
face it, that is the only way you are really going to getfinality, and I have to say it was a shame to see him
the audience to accept and root for a character likego. The monster that he was, it still made for good
this. On top of that, it is interesting to get to see howentertainment. It was most enjoyable watching Dexter
things might be for those types of people. So little issquare of against the most dangerous adversary he
truly understood or known about the inner workings ofhad yet to encounter. And yet, I was still left feeling
a serial killers. This show at least paints a picture ofsomewhat let down. Don't get me wrong, season four
possibility. I also think that up until this point in the serieswas by far the best. I loved it. It is just that when Trinity
we really have not been introduced to a truly sick andis introduced you find yourself thinking that here was a
messed up individual. Yes, all of the other serial killersworthy adversary for Dexter. Kind of like King Kong
up until this point in the show have been sick andsquaring of against Godzilla. Instead, it turned out to be
twisted in some way. They all deserved to die, butmore like King Kong vs a whack job monkey. Yes, this
Trinity takes the cake. His character was a brilliantcharacter was a monster. Yes, he deserved to go. I
addition to the show, and John Lithgow was the onlyjust wish they could have drawn out this story line for
man that could have pulled that part of. Other actorstwo full seasons rather than just one. I would have like
might of done all right, but you need someone of histo have had a bit more depth and calculatedness on
caliber if you really want to sell it.the part of Arthur Mitchell's character. Here is a guy
When we are first introduced to the Trinity killer, wethat we are supposed to believe has gotten away
know right away that he is a bad guy. The people hewith murder for over thirty years, and yet he was
has killed are all innocent, and he has killed a lot ofcaught of off his guard; not once, but twice. You would
them. I think that is why Dexter is so fascinated by himthink that after Dexter stuck him in the neck the first
at first. That this man could have done these things fortime he would have been more on his guard. Shoot,
so long and not been caught. Ad to this the fact thatyou would have thought that after he wrapped a belt
he is a family man, and Dexter sees in Trinity the hopearound his neck; back when he thought he was still
of having a mentor...at least until it is time to kill him. WeKyle Butler, that he would have been more careful.
also find out, in later episodes, that he is a childAs much as I love this show, and as much as I
murderer. That added little fact makes you want toenjoyed season four; I still think they could have done a
hate his character even more. That is probably whybetter job. They could have gotten two seasons out
they waited towards the end to have that little factof the Trinity character. There was so much more that
come out. That is the way it is with this character'scould have happened there during the chess match
progression through the series. We first see him as abetween Dexter and Arthur Mitchell. Instead of chess,
calm and collected fellow that shares many of theit was more like checkers. The writers get an A for
same qualities that Dexter has. Arthur Mitchell (Trinity)effort, and the casting was perfect. They get an A-
is a family man, pastor at a church, school teacher, andfor the Trinity character's usage and development.
he builds homes for the homeless. All of this makes itThey succeeded in creating a monster that we all
very easy to see how he got away with it for as longcould eventually hate and root against. As much as I
as he did. Dexter calls it his mask. "The mask thatwas disappointed with the conclusion of season four, it
hides the monster". Then we get to see him performwas brilliant. The only conclusion that made the most
one of his cycles. This is when you start to dislike hissense and with the most shock value. I did not see it
character. Especially when he makes the mother ofcoming. Especially since he did not succeed in killing the
two jump to her death after threatening her family.boy, and yet he was able to move on to the next
That is the start of it all. Layer after layer of Arthurphase in his cycle. It was a lucky punch that had an
Mitchell is peeled away to reveal a true monster.unfortunate and unforeseen conclusion. I can not wait
At first we get to see him in his life and everythingfor season five. Because I have no idea how Dexter is
seems normal. You start to realize something is upgoing to react to the loss of the light that kept his
when he wont kill a deer, but he will kill a person easydarkness at bay.
enough. He loses some respect with Dexter on that