Dexter - Season 8 Episode 2 - Recap - Every Silver Lining

Another solid episode of Dexter premiered tonight, directed by everyone's favorite Michael C. Hall. The hunt for the Brain Surgeon begins as the killer claims the second victim. Deb's downward spiral continues while Vogel and Dex work on staying one step ahead of Miami Metro. Check out the full recap for Dexter Season 8 Episode 2 Every Silver Lining.

After revealing she knows about Dex's code in last week's premiere, Vogel gets to spread her wings much more in the second episode. She has DVD's of her sessions with Harry, all the better to toss in Dexter's direction. It turns out she was the prime inspiration for Harry's Code, and helped him mold it in order to channel Dexter's Dark Passenger. Vogel even dubs herself Dexter's "spiritual mother"… obsessive much? She says that she saved Dexter's life, so now she needs a favor back: the missing section of the brain from the victim in last episode was delivered to Vogel. She suspects that the killer is one of her former patients, and she needs Dexter to do what he does best (slice and dice, in case you've been hiding under a rock for 8 years.) The DVD's definitely do their job of convincing Dexter that there was a substantial bond between Vogel and Harry, and he kind of owes her.

Elway (Deb's boss) confronts her about disappearing for a whole two weeks and she kind of manages to make it sound like her vanishing was justified, especially after revealing the keys she found on Briggs. After searching his place with Elway, Deb is lead to a storage locale where she is able to unlock a storage spot. El Sapo, who had been following her, catches up just in time right as she uncovers the diamonds from the storage space. The two have a struggle, he kicks Deb pretty hard in the ribs, and leaves her beaten and bloodied with the diamonds in tow.

The newest victim from the Brain Surgeon (this makes two, in case you're keeping count) yields Dexter a plastic bag with some fingerprints. Vogel also got another precious piece of brain delivered on her doorstep. He says he will help Vogel, and when he runs the prints Lyle comes up. The man isn't anyone that either of them have ever heard of, but at least they have a way to track him down. The two of them remain one step ahead of the rest of Miami Metro, although Vince does uncover a partial print from the crime scene. Vogel seems rather surprised to learn that Dex was craving someone to talk to after his father died; emotional connection happens to be a trait most psychopaths don't seem to have.

In this week's edition of the-sideplot-that-nobody-cares-about, Angel discovers that Quinn is sleeping with Jamie, but he doesn't really mind. As long as Quinn promises to study for a sergeant exam, then all is hunky dory. At Lyle's apartment, it looks like Dex is going to come up short, but he finds a photo of a "hunting cabin" on Lake Nona that will keep him ahead of Miami Metro. Quinn and Angel visit with Lyle's mom, but all they come upon is a creepy quilt and the information that Lyle has a hunting spot.

Everyone gets called on the case when a new victim turns up: El Sapo. At first glance, it looks like someone else got to him after his spat with Deb. Before heading to Lyle's hunting cabin, Dexter goes to check on Deb and she's a hot mess. He's afraid whoever came after El Sapo is going to come for her next. She kicks him out of her place when he tries to reason with her after which he heads straight for the cabin. Just when it looks like this is going to be a two-eps-then-done killer, Dexter finds the prime suspect hanging dead from a hook. Didn't see that coming, right? Consulting with Vogel, Dex gets "agitated" with her, especially since it seems like she is talking down to him. It turns out her philosophy toward psychopaths is rather unusual: "Psychopaths are not a mistake of nature. They're a gift." When she tries to talk to Dex about Debra, he gets even more on edge. This lady is clearly crazed but for some reason every time she opens her mouth I'm 100% fascinated.

Quinn and Jamie get in a little spat regarding Deb that turns into a spat about becoming a sergeant. When Dexter runs the blood he found on the El Sapo scene, it ends up belonging to Deb. Two people shot, guess that makes Deb a serial killer now too? Speaking of, she shows up in the office to many shocked reactions, then meets up with Quinn to give her story about what happened with Briggs and what she might know about El Sapo. Dex comes to her rescue when she clearly becomes shaken up at the crime scene photos Quinn shows her and they duke it out in the alleyway. She admits to Dexter that she killed El Sapo and he is forced to face that the Debra from before killing LaGuerta no longer exists. He swaps out her gun found at the crime scene for another gun in the evidence room, even further putting in perspective how odd it is to be doing this for his own sister. Quinn makes up with Angel and apparently Jamie (even though we don't see the exchange). Looks like he changed his mind about what career path he wanted to choose really quickly.

Dex gets a frantic call from Vogel, who suspects someone is inside of her house so she waits for him in her car until he arrives. Once he makes his sweep of the house, Dex and Vogel discover a DVD left by the killer, which ends up being a tape revealing some troubling information. Lyle was forced by gunpoint to kill the second victim by suffocation, indicating that the Brain Surgeon is some kind of intelligent psychopath who has orchestrated these killings. Suspicious much? Dexter, who was convinced Lyle was the guy they were looking for, feels like a failure now more than ever as they don't appear to be any closer to uncovering the killer's identity. He is more upset about how destroyed Debra has become, and he says he's a mistake.

"You are exactly what you need to be, Dexter. Perfect."

What did you guys think about tonight's episode? Any theories about what will come? I have a sneaking feeling that Vogel could have staged the whole "someone broke into my house" and "it's not my DVD" thing, or maybe I'm thinking too far into things. At this point in the season I feel like anything can happen. I hope Deb can make it through the season! Come back next week for a recap of the third episode of Dexter season 8.