It’s probably hard to conceive of ways by which to make a serial killer a likeable enough character to warrant viewers to return on a weekly basis. Early on in Dexter’s first few seasons his relationship with a woman named Rita - who has two kids from a previous relationship – gets explained to do just that. The narrations that the character of Dexter lends to the show, leading viewers through his thought process, explains that since he doesn’t really have feelings in a traditional sense, the interactions that the couple has frequently are telegraphed – Dexter guesses what a normal, do-gooder would say. In his frankness, though, is some sort of glimmering humanity seemingly void from what the title character describes.

Regardless of how Dexter has gone about attempting to approximate normalcy, the beginning of season four finds the character surrounded by domestic responsibilities centered on his newborn child. Rita’s younger kids don’t seem to be threatened or dismayed by the newly arrived sibling, although the eldest daughter does appear to be turning into an unruly brat – and perhaps someone problematic enough to accidently unravel Dexter’s secrets. But compounding all of the nightly feedings and the like is the main character’s penchant for murder. Unfortunately, not sleeping for an entire evening winds up creating problems at work and in his personal (murderous) life.

After bringing the wrong notes to a court date, which results in the release of a killer, Dexter works to make time for his violent proclivities. Tying the disparate sections of his life together, while following around the newly released killer, Dexter takes a nap in his car only to be awakened by a questioning police officer. Eventually, the bad guy gets got, but with some surprising conclusion around the corner. But while all of this was going on, there’s a good deal of fooling around – the naked kind.

Dexter’s sister – Debra – has made her musician/miscreant boyfriend her roommate. Despite not spending too much time together as a result of each’s work schedule, all seems to be going well. Unfortunately, some old crinkly man shows up who was Deb’s previous lover. While older – and not too attractive – it’s pretty clear that there’s some left over, awkward territory to be explored here. Special FBI Agent Frank Lundy, who actually just recently retired, returns to Florida to investigate a murder that he’s dubbed the Trinity Killer. That name might leave something to be desired, but the fact that the character is portrayed by John Lithgow (who’s signed on for the entire season) makes the scenario a bit more intriguing.

That’s a lot to fit into a single episode. But with the broadening development of the tangential characters, the folks who write Dexter seem focused on humanizing the series. There’s as much personal stuff going on here to almost obscure the blood and guts that may have initially attracted an audience. Sure, the show’s still an alternate universe American Psycho, but when Dexter’s focused on its initial intent it’s almost as entertaining as the ‘90s movie in a made for television kinda way.