Popping Cherry

Lore & Background

The episode explores Dexter's first kill through flashbacks. A young Dexter (Dominic Janes) and Harry (James Remar) go hunting, where Harry teaches Dexter to control his urge by shooting a deer, but letting him mercy kill the deer. Years later, Harry's health deteriorates, and he tells Dexter that his nurse, Mary (Denise Crosby), is trying to kill him by overdosing him, something she has done to other patients. Harry gives his blessing to Dexter to kill her, and Dexter kills her at her house, becoming his first victim. Without her influence, Harry finally leaves the hospital, although he dies one year later from a different condition. In the present, Dexter follows Jeremy Downs (Mark L. Young), a teenage murderer who recently got paroled. Dexter breaks into the halfway house Jeremy is living in and attacks him, but stops short when he realizes Jeremy killed his rapist. Sympathizing with Jeremy, Dexter simply takes back his wallet and leaves.

In Their Own Story

A new victim of the Ice Truck Killer, nicknamed Cherry, is found at a hockey stadium. Debra (Jennifer Carpenter) knew Cherry, as she was a prostitute who often helped her. The police conclude that they must find the stadium's missing guard, Tony Tucci (Brad William Henke). As Dexter (Michael C. Hall) helps the police, he also follows Jeremy Downs, a teenage murderer who recently got paroled. While LaGuerta (Lauren Vélez) believes Tucci is the Ice Truck Killer given his criminal record, Debra is still not convinced. They retrieve surveillance footage of Tucci placing Cherry's chopped body in the ice rink, but they deduce he is being instructed by a person off-screen. Debra gives this information to Tom Matthews (Geoff Pierson), asking him for help. While Matthews is not content with Debra ignoring protocol, he scolds LaGuerta for not listening to her. Dexter follows Jeremy to a swamp, where he has taken another boy, certain he will recreate his first murder. Dexter intervenes, forcing them to flee. Dexter regrets having tried to intervene, and also discovers that Jeremy stole his wallet from his car.

Reader's Guide

Rita (Julie Benz) is stalked by Ricky, her ex-husband Paul's dealer. As Paul never paid him money, he decides to take Rita's car as collateral. Dexter offers to report him to the police, but Rita asks him not to intervene. Dexter is forced to help Rita when a social worker checks on the house, noting that Rita has lost her vehicle. The absence of Rita's car causes Astor (Christina Robinson) to stay in school after everyone left, so Dexter picks her up to take her home. Doakes (Erik King) continues investigating Guerrero, believing he was involved in the death of a police officer. Guerrero warns him to not go forward with his plan. While going out with a few detectives, the detectives beat one of Guerrero's entrusted henchmen. Doakes is horrified, and the detectives tell him they know he will be framed but are doing it after he slept with Officer Ricky's wife, Kara. Afterwards, Guerrero gets his men to follow Doakes. The following day, Dexter gets a new car for Rita. According to Nielsen Media Research, the episode was seen by an estimated 0.38 million household viewers and gained a 0.2 ratings share among adults aged 18-49. The episode received positive reviews from critics, who praised the performances and pacing.

Did You Know?

• "Popping Cherry" originally aired on Showtime on October 15, 2006.
• The episode was written by co-executive producer Daniel Cerone and directed by co-executive producer Michael Cuesta.
• According to Nielsen Media Research, the episode was seen by an estimated 0.38 million household viewers.
• A censored version of the episode broadcast on CBS on March 2, 2008 was seen by an estimated 6.90 million household viewers.
• Eric Goldman of IGN gave the episode a "great" 8 out of 10.