At the shipping yard, Dexter breaks into the container in the picture, only to find it full of bananas. After the "Tamiami Killer" kidnaps Deborah, Dexter finds and confronts him. He is portrayed by Christian Camargo, who also portrayed Dracula in Penny Dreadful. [5] Based on the novel Darkly Dreaming Dexter by Jeff Lindsay, the season featured many differences to the original source, mainly in the lead-up to and revelation of the identity of the "Ice Truck Killer". The scene was filmed in San Pedro, California, in a waterfront lot of Harbor Boulevard. After the pair leave, Dexter goes to search for the shipping container. Cerone and Rosenberg have written two previous episodes each, while this episode marked Cuesta's fifth time returning as director. He also witnessed the murder of their mother, but did not repress the memory; instead, he grew up in a mental institution and was treated for antisocial personality disorder. As Doakes and the police close in on the house, Brian escapes through a trap door and Dexter is left with Debra, appearing to have saved her.

Dexter rushes to find Debra, having discovered that her boyfriend Rudy is the Ice Truck Killer. Rita hangs up, but discovers the shoe while taking out the trash. Doakes insists that Dexter knows something, and he reveals that the blood on Angel's collar matched Rudy's. Torn between his deadly compulsion and his desire for true happiness, Dexter is a man in profound conflict with the world and himself. It is subsequently revealed that the killer is actually Dexter's nearly identical long-lost brother, Brian, who, like Dexter, witnessed their mother's brutal murder.

By viewing our video content you are accepting the terms of our Video Services Policy. Top 100 TV Shows as Rated by Women on IMDb in 2016, The Top 200 TV Shows as Rated by Women on IMDb in 2018. As a Miami forensics expert, he spends his days solving crimes, and nights committing them. Dexter hesitantly kills Brian instead of letting him escape, Debra does not discover her brother's secret, and LaGuerta is not present at all in the confrontation. Although Toomey said that the episode was "really well written," he was troubled that no one made the connection between Dexter and Rudy when all they had to do was read Rudy's file, but Toomey speculated that it could be discovered the next season. [13] Hall submitted the episode for consideration for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series, but was not ultimately nominated. After kidnapping Debra Morgan (Jennifer Carpenter), Rudy Cooper (Christian Camargo) is in the final stages of his plan to reunite with his long-lost brother. "Born Free" was written by Daniel Cerone and executive producer Melissa Rosenberg, and was directed by Michael Cuesta. The Ice Truck Killer is one of the more gruesome serial killers in the series, if only because of how in control he’s in for so long. Dexter accompanies her to the hospital before the two return to Dexter's apartment. She said that the series went "from being a good show to a fantastic show in the course of one season," and hoped that "the sophomore season will be just as terrific. She is visited by Paul's Narcotics Anonymous sponsor, who attempts to convince her that Paul is telling the truth.

"[15] Jonathan Toomey of TV Squad felt that it would be a "shame" if Hall did not win a Golden Globe Award, saying that he "certainly deserves it." After a fist fight between the two, a foreman arrives and orders them to leave. All rights reserved. He's smart, he's good looking, and he's got a great sense of humor. [7], The first season of Dexter is based on the novel Darkly Dreaming Dexter by Jeff Lindsay. adult content, graphic language, nudity, violence, viewer discretion advised. 7 The Skinner Meanwhile, Paul Bennett (Mark Pellegrino) tries to convince Rita Bennett (Julie Benz) that Dexter is not who she thinks he is. In the Season Two finale, Lundy and the FBI finally settle the case of the Bay Harbor Butcher, but the heat's not entirely off Dexter as his world literally becomes an inferno. [11] The first season attracted on average 1.96 million American viewers, including live and DVR viewing off the premium channel's main feed.