“Dexter,” Season 4, Episode 11

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Violent thriller shows like “Dexter” or, say, “24” all require a certain suspension of disbelief. Audiences don’t demand the verisimilitude of “The Wire” as they watch Dexter Morgan or Jack Bauer match wits with sadistic bad guys. Certain realistic elements, like close fidelity to the actual procedures of police departments or anti-terrorist groups, would only get in the way. Most of the time, on “Dexter,” we’re cool with that.

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The fourth season’s penultimate episode, “Hello, Dexter Morgan,” pushes the show’s contrivances to nonsensical levels. The actions of both Dexter and Arthur “Trinity” Mitchell only prove justifiable with the excuse that they’re both insane, and thus not subject to standards of consistency. It’s hard to enjoy the episode even as lurid escapism when you’re constantly saying “Hey, wait a minute.”

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Let’s break down some of these developments.