Ep 5. This Little Piggy

Dexter season 8 episode 5, "This Little Piggy" finds Dexter struggling to maintain a normal life while juggling his darker urges. As he continues to hunt for Yates, a new suspect emerges in the case - Zach Hamilton, a young man with a troubled past and a potential link to the murdered women. Meanwhile, Deb finds herself in hot water as her past actions come back to haunt her.

The episode opens with Dexter breaking into Zach Hamilton's apartment, searching for evidence that could link him to the murders. However, the young man arrives home unexpectedly and Dexter is forced to hide in the closet as Zach entertains a young woman. After she leaves, Dexter plants evidence that will incriminate Zach in the murders and leaves undetected.

Meanwhile, Deb has been struggling to deal with her guilt over killing LaGuerta and begins drinking heavily to cope. Her behavior catches the attention of her boss, Elway, who confronts her about her drinking and warns her that she needs to get her act together or risk losing her job.

Back at Miami Metro, Angel and Quinn continue to investigate Yates, hoping to find a break in the case. They question Yates’s ex-wife, who reveals that he has a daughter who he abandoned several years ago. The detectives track down the daughter and question her, but she refuses to speak to them.

As Dexter continues to track down Yates, he realizes that he may have misjudged Zach, and begins to suspect that he may not be the killer after all. He decides to break into Zach's apartment again to gather more evidence, but this time he is caught by Zach.

The two have a tense conversation, during which Dexter realizes that Zach is not the killer but is actually an aspiring serial killer himself who has been following Dexter's work for years. Dexter manages to escape and realizes that he needs to find Zach before he kills again.

Meanwhile, Deb's drinking spirals out of control and she ends up sleeping with Elway. The next morning, she realizes what she's done and is overcome with shame and regret.

The episode comes to a dramatic conclusion as Dexter tracks down Zach and confronts him about his plans to become a serial killer. Just as Dexter is about to kill him, he realizes that he can't go through with it and decides to spare Zach's life. However, just as they are about to part ways, a mysterious figure kidnaps Zach and leaves Dexter with more questions than answers.

Overall, "This Little Piggy" is a gripping episode that keeps viewers on the edge of their seats. With strong performances from its lead actors and a plot that continues to build in tension and suspense, the show proves once again why it has become a fan favorite over the years.