Dexter: Did Lundy secretly know about Dexter's killer instincts? Details explored

Family comes first  #DexterOriginalSin ( Image via Instagram / @sho_dexter)
Family comes first: Dexter Original Sin (Image via Instagram/@sho_dexter)

In the television series Dexter, the character FBI Special Agent Frank Lundy is quite notable, especially during Season 2's celebrated Bay Harbor Butcher case. Lundy, a veteran detective who boasts an abundance of complicated case backgrounds that he cracked to get, is played by Keith Carradine. His interactions with Dexter Morgan, a blood-spatter expert by day and secret serial killer by night in exact imitation of Lundy's quarry, add an air of tension to the show.


Quiet clues that Lundy knew something was up with Dexter

Quiet clues throughout the season suggest Lundy knows something is up with Dexter. A prime example comes when Lundy is arguing with Dexter at a crime scene, asking,

"If you were the Bay Harbor Butcher, would you use a place like this?"

This question, which appears offhand, might be read as Lundy exploring Dexter's mind, perhaps checking his responses to determine if he is hiding any guilt or awareness.

Another major break comes from the police targeting Coral Cove Marina, where they believe the boat of the Bay Harbor Butcher is moored. This same marina harbors Dexter's boat, "Slice of Life." Lundy's awareness of this coincidence and his own realization that numerous law enforcement vessels are docked there might have led him to think that maybe an insider is the mystery killer.


Lundy's investigative skills and intuition

Lundy is set up as a careful and very competent detective with an eye for recognizing patterns in serial killer modus operandi. His track record of pursuing high-profile offenders implies that he would have been able to apprehend inconsistencies. His breakdown of the killers and his methodical approach to covering the Bay Harbor Butcher case makes one wonder if he truly missed Dexter or was secretly filling in the gaps.


Lundy’s doubts about Doakes and unanswered questions

Although evidence continues to grow that points toward Sergeant James Doakes, Lundy is not convinced that Doakes is the Bay Harbor Butcher. His reluctance to lock Doakes down as the primary suspect, even in the presence of tangible evidence, suggests that Lundy might have been thinking about something else. The hesitation is a sign that he was not set on his conviction that there would be someone in the Miami Metro Police Department who would do this, or maybe Dexter himself.

However, the program never exactly makes it known where Lundy is regarding his belief about Dexter. His subsequent leave of absence and demise in Season 4 prompt the viewer to speculate on exactly how much he did suspect. This has brought forth numerous fan theories and speculations, most notably on internet communities like Reddit, where the fans dissect and theorize regarding the particulars of Lundy's run-ins with the protagonist.


The psychology of Lundy's suspicion

The fact that Lundy is a police officer means that he understands how murderers think psychologically. His interrogations are gentle, which may mean he was trying to provoke the lead's answers to know whether something was more behind his coolness. Lundy's interactions with him tend to be layered, as if he is looking for underlying meanings or inconsistencies that would reveal deception.


Fan theories: Did Lundy know more than he let on?

One of the most popular fan theories is:

Comment byu/A-A-Ron1581 from discussion inDexter
"Although highly unlikely it would make sense. Lundy would/should have probably had an idea of what Dexter does, however, when presented with two options: a killer who kills whoever they feel like it, or someone who only kills criminals, who would you go after first?"

The second theory is:

Comment byu/A-A-Ron1581 from discussion inDexter
"Here's another thing to think about, when they had Dexter's blood slides wouldn't they have dusted them for prints? Dexter touched those things all the time. His prints had to be all over them. I know they were found in Doakes' car, but isn't it procedure? Lundy might have known."
Comment byu/A-A-Ron1581 from discussion inDexter
"I do agree that he highly suspected Dexter, his suspicions seemed directed at him very early on, but when Doakes walked out of his interview, the blood slides were found in his car as well as the knives Dexter planted by the docks, he disappeared, obviously intentionally, and then his body turned up.. the evidence was too overwhelming to deny."

In short, although the show makes good inferences that Special Agent Frank Lundy was suspicious of Morgan's double life, the series never confirms the latter. That deliberate vagueness lends richness to the show, as viewers are forced to think and talk.

The interplay between Lundy's detective abilities and Dexter's genius is a dynamic tension, highlighting the show's concerns with justice, morality, and the depth of human relationships.

Read more: Dexter: Original Sin Season 1 ending explained: Did Dexter kill Spencer?

Edited by Anshika Jain
comments icon

What's your opinion?
Newest
Best
Oldest