Set in Miami, the series centers on Dexter Morgan, a forensic technician specializing in bloodstain pattern analysis for the fictional Miami Metro Police Department, who leads a secret parallel life as a vigilante serial killer, hunting down murderers who have not been adequately punished by the justice system due to corruption or legal technicalities.
According to Nielsen Media Research, the episode was seen by an estimated 2.48 million household viewers and gained a 1.2 ratings share among adults aged 18–49.
Six months have passed since LaGuerta's death, and Dexter (Michael C. Hall) feels that things have improved for him; he spends more time with Harrison, hangs out with the squad, and is still continuing his night activities.
Dexter visits Debra's employer, Jacob Elway (Sean Patrick Flanery), who runs a private investigation company.
Debra finally states that she hates him for ruining her life, also telling him that she "shot the wrong person" on the night of LaGuerta's death.
Newly reinstated Matthews (Geoff Pierson) introduces Miami Metro to Dr. Evelyn Vogel (Charlotte Rampling), a psychopath expert to help with the new killer.
Club gave the episode a "B–" grade and wrote, "I'm not of the impression that “A Beautiful Day” is necessarily representative of what the show's final season has in store.
The episode was much better at the former than the latter, though I'm less interested in Evelyn Vogel and the brain-carving killer as I am in what the writers have planned to bring this meandering story to a satisfying close so that wasn't cause for concern.
"[7] Alan Sepinwall of HitFix wrote, "I was glad to see "A Beautiful Day" focusing so much on the estrangement between Deb and Dexter in the wake of LaGuerta's murder, and to see that none of this is being ignored.
"[8] Richard Rys of Vulture gave the episode a 4 star rating out of 5 and wrote, "Whatever clarity Vogel may provide, it will be fleeting; there's no lighthouse in Dexter's future.
As he stands in the motel parking lot, trying not to cover his son in the blood of the man he just murdered, Dexter knows Deb speaks the truth.
The series is going to do what it always does — introduce some seasonal supporting characters who will most certainly get killed, focus too much on random procedural elements — and it looks as though the Dexter and Deb tension will be more simmering than explosive, at least at the outset.
"[12] Alan Danzis of BuddyTV wrote, "While Harry gave Dexter the code, perhaps it was Deb all along (subconsciously and then last season, consciously) that convinced him to follow it.
"[13] Billy Grifter of Den of Geek wrote, "In my wildest imagination, Dexter isn't going to end well, it's just how badly events will conclude and what mitigation and redemption they can introduce without entirely jumping this shark.
"[14] Matt Richenthal of TV Fanatic gave the episode a 4.6 star rating out of 5 and wrote, "Kudos to both the writers and Jennifer Carpenter for taking the character down such a disturbing path.