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 1.51 million household viewers and gained a 0.7/2 ratings share among adults aged 18–49.
Rita (Julie Benz) takes the kids out of town for a wedding, leaving Dexter (Michael C. Hall) alone for three days.
Sensing a pattern, Lundy (Keith Carradine) visits a hotel where a previous murder occurred thirty years prior, and runs into Trinity.
Angel (David Zayas) and LaGuerta (Lauren Vélez) question over revealing their relationship, so they each ask Dexter for advice.
[1] In its original American broadcast, "Dex Takes a Holiday" was seen by an estimated 1.51 million household viewers with a 0.7/2 in the 18–49 demographics.
Club gave the episode an "A–" grade and wrote, "I think that most of us thought Lundy would die (likely at the hands of Trinity), and I doubt the show will actually kill off Deb, but by making the Vacation Murders killer an actual player in the storyline (though I suppose it could be Trinity aping another killer or something), the series heightens all of its dramatic players.
"[6] Billy Grifter of Den of Geek wrote, "Dexter is by far the best show I'm currently watching, and "Dex Takes A Holiday" just underlined that in big read marker pen.
"[8] Gina DiNunno of TV Guide wrote, "All we see is a person in all black steal Lundy's wallet and watch.
"[9] Danny Gallagher of TV Squad wrote, "Debra and Lundy's mysterious shooting was jarring and had me aching to know the trigger man, but what happens then?
[11] Keith Carradine submitted this episode for consideration for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series at the 62nd Primetime Emmy Awards.