‘Dexter’ season 8 premiere spoilers: Jennifer Carpenter plays a different side of Deb

If you thought that you were going to turn on “Dexter’s” premiere tonight and see something completely and totally expected from Debra Morgan, you’re about to be proven wrong. Instead, you’re going to see a very unusual (and “passionate”) side of the one-time Lieutenant following the death of Maria LaGuerta.

So what is really going on in this clip? This video (first posted by Entertainment Weekly) shows Jennifer Carpenter’s character getting hot and heavy with a guy who is clearly not exactly the model for good behavior. Instead, he’s dangerous, and he gets a call for a job almost at the midway point of the two doing drugs, making out, drinking, and doing just about everything that you would expect someone in this position to be doing.

What we’re hoping is actually happening here is that Deb is just undercover, trying to figure out what is really going on with this very-shady character. But is this really the case? Is she starting to get a cop version of Stockholm Syndrome to the point that she’s sympathizing and loving the guy? You have to think about it this way: Right now a life of crime and seedy activities is probably better than dealing with the fact that she just murdered her former boss in cold blood to protect her brother, who also just so happens to be a serial killer. This pain will manifest itself in some way soon, and you have to wonder whether or not we are going to see Dexter ready to handle it, and to prove to her that there is a reason why her life matters.

What do you think about this video: Is this the real Deb now, or a mask of who she really is? We’ll have a full review tonight after the episode airs, so come back soon for more on whether or not this premiere gives us hope for the season.

Meanwhile, you can read more about this season, and about new arrival Dr. Evelyn Vogel, by heading on over to the link here.

Photo: Showtime, video via SpoilerTV