Let’s face it, no professional writer should be using cliches, unless it’s for good reason, like a character trait or dialogue tic, especially when you’re writing for a Showtime hit like DEXTER.

So why, 2 minutes into the episode is true crime writer and Deb’s new love interest Sal Price saying the age-old maxim:

‘Old habits die hard’ ?

Because it’s brilliant foreshadowing, in 2 ways –

a)  the habit he’s referring to is going to be the poisonous chalice he sips from later

and

b) he literally does ‘die hard’

Without spoiling too much, watch the episode and see this ingenious set-up.

Season 7 Episode 7. Scene breakdown available here.