Following an incredible start to Dexter Season 7, I legitimately had no idea what to expect from "Sunshine and Frosty Swirl."

Eleven episodes still remain this season, Showtime has already announced another season on the way. Deb already knows her brother is a serial killer. Where could things possibly go from here?!?

I'm not sure how I feel about the immediate answer.

I've said it many times before: I'm sick of Dexter trying to fix himself, attempting to pretend he can somehow be "normal." It always ends the same way, with the realization that his Dark Passenger is part of who he is and that's that.

Granted, in this case it was Deb who set out to change her sibling, but the general theme of whether Dexter can stop killing remains the same. He can't. We know this already, even if he did seem temporarily cured by sparing Louis' life because he made a promise to Deb.

What would have been the alternative to Deb's attempt at the most unusual of rehab facilities? I don't know. Clearly she wouldn't partner with him or simply turn the other way. And it's too soon in the series' endgame for her to actively pursue Dexter. So we're left with what feels like a brief respite, whereby the show treads water and sets up what I imagine to be some kind of significant confrontation between brother and sister.

My other complain centers around the contrived episode's cold case. We've also seen this many times before (with Prado, with Trinity): Dexter using someone else as an example of how he could end up.

It was awfully convenient that a murderer just happened to contact the police... just happened to claim he made peace with his dark side... and then just happened to jump in front of a truck, causing Dexter to wonder if that's his future. I don't want Dexter wondering about anything or taking any sort of internal inventory. I want him on the run! Setting up a kill! Evading capture!

For that reason, my favorite storyline from the installment involved Louis. He really does create an interesting conundrum for Dexter, and not simply because he made that non-serial-killing vow to Deb.

Louis does not fit in to Harry's code. Yes, he's a threat and, sure, he's beyond creepy. But Dexter isn't supposed to take out anyone who hasn't committed a heinous crime. How will he handle this situation?

Finally, we saw a glimpse of how ruthless Ray Stevenson's mob boss can be, but that arc remains in the background. It's difficult to get overly invested (no offense, Mike; RIP, buddy.) when the Dexter/Deb interactions (rightfully) are dominating the season so far.

So a few complaints overall and a bit of a letdown from the stellar opener. But I'm still anxious for what comes next and, let's face it: there were no imaginary history professors, so Season 7 remains eons above Season 6.

Matt Richenthal is the Editor in Chief of TV Fanatic. Follow him on Twitter and on Google+.