Jessica helps out at a pet adoption drive, and refuses to believe the other people from the shelter that one cat is impossible to adopt...
Tropes:
- Bait-and-Switch: From Dex-Star being in a dark place and Jessica's voice saying it's his "time", the audience are led to believe Jessica has accepted that he is a cat impossible to adopt and decided it's best for him to be put down. Until the zoom out reveals he is actually in her house and Jessica had happily adopted him.
- Berserk Button: Not that Dexter is remotely nice to begin with, but touching his tail will set him off on a vicious rampage.
- Cats Are Mean: Dexter is an evil kitty. So evil he becomes a Red Lantern.
- Determinator: Jessica never stops trying to find Dexter a forever home, even when he becomes a supervillain and tries to kill her. She wouldn't be a very good Green Lantern without loads of willpower, after all.
- The Ditz: Hal manages to mistake Dexter, a cat, for a dog.
- I Reject Your Reality: In the end, Jess remains blindly certain it wasn't Dexter's fault but the Red Lantern ring making him evil and destructive, despite all proof otherwise, including Dex-Star telling her.
- Jerk with a Heart of Gold: Jessica is convinced Dexter really is a good cat underneath. When he's really really not.
- Knight of Cerebus: Dexter's first appearance turns the lighthearted mood of successfully emptying an animal shelter into a Black Comedy-laden experience. Becoming Dex-Starr turns the episode into something out of a horror movie, with Jessica running around a darkened pet store while a vicious, superpowered predator stalks her and blasts her with burning blood.
- Mr. Exposition: Dex-Starr gives a brief rundown on Red Lanterns to Jessica, and the audience, in case they're unfamiliar with Lantern lore.
- My Instincts Are Showing: Even after getting a Red Lantern ring, Dex-Starr is still distracted by a glowy thing on a string for a moment.
- Plot Allergy: Diana turns out to be allergic to cats. Dexter exploits this for maximum evil by sitting on her face.
- Rage Breaking Point: The last straw for Dexter turns out to be being dressed in a cute outfit and surrounded by children who refuse to respect his personal space, which makes him angry enough to attract a Red Power Ring.
- Troubled Fetal Position: The last person at the animal shelter who ran afoul of Dexter is still there, huddling in the corner, hugging her knees and rocking back and forth.
