Dexter

[Hockey_Ninja]

Originally Posted by AC

Watch the first 4 seasons.

I might give it a shot. Right now i'm re-watching anime series i grew up watching. Once i'm done with those i'm thinking of watching Breaking Bad.

[djsFlames]

(*Spoilery, of course)

From the standpoint of Dexter's struggle to become/feel human, the scene with him letting Deb go - "I can't let you stay like this, I'm your big brother"- and him admitting his feelings at last was pretty profound. That is, all along what the writers have been aiming at through the progression of the show (and why this season has been most unlike the past Dexter as they proceeded to shove this theme down our throats). I found that scene kind of eerie (fittingly Dexterish) and executed quite well. Everything leading up/afterwards aside..

If you had an inkling of care for Deb's character, it had to have struck a bit of a chord. If it didn't, then obviously you're kind of inhuman yourself as you've watched 8 years of a show without developing any connection whatsoever with the characters.

So I can give the finale that. Deb's motives / reactions were at least always believable and so was the character, so at least her sendoff was actually half decent. Otherwise, I'm glad they didn't prolong this painful stumble to the finish any longer. I always imagined much greater things for seasons 6 and 7 (5 isn't bad). Just so unfortunate for a show that by the end of season 4 was amongst the best programs out there. The 4 finale was probably one of the most shocking moments to ever air.

I'll finally add that I don't think Hannah should have ever been apart of the show. It would have been far, farrr better off. And not because I don't think she's nice to look at..she is. But she spelled the end for whatever good qualities the show had left. Damn those hot blondes..

[Alberta_Beef]

I seem to be the only one that enjoyed the ending. The fact that he has these genuine feelings that are so strong that he leaves Hannah and Harrison is perfect IMO.

[Caged Great]

If you've never watched this series, there are only 4 seasons. Nothing exists beyond that.

[darockwilder]

Absolutely brutal. If someone said Deb would have a stroke and Dex would move to Olympia without his son I would have said not in a million years. What a disappointment.

[The Big Chill]

Dexter was always a show that had plenty of plot holes, but it was usually so entertaining that it was pretty easy to ignore them. This last season was so boring though that it was hard to overlook the issues. What was the point of Masuka's daughter? Why role did the Captain play in the series? They made it seem like he may know more about Dexter then the others did by having him protect Dexter, and talking about his past with Harry. Then he protects Zach Hamilton and his family. Surely he's not just an idiot who keeps accidentally protecting serial killers, is he? Apparantely he was since nothing else ever happened with that storyline.

I also liked how Dexter murders Saxton, a guy he would have motive to kill, and then his detective buddies tell him not to worry about the investigation and to have fun on his trip. It's not like he's been accused of being a murderer before, right?

Anyways, as others said, Dexter had about 4-5 seasons of great material, but it was stretched out too long and had a crappy ending. They never should have had the final conflict of the series happen with Saxon, a guy who appeared in about 6 episodes. The series should have wrapped up near the LaGuerta part. That would have felt much more like an end to the series, with the threat of Dexter being caught being the main theme.

In the end it just seemed like they never really had a plan on how to end the show. They used the same script of Dexter vs another killer every season until people got bored, and then they just ended it.

Dexter went from being a show I would tell people is a must-watch, to being one that I'm not even sure I'd recommend at all.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by AC

Watch the first 4 seasons.

no no, season 3 was terrible as well.

Really this show was season 1 and 2, bloated carcass, and then John Lithgow ... and then the bloated carcass being dragged for 4 more years.

[Stay Golden]

Spoiler!

the entire scene of Dexters memory of Deb and how much they meant to each other was really sad. I didn't like the way Debs character was ended but then again it was symbolic to Dexters character. The only thing that really bothered me from a too much of a stretch standpoint is Dexter surviving driving into the hurricane. But it could be be possibly the Dexter we see at the end in what looks like maybe Washington isn't Dexter at all. Maybe a brother that was not known about ? I have heard there might be plans for a spin off series but I can't see it happening. The last 2 seasons became a hoky but it was quite the journey Michael C Hall tooks on!

[GGG]

Well we know why Dexter went down hill after season four.

From one of the Articles posted above

Clyde Phillips served as an executive producer and showrunner on Dexter in the early years, helping shape the series for its first four seasons until he decided to leave the show in late 2009, at the end of the Trinity Killer (John Lithgow) season, which ended with Rita's shocking death.

[trackercowe]

One thing I never understood was Saxon framing Hamilton. Why he go to trouble to frame him (collecting his DNA nonetheless) when he barely even knew him. They made it seem like it would be a big revelation this season, but after Hamilton died it was never even brought up again. Just another key story element the writers decided to drop altogether.

[WilderPegasus]

It would have made more sense for Hannah and Deb to have switched roles with Hannah dying as a result of Dexter's inaction and Deb to be the one to parent Harrison. Dexter is to smart to not notice that everyone around Hannah dies as well. Why leave his son with a female version of himself?

[Hemi-Cuda]

Originally Posted by WilderPegasus

It would have made more sense for Hannah and Deb to have switched roles with Hannah dying as a result of Dexter's inaction and Deb to be the one to parent Harrison. Dexter is to smart to not notice that everyone around Hannah dies as well. Why leave his son with a female version of himself?

Because everything is made up and the points don't matter

[Ark2]

Originally Posted by Hockey_Ninja

I might give it a shot. Right now i'm re-watching anime series i grew up watching. Once i'm done with those i'm thinking of watching Breaking Bad.

Stick with Breaking Bad. Don't waste your time on this garbage.

[Stay Golden]

Dexter was lethal with the pen

[JeanLucPicard]

That last scene of Dexter - even the last 10 minutes - are gold material for gifs.

[AC]

Originally Posted by nik-

no no, season 3 was terrible as well.

Really this show was season 1 and 2, bloated carcass, and then John Lithgow ... and then the bloated carcass being dragged for 4 more years.

Yeah I would say seasons 1 and 4 are the peak of the show, but as a result you kind of need to watch 2 and 3.

[Acey]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

If you had an inkling of care for Deb's character, it had to have struck a bit of a chord.

It definitely did for me. Especially after watching Breaking Bad just prior, which was pretty emotional... never ceases to amaze, the affect these show can have. Even in a finale that's less than stellar.

[sun]

F- finale and season overall. My initial reaction is pretty apathetic though. There's just so much wrong with this episode, that there's nowhere to start and I'm pretty much left with "meh".

[djsFlames]

Originally Posted by darockwilder

Absolutely brutal. If someone said Deb would have a stroke and Dex would move to Olympia without his son I would have said not in a million years. What a disappointment.

Well, then it wasn't predictable or expected.

[Eastern Girl]

Wouldn't Rita's family go looking for Harrison? Cody? Aster? Her mom? Or wouldn't the department look for him?
Elway was not dead, so he may have an inkling of where she was going. He could probably get tabs on her if she sticks in the same place.
Why does Hannah never disguise herself? Dye her hair? Wear a hat, glasses? She is a fairly attractive woman so I imagine she's turning heads. You would think she'd get caught fairly quickly from random pervs catching sight of her.
Not sure I would want to leave my son with someone that will kill someone that gets in their way. Kids have a tendency of getting in the way.
I am torn on what Dexter did with Deb's body. On the one hand, it did seem like a rather poignant moment, very sad and touching. Having her wrapped in white, disappearing into the ocean. On the other hand, I couldn't help think of Quinn and all her friends that might have wanted an opportunity to say goodbye. Are they left to wonder what happened to her, or do they assume that since Dexter was on his boat, perhaps he took her with him?
And as others pointed out, no one thought to stop the guy wheeling the body over to his boat and away from where all the other evacuated patients were going.
I think I would have preferred it ended after Dexter drives his boat into the storm, even though I don't think that is something Dexter would ever do. The lumberjack deal just seemed odd.

All in all, I am not sure how I feel. It felt rather rushed. The ending with Dexter suddenly looking into the camera, it felt like they were trying to give it an open ending, where the audience could impart their thoughts on what they think happens (Dexter still killing, Dexter living a normal life, alone, etc.). It just seemed odd though. If that whole lumberjack thing has to stay in there, I would have liked to see the camera zoom in on his face, and then see his face change into the Dexter smirk that we commonly saw in the first season, most notably at the end of the first episode. That, I would have liked. Give them one last glimpse of their once beloved vigilante serial killer before fading to black.