Showtime Series - Dexter

[molson]

It's hilarious to me how horrible a parent Dexter is. He's with that kid about 5 minutes a day. He's lucky to have the most amazing and understanding nanny ever.

And Astor and Cody, whom Dexter was a father to, and who still live in-state, are just completely gone.

[Logan]

This season really fell off a cliff after the "drape-rod through the bed through the killer" scene. I couldn't wait for this week's to end, and although it finally got good in the last minute, the previous 200 minutes or so have felt like a huge waste.

[Lathum]

Originally Posted by molson

It's hilarious to me how horrible a parent Dexter is. He's with that kid about 5 minutes a day. He's lucky to have the most amazing and understanding nanny ever.

And Astor and Cody, whom Dexter was a father to, and who still live in-state, are just completely gone.

They brought them back for a bit.

I think the writers came up with Harrison but never really had a plan for what to do with him so he is kind of just there.

[Bigsmooth]

I'm still watching since I've invested so much time on the series, but wow, it's a borderline comedy for me at this point. Was nice to see the chick from Friday Night Lights working the bar though.

[jeff061]

I just don't get how they could screw this up so bad. Few shows are tailor made for an intense final season like Dexter is. It's like no one there cares at all about the show.

[Logan]

Watched this week's episode last night. I wonder if any series has ever had a worse final season. Shockingly horrendous.

[molson]

I don't think it's quite as bad as everyone else does but I did laugh out loud at Dexter's stakeout technique:

Spoiler

I can't believe he got spotted!!

[Kodos]

Could have at least worn a less bright shirt. Maybe his slaughterin' outfit.

[larrymcg421]

Quinn does not need to be Sgt if he cannot read the obvious look on Deb's face that gave away she knew who the kid was.

[Kodos]

He was too busy thinking "Should I kiss her? Should I kiss her?"

[mckerney]

Just started catching up on this season and can't help but wonder if the writers realized that this was the final season before the part where Hannah showed up.

[Johnny93g]

Originally Posted by mckerney

Just started catching up on this season and can't help but wonder if the writers realized that this was the final season before the part where Hannah showed up.

The writers stopped doing their jobs after season 4. I doubt I'll ever rewatch the last 4 seasons again.

[DaddyTorgo]

My prediction for the finale:

Dexter gets killed in front of Harrison, thus "beginning the cycle anew" type of thing.

Perfectly unoriginal and stereotypical, which, given that the writers seem to have mailed it in for the past few years, is probably what we'll get.

[mckerney]

[Jas_lov]

I liked how Hannah McKay is this mastermind criminal yet she not only used Harrison's real name at the hospital but Deb's address(the place she was hiding) as well.

[DaddyTorgo]

Originally Posted by Jas_lov

I liked how Hannah McKay is this mastermind criminal yet she not only used Harrison's real name at the hospital but Deb's address(the place she was hiding) as well.

It's not like she didn't know the marshal was after her too. I've waited HOURS for stitches before on a cut that reached all the way down to the fat around the bone - pretty sure Harrison could have waited for Dexter/Deb.

Or you know - at least put a frigging baseball cap on.

[The Jackal]

Yeah I have to say the writing at the end of this season has gotten incredibly sloppy. I realize that part of this year is how Dexter isn't the same as he used to be and love has changed him and crap, but the amount of stuff Dexter/Hannah are ignoring is ridiculous.

They know the marshal is after her, but they think they are going to be able to fly commercially together out of the country?

(already said but) They know Hannah is plastered on the news and she doesn't think dying her hair or buying a wig is a good plan?

They aren't worried about Harrison talking about Hannah to Jamie or anyone else?

I get that the Marshal wasn't clearly after Dexter until the last episode or two - but there's no friggin way Dexter would be so careless about his movements knowing he was under suspicion. Doakes is rolling around in his grave right now.

[mckerney]

Originally Posted by Jas_lov

I liked how Hannah McKay is this mastermind criminal yet she not only used Harrison's real name at the hospital but Deb's address(the place she was hiding) as well.

Or maybe something about her being a fugitive with her picture being all over town and she makes no attempt to disguise herself. It seems like some black hair color and glasses might help a criminal mastermind in her situation.

Or maybe just how she's a terrible plot device to bring about the ending of a series that has a premise that should easily lead to a thrilling conclusion, but instead we get Argentina and the continuation of a horrible plot line from this season.

[mckerney]

God I hope Showtime keeps the people responsible for the last few seasons of this far, far away from Homeland.

[mckerney]

[jeff061]

Originally Posted by mckerney

God I hope Showtime keeps the people responsible for the last few seasons of this far, far away from Homeland.

While season 5 and 6 blew, I thought 7 was pretty well done. Which makes this current train wreck all the more disappointing.

[Kodos]

"Hmmm. I know I enjoy killing people, but I think I'll go ahead and spare a guy who is a direct threat to me and everyone I love, even though he just killed the closest thing I've had to a mother. In fact, I'll just leave him alone for a bit unsupervised. What's the worst that could happen?"

[Jas_lov]

And then the US Marshal comes in and has no idea who Saxon is despite his face being plastered all over the news. Just lets him go with no hesitation.

[mckerney]

Originally Posted by Kodos

Hmmm. I know I always kill people, even if they have no idea who I am. But I think I'll go ahead and spare a guy who is a direct threat to me and everyone I love. In fact, I'll just leave him alone for a bit unsupervised. What's the worst that could happen?

But you don't understand, I'm in love now which means I don't want to kill anymore. And sure leaving him alive and turning him in to the police could result in him revealing me and possibly Deb as murderers, I have to go run off with the woman who murdered her last two husbands and tried to kill my sister because loving her has cured me!

EDIT: Also...

[jeff061]

I also love this new found BFF thing going on between Hannah and Deb.

[mckerney]

Originally Posted by jeff061

I also love this new found BFF thing going on between Hannah and Deb.

Deb forgives people who try to kill her almost as fast as Dexter does.

[larrymcg421]

Bleh. So many contrivances to get to the ending they wanted. It got so bad at the end, the only way they could've redeemed themselves would've been to do something ridiculous like have Doakes show up at Dexter's new place at the very end. SURPRISE MOTHERFUCKER.

[mckerney]

Wow that was terrible.

[mckerney]

Elway and the U.S. Marshall seemed like characters that belonged in an episode of Burn Notice.

[Bad-example]

Originally Posted by mckerney

Wow that was terrible.

Pretty much sums it up.

[DaddyTorgo]

I figured it'd be so bad I didn't watch yet. Was it basically what was leaked online last week? With Quinn and all that?

[Jas_lov]

I can't think of a worse ending than Dexter driving his boat into an eye of a storm to fake his death and live out his life as a lumberjack, but that's what they went with.

[Jon]

Originally Posted by Jas_lov

I can't think of a worse ending than Dexter driving his boat into an eye of a storm to fake his death and live out his life as a lumberjack, but that's what they went with.

It was more than him simply faking his death to live as a lumberjack.

Spoiler

I think the show posed two key questions (and attempted to answer them very badly in the last few seasons or just gave up answering them until recently), was (1) whether Dexter was born a serial killer by seeing his mother die or whether Harry made him that way and (2) whether he could have a "normal" life and still be a serial killer. Dexter was working on those issues until this season when they brought in Vogel (again, in a bad way), which answered the questions. And him becoming "normal," made him feel guilty for everything he caused or was indirectly responsible for--the deaths of Harry and Deb, Rita, etc. He didn't want to cause further pain to those he loved.

He's living his life as a lumberjack as his own personal hell, since he no longer has the urge to kill and he can't be with the ones he loves. It's purgatory.

Now, I like this concept, but the execution was bad.

[molson]

It's just weird how Showtime promoted a completely different theme for the final season, which was the theme that most people expected/wanted - everyone around Dexter growing suspicious of him.

Spoiler

We got absolutely none of that in the final season. They could have still gone with roughly the same ending, with Dexter disappearing into hiding, it's just interesting that they decided to completely ignore what was the overarching tension of the whole series run - will this guy get found out?

[Jon]

Originally Posted by molson

It's just weird how Showtime promoted a completely different theme for the final season, which was the theme that most people expected/wanted - everyone around Dexter growing suspicious of him.

Spoiler

We got absolutely none of that in the final season. They could have still gone with roughly the same ending, with Dexter disappearing into hiding, it's just interesting that they decided to completely ignore what was the overarching tension of the whole series run - will this guy get found out?

The writers must have been told "this is what we're looking for in the ending" and they strained to get to that point and botched it.

Spoiler

There were also rumors they decided to go the Hannah route rather than Lumen because Julia Styles wanted too much money, so they had to go back and rework things.

[Johnny93g]

Enough with the spoilers!!! The shows over.

I hated the ending.

I understand Dexter's in personal hell, but come on, let's walk straight into a hurricane, fake my death and live on as a lumberjack....

I guess that makes sense as it's typical Dexter.

Dexter season 1-4 Awesome stuff
Dexter season 5-8...um, did not exist!!

[Johnny93g]

Originally Posted by Jon

The writers must have been told "this is what we're looking for in the ending" and they strained to get to that point and botched it.

The writers said they envisioned this ending for a while. Also, Lumen, Hannah, whoever the girl was would have made no difference.

[larrymcg421]

Originally Posted by Jon

It was more than him simply faking his death to live as a lumberjack.

Spoiler

He's living his life as a lumberjack as his own personal hell, since he no longer has the urge to kill and he can't be with the ones he loves. It's purgatory.

But if he no longer has the urge to kill, then why can't he be with his loved ones? It's his urge to kill that causes all the problems.

I think they were trying to avoid a happy ending where Dexter lived with Hannah and Harrison in Argentina, but I think that could've worked very well as long as once he got there, he was exposed back home as the real Bay Harbor Butcher. So he has his happy life in Argentina, but people finally know what he is and he can never go back home.

[chinaski]

That was insulting. So glad this show is dead.

[mckerney]

At least we got the pointless Masuka and Daughter Boobs side plot that never went anywhere included in the final few episodes.

[Jon]

Originally Posted by larrymcg421

But if he no longer has the urge to kill, then why can't he be with his loved ones? It's his urge to kill that causes all the problems.

I think they were trying to avoid a happy ending where Dexter lived with Hannah and Harrison in Argentina, but I think that could've worked very well as long as once he got there, he was exposed back home as the real Bay Harbor Butcher. So he has his happy life in Argentina, but people finally know what he is and he can never go back home.

He didn't just lose the urge to kill, he gained the other emotions associated with being "normal." He felt guilty for all the lives he ruined and so he felt he shouldn't be happy anymore. Death would be too easy, so he created his own purgatory where he's guilt ridden for the rest of his life.

The writers just couldn't write it well.

[chadritt]

My personal guess for the spinoff. Hannah and Harrison on the run in south america, constantly pursued by Elway and occasionally two mysterious figures who he refers to as his "clients". Shell teach him wonderful lessons like "Never wear a disguise" and "Always use your real name" and yet somehow theyll keep being followed into multiple countries. The amazing season finale will reveal that the two figures are....Astor and Cody wondering why this stranger randomly has their baby brother instead of them.

[mckerney]

"Higher ups at the network are telling us one of the female characters needs to be topless this season."
"The actors for Deb, Jamie and Hannah all refuse to do nudity and that other female detective is off the show now that she got the promotion instead of Quinn. What are we going to do?"
"Ah, I got it! Masuka has a long list daughter show up and he finds her working at a topless bar."
"Brilliant!"

[molson]

Originally Posted by chadritt

My personal guess for the spinoff. Hannah and Harrison on the run in south america, constantly pursued by Elway and occasionally two mysterious figures who he refers to as his "clients". Shell teach him wonderful lessons like "Never wear a disguise" and "Always use your real name" and yet somehow theyll keep being followed into multiple countries. The amazing season finale will reveal that the two figures are....Astor and Cody wondering why this stranger randomly has their baby brother instead of them.

I'd rather see "Dexter, The Lumberjack Years," in which Dexter murders evil Lumberjacks who exceed their cutting permits by taking down too many trees, or who take too many pancakes at breakfast. Instead of disposing his victims at sea, he can chop them up with a chainsaw and bury them in the forest.

[RainMaker]

Holy shit was that bad. The idea of him leaving everyone he loves and living out his life in a personal purgatory isn't bad. But you couldn't have executed in a poorer way.

The writing on the show couldn't have been worse the last few seasons. Plot holes galore, random storylines that went nowhere, and huge shifts from episode to episode in character development.

Originally Posted by mckerney

At least we got the pointless Masuka and Daughter Boobs side plot that never went anywhere included in the final few episodes.

That's my favorite side note from the season. The storyline was completely pointless. Just a chance to see the girl from Friday Night Light's tits. In fact, she wasn't the only character making meaningless appearances this season. Did they just have these people under contract and figure they needed to create something for them to do? Besides Masuka, Matthews scenes never made sense all season. He was super protective of that family but we never find out why. And what happened to the new girl who was named Lieutenant? What was the whole point of that whole thing with Quinn if he was just going to be temporarily mad and act like nothing changes by the next episode?

I seriously feel dumber for having watched this season. I can think of shows with worse themes, but not worse writing.

[jeff061]

[B & B]

[The Jackal]

Pretty disappointed with these last few episodes.

[Logan]

I thought this was a really good piece on where Dexter went wrong (written in advance of the finale). Beware, there are major final season Breaking Bad spoilers (nothing beyond where we currently are) if you're not watching both of these shows.

Dexter’s Terrible Final Season and How Breaking Bad Ruined the Series - Hollywood Prospectus Blog - Grantland

[Kodos]

Just saw the finale tonight. What an awful last season. They clearly didn't have enough time to come up with a good plan.