I held off watching episode 11 so we could watch the last two back-to-back, and I echo the "WOW" sentiments. The writing on this show is so incredible, and they have some serious balls to kill off a major character like that. This season was clearly about the Dark Passenger getting the best of Dexter. He killed an innocent and then it led Trinity to Rita. As much as he tried to reconcile his personal life with it, the Dark Passenger clearly was the dominant force in his life, and it cost him dearly. I think season 5 will be the last, and it will focus on Dexter trying to kick the Dark Passenger completely. Maybe he walks away content to not kill again, or maybe he realizes that he has to kill but be alone. The cops are going to have to wonder about this one. Batista saw Trinity talking to Dexter, and Deb knows Dex is the Ice Truck Killer's brother. Maybe they'll figure out he was the Bay Harbor Butcher. Maybe he'll have to run for it or maybe he'll be killed. It'll be a mighty interesting season next year, and if the previous 4 are any indication, another stellar season.
Spoiler You're right that Kyle's family would recognize Dexter. My wife pointed out that this means Dexter has to cover up Rita's death. He would never survive an investigation. I think the next door neighbor may discover Dexter cleaning up the scene and Dexter will kill him. Then he will make it look like he and Rita ran off together. Masuka witnessing the kiss will support this.
wow i am just amazed by how much the writers left wide open. they can do almost anything with this show next season.
I agree with most of the summation by Scribbs......... My wife and I discussed this episode last night after watching it. Yea, the writers are f***** ballers. Amazing. A little bit of a Seven copy cat, but great. Widower, parent of 3 (assumedly, unless Ritas mom takes the kids) and serial killer. I think Dex is going to be in play for Rita murder. Deb will remember how he magically popped up at the crime scene. Plus, arrest records will have Dexter at the same bank as where Trinity took out his bank funds. The Kyle Butler stuff will eventually come back to haunt him as well. Ritas kill doesnt fit in a cycle and their will be a why.......... A lot swirling around, this was the ending that the Sopranos never gave. I am also hoping last season is the last. I dont know how long you can stretch this out regardless. This haunted me last night, I had dreams about it, and I will rewatch it today. Excellent TV, there is not enough of it to counter the Jersey Shores of this world.
Insane episode. Insane, I say. Spoiler That being said, while I feel bad for Dexter, I am glad they finally offed Rita. She was getting progressively more and more annoying as the seasons wore on. She was great in season one, but got more and more needy and more and more clingy. Dexter needed the relief (as did I). It'll be interesting to see how Dexter gets out of it. Does Rita fit the MO of all the other bathtub killings from Trinity? I cannot remember what the specific MO was, but it didn't seem like he was killing mothers in the bathtub (they were jumpers). If she doesn't fit it, then he'll either have to convince them it was someone else, or he's going to be quite exposed. That, plus Trinity's family calling him Kyle Butler (and, note, a real Kyle Butler being dead) will begin to link Dexter with Trinity. And when does Deb's knowledge of Dexter being the brother of the Ice Truck Killer come into play? Surely Deb won't begin to doubt Dexter and rethink who the Bay Harbor Butcher was... will she? So much to think about, so much time to think about it.
Also, as much as I love this show, I would not be opposed to them ending it like this. I know we all want there to be an endgame for Dexter himself, however look at Mr. Tony Soprano as what happens when a writer doesnt have the gall/wit whatever, to end it with an oomph. I thought Dexter had peaked, I was wrong. This was the peak. Again, bravo.
Spoiler I can see a Deb vs Dex Series Finale where Deb will have to make a choice. Rita's death will be the spark that lights the explosion in Dexter and lets the dark passenger out to go nuts. I just do not see this ending well at all which is good for all of us.
Spoiler Trinity intended to start a new kill cycle by kidnapping the little boy that Dexter rescued. Maybe Rita could be seen as a continuation of that, even though she doesn't fit the pattern of a mother being pushed. However, his whole cycle didn't go as planned if he killed Rita.
Amazing. First, I think the thing with Dexter just appearing behind the car when he caught Trinity was suppose to be left vague. My guess would be he found the car, sabotaged it and slipped into the trunk at some point between Arthur picking it up from the body shop and when the whole scene went down on the secluded road. As far as Rita's death all I cay see is damn! I was ready for her to go though. She has increasingly annoyed me and been nothing but an obstruction in the fluidity of the show. I know part of that was on purpose but it got annoying as soon as the first episode. I actually thought it might be coming when Dexter had Arthur on the table and he kept repeating to Dex something like "it's already over." It still shocked me a bit when I saw it but I think there definitely was a hint given there by Trinity. I agree with the poster who said ending it now would not be a bad idea. The show has come full circle and peaked. Anything after this will have to be somewhat of a re-hash of themes from previous seasons. The only way I could see it getting nuttier is if Dexter goes truly evil after losing Rita and I don't think the writers are going to turn the protagonist into a villain. I'm sure they will do another season and it looks like Quinn is going to go the way of Dokes pretty soon. I have no idea how Dexter escapes the whole "Kyle Butler" situation but it looks as if the writers may already be taking care of that by showing the FBI come in and take everything but the kitchen sink regarding the Trinity case. Hell, Dexter could even pretend to have no knowledge of Trinity and blame the whole incident with Arthur coming into the station as the fault of the department for having poor security. It could be blamed on the department that Trinity came in, looked at all their case work (it was on bulletin boards) and decided to pick a cop's family to kill just to taunt them. We'll see.
Spoiler i agree. there is no way out for dexter anymore. what was trinity saying at the end? that it was already all over for him (dexter). his dad is saying that he is spread too thin and playing too many roles. he is too caught up in his own web now with the kyle butler thing. damn...i can't wait til next season!
Actually, I'll call my shot here, I think they will...It would be epic but you can see bits and pieces of the "code" starting to crack. The jail cell scene to me was very telling, I think this is a way to make Deb the protagonist and close the series out with a BANG. The whole marriage theme with Angel/LaGuerta was pretty meaningless this season but I think it plants the seed for the next and I bet one of those two don't make it past season 5 and Dex will be involved somehow. This series has become "expect the unexpected" kind of show and I LOVE IT.
For the people saying they wouldn't mind if it ended this way, I'm not sure if you mean you hope it does, or if you're just saying you would have been OK with it. I'm just curious, because there is at least one more season in the works already. That said, I think (and on some level I hope) that it's the last. This season built up to and even ended with so much momentum that I'd love it if Season 5 was nothing more than an all-out ***** storm every episode, leading up to a huge crescendo right at the series finale. I'm really going to miss this show when it's over, but I'd rather it not drag on. Also, I think the series ends with Dexter making himself disappear in some form or fashion. Could be a faked death, a suicide made to look like an accident (so Deb and others don't have to be burdened with another colleague/friend's murder case), or he could just leave the country...although that would probably damage the kids more than anything, and Miami Metro would no doubt treat it like a kidnapping/murder. So yeah, I'm putting my money on this thing wrapping up next season by way of Dexter getting rid of himself...most likely by "accident". It's the best way for him to keep those around him safe and preserve their vision of him as a loving father and blood spatter analyst.
I thought they had been hinting at the end of the series through the season. Spoiler I actually thought that Dexter might end his own life at the end of last night's episode in a way to keep the dark passenger away from his family. Would of made a great finale. They talked about next season, so I look forward to where they take it.
@Clutchcityreturns I said I wouldnt mind if it ended like that because so many series peter out. Last night was epic, and the most brilliant of episodes Dexter has had (which is considerable) The part with Trinity, and then later re-examining that after the entirety of the situation is revealed.... The obvious "other peak" is Dexters ultimate demise...... Thats the only thing they could do to top last night..... And I do want to see that, but I don't want them to let me down. Again using the Sopranos as an example of the ending being dissapointing. I was always a fan of the Sopranos going as long as it did because I thought it was leading to something. Maybe a few years down the road it will.
My main issues: - For a guy who pays attention to detail, how does he stay the night with Rita in his home when Trinity is out to get him? Out of character in my opinion. Also he lets her forget her ID plus doesn't make sure she got on the flight okay?! - They don't explain how Dex gets to Trinitys car, plus why does the car give problems right on an empty road in the middle of nowhere, talk about things going perfectly for you (seems like it happens a little too often for Dex) - Dex being found in the garage is a big question mark, why is a blood guy going to a police raid to arrest someone? I think next year is going to be all about Quinn vs. Dexter.....
earlier in the thread dave speculated that maybe dexter was in the trunk of the car waiting for it to break down.
Let's assume for a second that was the case, which I don't think it was for various reasons. How is Dexter supposed to know if it's "safe" to jump out of the trunk once the car breaks down. There'd be no way to tell if there were other cars (possibly even a police car) on the road, or if the car stalled somewhere near a populated area. You can't just hop out of someone's trunk if there are witnesses, especially if you're next step is to abduct them. Just doesn't make sense to me.
