but there's so much more at stake now...he's got kids (which have softened him up more than anything else)....plus he's probably the guardian for rita's two kids as well.

i have no idea what direction the next season will go...but it should be fun.

what was Dexter's kill count for the season?

Quatro, the photographer and the cop- was that it?

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People had to have seen Arthur in the office when he came looking for dexter. They know what he looks like now. It could look like he just targeted someone from Miami Homicide.

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This is what I was thinking. Batista saw Dexter talking to Arthur. Miami Metro may piece it together thinking that Arthur knew Debra was the lead detective on the case. So, Arthur goes after her brothers family?

crazy show. Love it!

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what was Dexter's kill count for the season?

Quatro, the photographer and the cop- was that it?

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Truck driver also.

was watching Criminal Minds- episode 100 with the reaper ends the exact same

do all writers steal from each other or what?

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what i dont get now...is what is the overall endgame for this show?

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Harry is Dexter's real father and was a serial killer.

what would that end?

I complained a lot about the last episode, but WOW, very good episode. I had been struggling with the taming of Dexter's passenger, but was finally buying into it this episode. Then POW Rita's dead.

I am curious if Trinity got lucky getting Rita back or did he set that up. And, what happened to the cabbie?

Before this I was thinking maybe the show can end with Dexter overcoming the dark passenger, now I'm wondering if he can even keep the code in the next season.

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passenger

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So lame.

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I am curious if Trinity got lucky getting Rita back or did he set that up. And, what happened to the cabbie?

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He couldn't have set it up. She forgot her ID and went back. He went to Dexter's house to do something, but Rita being there was just chance/fate.

Nothing happened to the cabbie. She had to take a later flight, so he just would've left her at the house.

********Spoilers


Wow is right. That was a hell of a twist.

Being speculative here on my end, I think Deb is going to keep searching and finding out more info for that part of the Dexter storyline to progress and have further meaning. I cannot say that she'll discover that her bro is a serial killer any time soon, but I think they will develop that tension and growing suspicion about Dexter from her POV. In the books, if I remember correctly (I haven't read them myself), I think she knows about Dexter's killing habits. And there is definitely a path laid out for her to discover that, but how far they take it is anyone's guess. Deb definitely acts out according to her "hunches" as well, so I could see that eventually leading her to question Dexter more and more as things progress.

Also, there is now the obvious perfect setup for Dexter's kid to have some darkness as well now. Yes, the kid is younger than Dexter, but I have a hard time thinking they'd won't eventually play out that bit regardless. Perhaps not so much in this coming season, but maybe in a future one, the setup is there and in place. Maybe the kid will show some signs of it already at a very young age next season, even if it just some type of uncomfortable smile at violence that is on TV or something like that, but not a full blown part of the story with Dexter teaching the kid how to tame her demons. Leave that for the season after the next. j/k

With the going forward direction of the show, it is hard to say where I think they should go with this. At first I thought that they should pick things back up with Rita's killing, but there are limitations there, with Trinity already out of the picture. The FBI are in some way going to be going after Trinity, but it's a dead end in some respects. Though the FBI will be looking into Dexter's arena now with Rita's death, depending on how Dexter handles it, and I don't doubt they will probably end up doing that.

Something with Dexter and Quinn has been growing, so you've got that going on too. Quinn is going to get himself in trouble one way or another before it is all said and done. A different kind of annoyance for Dexter, as opposed to what he dealt with before with Doakes.


LaGuerta just needs to die, but Angel is still cool in my book.

Anyhow, Sept 2010 is too far away.

I see him losing control for a while still having to deal with being a father to harrison and Rita's kids...

It'll be interesting, because he won't be able to get away nearly as easily for kills.

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Also, there is now the obvious perfect setup for Dexter's kid to have some darkness as well now. Yes, the kid is younger than Dexter, but I have a hard time thinking they'd won't eventually play out that bit regardless. Perhaps not so much in this coming season, but maybe in a future one, the setup is there and in place

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Yah but for the kid to carry on the code, they'd have to forward the show by at least 6 years. That'd be a huge jump time. I think it's more likely they'll just use the scene as a parallel.

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I think she knows about Dexter's killing habits.

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Yeah, I think she finds out in the first book if I'm not mistaken.

As for next season, I've got no idea what to expect from the family perspective and what's gonna happen there, but I'd love for them to somehow take the path of the second book as far as Dexter's next nemisis is concerned. Only because I always wanted to see if they would be able to tackle that one on television, pretty grafic and not sure if they could pull it off.

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Yah but for the kid to carry on the code, they'd have to forward the show by at least 6 years. That'd be a huge jump time. I think it's more likely they'll just use the scene as a parallel.

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Sure I completely agree, for now at least. My post was more hinting towards the future than the immediate coming season. They might be able to work in a couple drops into the next season none-the-less, to lead up to a future season.

I read an interview in TVGuide online where the writers have apparently just left things pretty wide open, and are not sure where exactly to go from there. They'll apparently take a couple months to break away, then come back and put together the next season. I don't think it sounds like they will skip way far ahead after this past season. IMO, I think it would be good for there to be at least some type of a transition period now for Dexter as a character immediately following this. He took reality and was hiding behind it with his family, and now his ways have come to affect them. Right now, things are screaming for some type of an investigation into Trinity and also Rita's death as well. Dexter has some major adjustments going forwards as well that I think need to be fleshed out. Does he take in the kids, or do the grandparents take over custody at this point, etc.

[This message has been edited by Cyprian (edited 12/15/2009 10:47a).]

Catch, care to elaborate?

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Yah but for the kid to carry on the code, they'd have to forward the show by at least 6 years. That'd be a huge jump time. I think it's more likely they'll just use the scene as a parallel.

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Maybe that's the end game. One or two more seasons of Dexter with hints of Harrison's dark passenger showing up where they can, then they end it with confirmation that he is the same as dexter. Then they can use that as an excuse to fast forward to when Dexter teaches Harrison about the code (or his version of it, at least).

I'm sure there will be some focus on if Dexter killed Rita.

- Wife kissed another man
- In therapy
- Quinn hates him
- violent outbursts that week
- does he have an alibi for when she was killed or was he prepping for Trinity?

I think it would be a dumb idea for the kid to become like Dexter. I honestly don't like that idea in the books. It just seems like "it doesn't work" when I'm reading it.

Actually, I'm not a big fan of the books anyway. Dexter is one of the rare shows where the TV/film version is better and more creative then the written version.

They would be taking a step backwards in my opinion to start feeding from the books again. Season One was just Book 1 (To a point with some major changes in the end with some characters) but the subsequent seasons on TV were much better then the books when they split paths/artistic direction.

It would be hard to say more about the books without giving spoilers concerning how they treat Dexter's "Dark Passenger" So let's just say they treat it really lame and retarded.


[This message has been edited by CoolaidWade (edited 12/15/2009 12:23p).]

As bad as it would be, A part of me wishes they would do a "finding rita murdered was all a dream"

that would be such a cop out...

That would be ridiculously lame. They made too much of a freaking awesome season finale to ruin it with that.

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Catch, care to elaborate?

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in the second book the bad guy isn't really serial killer, but a serial mutilator. He sedates his victims and systematically dismembers them and keeps them alive. Removes limbs, eyelids, ears, lips, tounge, basically leaving a living stump that moans in constant agony.

**Partial Spoiler**

I'm so ticked ! For some stupid reason my DVR started recording the final episode halfway through it - so the first thing I see is Deb interviewing the kid that Trinity kidnapped. Then all Hell is breaking loose with them naming Arthur and then storming his house. I had to tape the episode again at midnight last night so that we can see the first half of it.

What are the odds Dexter disposes of Rita's body and just says she went missing? He obviously knows that Trinity's family could cause problems if they ever see him again, all the people in the 4 walls know his face, and there is probably footage of him and Trinity talking in the police station.

Rather than being questioned why wouldn't he just dump her body? He can always say she left him since Masuka saw her kissing that guy and they've been in therapy for the issues they've been having.

I doubt that would happen, but it's a scenario they could go with.

This show has never had plot holes before.

he would have to explain that to her kids.

he wont do that.

the investigation should be interesting.

anyone have any idea how long the show is supposed to be on? as in how many more seasons?

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anyone have any idea how long the show is supposed to be on? as in how many more seasons?

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It's Showtime's #1 show, they're going to milk it all they can.

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anyone have any idea how long the show is supposed to be on? as in how many more seasons?

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It's Showtime's #1 show, they're going to milk it all they can.

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So about 2 seasons longer than it should go... got it.

He could take out Elliot and make them both disappear which would strengthen the argument that she left him.

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A part of me wishes they would do a "finding rita murdered was all a dream"

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Kathy Bates would be pissed.

I keep watching the reruns of the last episode.

Seems like Quinn would push the issue of Dexter as a suspect, which means he would be following him around more next season.

Still think Debra will eventually have the dilemma of being the good cop and turning Dexter in or choosing to hide his secret.

Also doubt that Dexter would pass the code on to his son, but I guess they could do that in hopes of reviving the whole thing in the distant future if they want to.

I've been wanting to see what this whole "Dexter" thing was all about, and finally just finished watching all 4 seasons. Lithgow stole the show in my opinion, he was better than I've ever seen him. Well deserved Golden Globe for sure.

The last few minutes was unbelievable. Talk about taking the show in a whole new direction...these writers have BALLS!
One prediction I see happening is Debra moving in with him either in the current house, or finding a new one (don't think all those kids would fit in that tiny apartment).

Fantastic show, should have watched these closer to September, now I have to wait!

[This message has been edited by Silvertaps (edited 1/25/2010 1:51a).]

WOW....that was amazing.... It has been a loooong time since I have had this feeling after a season finale...

I'm 8 months late but I just finished and WTF?

I have no one to talk to about it right now, so I came and read this thread. When does season 5 start?

according to http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv/2009/12/14/2009-12-14_dexter_season_finale_a_bloody_twist.html it will premiere september 27th