The Tease: 'Dexter' Season Finale

December 15, 12:56 PM

Two-thirds of the way through the first season finale of Showtime's Dexter, the murder we've come to know as the Ice Truck Killer addresses Michael C. Hall's Dexter and bellows, "You can't be a killer and a hero... IT DOESN'T WORK THAT WAY."

It's a line that perfectly encapsulates the first 12 episodes of what has proven to be one of Showtime's most artistically successful shows, a provocative, sexy and harrowing (and freakishly funny) examination of whether, indeed, you can be both a killer and a hero.

When I reviewed the first three episodes earlier this fall, I saluted the work done by the creative team to expand on Jeff Lindsay's source novel after seeing the season through to its completion, I have no doubt that the source material has been dramatically improved.

It isn't just that the conflicted Dexter Morgan, blood splatter expert and killer, has been embodied by Michael C. Hall. Well deserving of his recent Golden Globe nomination, Hall has made Dexter's warped worldview and his menacing physicality seem believable and his dead-pan delivery has been indispensable to the show's humor. But beyond Dexter, the series had taken Lindsay's flat procedural supporting characters and given them stories, dimensions from Julie Benz's emotionally wounded Rita to Erik King's adversarial Doakes to David Zayas' love-lorn Angel. The first season finale works because the secondary players are nearly as important to the conclusion as Dexter is.

Another important embellishment from the book is the expansion of Dexter's main antagonist. An interesting decision was made to reveal Christian Camargo's Rudy as the Ice Truck Killer five episodes from the end, forcing viewers into further identification with Dexter as the lesser of two evils. Camargo, an actor I recognized from several things but never really noticed before, has matched Hall flawlessly.

Much of the final few episodes have taken place in Dexter's mind, as the Ice Truck killer's clues force him deeper and deeper into a repressed past that may explain his remorseless and psychotic origins. By the time the finale arrives, Dexter is in full-on hallucination mode, slipping in an out of his earliest possible memories. He's trying to save his sister Debra (Jennifer Carpenter), but will that violate his darker nature? Fortunately, the entire Miami police force is also on Rudy's trail, producing the interesting dual tension of hoping that one killer gets caught while the other is left to accumulate more blood-drop slides. You aren't supposed to feel entirely clean after watching Dexter.

Titled "Born Free" and directed with Emmy-worthy flair by Michael Cuesta, the finale may be temporally loopy, but it still moves to a satisfying end that should keep viewers eager for the second season, already picked up by Showtime. With Dexter and Weeds, both among the year's finest shows, things are looking pretty good for the perennial premium cable also-ran.

After you've seen the episode, let us know what you thought...

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Comments (44)

Comments

This show is so awesome. I watch it with a smile on my face the entire time because michael C. hall is so funny its ridiculous. this show better go on for many seasons

David | Dec 17, 2006 8:43:09 AM | #

Awesome show.Bravo Showtime.Bravo.

Alex | Dec 17, 2006 8:48:08 PM | #

I love the show but I wanted both brothers or Rudy to kill Debra because I don't like her character in the show. However, I didn't want Dexter to kill Rudy.

It will be interesting to see how Rita will view Dexter now that she has found the shoe.

andream | Dec 17, 2006 9:03:02 PM | #

Best Season (I love that word) finale that I have seeing of a show in a long time. Never in my 25+ years of tv watching have I been so SATISFIED!!

Zoe | Dec 17, 2006 9:15:41 PM | #

pardon my terrible grammar, seen.

Zoe | Dec 17, 2006 9:18:09 PM | #

Dexter is a hero and a killer. His killing of Brian was just gut wrenching to watch, almost took a tear out my eye it was that sad.

I can't wait for season 2 to see how they expand Dexter more.

Kiros | Dec 17, 2006 11:13:44 PM | #

Being a hero and a killer is a contradiction in terms. Brian was right. Dexter is only fooling himself thinking that he's any better than a killer who kills innocent people because a hero would only kill someone if it was unavoidable. Dexter has other options. He kills because he likes to and if there were no 'bad' people he would kill innocent people too.

Great show though. No other one like it out there.

| Dec 17, 2006 11:39:06 PM | #

Awesome season ending. Season two can't come fast enough. Kudos to all cast, crew and creator. While I agree Dexter is a paradox, Harry's code allows him to exist with both warring sides. For me that imaginary 'ticker tape parade' scene says it all, in fact, it would be surprising to see how many people would NOT approve of him taking out these monsters. In fact, the whole "predator" hunting other predators motif is easier to believe than Sgt Doakes openly aggresive attitude towards him. That the Sarge hasn't been disciplined for abusing his rank in such an obvious way harder to believe.

RC | Dec 18, 2006 7:56:51 AM | #

I have liked this show a great deal. I was a bit surprised with the last two episodes though. It seems they could have drawn out this storyline a bit more, playing with these 2 characters knowing each other. Thus, it has been a great season; I just felt that the ending was a bit rushed.

chalcedonie | Dec 18, 2006 8:01:17 AM | #

So if Brian is wrapped up like all other Dexter victims, with hands by his side, how could he have slit his own throat? I liked the way they had Dexter at his head, crying, then slitting the throat, to get the line of action correct, but if Brian's left hand had been free to commit suicide it would have been free to grapple with Dexter. A bit picky I know, but this was an otherwise extremely well done show. Almost believable...

Gandini | Dec 18, 2006 12:27:27 PM | #

I loved the foreshadowing with Doakes in the maroon Taurus at the end of the Ep.12 (for anyone that has read the 2nd book). This just makes me anticipate the second season that much more!!!

I hope this series has a long and prosperous run!

ck1 | Dec 22, 2006 10:16:04 PM | #

This is a great series with a refreshing storyline. I kind of agree with the person below who made the comment that the brothers should have killed Deb off. Her character is annoying and overacted anyway. I'm really tired of her saying the "f" word repeatly. Granted, I'm no saint, but even for me, it's becoming boring to hear it. All in all, every episode was entertaining and keep me wanting for more. I look forward to season two.

JT | Dec 24, 2006 7:37:55 PM | #

Awesome show! I know an eye for an eye is not right but in this case he is getting rid of the trash before they kill someone else, he is doing the public a favor plus putting them behind bars we have to pay for it they are a waste of breath, I know this sounds bad but it is true... I loved the season finale that was supurb and cannot wait until season 2 begins...

Tobias Lopez | Dec 27, 2006 12:35:00 PM | #

Dexter was a breath of fresh air this television season. It was original and allowed the viewers to deal with a variety of emotions surrounding the main and supporting characters.

Dexter is a monster, a monster that has the possibility to do more than just survive. He has demonstrated some burgeoning humanity by initially sparing the young killer's life when he thought the killer's actions were justified, the interaction with Rita and her children and the attack on Rita no-good dirty ex-husband. Also Dexter could have easily killed Deborah and ignored Harry's code but something prevented him from violating the code. Could he be less of a monster than he thinks?

Normally supporting characters are reflections of the main but in Dexter they are fully developed individuals each habouring their own unique idiosyncracies. These characters do not support the protagonist, they enhance the entire viewing experience!

Watching Dexter evolve this season has been like being pregnant. Each month it grows.

I look forward to experiencing the dark humour, the Doakes\Dexter relationship and all of the other character's continued evolution in season two.

Caryn W | Dec 27, 2006 9:21:56 PM | #

It's so difficult to make a show with accurate criminal forensics, because the reality is that criminal forensics is mindbogglingly dull. Dexter succeeds on some levels (like with the cat's cradle blood splatter reconstructions), but fails on many others (less than an hour to do a DNA typing? Or getting a fingerprint match in the time it takes Angel to limp from the hospital to the police station? I wish). But we have to set these concerns aside in the name of storytelling. And the story is great. It's unfortunate that the dialogue is so amazingly crappy. So there it is. Great concept, great plot, mostly great acting, terrible dialogue, and even worse writing in Dexter's voice overs. Almost every time he spoke he was already saying something that we knew (like 'Rudy opened my eyes' or some other sort of tripe). And I also can't stand it when a forensics expert can't figure out something the the audience already knows, even though we both have the same information. I hope in the second season, the writers try hard not to treat their audience like idiots. I will watch it, though...the storyline was highly addictive.

DB | Dec 31, 2006 5:43:22 AM | #

This was a great show and it was one of the few final episodes that didnt leave me completely annoyed. I agree that Deb's character is annoying, but I suppose she is necessary to show, but I also didn't want Rudy to die.

Melanie | Dec 31, 2006 8:05:07 PM | #

The show was awesome. But I am in mourning... I thought Rudy/Biny was the sexiest man I have seen in a long time... those beautiful eyes. Oh God.. Of course Dexter has his own major sex appeal. But I am really going to miss Rudy.. he showed that little hurt boy inside himself at the end.. I really hoped there would be more between the two brothers.

LG | Jan 3, 2007 3:59:29 AM | #

JESUS CHRIST! Sex and violence sells - alway has - Shakespeare knew it and used to be the best at it, but Dexter would make him sit up in awe....I began watching when the season was almost over on On Demand. I was horrified, mezmerized, intoxicated. I watched one episode after another - 11 hours. I couldn't stop. I sat up straight. I hid my face. I was giddy. I felt sick to my stomach, and I fell in love. With Dexter, with Michael C. Hall, with the writers - I had to tell everyone about the show, but as I explained the plot, I felt I needed to justify it - explain that I really was a good person...aren't I? I feel twisted - it is so twisted and wonderfully disturbing - GIVE ME MORE!

RONDA MCBETH | Jan 3, 2007 9:09:20 PM | #

Watched the show from the beginning, love it, great acting and a concept that is new rather than the same cliches used over and over again. I love the dark humor, I started reading the first Jeff Lindsay Dexter novel at about the 8th episode, i couldn't wait to get to the end. The tv show and novel complement each other but each slightly different. I've already read the second dexter novel which i couldn't put down, I can't wait to see how they do this one.

DarkPassenger | Jan 5, 2007 7:22:25 AM | #

Hey Gandini....When the police find Brian his arms are untaped and he's holding the bed controls in his hand. Dex set it up so it would look as though he'd killed himself. Having said that let me say this..Dexter is easily one of the best shows i've ever seen. The final episode left me in tears. I couldn't get the image of Dex and Biney as small boys out of my mind. I have always had mixed feelings about Harry but now that i've seen the entire series i almost hate him. What sort of man finds two small boys in that sort of situation then only takes one in, leaving the other to fend for himself and never telling Dexter that he's not alone, he has family. I was thoroughly disgusted...good job!

Perturbed Bovine | Jan 6, 2007 12:05:32 AM | #

For the one being picky, once Rudy's throat was slit, Dexter then freed his arms to make it look like an apparent suicide. No need to be picky. FLAWLESS.

Bob | Jan 7, 2007 9:21:12 PM | #

previous comment for Gondini

bob | Jan 7, 2007 9:22:11 PM | #

loved the finale, and am looking forward to season two, I hope Dexter keeps walking the fine line between crazed killer to humanitarian in his preverse way and doesn't become one more than the other and ruin a good story.
Who cares how Rudy died it was a satisfying end to the sick murdering bastards existance( do i sound like Dexter)lol

bon | Jan 7, 2007 10:58:09 PM | #

At times when I watched this show, I felt bad because I silently cheered for Dexter's murders to pull through. I laugh a lot at his effortless sense of humor. My boyfriend and I cannot stand Deb's character or acting. Dexter is eerily on point in his every word and action. I applaud SHOtime for NEVER letting me down with their endless talent of writers. It's an ingredient that is lacking in most television nowadays. Weeds is another SHOtime favorite.

Trinity | Jan 8, 2007 9:26:44 PM | #

Another note I might add, I'm unsure of what's to come in the second season. Now that Dexter unfolded the lies that Harry kept for him after his death, how will he cope with his memory of Harry? Also, Rita is going to be a lot tougher to get rid of... especially since the shoe discovery. And, his Lieutenant is replaced with another crazy bitch, and his sargeant (sp?) is even more crazy suspicious. Hopefully, this second season will be more about the characters.

Trinity | Jan 8, 2007 9:29:58 PM | #