Photos
Video
RSSFinaleWatch: 'Dexter' Ends Third Season
I was trying to figure out what
specifically it was about this season of Dexter that failed, by and
large, to elicit that sensation of horrified delight that I felt with
the first season, and I think it's that the audience saw so little of
Dexter the Serial Killer. We rarely saw Dexter (Michael C. Hall) kill
someone simply because it was on his list of things to do -- each
murder was a part of a much larger storyline. And while I can see the
appeal of ideas such as "What would happen of Dexter got married?"
"What would happen of Dexter had a friend?" I think back to my days as
an X-Files fan and remember that I always liked the stand-alone
episodes of the show more than the ones that were tied into the bigger
plots.
With tonight's finale, other than groaning over Maria Laguerta's (Lauren Velez) assertion that Deb Morgan (Jennifer Carpenter) was one of the smartest cops she knew, I was left trying to remember what happened earlier in the season that made each end-tying moment so significant. Why would the Skinner care that Dexter killed Freebo? Also, whatever happened to that Internal Affairs lady who was hanging around earlier in the season and, really, all Dexter needed to do to deal with Ramon Prado (Jason Manuel Olazabal) was listen to his daddy issues? And aw, happy endings for two cops dating people they possibly shouldn't. Everything worked out perfectly. Everything!
The very last image of the episode, however, reminded me of why I do like this show. It was rather ridiculous how Dexter set it up so that Deb thought she caught/killed the Skinner when he did it himself, but it led to the hand injury that left that beautiful trickle of blood on Rita's (Julie Benz) wedding gown. It was a gorgeous image and a wonderfully dark way to close out the happy-family wedding scene. Maybe that's what was missing from the season -- while there were plenty of killers, there was no blood, and the show has always used blood as its favorite substance, splashed it around in an extravagant, fabulous way. After all, that was what made Season 1's Ice Truck Killer so noteworthy -- the lack of blood left in his victims.
We didn't learn much about the upcoming fourth season of Dexter other than, predictably, it will cover Dex's life as a new husband and father. While I understand the need to draw the other "Dexter" characters more into the show, I hope next season we take leave, a bit, of Dexter's other friends and acquaintances and just focus on the trials and tribulations of being a serial killer who only gets three hours of sleep a night thanks to a new baby -- now that'd make you want to kill someone.
-- Claire Zulkey, Los Angeles Times
Post a comment
Zap2it Twitter Talk 
i agree with you that, overall the season wasn't terrific, but it was still good enough. disagree about wanting Dexter to be a one man show----i love the ensemble cast. jimmy smits got on my nerves though----once i could accept that season three was turning out to be the jimmy smits show---i was able to enjoy it a little more.
I disagree.. I thought this season was amazing!!! I loved the roller coaster ride between Dexter and Miguel!
yeah, it is sad that Deb Morgan is one of the "smartest" cops when she somehow believe George King jumped in front of a police car and killed himself... I mean, this is the same guy who was basically cornered by Quinn and Deb and just ran right past them. So, yeah, it makes perfect sense that he'd just kill himself whenever he could have easily waltzed out of the same exit Dexter waltzed out of.... not to mention there was plenty of evidence that someone else had been there and held captive...
Overall, a sloppy, but still enjoyable enough season. Does not compare to the first two at all, though...
I dont get why everybody hates Deb...she's insanely fun to watch, dimwitted, vulgar, and yet very vulnerable. And hot. ;-)
I dont think Jen Carpenter's past acting has been very good, but she does a great job as Deb.
And C.S. Lee needs to get a "best supporting actor" or whatever for his Masuka portrayal. Like Creed on The Office, we cant get enough of this guy.
Like tim above, I tend to lean towards there being too much Jimmy Smits this season.
I *guess* he always intended to chew up the scenery as he hammed up the character of Miguel, but after a while, even whe he and Dexter 'made up' throughout the season, I was waiting for the day when Dexter got rid of Miguel.
Deb is one of my favorite characters on the show. She's like a foul-mouthed puppy. Inevitably she will find out about Dexter's proclivities, and I wonder what that will do to her. It makes me sad to contemplate it. I also like Masuka, Batista and LaGuerta, though Quinn can get hit by a truck and I won't mind.
I loved the show last night, but do the police not do any autopsy on the Skinner and find out his neck was broken before he fell?
It is a top quality show with a great cast and good stories.
Overall, I liked this season and many here have posted the reasons why. I think that the show has to stretch in different ways or else by it just being about him killing people would make it a more procedural for potential serial killers. LOL!
Was it hit or miss this season? I'd say slightly more hit than miss but slightly. But the rollercoaster ride with the "my friend Miguel" plotline kept me clued to the set.
This season finale seemed almost rushed but the seeds have been planted (one example: the C.I. files) for some interesting twists and turns next season.
I'll be there when he comes back.
I was a little disappointed with this season....although it is still far better than half the slop on TV these days.
Anyway, I thought the season finale wrapped up things a little too neatly. One conversation with a crazy like Ramon Prado and Ramon is off Dexter's tail? Come on. The Skinner "killing himself" as a way to wrap up that storyline was weak. Deb getting her shield and Anton...I would have been fine with just the shield...I see no chemistry with those 2. Maybe Deb doesn't need a love interest every year? Just a thought.
And what did happen to the IA cop following Deb all year to get the goods on Quinn? I know they sort of wrapped that up with a conversation between Quinn and Deb but it was as if they just decided that story line wasn't going anywhere so they dropped it.
Oh well. I hope next season is back to the blood and killing with a better story arc for the season.
While this season was not as good as the previous ones before it, I still loved it. I think it explored the non-serial killer side of Dexter; Dexter as a husband, father, and most importantly a friend.
Having said that I do feel that the last episode wrapped up the season rather quickly. I felt that everything with Ramone and the Skinner was rushed. And in the end it just felt very anti-climactic.
I think they have a lot of setup for next season. LaGuerta dealing with her secret, and Deb possibly finding out about Dexter's past should be interesting.