Last Sunday, the third season of Dexter -- one of television's finest dramas -- premiered, and the opener's final scene revealed the secret I've been keeping mum on for months: Rita and Dex have a baby on the way! Executive Producer Clyde Phillips told me the good news back in July when I saw him at Press Tour, trusting that I wouldn't ruin the surprise for y'all. But now that you know, I've got more scoop.

I ran into Julie Benz -- the actress who plays Dex's beloved Rita -- at the Emmys a couple weeks back, and we spoke about her character's pregnancy reveal. She said, once the thought of a baby comes into play, both Rita and Dexter have a lot of stuff to figure out and we'll see them struggle with that for a while. But when I asked her if we'd be seeing her bump gradually grow throughout the season and if she was having to wear a lot of fake padding, she paused. There was a short silence and then she cryptically said, if I answer that question, then there are so many other questions to answer, so let's just say you have to tune in and watch." Huh?!

So now, of course, a million theories are swimming around my head. We never did see a positive pregnancy test -- Rita just decided she was expecting based on chocolate cravings -- So maybe it was a false alarm? Or perhaps she miscarries? Maybe she really is pregnant, but gets kidnapped by the ghost of Doakes and disappears for awhile, delivering the baby off screen... What? Is that ridiculous?

Whatever the case, the concept of a biological kid has now entered Dexter's mind and will color the season significantly. James Remar -- who portrays Dex's departed dad and former mentor Harry -- will start popping up in Dexter's imagination fairly often. Says Phillips, "His father represents the subtext and alter ego of conscious. Dexter is now contemplating fatherhood. And who better to contemplate it with than your own father as the other voice in your head."

One of our favorite murderer's biggest worries? Whether or not the need to kill can be passed on genetically. "He has concerns about nature and nurture," Phillips further explained. "There will be a scene later where he goes and has an MRI and discusses this in his imagination with James Remar. I won’t tell you where that goes, of course, but he's definitely [wondering], can he be a father, what is in him, why did he end up how he ends up? If Harry had been different, if he had been different, what would've happened? It’s all explored this year."

So, any thoughts? Think there really is a little Dex on the way? If so, will he or she make it to their birth day? Weigh in by commenting below...

Comments

I hope it is a false alarm. I just don't think we are ready for the show to actually go there, but I like that it is going to raise this whole set of new issues for Dexter to contemplate.

allie | Oct 4, 2008 5:36:12 AM | #

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Well this season is going to have to stray so far from the third book. The third book was way too out there. I think a little Dexter is just right.

tmt | Oct 4, 2008 8:01:31 AM | #

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I too hope it's a false alarm as baby plot devices are usually a show killer from my experience but then again Dexter isn't your average show and the look on his face was priceless when Rita revealed the possibility of her being pregnant. Should be interesting at least for now.

DaisyRose | Oct 4, 2008 8:06:07 AM | #

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Whether she's pregnant or not, I'm not worried because this show is so good, I trust the writers.

P | Oct 4, 2008 1:12:58 PM | #

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Please don't put spoilers in your byline. Some of us don't have HBO and are waiting for the episodes on Hulu or even dvd.

June | Oct 5, 2008 7:15:31 AM | #

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June, Dexter is on Showtime, so please don't waste your money on HBO.

KT | Oct 5, 2008 10:22:14 AM | #

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I don't have Showtime either. I watched the first episode online. I'm all for getting it free! Of course, I love Weeds too so can't wait to watch season 4 too!

Carol | Oct 5, 2008 10:52:26 AM | #

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The "Dexter" season is only 12 episodes long. Even if each episode covers a week of time, Rita shouldn't be pregnant enough to require Julie Benz to wear much (if any) padding by the last one.

Fnord | Oct 9, 2008 4:15:17 AM | #

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I love the pregnancy storyline, although it will change the show quite a bit in future seasons if the pregnancy comes to fruition! The writers on this show are so good, I know they will make it work. Episode 12 is titled "Do You Take Dexter Morgan?" so maybe the season will end like the last book did??

Cynthia | Oct 10, 2008 1:00:52 PM | #

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This show is the greatest and worth every month the extra $43.00 expense on Direct TV. Rita already went to the doctor's and found out she was pregnant. I think Rita will lose the baby as we are already seeing Dexter's lifestyle getting cramped. He needs his solitary time to do his finest work. I trust the writers will do the right thing and not make him a Father!

Caddy-Linda | Oct 12, 2008 9:41:51 PM | #

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Did anyone happen to notice when Dexter confronted the Child Molester (Lion Sleeps Tonight) on the boardwalk it was filmed at Shoreline Village in Long Beach California? Nice to see Dexter was filmed in the city where I live!

Greatest Dex Fan | Oct 12, 2008 9:45:53 PM | #

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Oh, I hope it's a false alarm.. It's time for Rita to go!! On the positive side - Dexter has been picked up for two more seasons!!

Dexter Rat | Oct 23, 2008 7:46:02 AM | #

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I love Rita and the fact that Dex may be a daddy, i think it will all work out. The writers on this show are Top Notch, i dont think they will screw it up at all , it just keeps getting better....
Keep up the good work Dexter Morgan///and that Sister of his, i just love her. She is so real, what an actress.

venus | Oct 25, 2008 8:18:43 PM | #

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Maybe I'm wrong but Rita carrying Dexter's child seems written on the wall. Even in the beginning it seemed clear to me that Rita was going to be Dexter's pretty little anchor. This show is amazing. It's a little earlier than I expected but Dexter fathering a child is inevitable. It would be very interesting. It's gonna make or break some things. His relationship with Rita is fascinating. Besides the killing, it's one of the highlights of the show. Rita and Dexter have great chemistry. The potential is huge for the family dynamic to reveal more about Dexter.

Sasha | Nov 3, 2008 7:28:02 PM | #

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Does anybody know why there's only 12 episodes in a season? Seems like a rip off. Don't get me wrong, I think they manage to wrap things up nicely. But I was disappointed to discover that the seasons were so short. Plus it's pretty frustrating that it ends in December and doesn't return until almost a year later. This show is particularly intense. Waiting for a new season would be brutal. Let's pray for no cliffhangers.

SE | Nov 3, 2008 7:34:11 PM | #

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