REVIEW

Dexter season 8

Posted: July 1, 2013
Follow me through the 8th and last season of Dexter week by week. I will give you my thoughts on each episode as they air and in 12 weeks we’ll all know how the story of Dexter ends. But don’t read this if you haven’t seen he episodes. There will be SPOILERS!

Episode 1: A Beautiful Day (June 30, 2013)

Tonight’s the Night…that Dexter returns for the 8th and last season. And man did a lot happen in this first episode. It takes place 6 months after LaGuerta’s death and Deb is no longer with the Miami police. She is now working as a PI and in the current case working on an Andrew Briggs. Do one has heard from her in a long time and Dexter is going crazy from not hearing from her. Batista has taken LaGuerta’s place a Lieutenant and thank God given up his ideas of running a restaurant. Quinn and Jamie are dating and a new character is introduced. Dr. Vogel. All this is a great setup for the season.

I like the fact that no one can get in touch with Deb and that she’s in a downwards spiral. I get frustrated but in a good way because I care about her. And when Dexter kills Briggs just like that I’m almost screaming out loud. Can things be more complicated than they are now? Off course they can. This is Dexter and nothing goes easy. Like when Dr. Vogel arrives. You know from the start that there is more than meets the eye with her and when she end the episode by telling Dexter that he can’t kill her because she doesn’t fit Harry’s code? Man what a set up for the next episode.

Two other characters that we get to meat in this episode are Sean Patrick Flanery (a favorite of mine) who plays Deb’s boss Jacob Elway and Nick Gomez (who was in season 3 of The Walking Dead) who plays El Sapo who seems to be after Deb now. As I said, Tonight’s the Night and I plan to join it…all the way!



Episode 2: Every Silver Lining (July 7, 2013)

In this episode we get to find out more about Dr. Vogel and how she could know she didn’t fit Harry’s code. It turns out she and Harry worked out that code together. Harry came to her with his problems with Dexter when he was a kid and she helped him set up the rules to keep Dexter out of prison. Turns out Dr. Vogel is somewhat Dexter’s creator and now she want him to help her catch a killer that she thinks is after her. The Surgeon who kills people, remove small parts of their brain and then sends those pieces to Dr. Vogel.

Deb gets attacked by El Sapo who then turns up dead, shot in his car. Dexter finds some blood that turns out to be Deb’s. Has Deb gone totally crazy? Either way she and Dexter are at least talking to each other now even though she still hates him. And this tears Dexter up even though he’s not supposed to be able to feel anything like that.

I was a bit surprised that El Sapo was just discarded like that. I thought he would have a much bigger part in the story. But then again, his death tells us quite a bit about the state of mind Deb’s in right now. I also like how Dr. Vogel messes with Dexter’s head telling him his perfect. I think she is manipulating him and that she isn’t as innocent as she would like him to think. She might even be The Surgeon herself even though I’m not really believing that…

Episode 3: What's Eating Dexter Morgan? (July 14, 2013)

Deb is getting deeper and deeper in her depression or what we should call it. She drinks too much, she gets stopped for driving under the influence. On top of that she’s about to confess to the murder of LaGuerta but Dexter stops her at the last moment. If this continues there is no telling what she’ll do and how it will affect Dexter.

Meanwhile Dexter keeps tracking The Surgeon. The one he thought was The Surgeon in the last episode, the one that hung himself, has now been found by the police but when Dexter arrives he’s been cut down and part of his brain has been removed. The next on the list of suspect turns out to not be The Surgeon but instead his a cannibal so even though he’s not The Surgeon Dexter gets to do a kill.

Dr. Vogel keeps manipulation Dexter and in the last delivery from The Surgeon both she and Dexter gets a jar with a piece of brain in it. Does that mean he knows Dexter is on to him, that he is looking for him? I don’t know. My main concern now is what Deb will do. Will she be determent to confess to murdering LaGuerta or will she reconsider? I guess we’ll have to wait until next week to find out…

Episode 4: Scar Tissue (July 21, 2013)

Dr. Vogel is helping Deb as well as Dexter now and I can’t help wondering if she is manipulating them both. Dexter arrives to that conclusion later on in the episode as well. It turns out Dr. Vogel is keeps a journal on Dexter and he is not happy when he finds out. He thinks she is still experimenting on him. And I have to agree. It looks to me that she was more into the code and the killing then Harry ever was. Deb also finds out Harry killed himself after seeing what Dexter had done to one of his victims.

Dexter keeps looking for The Surgeon and now it looks like he has found him. The problem is just that he is watching Dexter on his surveillance system as he go through his home. And he is ready for Dexter. And to make things worse Deb shows up at Dexter’s work saying she wants to talk to him but ends up running them both (and the car) into the water. Deb is saved by a man seeing the car go down but Dexter looks like he might be going down with the car. But just then Deb changes her mind and goes in after him and the episode ends with her getting him out of the water. Not sure why she would do that. Did she realize she can’t kill him? What will this mean to their feature relationship? Will it go back to what it once was? I guess we’ll have to wait and see.

Oh, and one last thing that I’m looking forward to seeing how it will unfold is that Masuka got a visit from his daughter. Yes, that is right. He was a sperm donor and now one of his kids has come looking for him. And it’s no doubt that she is his daughter. She laughs like him and they look very much alike. What will Masuka do now?

Episode 5: This Little Piggy (July 28, 2013)

Wow, things are gearing up as we close in on the half season mark. In the last episode Deb tried to kill Dexter but then saved him. And after Dexter has forgiven her the two of them set out to free Dr. Vogel who's been kidnapped by Yates who they suspect is the Brainsurgeon. They find him, Dexter kills him and together the three of them dump the body together. They are turning out to be a killing team...

Meanwhile Miami Metro investigate the death of a young woman and suspect her lover Mr Hamilton for doing it. A witness however puts his son at the scene. Quinn wants to question him but the captain doesn't. The family has been good to Miami Metro and the captain has his back, something Quinn goes along with but don't agree to.

Masuka hires Deb to do a background check on his just found daughter. He wants her in his life but is afraid she is only there to get money from him...or maybe a kidney.

My thoughts are still that Dr. Vogel is guilty of something. That seems to easy but I can't shake that feeling. I also think that Masukas daughter is up to something but I hope she isn't. And, I think that Quinn is getting into something he might regret. I doubt if he can sit still and do nothing if he thinks the Hamilton son is guilty.

Oh, and I want to know what phone Doctor Vogel has because the sound seems to be extremely good on it...

Episode 6: A Little Reflection (August 4, 2013)

Hello Dexter, remember me?

That is how the episode ends and Hannah looks in on Dexter and Deb. Is she there? Is he imagine? If she is there, what does she want?

Earlier in this episode Dexter stalks Zach whom he suspect for the murder of his father’s mistress and after finding the proof he needs he's ready to kill him. But once he has him on the table he remember that Dr. Vogel suggested that they try the code on Zach like they did on Dexter years ago and he decides that it might be a good idea after all... Could this be a continuation on the series after season 8 ends? I hope not. Personally I would have preferred if Dexter had killed Zach but who knows, it might turn out to be an interesting twist...

But this episode is not all about Dexter. Quinn doesn’t get the promotion like he hoped, Masuka investigates his newfound daughter and Deb helps her boss Elroy to reveal that his sister’s boyfriend is cheating.

With this episode we are half way through season 8 and there will only be 6 more episodes before it’s all over. It feels sad that it’s over and so far I have no idea how it will all end. I hope though that it ends with Dexter and that we won't get a new series called Zach next year...

Episode 7: Dress Code (August 11, 2013)

Hannah is back! She drugged Dexter and Deb and then left Dexter on the side of the road on the other side of town. Why? Well, that is what Dexter has to find out. Turns out she is now married and has a new identity. So why is she back? Well, she wants Dexter to murder her husband. He doesn’t need to though. Hannah takes care of that herself and then Dexter cleans up for her. Dexter is still in love with her and she has him under his spell. Remains to be seen what will happen between those two. One thing is clear though, Deb is not happy about Dexter still having feelings about Hannah. And I have some of the same feelings. Dexter gets to soft when she is around. Not as cold as he should be…

Dexter is also trying to teach Zach the code. Zach is however very eager to kill and even though Dexter tells him to wait it looks like he won’t be able to. Dexter’s neighbor that he dated turns up dead and the way she is killed is very much alike how Zach killed his father’s lover… Has Dexter failed in his teaching of Zach? He might. Or maybe he just need to take another approach to it. Either way, Zach is turning out to be a dangerous kid…and actually more and more interesting if you ask me.

And Masuka visits his daughter’s place of work which turns out to be a sports bar, a topless sports bar. And even though no one loves tits as much as Masuka it gets to be too much even for him to see his daughter topless. It’s amazing though how much alike Masuka and his daughter is, it’s almost like they are father and daughter in real life as well.

Dexter is getting better and better and tonight two characters died on us. Dexter’s neighbor and Hannah’s husband. Those were characters I had expected to see much more of so that was a surprise. But, this is the last season and anything can happen. I’m personally waiting for some of the major characters to die as I’m sure they will…

Episode 8: Are We There Yet? (August 18, 2013)

The big surprise in this week’s episode was that Zach died. Just as I started to think that he would live throughout the season and maybe even be the one to kill Dexter in the finale. But now he’s dead. Killed by the Brain Surgeon. But who is the Brain Surgeon? Well, I have no idea but I hope it’s someone we know. Someone that we’ll say “Holy Sh*t” when we find out his or hers true identity. I hope and think that it’s someone other than Dr. Vogel though.

Much of the episode focused on Hannah and she and Dexter almost became like a little family with their kid, Zach. Some of the scenes were almost fun to see. It was also fun to see Masuka’s daughter starting her job at the lab by cleansing it from bad spirits.

We now only have four episodes left and anything can still happen. People are dying all around Dexter. The neighbor, Zach and others that have been put down much sooner than I had anticipated. Right now it feels like anything can happen. My guess is still that Dexter dies in the end and I also hope that Vogel isn’t the Brain Surgeon because that would be too easy. Maybe Quinn or Jamie could be the Brain Surgeon? That would be shocking. Or Deb, maybe she has been as screwed up as Dexter since she found out what he is? In four episodes we’ll know…

"Make Your Own Kind of Music" August 25, 2013
"Goodbye Miami" September 8, 2013
"Monkey in a Box" September 15, 2013
"Remember the Monsters?" September 22, 2013

Episode 9: Make Your Own Kind of Music (August 25, 2013)

Much of this episode focuses on Dexter and Hannah and their relation. Dexter stops Hannah from leaving Miami and they decide to leave the US and start a life together. First though, Dexter has to find and kill The Brain Surgeon now that they know he is back and not dead as they suspected. As it turns out The Brain Surgeon is Vogel’s son Oliver Saxon that she thought were dead. He isn’t and is now I Miami. In fact, he is the same man that dated Dexter now dead neighbor.

When it was clear that Vogel’s son was alive I first thought it would be someone we know. Maybe Quinn but no The Brain Surgeon was no one that close to Dexter. Dexter wants to kill Saxon but Vogel’s disagree, saying that she can help him. Dexter drugs Vogel to get the chance to put Saxon on his table without her interfering but Saxon spots him and pay Vogel a visit who instead of give him up to Dexter hides him. The question now is how far will Vogel go to protect her son? Is she willing to sacrifice Dexter?

Now we’ll have to wait two weeks for the next episode and then there are only three more until we know how it all ends. My guess is that Hannah dies, Vogel dies, Deb returns to the force and Dexter…well, there I don’t know. I’m afraid he will die but I’m not sure. I do however not think that he and Hannah will succeed in leaving the US… Oh, and I think and hope there will be one last big twist at the end.



Episode 10: Goodbye Miami (September 8, 2013)

Dexter are only two episodes from the end and you can feel that it’s almost over. Things are getting tense and the people around Dexter are closing in on him. Both the US Marshal and Oliver Saxon and we as viewers can only sit there and hope for the best. But what is the best? Do we hope Dexter escapes with Hannah to Argentina? Do we hope he dies? What is the right ending to Dexter? Well, in two weeks we’ll know what the ending is. If it’s the right one will probably be debated among the fans for a long, long time.

Anyhow, in this episode it’s clear that it’s Oliver Saxon that’s Dexter’s Nemesis this season. He is the Brain Surgeon and somewhat surprisingly he kills his mother Doctor Vogel, right in front of Dexter in this episode. I have always been suspicious about Vogel but also thought it would had been too easy if she was more of a villain then she was. But now she’s dead and out of the equation.

What’s also worth noting is that Dexter has changed quite a bit in this season. He is now more human than he was earlier. He has feelings. And I must admit that if he would have been like this in earlier seasons I’m not sure I would have liked him as much but now that it’s almost over it’s no big thing.

My predictions for the ending are…

1) Dexter will kill Saxon
2) Before Dexter kills Saxon, Saxon will kill Hannah
3) Dexter will be devastated and… I don’t have a clue…



Episode 11: Monkey In a Box (September 15, 2013)

Now there is only one episode left and it’s still not clear how it will all end. I predicted that Dexter would kill Saxon and in this episode he had the chance but didn’t. It was like he was cured from the urge to kill. Cured by the love for Hannah which is kind of mushy but still pretty logical. Harry said his goodbye, Deb and Dexter said their goodbyes and all was set up to go smoothly for Dexter and Hannah but then the shit hit the fan.

The incredible incompetent marshal released Saxon, how could he have missed seeing his face on TV? It was almost as if he got what he deserved when Saxon killed him. Saxon then shoots Deb and all Hell is breaking loose…and the episode ends.

I still think Dexter will kill Saxon and I don’t think he and Hannah will manage to get away. Saxon will probably kill Hannah and by doing so once again turn Dexter into the monster he is. After all, the last episode is called “Remember the Monsters”.

The big questions that I’m looking forward to have the answered is; will Dexter survive the last episode and will he be exposed for what he really is? I don’t know. My guess though is that he will be killed but not exposed… And what about Elroy? What part will he play in the conclusion of Dexter?



Episode 12: Remember the Monsters? (September 22, 2013)

Dexter is over. The last episode has aired and it’s all over. And I don’t know about you but I’m pretty disappointed about the ending. At least the last 5 minutes.

Up until the point that he kills Deb I’m all for what happens. It’s only right that he suffer and that he kills Deb. All that I’m OK with, BUT…

…Dexter would never leave Harrison. He would leave Hannah but not Harrison. That isn’t Dexter.

…how did he get back from the sea? I know he had a life raft on the boat but in that storm? Not likely.

...why did he drop Deb in the sea? I know that is what he do with his victims but it was to unworthy of her. She deserved better and Dexter know it.

So, most of the final episode was good but after he killed Deb it was all downhill. It felt fake and not at all the Dexter we have known for 8 seasons. I don’t buy it, sorry. The ending was a disappointment and it made me wish Clyde Phillips had stayed on as showrunner.

Clyde Phillips served as showrunner on Dexter in the early years but decided to leave the show in late 2009, at the end of the fourth season. Here is how he had envisioned Dexter to end and I must admit that I like it a lot better than what we got.

"In the very last scene of the series," Philips explained, "Dexter wakes up. And everybody is going to think, 'Oh, it was a dream.' And then the camera pulls back and back and back and then we realize, 'No, it's not a dream.' Dexter's opening his eyes and he's on the execution table at the Florida Penitentiary. They're just starting to administer the drugs and he looks out through the window to the observation gallery.

"And in the gallery are all the people that Dexter killed—including the Trinity Killer and the Ice Truck Killer (his brother Rudy), LaGuerta who he was responsible killing, Doakes who he's arguably responsible for, Rita, who he's arguably responsible for, Lila. All the big deaths, and also whoever the weekly episodic kills were. They are all there.

"That's what I envisioned for the ending of Dexter. That everything we've seen over the past eight seasons has happened in the several seconds from the time they start Dexter's execution to the time they finish the execution and he dies. Literally, his life flashed before his eyes as he was about to die. I think it would have been a great, epic, very satisfying conclusion."

Lilja's final words about Dexter season 8:

OK, Dexter is over and it’s been a good 8 seasons. Season 8 wasn’t the best but not the worst either but I feel quite disappointed about how the show ended. It felt fake and not at all how Dexter would act. I’m not sure what the creators were after but for me it was a disappointing ending to 8 good seasons.