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Is Dexter final season the WORST in TV history?

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Season 1 is a tight, beautiful, dark humour-packed piece of surreal excellence. It's honestly superb, and why the show is even talked about in the first place.

Hell, I'd equal Season 1 of Dexter with Season 1 of Breaking Bad. Great storyline, great characters, incredible direction and cinematography (filmed in Miami for real), and excellent music. They both showed promise for the start of something special.

Breaking Bad delivered, Dexter was fucked over by Showtime's desire for profits over artistic integrity.
No joke, I marathoned Dexter S1 and Breaking Bad S1 around the same time, and at the time I gave Dexter the edge. I just found the concept behind Dexter way more interesting. Then the end of season 2 is when the show started to lose its shine for me (Doakes really deserved better).

This show had so much potential :(
 
When you evaluate the big picture, Dexter was a bad show. Plain and simple. The first two seasons were an anomaly.

Gotta agree with this. The character Dexter was interesting, and at times he has had interesting foils, but holy shit everyone else in the show was so terrible. I only watched the first four seasons, I quit because typically any plot time dished out to Laguerta, Batista, Vince, Deb was just so dull. Its nice to have a good main character and all, but at some point you need your supporting cast to step up.
 
Season 1 is a tight, beautiful, dark humour-packed piece of surreal excellence. It's honestly superb, and why the show is even talked about in the first place.

Hell, I'd equal Season 1 of Dexter with Season 1 of Breaking Bad. Great storyline, great characters, incredible direction and cinematography (filmed in Miami for real), and excellent music. They both showed promise for the start of something special.
This. I'm sorry, but when Clyde Phillips was on board Dexter, the show was top notch. His work on the show was --- and still is --- something really special. Clyde Philips, MCH, Jennifer Carpenter, Julie Benz, Erik King, John Lithgow... that team delivered some brilliant television, and I'm not going to turn on them just because I didn't like the back-half of the series.
 
GAFs hatred of things is almost always overblown but dare I say it's actually justified here. I could not believe they had Hannah go to the hospital when she's a wanted criminal all over the news. I mean, she didn't even think about it. When I say I could not believe, I mean I really couldn't believe they did it. I had to pause my DVR and process what I just watched happen. Process that some writer actually thought this made any sense at all. A man who was paid, probably handsomely, and does this for a living, thought this was a good idea. Just incredible.
 
Really? I didn't find anything remotely interesting about him. I don't even remember anything about the character six months later, he was pretty much pointless (like most of the characters to come and go in Dexter).

Only compared to everything else that happened I mean.
 
Showtime just seems to have this disease where each show must get progressively worse in every season.

I like to call it the "Weeds Effect."
 
Remember how the sideplots in Season 1 actually mattered? Remember when Batista was stabbed? When Tony Tucci was found on a table, bloodied and mutilated, and then brought back to health by the very person who put him there in the first place? How the scene in the blood-filled hotel room made you feel just as sick and uneasy as it did Dexter? And how Doakes' reaction broke that tension and suddenly made it hilarious, intentionally?!

IT WAS SO GOOD
 
As utterly shittastic as Dexter has become, the worst final season for me, still has to go to Hercules: The Legendary Journeys.

When season 5 started, some jackass writer thought it'd be a super awesome idea to add Gods from other non-Greek mythologies as well. I suppose the idea of that wasn't as horrible as I'm making it out to be, but if there was any potential in there, it was thoroughly wasted. It also didn't help that the writing quality, directing style, and acting all took massive nosedive, and the campiness factor was upped by a million.

But as bad as that was, what was probably the most insulting thing was the finale. It had Hercules and Iolaus fighting two literally retarded Titans that Ares released, which Herc and Iolaus took care of fairly easily. After which, they walk off into the sunset. I mean, what the fuck? You could place such an episode pretty much anywhere in the series and it would be okay. This was a throwaway episode, not fucking series finale material! Hell, the season finales tended to be infinitely better.

I've really liked Dexter the first couple of seasons, but I absolutely LOVED Hercules until the 5th, so to me if felt worse cause I was a huge fan of the show. Xena sadly went down a similar path, but I heard its finale actually felt like one.



Oh god yes. I was wondering the entire time during season 2: "Wait, you guys are ALREADY going to have these bodies uncovered? Seriously?!"

Isn't that pretty much Dexter post season 2 in a nutshell? Awesome concepts, horribly executed with no foresight or care whatsoever?

What a bunch of god damn goons. I hope the people that fucked this show over (the writers) get fired and never work in the industry again.
 
I started watching the series on Netflix a couple of months ago, and I'm now half way through series 5. But so far it's been dull and a huge drop in quality compared to the first four series.

If it gets this bad I might just put it off for now and watcha couple of other things.
 
I started watching the series on Netflix a couple of months ago, and I'm now half way through series 5. But so far it's been dull and a huge drop in quality compared to the first four series.

If it gets this bad I might just put it off for now and watcha couple of other things.

for the love of everything good in this world, stop now before it's too late
 
I need to go back and watch season 1 of Dexter. He was so much better in the beginning. For me the whole show was his lack of empathy and emotion, relying on the code to get him through life as a supposedly normal person. Even the killings... which were very cool, methodical, gratifying, were secondary to his characters lack of emotion.

Now he's I dont know what.

Is that the goal? To make him "normal"?
 
Bold statement man. I haven't seen The Shield yet. If it is honestly that good I will have to check it out.

I've followed Dexter almost from the beginning and while this season isn't amazing, its hella better then season 6

The Shield is pure greatness. Nothing to dispute there.
 
The show always had its problems, but season 5 is when its redeeming qualities could not counter-act the suck. I can't take it when they set up a situation where its resolution defies all reason and logic. Quinn
suspects Dexter of murder, Quinn himself gets charged for that murder, Dexter doctors some test results so Quinn doesn't get charged, and so ... Quinn now likes Dexter, never to be bothered by the fact that he was sure Dexter was a murder an episode earlier? He somehow doesn't believe Dexter is the murderer now, because he did him a favor? We continue with 3 more seasons, and Quinn never looks at Dexter funny again, even though other suspicious things happen right in front of him? What about the murdered guy? Why was their blood on Quinn's shoe in the first place? LaGuerta just goes case closed, the season ends, and the reset button is pressed.

Similar things had happened before, but I don't think it got any worse than that.

Idk, I think I found Robert Patrick and "4D", "Audrey Pauley", and "Release" far more entertaining than any of "Dexter" S8. Granted they were both racing to the bottom.

Season 9 of X-Files had that episode where Burt Reynolds was God, so it wasn't all bad.
 
He has his limbs removed and his tongue cut out. He is then given robotic replacements.

Hmm, okay. That's more like Cyborg-Doakes, I was thinking he died and was rebuilt as a full-on robot. That would be the kind of dumb shit I can get behind.

edit: Oh, a question. How's Supernatural doing these days? I stopped watching shortly after S6 or S7 started. (
Shortly after the Leviathans were introduced
) It was okay, but not amazing then. S5 was kind of the highpoint for me.
 
The show always had its problems, but season 5 is when its redeeming qualities could not counter-act the suck. I can't take it when they set up a situation where its resolution defies all reason and logic. Quinn
suspects Dexter of murder, Quinn himself gets charged for that murder, Dexter doctors some test results so Quinn doesn't get charged, and so ... Quinn lets it go, never to be bothered by the fact that he was sure Dexter was a murder? Or he somehow doesn't believe Dexter is the murderer, because he did him a favor? We continue with 3 more seasons, and Quinn never looks at Dexter funny again? What?!? What about the murdered guy? Why was their blood on Quinn's shoe in the first place? LaGuerta just goes case closed, the season ends, and the reset button is pressed.
Season 5 was an absolute snoozefest until 8 episodes in and when it finally managed to do something, it ends. Just like that! Nothing happened-- nothing occurred in the lives of any of the characters to make a difference in the overall story. NOTHING.

The whole season could have not happened and it would not have mattered. You could literally skip right from season 4 to season 6 (although, I don't know why you would do that to yourself, either) and wouldn't miss a beat.

If you're ever in doubt as to whether you're wasting your time on a program you're watching then look out for this pitfall example. When a season happens...it should have impact on something. A main character needs to go, Deb needs to break her neck--THERE HAS TO BE A CHANGE OF SOME SORT.
 
I stopped watching this season after the episode where Deb drives the car into the river. It just seemed so....out of character. I get it, she thinks she made a mistake killing _________ but to then go and try to kill _______? The cinematography too, has taken a massive dive compared to previous seasons. I really thought they would knock it out of the park for the final season, I mean the show was so fantastic early on. What a shame. At least we still have Breaking Bad! But not for long...
 
Dexter's series should have gone:

Season 1, Season 4, Season 2.

With him being caught at the end of 2.
I like that. Too bad Lundy, arguably Dex's most worthy adversary, was killed off in some garbage, soap opera quality subplot. Argh.
 
That's the thing though. Dexter is supposed to be a serial killer that justifies his evilness by pretending he has a "dark passenger" that needs fulfilling, so he kills bad guys that escape due justice. It's a delusion, and the audience even though caring for the character, is not supposed to be on his side most of the time. Dexter is a bad guy and the show should've been about how his world crumbled around him as the people that love him (Deb, Batista, etc.) desert him and turn on him, bringing him deeper and deeper into his psychopathic behaviour.

Instead, they made Dexter more sympathetic, gave him morals and as such a moral highground over every one of his victims. They really turned him into the good guy of the story, the guy you root for regardless of what he does.

They completely missed the boat on the character they started out with. A ruthless killer that was "tamed" by his father into using his evilness for good ends. The fact that Harry killed himself (a good idea, I'll give them this) after he saw the consequences of his "code" should have been the main idea. Everyone is supposed to be repulsed by the sheer idea of murdering someone, even if the idea behind it is noble. Deb getting over it and supporting Dexter is ridiculous.

Where do you get that Dexter is supposed to be an evil serial killer who justifies his actions with the code? Everything from Season 1 sets him up to be a serial killer who follows the code to satiate his desire to kill in the best way possible. That's still unacceptable by standard society morals but I don't know about calling it evil per say. Even early on he doesn't kill wantonly, he kills at the beckoning of the urge.

In fact, the way the backstory is portrayed in the show, Dexter has only killed animals prior to Harry teaching him the code, but in teaching him the code, Harry had to tell Dexter that he WAS a psychopath and Dexter had to accept that. I think it sets up a story that could easily evolve into Dexter discovering that he was never a psychopath in the truest sense but instead buried his emotions and avoided even trying to connect with others in his devotion to the code. Of course none of this is ever truly said in the show so it's just a theory but the idea that Dexter HAS to be completely emotionless and uncaring throughout the whole series is a stretch to me.

Likewise, given the events that have happened over the course of the series,
Deb getting to a point where Dexter's reveal doesn't completely make her turn on him, I think, has a basis. Not only has she been a near victim of a serial killer but multiple people close to her have been as well. The idea that Dexter is a Serial Killers serial killer could break either way. With her either despising him or supporting him.

GAFs hatred of things is almost always overblown but dare I say it's actually justified here.
I could not believe they had Hannah go to the hospital when she's a wanted criminal all over the news. I mean, she didn't even think about it.
When I say I could not believe, I mean I really couldn't believe they did it. I had to pause my DVR and process what I just watched happen. Process that some writer actually thought this made any sense at all. A man who was paid, probably handsomely, and does this for a living, thought this was a good idea. Just incredible.

Hannah is different. Yes she's a wanted fugitive but she's not devoid of emotion. Nearly all of her killings have come from situations where she felt she was being victimized. She is capable of caring and of love. I don't find it hard to believe that she would take Harrison to the hospital at all. Now, hanging out in the lobby and filling out forms, including Harrisons full and real name.. that much is hard to believe. But that she would care enough for a child who was fairly seriously injured while in her care to take him to the hospital? What did you expect she would do in that situation? Let him bleed until he passed out or worse?

Is that the goal? To make him "normal"?

I think that's the direction they've been heading Post-Trinity. Even Pre-Trinity, Dexter was longing for some sense of normalcy. But yes, they've been trying to show him learning and unlocking more emotions ever since Rita was killed. I say more because if I'm not mistaken, he shows that he has some level of caring simply due to the fact that he doesn't want Deb killed.

Edited to add spoilers. What is the spoiler policy for this thread anyways? On the one hand, the discussion of whether this final season is bad is relevant to those who haven't seen the series and those who are still in earlier seasons in their viewing. On the other hand, it's hard to discuss how bad the final season is without posts filled with spoiler tags.
 
for the love of everything good in this world, stop now before it's too late

Think I'll leave it then. If it gets worse than it already is in series 5 then it is probably the right choice. Still need to get round to watching Battlestar Galactica and Firefly because I've heard nothing but good things about them.
 
Somehow I bought Seasons 1-4 on Blu Ray years back and meant to finish my collection at some point.

Nevermind lol, perfect stopping point
 
Think I'll leave it then. If it gets worse than it already is in series 5 then it is probably the right choice. Still need to get round to watching Battlestar Galactica and Firefly because I've heard nothing but good things about them.
Watch Firefly, then BSG. Firefly is really short but amazing IMO.
 
I just had an epiphany that this show uses killing as a solution to everything...for every single character.

Everyone in the show can kill for whatever reason and get away with it. It's an out for the writers and has been the whole time.
Watch Firefly, then BSG. Firefly is really short but amazing IMO.
Yeah, I can vouch for BSG.

Solid show that, like all great shows, loses a little bit of edge by the end but they don't drag it out to the point of being ridiculous.
 
Watch Firefly, then BSG. Firefly is really short but amazing IMO.

Cheers, think I'll probably do that. Just watched the last episode of The Tudors anyway (which I really enjoyed) so need something to watch.

It really is amazing how shows cango from being brilliant to terrible so quickly.
 
I agree that the writers shot themselves in the foot by blowing their load early with the Doakes plot. But that's not even a valid excuse when you consider the fact that they had LaGuerta figure out it was Dexter that was the BHB. Why the fuck was that plot so casually thrown around las season and dismissed? Why wasn't that the final season plot line?

It's absolutely mind blowing that they had that second chance to revive the plot where everything is falling apart for Dexter, and he has to choose whether hurt an innocent and survive, or give up everything and turn himself in. Hell, as much as I hate Hannah, at least that plot line would have had more significance since Dexter believes Hannah and Argentina is the life he always hoped for. So if he had to choose between that life and killing an innocent person, it would have some weight. But nope. Let Deb kill LaGuerta, then shrug it off like it was no big deal (no investigation). The only impact is Deb does some drugs for a couple months, then gets magically better after trying to kill herself and Dexter.
 
Flashback

“Dexter” star Jennifer Carpenter says the upcoming Season 6 of her bloody good series will bring about major developments along with plenty of gore.

“A lot of changes this year. You get more into the lives of all the characters,” the actress, who plays Debra Morgan, told Access Hollywood at The HP Touchsmart Emmy Gift Lounge, produced by On 3 Productions, on Sunday in Los Angeles.

“I think it’s probably our best season so far,” she continued. “We’re 11 [episodes] in and I feel like I could do 12 more. It’s just that exciting!”
 
They should have ended it sopranos style last season with deb deciding who to shoot, fade to black, then gunshot. The amount of bitching would have been glorious
 
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At the beginning, Dexter WAS a psychopath.
In fact, he was with Rita but he wasn't in love with her. He never was.
Their relationship in the first seasons was actually pretty interesting, Rita was basically just another piece of his mask. With the start of season 3, they slowly killed it first with Harrison, then with the marriage.

Season 1 Dexter would never had run up to Dr. Vogel after her throat was slashed, getting her blood all over him, and then crying and hugging her.

Dexter went after Rita knowing he could maintain a relationship with her for a long period and not have to have pointless, "icky" sex with her because he could just create an uncomfortable trigger of past abuse whenever she wanted to get freaky, and that she would blame herself. He was totally manipulating her to give the outside appearance of normality -something she was desperate for too, for her kids, and for any teachers or anyone else watching, because she was so afraid of her husband just walking back into her life should she leave a "man-gap" by being single.
 
Didn't know Showtime had this kind of reputation.
Now it makes sense though. Loved Dexter, but it really has become terrible.
I was litterally shaking my head at he home trainer scene, and that was before you guys pointed out he stuntman. Lol

Loved Weeds just as much, but couldn't keep watching it midway through he season where she got out of jail and moved with the family to Idontkowwhere.
Such a shame.

And Homeland... Yeah going straight down the shitter. :-/


They should have ended it sopranos style last season with deb deciding who to shoot, fade to black, then gunshot. The amount of bitching would have been glorious
Haha, that would have been great.

#teamDebshotherselfinthehead ;)
 
the west wing's ending should've gone:
abbey asks, "what are you thinking about?" bartlet responds, "what's next."
 
Oh, a question. How's Supernatural doing these days? I stopped watching shortly after S6 or S7 started. (
Shortly after the Leviathans were introduced
) It was okay, but not amazing then. S5 was kind of the highpoint for me.

Supernatural S6 was the low point for the series, S7 was better, but I don't see it topping S5 ever. Still a fairly enjoyable show, Arrow has become the awesome CW action show now.
 
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