F-you Dexter Season 4. That's some bullshit. Ruined my whole night.

I am so goddamned sick of the cynical, hateful, relentless storytelling that tries to tell me there is no redemption in this world.

Pardon my visceral response to a fictional TV show, but, dammit, There is good in the world. There is redemption. That was some awful shit.

I was so happy to see her go. What an increasingly-unbearable character.

Edit: Julie Benz deserves credit for portraying her so well. It's hard for a "good" character to evoke such visceral responses from an audience.

Just milking the freak show for as long as possible. There is very little notion of 'beginning, middle, end' in american television.

she was pretty annoying..

I am writing a few books right now and am deep into the process. This episode and the manipulation of the story arc in order to maintain the violent darkness of the show demonstrated to me, once again, that good storytelling is often precluded by the maximization of episodes and seasons of any given show. American TV can, nearly, never be a concise well written story because the better the story is, the longer it must be milked.

That season was one of the best seasons of television I've ever seen. The ending literally took my breath away. Wow, that was amazing.

It was effective as a visceral device, but also effectively ended the show for me. I have been reading recaps of season 5 and it is a bit as I expected as far as redundant character ruts.

It was nowhere near as good as season 4, but few shows could ever be to me. I thought Julia Styles (Stiles?) was a great addition and I thought she provided a very interesting dynamic. Perhaps I'm a cynic, perhaps I'm a misanthrope, but I don't see the show as casting humanity in all that dark a light. I think it's ridiculous to think that there aren't horrible, awful people any place you could go. Dexter gives me more faith in humanity than he could ever take away.

was with Julia Stiles. It was at a friend's house. I think she's good though I don't think I've seen her in much. All I remember is Bourne movies , 10 Things I Hate About You, and O.

Funny thing about the show is I was squirming during the opening credits where he cuts fruit and blood oozes out of it. I haven't been interested in seeing it but Netflix keeps recommending the show to me because I like Weeds and Breaking Bad.

I love Weeds and I'm just now finally getting into Breaking Bad (it's fantastic). I think the opening credits of Dexter is great in how it takes all of these mundane tasks and makes them really creepy. If you get a chance to see Dexter from the beginning, I'd say that's the best way to go about it. Honestly, season four might be the greatest season of television I've ever seen. I can't describe how good John Lithgow was.

Then I was like, "check, please." Very freaky creepy character.

Lithgow has such a fantastic voice. I remember listening to him read an audio book when I was younger. I don't recall the name of the book, but it had something to do with a killer who used an ice pick. He gave me many a sleepless night.

and the taking of her in such a ridiculous parallel to his already tragic life is what reeks of cynicism. I understand your comment about Dexter giving you faith in humanity and that it isn't so dark.

I knew about it going in, so I wasn't really as emotionally traumatized by it.

I think she added normalcy to the show and to Dexter's life. But I loved season 4 and the ending. Best season finale ever.

Never saw it coming.

There. I said it! RIIITAAAAA!!! I LOOOOVVVVE YOOOUUUUU!!!

and now the woman who never was is nevermore. Alas.

We watch Dexter on DVDs that our friend sends to us.

The actress appeared on "The Soup", pretending to swill champagne and drunkenly demean the whiny character that she played, saying "thank God they finally killed her off". Ugh. So we knew. (I liked her as Darla on Buffy and Angel)

DO NOT WATCH GAME OF THRONES. If Rita dying on Dexter bugs you that much, the shit that goes down on that show...

The reason that 'Dexter' is ruined for me now is because I am sick of the lazy, cynical writing of the peg-pantsed hipster assholes who think there is no redemption and no good in the world - as if that is some kind of philosophical position. It is as ridiculous and pretentious as Leave It To Beaver was, and, in this case, prevents any of the characters from truly evolving and changing. When characters fail to evolve and adapt, then one has no story. This is why the american television model of milking TV shows for as many episodes/seasons/moneybags as possible ruins nearly all artistic integrity. It is THE fundamental reason that the american version of the office is a "sit-com" that has well outlasted its funny moments and the british version of the office is a tragi-comic work of art.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owf6D2vfZqM

This guy was really mad!

His friend is messing with him.

He was so upset after the first episode when he thought Bran was dead.

All character growth must ultimately be illusion or easily erasable or serialized dramatic television does not work.

Have not seen the show since the end of that season. May catch up some day. May not. The "good guy" twist has worn off and I never really was much of a fan of torture/serial killers.

I had suspected it, but went along. Now I see that the real ending is that Dexter, Rita, and the kids live a normal life and Dexter has overcome his 'dark passenger'. Angel and LaGuerta are married. Deb has self-esteem and confidence. Masuka is more sociable and normal. The characters did evolve and this bullshit ending they made was just a big reset button to continue the show. Bill Hicks was right about mediocrity in art.

Then you can make it end where it "should" instead of having to fuck with the whole premise just to squeeze blood from that turnip.

I only watched season 1 of Dexter, because I enjoyed the wrap up of the story line and got scared of what they would end up doing to the show. I guess I was right.

But, as is constantly mentioned, he is a monster that 'can't' change. Season four features John Lithgow in an amazing performance.

Lithgow is to TV what cowbell is to rock and roll... i.e. This show needs more Lithgow!

eventually. It has to happen, though I'm sure they will draw out the series as long as they can, probably 7 or 8 seasons.

I was hoping Deb woudl find out by now and be struggling with it, etc. I don't think they give Dexter a free pass, and for the most part I don't think the majority of fans agree with Dexter and want him to get away, rather we KNOW he'll get caught eventually and the law will prevail.

I don't see the show saying there is no good in the world, rather there is good and bad in all of us, at different levels, with different effects on the world and people around us.

Maybe an end of season episode with both Dick and Liz taped down to a table for the Dexter treatment. It would be a ratings blockbuster imho.

hahahaha.


When the 'Dexter gets caught' season comes, maybe I will watch it again.