Dexter’s final episode, “Remember the Monsters?”, sees Dexter Morgan feigning his own death to protect his son, Harrison, from his destructive tendencies, ultimately abandoning him with Hannah McKay in Argentina after killing Oliver Saxon, a.k.a. the Brain Surgeon. The finale concludes with a shot of Dexter, now a lonely lumberjack in Oregon, seemingly grappling with the consequences of his actions and suggesting a continuation of his internal struggles.
A Bloody Beginning and a Lumberjack’s Lament
The final season of Dexter received significant criticism, but it was the finale that truly divided audiences. The episode begins in the aftermath of Debra’s stroke, caused by Saxon’s shooting. Dexter, fueled by grief and vengeance, hunts down Saxon in the hospital. While initially planning to surrender him to the authorities, Debra’s deteriorating condition and Saxon’s taunts provoke Dexter into killing him with a pen in front of a surveillance camera.
This act, while arguably justified by Dexter’s twisted moral code and the circumstances, marks a significant departure from his previous (relatively) careful approach to eliminating threats. The storm, symbolic of Dexter’s internal turmoil and the chaos he brings, intensifies as the episode progresses.
Ultimately, overwhelmed by guilt and the realization that everyone he cares about ends up hurt or dead, Dexter decides to fake his own death in a hurricane to protect Harrison and Hannah. He sails his boat, the Slice of Life, directly into the storm’s path. Harrison and Hannah are presumed to be safe in Argentina, ready to start a new life.
However, the closing scene reveals Dexter living a solitary existence as a lumberjack, a stark contrast to the blood spatter analyst we came to know. The ambiguity of the ending, and the implication that his dark passenger still resides within him, is what sparked the most debate. Was he punished? Redeemed? Or simply surviving?
FAQs: Untangling the Threads of Dexter’s Demise
H3: Why did Dexter kill Saxon in the hospital?
The killing of Oliver Saxon in the hospital was a deeply controversial moment. Dexter’s justification stemmed from the need to avenge Debra’s suffering and ultimately, her death. Saxon’s manipulation and taunting pushed Dexter over the edge, resulting in an impulsive act of violence. The death, captured on surveillance, highlighted Dexter’s waning control and the potential exposure of his true nature. This act, many argue, was a betrayal of his code and contributed to the overall negative reception of the finale.
H3: Why did Dexter abandon Harrison and Hannah?
Dexter’s decision to abandon Harrison and Hannah was driven by his belief that he was a danger to them. He felt responsible for the deaths of Rita, Debra, and countless others connected to him. He saw himself as a bringer of death and destruction and concluded that the only way to ensure Harrison’s safety was to remove himself from his life entirely. He wrongly believed that Harrison would be better off without him.
H3: Was Dexter supposed to die in the finale?
Originally, the showrunners had considered killing off Dexter in the finale. However, Showtime executives reportedly vetoed this idea, leaving the door open for a potential revival. This corporate decision heavily influenced the ending we received, arguably contributing to its perceived weakness and lack of closure.
H3: What was the significance of Dexter becoming a lumberjack?
The lumberjack ending is often interpreted as a form of self-imposed exile and penance. Dexter retreats from society, seeking solitude in the remote wilderness. The repetitive, manual labor represents a symbolic attempt to suppress his dark urges and find some semblance of peace. However, the final shot of Dexter staring directly into the camera suggests that his internal struggles are far from over and that the “Dark Passenger” still remains.
H3: Was Debra’s death necessary?
Debra’s death was arguably the most criticized aspect of the finale. Many felt that it was a contrived and unnecessary plot device designed solely to provide Dexter with a reason to leave. Her character arc throughout the series deserved a more meaningful conclusion than becoming a casualty of Dexter’s actions. Some argue that her survival would have forced Dexter to confront his past in a more compelling way.
H3: Did Dexter ever truly love Debra?
Dexter’s relationship with Debra was one of the most complex and compelling aspects of the show. While he was initially incapable of experiencing genuine human emotions, his bond with Debra deepened over time. He arguably loved her in his own way, exhibiting a profound loyalty and protectiveness. Her death, therefore, had a significant impact on him, contributing to his decision to leave everything behind. The question remains whether that bond was enough to make him capable of remorse.
H3: What happened to Batista and Quinn?
The finale provides brief updates on Batista and Quinn. Batista is shown receiving the news of Debra’s death with visible distress, while Quinn, although mentioned, doesn’t make an on-screen appearance. Their storylines are largely unresolved, adding to the sense of incompleteness and dissatisfaction surrounding the ending. Their futures, particularly after the loss of Debra, are left largely to the audience’s imagination.
H3: Why did the showrunners choose such an ambiguous ending?
The ambiguous ending was likely a combination of factors. As mentioned before, Showtime’s desire for a potential revival played a role. Additionally, the showrunners may have wanted to leave the interpretation open to the audience, prompting discussion and debate. However, many viewers found the ambiguity frustrating, preferring a more definitive resolution to Dexter’s story.
H3: How did Dexter: New Blood attempt to rectify the original finale?
Dexter: New Blood served as a limited series revival that aimed to provide a more satisfying conclusion to Dexter’s story. The series finds Dexter living under an assumed identity in a small town in New York. It addresses Dexter’s relationship with Harrison, now a teenager, and confronts the consequences of his past actions. While New Blood was not universally praised, it offered a more decisive ending to Dexter’s journey, with Harrison ultimately killing Dexter after he murders an innocent person.
H3: What were the biggest criticisms of the original Dexter finale?
The biggest criticisms included: Debra’s unnecessary death; the implausibility of Dexter’s lumberjack existence; the abandonment of Harrison; the unresolved storylines of other characters; and the overall lack of closure. Many felt that the finale betrayed the character development of Dexter and failed to provide a satisfying resolution to the series’ central themes.
H3: Did Dexter’s “Dark Passenger” ever truly disappear?
The series suggests that Dexter’s “Dark Passenger,” representing his homicidal urges, never truly disappears. Even in his solitary existence as a lumberjack, the final shot implies that the darkness remains within him. Dexter: New Blood further confirms this, showing Dexter continuing to kill, albeit with more reluctance and internal conflict. This suggests that his nature is fundamentally ingrained and cannot be fully suppressed.
H3: What is the overall legacy of Dexter despite the controversial ending?
Despite the divisive finale, Dexter remains a highly influential and popular television series. Its exploration of morality, justice, and the nature of evil captivated audiences for eight seasons. The character of Dexter Morgan is a complex and fascinating anti-hero, and the show’s unique blend of thriller, drama, and dark humor has left a lasting impact on the landscape of television. While the ending may have tarnished its legacy for some, Dexter‘s contributions to the genre and its enduring appeal cannot be denied. The series prompted important conversations about the ethics of vigilante justice and the blurry lines between good and evil. It pushed boundaries and dared to explore the darkness within us all.