# Dexter Season 4 open spoilers for aired episodes \[changed title\] **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 19, 2009, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dexter-season-4-open-spoilers-for-aired-episodes-changed-title/514318 "2009-10-19T12:55:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 24
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2009, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dexter-season-4-open-spoilers-for-aired-episodes-changed-title/514318/461 "2009-12-20T03:15:00Z")
I have become a fan of _Californication_, at first just because of the title. And _Penn & Teller’s Bullshit_ is entertaining, if not always on target. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2009, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dexter-season-4-open-spoilers-for-aired-episodes-changed-title/514318/462 "2009-12-20T03:16:08Z")
Showtime doesn’t share movies with HBO. Pay movie channels are affiliated with (owned by?) studios, and thus get exclusive access to most of the movies made by that studio. For example, you’ll never see an unedited Saw or Star Trek movie anywhere but Showtime. I do agree, however, that the studios affiliated with Showtime produce craptastic movies compared to the ones affiliated with HBO. Just Dexter? C’mon, Showtime originals got awesome a few years ago, right as HBO cancelled all its good shows. Californication, Weeds, Nurse Jackie, United States of Tara, and of course Dexter are all good. (Dexter stands alone at the top of the heap.) Secret Diary of a Callgirl and The Tudors don’t completely suck either, though clearly on a lower tier. By contrast, HBO has True Blood and Big Love and that’s pretty much it. EDIT: On preview, yeah, I forgot about Bullshit. I loves me some Showtime. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Credible](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a8b319/32.png) [@Justin\_Credible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Credible)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2009, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dexter-season-4-open-spoilers-for-aired-episodes-changed-title/514318/463 "2009-12-20T03:59:11Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > I only watch Showtime for Dexter and then I cancel it. Ditto. I justify the cost for the three months by not having to buy the season on dvd. I did the same thing with HBO and True Blood this year, although I don’t know if I’ll do that again next year. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2009, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dexter-season-4-open-spoilers-for-aired-episodes-changed-title/514318/464 "2009-12-20T04:03:37Z")
I like HBO and I don’t want to pay for 2 pay channels so that’s why I only watch Showtime during Dexter season. HBO has very good original movies and series , the latest example is probably going to be the Pacific which comes out in March. It’s the Pacific theater version of Band of Brothers made by the same people. BOB was an A+ show, HBO is going to show all 10 episodes starting in January. The history channel shows it but it’s chopped up with commercials , they don’t cut much out. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2009, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dexter-season-4-open-spoilers-for-aired-episodes-changed-title/514318/465 "2009-12-20T04:17:32Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > HBO has very good original movies That’s an excellent point. And agreed, Band of Brothers is fantastic. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Credible](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a8b319/32.png) [@Justin\_Credible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Credible)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2009, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dexter-season-4-open-spoilers-for-aired-episodes-changed-title/514318/466 "2009-12-20T04:27:57Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > I like HBO and I don’t want to pay for 2 pay channels so that’s why I only watch Showtime during Dexter season. HBO has very good original movies and series , the latest example is probably going to be the Pacific which comes out in March. It’s the Pacific theater version of Band of Brothers made by the same people. BOB was an A+ show, HBO is going to show all 10 episodes starting in January. The history channel shows it but it’s chopped up with commercials , they don’t cut much out. I forgot about The Pacific. Between that and the Game of Thrones series, I might actually keep HBO for a while. Anyway, back to Dexter, I hope they do more than just one more season. I don’t want the show to keep going to the point where it’s worn out its welcome, but I think it’s got about 2 or 3 more seasons of stories left to tell. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2009, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dexter-season-4-open-spoilers-for-aired-episodes-changed-title/514318/467 "2009-12-20T05:24:53Z")
I gp back and forth about whether the series should end with Dexter’s death. Or maybe capture and trial. I also think he would make a really interesting confession – plus I’d like to know his actual body count. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2009, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dexter-season-4-open-spoilers-for-aired-episodes-changed-title/514318/468 "2009-12-20T13:58:05Z")
I don’t see the show ending with a trial or even an arrest . I think Dexter will ride into the sunset or else be killed somehow. They might try a Sopranos ending that leaves fans wondering what his fate was - even though the Sopranos creator said Tony lived some people are not sure about that. ---
**Author:** ![BlackKnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/eb8c5e/32.png) [@BlackKnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlackKnight)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2009, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dexter-season-4-open-spoilers-for-aired-episodes-changed-title/514318/469 "2009-12-21T06:01:51Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > … even though the Sopranos creator said Tony lived some people are not sure about that. Huh. I never heard about that. Do you have a cite for this information? The last I heard, Chase didn’t say specifically one way or the other, but implied that it wasn’t meant to be a big mystery. ---
**Author:** ![jrepka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ee59a6/32.png) [@jrepka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jrepka)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2009, 8:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dexter-season-4-open-spoilers-for-aired-episodes-changed-title/514318/470 "2009-12-21T08:10:33Z")
It makes no sense to me that the cops never had the kidnapped kid in for an interview – it took fifteen minutes to get a description of the logo on the van, and I’m sure that they could’ve gotten a description of Arthur, too, as they kid got a pretty good look at him. Oh, and did the kid mention that the kidnapper kept referring to him as “Arthur?” Bringing the FBI in at the last minute is perfect, from the standpoint of the characters. Miami Homicide, after being faked out the entire season, breaks the Trinity case wide open in the last episode, including figuring out the fourth victim kidnapping angle, and identifies the killer. But because of Dexter, there’s no Trinity killer to chase down and arrest, so the feds 'chute in and take the whole case away just in time for the case to permanently stall. Batista got a good long look at Arthur and Dexter staring each other down in the office. The fact that he clearly had a conversation with Dexter and apparently killed Dexter’s wife, when Debra was the one working with Lundy and Quinn was the one sleeping with his daughter, should raise some suspicions if everyone in the office is not an incompetent. Add to this the fact that Arthur’s family is going to see Dexter/Kyle somewhere, at some time, and start asking questions. I was totally expecting Arthur to kill his family at some point, as they would be able to connect Arthur with Dexter/Kyle. ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2009, 9:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dexter-season-4-open-spoilers-for-aired-episodes-changed-title/514318/471 "2009-12-21T09:00:57Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > I gp back and forth about whether the series should end with Dexter’s death. Or maybe capture and trial. I also think he would make a really interesting confession – plus I’d like to know his actual body count. One thing’s for sure - by the end of it Deb will have figured out who he is. And she’ll have to decide which is greater between her intense loyalty to her brother and her sworn duty to uphold the law. Of course she’ll waver and be on the brink of turning him in but ultimately decide to protect him. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2009, 10:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dexter-season-4-open-spoilers-for-aired-episodes-changed-title/514318/472 "2009-12-21T10:23:37Z")
David Chase says Tony did not get whacked [http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv/2007/10/23/2007-10-23\_david\_chase\_reveals\_the\_truth\_behind\_the.html](http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv/2007/10/23/2007-10-23_david_chase_reveals_the_truth_behind_the.html) He said this 4 months after the final episode so not everyone read this. ---
**Author:** ![ivan\_astikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2009, 10:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dexter-season-4-open-spoilers-for-aired-episodes-changed-title/514318/473 "2009-12-21T10:43:49Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > The one big problem with this scenario is the Doakes killing. If Tom knows all about Dex, he would almost have to believe that Dex killed Doaks, and I don’t think he would have just stood quietly by for that. Why? Doakes may have been effective at his job, but he was a ticking time-bomb from the departments point of view. Had he lived, the likelihood is he would have embarrassed the force in some way, and if, as it has been suggested, Harry and Tom had set up their own pet project to “clean the streets of filth”, then Dexter was/is a far more valuable asset than a hothead like Doakes could ever be. ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2009, 11:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dexter-season-4-open-spoilers-for-aired-episodes-changed-title/514318/474 "2009-12-21T11:20:41Z")
Because killing a cop is way outside the scope of the use they’d planned for him. ---
**Author:** ![ivan\_astikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2009, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dexter-season-4-open-spoilers-for-aired-episodes-changed-title/514318/475 "2009-12-21T12:31:43Z")
> [@SenorBeef](#): > > Because killing a cop is way outside the scope of the use they’d planned for him. But Dexter didn’t kill him. And besides, do you think Harry or Tom would have had any qualms about Dexter taking out a cop who was doing bad things, except as to the likelihood of him getting caught and how it would affect their careers and life? If Tom does know about Harry’s pet project, the last thing he’ll want is for Dex to end up in a courtroom. ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2009, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dexter-season-4-open-spoilers-for-aired-episodes-changed-title/514318/476 "2009-12-21T12:46:07Z")
But the point of this line of discussion was that Tom might have thought Dexter killed Doakes. And no, I don’t think Tom would be at all cool with Dexter killing one of his cops - especially when for the most part Doakes was a good cop. ---
**Author:** ![ivan\_astikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2009, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dexter-season-4-open-spoilers-for-aired-episodes-changed-title/514318/477 "2009-12-21T12:51:37Z")
That’s not my impression of Doakes. He was wound way too tight and was an accident waiting to happen. The point I’m making is, if Tom _thought_ Dexter _might_ have been responsible for Doake’s death directly, he’d be more likely to ask him than have him arrested. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2009, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dexter-season-4-open-spoilers-for-aired-episodes-changed-title/514318/478 "2009-12-21T16:15:29Z")
> [@SenorBeef](#): > > Because killing a cop is way outside the scope of the use they’d planned for him. That specific cop, maybe. But early this season Dexter killed a lady cop in exactly the manner Harry intended. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2010, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dexter-season-4-open-spoilers-for-aired-episodes-changed-title/514318/479 "2010-01-10T15:03:17Z")
> [@Martin\_Hyde](#): > > I will expect all the kids will be gone next season. I think Dexter will recognize he cannot provide the kids with a good home, it’s beyond his capability. They’re be shipped off to Paul’s parents and I don’t know what will happen to Harrison, maybe Rita’s mom? I’m not sure if that character is still around. I’ll bet the Season 5 DVDs Harrison, at the very least, is still in the series. There’s no point in going to a completely alone Dexter because it provides the character with no point for existing. He kills someone, then he kills someone else, ad infinitum. There’s no arc. Having Dexter keep Harrison, if not all three kids, provides the character with new and interesting directions to go in. Prior to Rita’s death, Dexter was essentially managing his relationship with Rita; the kids were taken care of by Rita, for the most part, so if he kept Rita happy all was well and if he didn’t not all was well. Now he’ll be taking care of a child himself. That actually simplifies his life significantly, if Cody and Astor are gone; he appears to have the smarts and wherewithal to afford a nanny, so the show can allow him to be a serial killer while also exploring how he deals with a child - one who, as the finale went to enormous hit-you-over-the-head pains to show you, now shares a connection with Dexter. The whole point of the series hasn’t been that Dexter kills people, it’s his attempts to find a connection with another person. The show places Dexter’s true self so far away from human norms that any connection with another person is filled with risk, but he’s still driven to find them (which suggests he’s not really a psychopath.) In each season we’ve explored his connection with someone; first his brother, then Lila, then Miguel Prado, and then Arthur. Throughout, his connection with Rita expands; it starts out as a complete front but by the end he really does love her, insofar as he can. His connections with other people are the very point of the series, and they’re what makes him a sympathetic character, because his problems relating to others are an exaggeration of the same problems we ALL have connecting with people. Everyone feels like they’re an outsider, like they have a secret center inside them they can’t share with anyone. I can’t even share all my innermost feelings with my own wife. Dexter is a walking embodiment of that - a very extreme one, but that’s what allows the show’s producers to follow the trust law of cinema; show, don’t tell. People talk about going back to “the old Dexter who just kills people” but there was never such a person. When the show begins he’s juggling dating Rita, dealing with his sister, fending off La Guerta’s advances, being eyeballed by Doakes, and is almost immediately drawn to the Ice Truck Killer. > [@](#): > > Next season they should keep Rita in the cast. He already talks to Harry all the time, why not have him talk to Rita, too? I don’t think he talks to Harry. I think he talks to his “dark passenger,” and he personifies it as Harry. Unless they use Rita as his superego, which I guess they could do… ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2010, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dexter-season-4-open-spoilers-for-aired-episodes-changed-title/514318/480 "2010-01-10T17:17:53Z")
> [@Little\_Cloud](#): > > OMG - How could they do that? I thought it might be a dream sequence until the after show chat with the actors. Help, I need support. > > MODERATOR EDIT: > > There’s already a long discussion in the existing thread, so I merged this post into that thread. Hopefully they will be able to provide the support you need. 😉 I was just thinking about that ending mere moments before I saw one of the duplicate threads that led me here (the one titled ‘Rita Morgan [from Dexter]’) It was unexpected (duh) and a little disappointing. (It felt like the writers wanted to shock, but neglected to think about how it would make the fans feel) But judging by the overall quality of Dexter (I’m new to it, and have had the luxury of watching seasons 1,2,3 and 4 back-to-back) I am fairly confident they’ll deal with it well. It leaves obvious questions - what will happen to Aster (sp?) and Cody? (they’re not dexter’s biological kids) and are we to assume that the trinity killer did it? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dexter-season-4-open-spoilers-for-aired-episodes-changed-title/514318.md?page=23) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dexter-season-4-open-spoilers-for-aired-episodes-changed-title/514318.md?page=25)