If you've read my Dexter reviews, you'd know I don't have high expectations for the show. Ever since the third season, I've been thoroughly unimpressed with how stagnant the show is. Nothing ever changes. We may learn more information about Dexter, but the format of the seasons and episodes are pretty much the same: Dexter is a serial killer, finds himself in tight spots, wriggles out, continues killing. Whether it's the serial killers, friends, Rita, coworkers, and another number of outside factors, the show remains very standard through and through.
With "The Big One," there were a couple of bold directions the writers could have taken the show. Lumen and Dexter could have gone of killing people together or Lumen could have been arrested, among many other choices. Instead, however, the writers take the easy way out, letting Lumen leave. Just like that, we're back to square one. Dexter has no one to care about but himself and the knowledge that he can care about someone else.
For a brief moment, when Deb had Dexter and Lumen at gunpoint, I held my breath, my heart beat faster, and then I realized, "oh wait, she'll let them go." And that's exactly what happens. The tension will always resolved itself and the show will return back to equilibrium. After five seasons of watching this happen, it's just frustrating
Following in suit, Quinn is freed after briefly being suspected of Liddy's murder, an all too easy conclusion for what could have become a gamechanger. Sure he probably still suspects Dexter, but how far are the writers willing to go? Probably not far enough.
At the end of the season, looking back on the various subplots of the season, there was a lot of useless bullshit. Santa Muerte went nowhere, office politics went nowhere, LaGuerta the bitch went nowhere, and the relationship stuff was as flat as ever.
Showtime announced last week that Dexter is getting at least another season, and since the show is still getting great ratings for the network, there are probably more than a few executives who want to squeeze out every last drop out of the show. Already, the show is wobbling all over the place with Dexter the character as the only steadying factor. Soon, though, that could disappear, and with the other elements of the show, turn to a total crapfest.
Score: 8.3/10
