As my esteemed colleague Ken Tucker just pointed out, conspiracy theories are flying around fast and furious in the wake of last night’s mind-blowing Dexter Read the full post.
Dec 14
2009
12:17 PM ET
'Dexter' boss answers more burning Qs (no, it wasn't a dream)
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TV Finale Highlights
Five days at a glance*
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Tuesday, May 1
- The Biggest Loser NBC, 8-9PM
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Friday, May 4
- In Plain Sight USA, 10-11PM
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Sunday, May 6
- The Amazing Race CBS, 8-10PM
- GCB NBC, 10-11PM
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Monday, May 7
- Two Broke Girls CBS, 8-9PM
- Castle ABC, 10-11PM
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Tuesday, May 8
- Last Man Standing ABC, 8-8:30PM
- The Voice NBC, 8-10PM
- New Girl FOX, 9-9:31PM
- Unforgettable CBS, 10-11PM
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Wednesday, May 9
- CSI CBS, 10-11PM
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Thursday, May 10
- The Big Bang Theory CBS, 8-8:31PM
- The Vampire Diaries The CW, 8-9PM
- The Office NBC, 9-9:30PM
- The Secret Circle The CW, 9-10PM
- Parks and Recreation NBC, 9:30-10PM
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Friday, May 11
- The Finder FOX, 8-9PM
- Undercover Boss CBS, 8-9PM
- Fringe FOX, 9-10PM
- CSI: NY CBS, 9-10PM
- Blue Bloods CBS, 10-11PM
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Sunday, May 13
- Once Upon A Time ABC, 8-9PM
- Survivor: One World CBS, 8-10PM
- Desperate Housewives ABC, 9-11PM, SERIES FINALE
- American Dad FOX, 9:30-10PM
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Monday, May 14
- Bones FOX, 8-9PM
- How I Met Your Mother CBS, 8-9PM
- Gossip Girl The CW, 8-9PM
- Two and a Half Men CBS, 9-9:30PM
- Hart of Dixie The CW, 9-10PM
- Mike & Molly CBS, 9:30-10PM
- Hawaii Five-0 CBS, 10-11PM
- Smash NBC, 10-11PM
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Tuesday, May 15
- 90210 The CW, 8-9PM
- Cougar Town ABC, 8-9PM
- NCIS CBS, 8-9PM
- NCIS: Los Angeles CBS, 9-11PM
- Fashion Star NBC, 10-11PM
- Private Practice ABC, 10-11PM
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Wednesday, May 16
- Suburgatory ABC, 8:30-9PM
- Criminal Minds CBS, 9-11PM
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Thursday, May 17
- Missing ABC, 8-9PM
- Community NBC, 8-8:30PM, 9-10PM
- 30 Rock NBC, 8:30-9PM
- Rules of Engagement CBS, 8:30-9PM
- Awake NBC, 9-11PM
- Grey's Anatomy ABC, 9-10PM
- Person of Interest CBS, 9-10PM
- The Mentalist CBS, 10-11PM
- Scandal ABC, 10-11PM
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Friday, May 18
- Nikita The CW, 8-9PM
- Shark Tank ABC, 8-9PM
- Who Do You Think You Are NBC, 8-9PM
- Grimm NBC, 9-10PM
- Supernatural The CW, 9-10PM
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Saturday, May 19
- Saturday Night Live NBC, 11:29PM-1AM
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Sunday, May 20
- America's Funniest Home Videos ABC, 7-8PM
- The Cleveland Show FOX, 7:30-8PM
- Harry's Law NBC, 8-9PM
- The Simpsons FOX, 8-8:30PM
- Bob's Burgers FOX, 8:30-9PM
- Celebrity Apprentice NBC, 9-11PM
- Family Guy FOX, 9-10PM
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Monday, May 21
- Dancing With the Stars (Performance) ABC, 8-9PM
- House FOX, 8-10PM, SERIES FINALE
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Tuesday, May 22
- American Idol (Performance) FOX, 8-9PM
- Dancing With the Stars (Results) ABC, 9-11PM
- Glee FOX, 9-10PM
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Wednesday, May 23
- The Middle ABC, 8-8:30PM
- American Idol (Results) FOX, 8-10:07PM
- Modern Family ABC, 9-9:30PM
- Don't Trust the B— ABC, 9:30-10PM
- Revenge ABC, 10-11PM
- Law & Order: SVU NBC, 10-11PM
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Thursday, May 24
- Awake NBC, 10-11PM
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Tuesday, May 29
- Cougar Town ABC, 8-9PM
- The L.A. Complex The CW, 9-10PM
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Wednesday, May 30
- America's Next Top Model: British Invasion The CW, 9-10PM
*Times are Eastern Daylight and subject to change
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A great and unpredictable shocking ending to a great, unpredictable and shocking show. A day after viewing the show, just thinking about the twists and turns (Rita’s call tto Dexter thru Arthur’s death off kilter, therefore causing her own death), is mind blowing!!!. Loved it
Wow! Rita’s call —> Hitting the mirror—>Jail—->Missed Opp to kill Arthur—>Rita’s death
I didn’t even thing about that! You are gooood!
Sad to see rita go. She was HOT!
go back to your blowup doll, jerk
Maybe the series will start following the books – and the Kids will trun into little psychos that Dexter trains…
How many books in the series?
I think there’s 4 now.
Whoops, posted too soon. Meant to also say that the show is considerably different from the books, so it’s probably not spoiling anything to go ahead and read them; they really are seriously different.
Lots of questions of why Trinity killed Rita in the bathtub. My guess, is that he wanted to ensure the police or whomever finds her or does the investigation to realize Dexter knew who Trinity was. Everything will add up to Dexter knowing Trinity, and someone will then remember Dexter talking to Trinity at the police station. My guess, it was a final “Eff You” to Dexter on his way out. The bathtub killing is very distinct. If it was any other way, Dexter and Trinity could not be tied together. Plus, the logistics of pushing her from a tall building were not there.
Of course the writers can explain it anyway they want – but Trinity never killed for revenge and Dexter always kills for revenge/justice. In both cases, those seeds were planted in childhood.
Trinity tried to kill himself at the building site, but Dexter wouldn’t let him. It would have ended the Trinity kills there but Dexter wouldn’t have been able to enact his justice.
When Dexter kills Trinity, he said he knew this end was inevitable and almost seemed relieved that Dexter was putting him out of his misery. Thanked Dexter for putting on the train and record.
It just doesn’t add up that Trinity would kill Rita for revenge.
it certainly wasn’t random, though. Trinity himself did say “Someone has taken something from me, now I am going to take something from him,” or something to that effect. If Dexter would have just left Arthur in the van with his ID and money, I believe he would have just gone on his merry/sinister way, probably to continue his cycles, but not with Dexter Morgan in mind. But he did promise to do something to Dexter during that conversation at the police station, if Dexter were to “stand in my way…” So a sort of “F-you,” from the incredibly dark and evil Trinity killer
well Angel saw them talk and actually took a minute to stare at Arthur so I’m surprised he didnt remember him from the photo they had up of him on the kills board. I think once they see Rita in the bathtub, Angel will be reminded of Arthur and Dexter talking and will begin to wonder about who Dex really is
I suspect that if the police assume Trinity killed Rita then they will also assume that the link to Dexter is thru Debra. It wouldn’t be a stretch for his daughter to tell him about Debra and from there for him to find out about Dexter. Even if Angel remembers Arthur and Dexter talking, all Dexter has to say is that this man he had never met before had some seemingly innocent questions for him. I don’t know how Dexter explains how Trinity’s family knows him by a different name, but they will probably be inclined to keep his secret. Remember, Dexter was probably the only person to stand up to Arthur for them.
“his daughter to tell him about Debra?” don’t know what you’re talking about – whose daughter?
Yes, I’m surprised Angel didn’t recognize him from being there earlier too.
That is an intersting point for next season – that combined with the fact that Dexterwas at Trinity’s house before the rest of the task force. You would think Deb would have been sensitive to that fact after what happened with the reporter shooting Lundy. Although you have to assume she was blinded by what she was going to tell Dexter about his real mom.
The reporter who shot Lundy and Debra (I can’t remember her name all the sudden). She was revealed to be Trinity’s daughter and that she sought his approval in shooting Lundy and Debra.
If you remember, the camera pans in on Angel as he walks by Arthur and Dexter. I don’t think the director would choose to do that unless he or she had a specific purpose in mind ~ a tie-in. Angel is a seasoned, going by his “gut” detective. I would find it very hard to believe that (in the next season), the writers would just let that go. If they do, I will certainly apply for a job on their team. lol
My daughter and her husband watch Dexter, but they are only on Season 1. So it’s been great to read everyone’s comments here and get other takes on this great show and the shocking finale. I didn’t even know this site existed until the other night. It was awful not to have someone to talk with this about. lol
Angel never saw Trinity’s face. He came from behind them and walked past Dex and Trinity without turning around. Stop making a mountain out of a molehill.
Chip: You are correct! I went back and watched it again, and Angel does come up from behind Arthur. Thus, he most likely did not see his face at all. I guess the “slow motion” of the camera just gave me the impression that it might be meaningful later on. Wasn’t trying to make any mountains or molehills. By the way, does it make you feel good to say sarcastic things to people you don’t even know? Everyone on here has their own ideas, opinions, impressions, etc., and has the right to express them. AS you can tell, nearly everyone who has posted anything at all on here was moved, one way or another, by the season finale. Even though you were absolutely correct in “correcting” me, my advice to you is to learn to be a little more tolerant.
It was the next in his cycle, the botched boy-napping and then 5 days later a bathtub kill
The biggest question I have is why show the scene where Trinity family is taking the walk of shame to the police cars and Harry saying that’s Dexter’s family someday – that Dexter will be eventually caught and they will be branded by him. That’s not going to happen now – Rita’s gone so she would never experience that – the kids are now branded by their mom’s murder.
Because at the point in the show where that happened, Dexter didn’t know Rita was going to be murdered (or was already dead). He still had it in his head that because he’s a serial killer, and it’s only a matter of time before he’s caught, that that’s what his family might have to go through on the day when he’s finally caught and all is revealed. Of course it won’t happen now, but Dexter didn’t know that at the time.
It was just another element to encourage Dexter to give up his life as the Dark Passenger, which he finally decides to do after killing Trinity and arriving home safe and sound to his wonderful family who he values more than anything. Which is why Rita’s death and Harrison’s position in her blood is all the more heartbreaking, to think that Dexter was so close to giving up his life as a killer, and have it all. No, it wasn’t a foreshadow of anything to come, it was just to push Dexter to his noble conclusion so as to break the hearts of the audience when we realize that not even Dexter can save his family anymore
because, “it’s already over”
If what the producer is saying is true, it was Trinity that murdered Rita.
However, remember that the tech from the station saw Rita and Elliot kiss on Thanksgiving. He knew there were problems in the marriage, apparently and did not know that Dexter was told about it.
Dexter set up Brodie, so the cops thing Trinity is long gone anyway and Dexter would have knowledge of the killings. I think Dexter is going to be framed for the murder of Rita because he killed an innocent man.
Or, maybe, just maybe it was Elliot next door and the shows top brass are throwing everyone red herrings.
I do believe Rita is definitly dead. Supposedly Julie was very disappointed by the final.
The other blood guy (I can’t remember his name now) did know that Rita told Dexter about kissing Elliot. He was relieved that he didn’t have to tell Dexter.
Matsuka
What about the voice mail from Rita? Dexter seems to have had his cell phone in his back pocket the whole time, but the ring for the voice mail didn’t go off until he was in the house, much later then when Rita presumably sent it?
he turned his phone off when he was hiding in the trunk – would be my guess
Was anyone else thinking the writers were taking us in the direction that Dexter finds out Trinity was his real father? Thought that would’ve been pretty cool, although it’s been done plenty of times.
They covered his real dad earlier. Dexter’s Dad died and left his house to Dexter – him, Rita, Deb and Dexters’ Bro all were there for a weekend cleaning it out. It was this man that dontated blood to Dexter when he was a boy and Dexter made him a card to thank him and the card was found in the same house.
In answer to the Deb/Dexter relationship, I kind of thought that to. Especially now that the two stars are married to each other in real life. (IE Lundy getting whacked and out of the picture).
However, I’ve been thinking this for a while…what if Harry was really Dexter’s dad. If Deb keeps digging up these supposed affairs with informants, like Dexter’s mother, then it makes sense that Dexter could be Harry’s biological son after all.
A big ‘ickkkkkk’ there, huh?
Nope. Harry is NOT Dexter’s real Dad. That would be too simplistic and way too much of a cliche. Plus, see mercfan’s comment right above re: the dude who donated blood to Dexter.
I think you might be on to something Cynthia, it would challenge the notion that Harry was the noble cop who wanted only justice and it would introduce the idea that maybe Harry had sociopathic tendencies that manifested in ways that might not have caused death but turn out to be just as destructive. I mean where DID the CODE really come from? Yes we have the POV of Dex who idolized his dad. But could it maybe be something Harry had to live by himself to keep from killing? That would certainly be more of a possibility if Harry is Dex’s real dad
There is a story with Harry, but I think it has to do with his death. His old partner told Dexter it was a suicide. Clearly Harry was a bit of a rogue cop but had a code. I think his partner didn’t have a code and was involved in Harry’s murder.
That’s why he showed up again recently being a real asshole to Angel and Laguerta.
If the final showdown isn’t between Dexter and Harry’s partner the writers are missing the boat.
What about the fact that she was in a taxi cab? Wouldn’t the taxi wait for her and then get curious when she didn’t come out? The cab driver wouldn’t have been the one to discover her.
The theory that Dexter killed Rita is ridiculous.
Maybe Trinity was driving the taxi?
EEK! You can just see his smug smarmy smile as he drives her home…I don’t think that happened (or that we’ll ever know) but it’s fun to think about.
My thoughts, that was all a dream from Dexter, in his head…as he had already been grappling with being more family oriented. ie picturing Rita and Harrison instead of Trinitys family being put into the cop cars and lead away. Plus I really hope it was all a bad dream, this finale messed with my head…and I enjoyed the challenges Dexter faced with balancing Rita and his dark passenger. Whats he going to do now…drive around, be a single father and talk to his dead dad all the time, uninhibited able to kill anytime, seems boring to me. Plus if it was a dream, you can kill her off later…she needs to stay for now.
Being a single father will inhibit him MORE, not less. He had Rita at home (although for a mother of 3 she seemed frighteningly clueless/unable to deal with things like fever of 100 in a baby) and merely had to come up with plausible excuses. A single father won’t have that luxury—he will have employees helping who have to be off at a certain time, etc. Also they will have no motivation to believe his tales of being tied up at work.
She said, “The moon tonight is gonna be amazing.” I just watched it again. I’m still speechless…
John Lithgow said in an interview that they finished filming in October. To those saying Rita’s death seemed too spontaneous, they had A LOT of time to change it but obviously didnt because that’s what they wanted the story to go like.
This is the first time I’m reading about Dex related stuff so the final scene was a huge shock to me. Didnt expect it at all!
Re: Harrison. Dex was older than Harrison is when his mother was killed so he still had it in the back of his mind. There’s nothing that says Harrison has to remember this at all
I agree with Harrison’s age causing him to not understand or remember what happens, and hopefully the writers will take this path too, because it’s so heartbreaking to see such a young baby be forever damaged by “the sins of the father,”
Yeah, I agree WTF.
I went through the whole ‘Dallas killed Bobby’ dream thing years ago and it was really ludicrous, however….mainly because they wrote a whole damned season after his death and then called it a dream!
If Phillips could just see his way to explain a dream at the very beginning of next season, then okay, that’s doable, maybe.
I agree, though, Rita was the ‘heart’ of the show for me and I’m very, very disappointed by this.
I always thought of Rita as the blackened lungs of the story, not the heart. Her nicotine voice needed to go.
her “nicotine voice??” Are you insane? You obviously haven’t been around serious smokers. She was speaking in a very BREATHY tone for the past 2 seasons and that was annoying to say the least.
I’m actually thinking that Trinity may have stopped off to kill Rita while Dexter was hiding in the trunk.