SPOILER WARNING: This column contains spoilers for the series finale of “Dexter.”
Sunday night “Dexter” came to an objectively terrible close. One episode wasn’t going to be able to redeem a series that had been circling the drain since its fifth season, but many fans of America’s favorite serial killer stuck around until the bitter end to send off the characters they’ve grown to love or hate.
“Remember the Monsters?” has received possibly the most backlash of a series finale since “Lost” confused the hell out of everyone in 2010. While many loathed how “Dexter” decided to take its final bow, which was plagued with unforgivable flaws, it actually was a justifiable ending for the titular character.
First things first, here’s why the finale didn’t work on many, many levels: the real killers of this show were the writers. They were flat out lazy. They recycled plot lines over and over again without any semblance of character development, i.e. Deb dates someone who is toxic for her time after time. Dexter, who was once an intriguing, calculated sociopath, nosedived into a watered-down, emotionally compromised, boring character.
The series spiraled with bizarre story arcs (Vogel appearing out of absolutely nowhere), abandoned and pointless plotlines (Quinn and Jamie’s relationship, Masuka and his mysterious stripper daughter) and overused clichés (one of the main characters must die). Gaping plot holes and unresolved issues left this season as one of the show’s weakest.
The final episode was just a nail in the coffin for many fans. One specific personal gripe: Deb’s death didn’t do her character justice. I had accepted that a central character was going to die. I was mildly surprised it turned out to be Deb, but that’s not my issue. She was honestly one of the strongest characters on the show. Many fans will disagree with that statement, but she’s bounced back from a lot.
For her to just suddenly slip into a vegetative state without an actual proper goodbye was infuriating. She was then used as a prop/sacrificial lamb to motivate Dexter to finally kill Saxon and then cast away his old life. For such a strong character to wind up as fish food because of a stroke doesn’t feel right. Debra “motherf***king” Morgan deserves better than that.
Now onto the most divisive part of the episode: the final minute or so. After the fake ending of Hannah and Harrison walking off into the sunset, it’s revealed that Dexter inexplicably survived a hurricane and now works as an honest, lonely lumberjack à la “The Dark Knight Rises.” Many fans wanted Dexter to pay for his crimes with his life, but I honestly think this ending is a far worse punishment than suicide.
Unlike other antihero shows, “Dexter” never fully owned up to how deplorable its main character is. The writers excuse his selfishness time after time. His terrible parenting barely has any repercussions. His refusal to walk away from his addiction has led to the deaths of countless innocent people. And yet we’re supposed to root for a happy ending?
At least with “Breaking Bad,” the writers don’t try to make Walt seem like anything other than Satan with a fedora. Don Draper has gotten his comeuppance a few times. Nancy Botwin wasn’t portrayed as mother of the year. But, Dexter was never directly punished — only those around him. That is, until the last scene.
While I still suspect keeping Dexter alive is mainly a ploy to keep the possibility of a spinoff or movie open, his solitary existence (and that awful flesh-colored beard) is the ending he truly deserves. He now has no contact with any of his friends, acquaintances or remaining family members. He likely can’t keep feeding his Dark Passenger in a small town. He is condemned to a lonely life of reflection or the kind of regret that keeps someone up until 4 a.m.
This consequence is truly more fitting than suicide, running or lethal injection.
Taylor Schoen is a 22-year-old communication studies senior from Metairie.