The Mind-Blowing Dexter Episode That Redefined the Show's Iconic Finale

Dexter's highest-rated episode, which aired in season 4, exemplifies how the series should have concluded long before its actual ending. Alongside shows like Game of Thrones and How I Met Your Mother, Dexter garnered a dedicated fan base but ultimately disappointed with its series finale, with some even considering it the worst of all. This was particularly frustrating for viewers as the quality of these once-great shows notably declined after a certain point. However, these turning points provide an intriguing opportunity to reflect on how series like Dexter could have concluded differently. By acknowledging the missed chance for Dexter to end on a high note, it becomes possible to learn from these missteps and avoid repeating them in future shows.

Dexter centers around the eponymous character, who develops homicidal urges following a traumatic event in his childhood. However, his adoptive father guides him in channeling these instincts into a code, effectively turning him into a vigilante and a serial killer. Fans took issue with the series' finale, arguing that it undermined Dexter's character development by erasing his methodical intelligence and causing him to sever his two most significant remaining relationships: those with Hannah (Yvonne Strahovski) and his son, Harrison (Luke Andrew Kruntchev). Rather than an underwhelming conclusion where Dexter abandons the emotional growth he underwent throughout the season, an additional episode would have served as a much more satisfying conclusion to the series.

Dexter's Highest-Rated Episode Proves The Show Truly Ended After Trinity

Dexter's series finale, season 8, episode 12, "Remember the Monsters," has a score of 4.7 on IMDb, while the season 4 finale, "The Getaway," has a score of 9.8, making it the highest-rated episode of the show. "The Getaway," hailed as one of the best Dexter episodes, demonstrates that season 4 marked the true conclusion of the series and should have concluded the entire show instead of continuing for another four years. Consequently, the subsequent seasons witnessed a significant decline in Dexter's storyline. It is evident that Dexter had already explored crucial aspects of his character development by season 4, including his origins, close calls with exposure, marriage to Rita, and attempts to balance his double life. By this point, he had also confronted the villains most relevant to his life.

Dexter Ending With Season 4 Would Have Worked (Despite The Twist)

To begin with, Dexter encountered his biological brother, Brian, who served as a bridge to his origins. Subsequently, in season 4, he crossed paths with Arthur Mitchell, also known as The Trinity Killer, whom Dexter aspired to emulate. Trinity proved to be the ultimate adversary for Dexter as he epitomized the amalgamation of a serial killer and a family man, thus extinguishing any remaining glimmer of hope. Consequently, this should have marked the conclusion of the show.

With Dexter successfully finishing the most crucial storylines surrounding a vigilante serial killer, it seemed like season 4 was leading towards a cathartic conclusion. Even with the shocking twist of Rita's death, the show had the opportunity to wrap up with Dexter coming to the realization that his life was an unsustainable contradiction. He could have then implemented the same methodical and thorough approach he'd consistently demonstrated throughout each season to prepare his loved ones for his departure. This would have provided closure to the show on his own terms, maintaining the thematic and character consistency it had from the start.