The happy Morgan family. Little did we know what Season 4 would ultimately have in store for them.
Warning, there are MAJOR SPOILERS below from the season finale of Dexter Season 4. Please don’t read on, unless you’ve SEEN it!
So we find ourselves at the end of another season of Dexter, the finale came with many nail biting and edge of your seat moments for Dexter & co. It was yet another chance for Dexter to tie up all of those loose ends and sloppy decisions he made from the beginning of the season and make it home in time for dinner.
We start out exactly where we left off last week – in the police station with Dexter & the Trinity Killer face to face. My first thought about this scene after seeing the episode – would Angel Batista remember seeing the Trinity Killer standing in the station? Did any security cameras capture him walking in and being face to face with Dexter Morgan? Perhaps just another moment that goes forgotten.
This first scene represents Dexter’s main problem and what could lead to his downfall. He has an inability to give up Trinity to the police because of his obsession with wanting to be the one to kill him. This was yet another “missed” chance for Dexter to just turn his life around.
I’ll talk about Dexter & Quinn’s confrontation(s) later in the post. Next we have another one of Dexter’s pursuits of the Trinity Killer. This time, Dexter is sloppy as hell, ramming into a car’s rearview mirror while driving like a maniac (notice the clear shot of the owner of the car after it’s hit – eluding to the fact that we will probably see this angry man again…think about it, they could’ve just used a voiceover “hey, asshole!”).
"Delaying the inevitable" : One of Dexter's first chances to kill Trinity.
By now I’ve lost count of how many chances Dexter has had to put an end to Trinity. Remember the moment when Dexter & Trinity were in the woods while Dexter had a chainsaw in hand? How about the time when Trinity tried to kill himself and Dexter saved him? Or the latest moment, when Dexter had Trinity alone in the van…yet Dexter’s sloppy driving averted his latest chance at Trinity. If I recall correctly, if Rita hadn’t called Dexter (and Dexter hadn’t answered) perhaps Dexter wouldn’t have hit that man’s rearview mirror while in pursuit, thus leading to Dexter & Trinity alone in his van…right where Dexter wanted him. Ironic that Rita was the one that called?
Harry’s to Dexter, while in pursuit: “The messes are piling up…”
After a confrontation with the cops, Dexter get’s sent to jail. Dexter reveals to Harry, “I couldn’t just let them find him, god dammit. I have to be the one to kill him!!! I have to know he’s gone, for my family.” Dexter realizes the dark passenger is running his life now.
The station calls Rita and she is the one to pick Dexter up from jail. It seems one of the re-occurring themes throughout the season has been that Rita was always there for Dexter whenever he made a mistake. When he smashed the neighbor’s light next to their house or their neighbors face, Rita was there for Dexter and was always ready to forgive & accept him no matter what.
In the meantime, Deb decides to look back into her father’s past. She soon find’s out who Dexter “really is”. She questions her father. Revelations are at hand. One thing that is hard to grasp when watching this show is that we never really know how the other characters would feel if they knew all of the secrets and the truth about Dexter that we know. This is a reaction we’ve been waiting to see since the first season and I don’t think it has fully hit Deb yet. The full effect that it has on Dexter & Deb’s relationship is yet to be seen.
Trinity returns home to steal from his family and to look up the real Kyle Butler – Dexter Morgan. We cut to Dexter in his home, looking out the window as if he’s on patrol. Dexter’s next line of business is to secure his family. He plans to go to the Keys with Rita, but he’s sending her there with Harrison first. He wants the family out of the house because he knows that Trinity will look for them there. This will give Dexter time to “get some work done”, secure his family, find and then kill Trinity – hopefully. The night before they leave, Rita & Dexter share another moment where Rita is reaffirming her love & care for Dexter.
Rita to Dexter: “You can conquer whatever darkness there is in you, I know you can.”
The Miami Metro Police Department soon realizes that there is another pattern to the Trinity Killer’s murderous spree – missing boys. Deb interviews the young boy who was kidnapped two episodes ago and they come up with a huge clue – the logo of Trinity’s house building program aka “Four Walls One Heart”. They identify the logo and are off on the hunt. A young boy’s body is discovered. They cross check everyone who volunteered for Four Walls nationwide in the cities where Trinity struck.
Bingo. Arthur Mitchell it is.
Trinity pays a visit to Dexter’s old apartment. This plays nicely into one of the season’s previous storylines of Dexter hiding the apartment from Rita. It somehow payed off for Dexter, at least for the time being and sent Trinity to an address other than where his family is & Deb was not home.
Shortly before sending off Rita & Harrison to the airport in a taxi, Dexter comes running out with one of the baby’s toys…obviously this trip was planned at the last minute and some things could be forgotten. They exchange their goodbyes and the taxi drives away.
Dexter's obsession with Trinity has made him beyond sloppy.
Dexter’s attention immediately turns back to Trinity. He decides to pay Trinity’s family a visit and in doing so, creates one hell of a “oh shit!” scene for us viewers. The police are moving in on Trinity’s house and Dexter is inside. He manages to “hide” in Trinity’s coffin, which I thought was a nice touch…but then an officer enters the garage & the garage door opens – Dexter is exposed. Deb & Batista give Dexter such a look. Dexter manages to divert attention from himself and point out the coffin & the missing hammer on the tool wall. Was Deb’s mind on their past or the present moment?
The moment Trinity’s family exits the house I was afraid that they would say something to “Kyle”. They don’t see him as they are escorted to the police car. Dexter’s imagination takes over. Is he looking at his own future? Dexter see’s his own family getting into the police car as Harry closes the door and turns to look at Dexter. A very poetic scene indeed.
Harry to Dexter: “Dexter, we both know it’s inevitable…you can still save your family.”
Will Deb ever realize / find out that Dexter knew who the Ice Truck Killer was, all along?
Deb reveals what she has learned to Dexter about his past and that his brother was the ice truck killer. She also reveals what Dexter means to her and how he has helped her through so much. Throughout this scene I know that Deb is being sincere but it’s hard to tell what Dexter is really feeling…if he’s putting on an act or if Deb’s words truly touch his heart.
Once again Dexter’s attention turns right back to Trinity. After seeing the smashed windshield, ee realizes that Trinity is getting his convertible fixed and pulls the auto repair receipt out of his pocket. I’m guessing Dexter got to Trinity’s car before Trinity took off?
The FBI sweeps in to take over the Trinity Killer case from Miami Metro. This is the last we see of Deb this season.
Cut to a creepy street somewhere in Florida. Trinity’s car breaks down and out of the shadows appears our hero, Dexter Morgan! The great thing about this episode is watching Trinity’s final scene with Dexter all over again.
Dexter to Arthur: “I have a family too Arthur and I’m good for them.” Trinity turns and laughs.
Trinity: “It’s already over, it’s already over.”
There are several interpretations of the exchange between Dexter & Trinity shortly before Dexter finishes him off. Dexter stands triumphant over his conquest. Trinity is bringing at least one more secret to the grave.
Dexter turns on the train set & record player for Trinity. Dexter raises the hammer and deliver’s his justice.
Dexter: “Now it’s over”.
As Dexter drops the bags containing Trinity’s body parts into the ocean, the sky & the moon are so red. In these moments on the boat Dexter is on such a high. He’s ready to take a break from his dark passenger now that he has beaten Trinity. He fantasizes about his family’s future and even considers that one day he’ll be rid of the dark passenger.
The music stops in Dexter’s home as he receives an unheard voicemail from Rita. Throughout every dark thought that we’ve experienced with Dexter & every person he has killed, there has been nothing as chilling as this final scene, to me. Seeing Harrison in the small pool of blood on the bathroom floor and then the reveal of a lifeless Rita in the bathtub was very shocking. I think it’s the first time we’ve seen Rita’s character without a smile on her face.
The Trinity Killer's final victim: Rita Morgan.
This ending led me to so many thoughts. Dexter’s obsession finally led him to Trinity, but after all is said and done it was too late. We should have known this was coming. At the end of season three, at their wedding, Dexter’s blood dripped down Rita’s dress & it was an omen.
Perhaps this was karma for the innocent photographer Dexter had killed previously this season. I would have to guess that Trinity was paying a visit to Rita right around the time when Dexter payed Trinity’s family a visit. In the timeline of the episode that seems to make the most sense.
The real tragedy of this ending is that Rita will never know the real Dexter. Perhaps that’s a good thing for her and him both. I can only see Rita’s death leading to Dexter either finally truly changing his ways or that his dark passenger will finally be fully exposed to the world.
Some random thoughts and things leading into Season 5:
Will Harrison remember being in his mother's blood? Or was he too young to remember?
Dexter & Deb both lost their true love’s this season – killed by a Father & Daughter.
One thing that stood out to me was when Esther & Cody are taken away by their grandparents. We aren’t introduced to the grandparents and we barely see their faces. After knowing how the episode ends I’m wondering if they haven’t cast actors for the grandparents who may have a bigger role next season.
Will the next season be the final Season? It seems like the death of Rita & Deb finding out about Dexter’s past will expose something.
They mentioned that the kidnapping of boys took place 5 days before Trinity’s cycle began – if Dexter took time to research that he might’ve known a woman (Rita) would be killed soon.
Will people question why Trinity killed Rita? Does Batista remember Trinity from the station with Dexter? Does Deb question how Dexter got to Trinity’s house so quickly?
Would Dexter cover up Rita’s death so as not to possibly expose his relationship with Trinity?
Dexter vs Quinn : This is a showdown that’s sure to erupt. Does Quinn question who killed Rita because he thinks that Dexter was cheating on her?
If Dexter has any ounce of humanity in him, the fact that Rita kissed their neighbor will creep up on him & will definitely fuck with his mind now that she’s gone.
Will Rita now appear in Dexter’s visions like Harry does?
This might be overkill, but did Trinity kill Rita? Similar to the shooting of Lundy, we assume it was Trinity. (It had to be, right???)
I wonder if Dexter's boat contains any evidence?
The ending of this season brings the show to a whole new level. There was a major loss for Dexter and his family will now be shattered. Once again I find myself wondering how they will write the next season as I have with every other season…it goes to show you that the writers on this show have not jumped the shark and are top notch.
Dexter Season 4 Rating: A
“Born in blood, both of us. Harry was right. I thought I could change what I am, keep my family safe. But it doesn’t matter what I do, what I choose, I’m what’s wrong. This is fate.” – Dexter Morgan
