Now back to that confrontation with Deb. Dexter makes several attempts to bring Deb home throughout the episode, finally meeting her at the hotel she’s staying at with Briggs. When Briggs tries to get Dexter to leave, he quickly kills him and leaves Deb holding the body. To be fair, Dexter goes with good intentions, planning on warning Deb about the buyer Briggs contacted, who is in reality a hitman, who is seen keeping track of Deb after Briggs’ murder. Needless to say, the dynamic between the siblings has totally switched, and now Dexter needs Deb much more than she ever needed him. Just a year ago, everybody thought there was going to be an awkward sex scene between the two. Now I’m left wondering who’s going to hurt the other first.
So overall, this wasn’t a bad premiere at all. No big bad adversary was presented (yet), meaning that hopefully this final season will spend more time wrapping up Dexter’s personal story, especially his now shattered relationship with Deb. For once, Dexter doesn’t need a serial killer threatening Miami to be compelling. The show has focused on the relationships characters share, and what they all mean to each other, whether dead or alive. Dexter and Debra have a lot to talk through, as do Dexter and Evelyn. But on the sidelines, we’ve got Angel dealing with LaGuerta’s death, Quinn and Jamie trying to remain a couple, and even Harrison has a bit part to fill this time around rather than staring blankly at the wall.
The past few seasons of Dexter haven’t lived up to the beginning of the series, but by the looks of the premiere, this season will wrap everything up in a way that will satisfy fans. Some of us have been watching this psychotic vigilante do his dirty work for years, and knowing that the final season will focus more on him than his adversaries is heartening. With only eleven more episodes until the end, it’s time to see how much Dexter will have to pay for what he’s done to those around him, and most importantly, to himself.
