Season's Review - Dexter, Season 4

After watching Season 4 of Dexter, I was certain it was the best season of the series yet. The villain, the Trinity Killer, was the most terrifying, violent, yet visible serial killer we have met so far - other than Dexter (Michael C. Hall) of course. And Dexter's own relationship, both with the Trinity Killer and with the serial killer within himself, created an understanding of how the two halves could be a functioning whole. Plus, those last few minutes of the final episode will definitely remain the most unforgettable of the series. Yet, saying it was the best season ever might not have been accurate.

Season 1, in my mind, remains the very best, better than 4. This is because we learned so much more about Dexter and his back story. It was the season in which is origin was explored, and I don't think any storyline can actually top it. Two serial killers so permanently entwined...it's the stuff of comic books, the stuff that makes the dark hero and the twisted villain so compelling and understandable. Without Harry (James Remar), Dexter would have become the villain. Thus, no matter how wonderful Season 4 was, it can't compare with 1.

Now that we have that out of the way, let's sing the praises of 4. Certainly back to the quality we want and expect from Dexter. We had the focus back - Dexter vs the Trinity Killer (John Lithgow), instead of the multiple plot lines of seasons 2 and 3. Plus, most of what was going on in Dexter's personal life was tied right into that relationship, as he tried to learn everything he could from Arthur Mitchell. While Harry had been the guiding force to keep Dexter from being discovered, Arthur gave him the possibility of remaining hidden while still having a full life. He began to understand that a wife, kids, and friends weren't just a cover to keep people from suspecting that he had a darker side. He could have the things he wanted, the things he was beginning to realize he needed, without compromising them or himself.

Sure, it turned out that Trinity's version of happy family life was not actually what Dexter was looking for, and in the end Dexter stopped Trinity from ever killing again (a bit too late, but at least it happened), but that option became possible. Dexter as a human being and not just the carrier of a dark passenger began to emerge and to understand that he too had a place on this earth.

And as much as the focus of this season was on Dexter and Arthur, I think that Deb (Jennifer Carpenter), Quinn (Desmond Harrington), and Christine (Courtney Ford) deserve praise for the way they developed their storyline as well. I loved the tie in of this seemingly unrelated subplot. I loved what it did to Deb and Quinn's relationship, and how far the two have come as partners. Plus, Dexter's ability to get under Quinn's skin, while not the same sort of suspicion as Doakes (Erik King) had, gives me great pleasure. It's nice to know that Dexter hasn't quite got everybody on the force entirely fooled.

Otherwise, the only questions that remain are about what's going to happen next season. I can only hope that the writers, producers, and directors have properly understood what made this season SO great and keep the quality at this level.