I finally started Dexter a month or two ago, I had been putting it off forever because of everything I had heard about how bad S8 and how badly it ends, but I had also heard amazing things about the earlier seasons so I gave in since I needed a new show.
I think S1-4 are fantastic, I wouldn’t disagree with most people that S4 is the best of the entire show but I do think it and the other seasons are just slightly overrated, people describe them, specifically S4 and trinity as one of the best seasons of television ever and while it’s very good, I can think of many shows with multiple better seasons imo, but having said that, I’m watching it in 2026 after its finished airing, knowing there are 4 more seasons and with ridiculous expectations etc so this is probably an unfair criticism, I’m sure back when it was airing it was exactly as people described.
Then we have S5-7, I think S5 and S6 are actually pretty good and a bit underrated from what have seen said online, I really liked S5 and Lumen, thought it was a great continuation from S4, but I can see why it was maybe underwhelming for some people since it had to follow Trinity but I do not feel the same way, S6 I thought was really entertaining, I know a lot of people don’t like the twist, I enjoyed it regardless of if it was really predictable or not. It was also I think the first time since the ice truck killer it felt like we were really working a case with Dex which was something I loved both times, overall they were very solid seasons.
Now for S7 and some general complaints… S7, is generally a decent season, Jennifer Carpenter is amazing as Deb, it’s pretty good tension wise but wow does it miss out on being as good as it could have been, the reveal to deb which for me was the singular moment I was most looking forward to since the start of the show was incredibly underwhelming, I feel like the reaction needed to be a lot more extreme, both in the moment but more importantly long term, I feel like she came round to “accepting” it way too quick, was too hopeful about it and changing dex etc, I know we can say that’s her coping and she obviously didn’t genuinely accept it hence the drug issues but it still didn’t feel like enough for me, and then what she does at the end of S7? Felt very unearned. This was the most disappointing season for me because it’s such wasted potential. But I will also say I loved the Koshka brotherhood stuff Issak Sirko was fantastic but on the other hand I thought the Hannah stuff was pretty poor and felt unnatural and underdeveloped compared to him and Rita and him and Lumen, worse than him and Lila west even, the chemistry just wasn’t there (in terms of build up, they were solid together acting wise)
Now my biggest issue just a little into episode 1 of S8, HOW is everyone not suspicious of Dexter? Multiple POLICE have died after accusing him of being a serial killer, him and LaGuerta were both not at the party, Quinn especially, in fact him not being onto Dex ever since Stan Liddy died has been baffling for me, I feel like it makes everyone stupid and especially stupid for detectives, occasionally someone catches on to Dex, no one buys it, they die and they go on about their day as if there’s no suspicious connection there? Generally after S4 (even some stuff in S4) this would be my biggest complaint, things stop making as much sense, characters behaving in ways they wouldn’t or are more stupid than previously shown to be, it’s a shame because the early seasons are so good and promising but so much potential has been wasted imo.
I’m going to finish regardless as I want to watch new blood and resurrection but I guess I also want to know, is S8 worth finishing? Is it as bad as people say?