'Dexter' Final Season Recap - Make Your Own Kind Of Music

It’s funny how for this week, the thought of watching Dexter almost sounded like a chore.  That to me is seemingly the reality now for watching the final four episodes of a show that I use to feel was one of the best on TV.  I've written this once and I’ll write it again:  it is such a damn shame that this is how Showtime's cornerstone series has to end; barely making it to the finish line on its last legs.  Yet, when dealing with a show with the subject matter of Dexter, maybe it isn't so much of a surprise that it doesn't get a so-called "happy ending."

Anyway, so we finally learned who the actual 'Brain Surgeon' is this week:  Oliver Saxon.  You know, the guy who was dating Cassie and who seemed like a complete nobody?  Yeah, not only is he the real killer, but he's also Dr. Vogel's son.  Yup, Dr. Vogel has a son.  Surprise, surprise.

I have to say, what gets me most out of all the storylines the season is that they really all seem like they've been played out before.  Yes, I understand the writers are trying to tie up loose ends and give ongoing character relationships (Deb & Quinn for example) a finite closing, however; there isn't any sense of drama or tension that’s been building up...at all.  It’s as if everyone is in someways going through the motions until the big finale, which without build up, isn’t much a finale now, is it?

With that said, a few of the big highlights this week are as follows:

• Quinn, while working back together with Debra to solve the Cassie case, gives her a surprise kiss.  We all knew it was coming, but one has to wonder why Deb wasn’t at all angry about it.

• Speaking of Debra, not only is she pretty much done working for Elway (who’s pissed off after realizing she screwed up the Hannah McKay case), she’s basically offered her old job back with Miami Metro.  Again, we all saw that one coming too.

• Oh and Elway?  He wants that $250K reward for the capture of Ms. McKay, so he’s gone and hired himself a third-party investigator to get the job done.  This fellow, of course, ends rights up on Dexter’s tail.

• And finally, good ol’ Dexter.  Not only is he madly in love with soul mate of a serial killer, he’s decided it’s best if they (along with Harrison) move to Argentina.  This should turn out great.

I know I probably should be commenting more on the revelation about Dr. Vogel having a son and Dexter suddenly having to deal with not only the Brain Surgeon but Dr. Vogel herself, but to be quite honest, it's not a very interesting storyline.  I mean, I understand the concept of this last season to bring in Dexter's 'maker' and then turn her against him with the help of another serial killer who so happens to be her son, but the problem is that the writing has just been so poor this season that the effect really isn't there.

That really sums up the quality of this episode, which aimed high, but never even came close to hitting the mark.

Notes:

• That whole Masuka storyline with his daughter:  what was the point of that again?

• Not for nothing, but I think Hannah McKay is a bit overrated in the looks department.

• Jennifer Carpenter, on the other hand, really put it all together this year.  Hopefully she goes on to get some good film roles.

• Oh look, a fellow serial killer got the better of Dexter, how odd...

Grade: C+