So good! I would put this season right beside season 4 as the best of Dexter.

Three episodes left but this is peak Dexter. Best season since the fourth by a landslide in my opinion. It’s just firing on all cylinders.

Theory I have.

Another banger. This has been so much fun. Entire cast is terrific. The Batista Dexter angle giving me Breaking Bad Hank/Walt vibes and I'm loving it.

Not going to add spoilers for my comments. If someone hasn't seen the episode yet, they shouldn't be reading the thread.

It wouldn't make sense for people to think Batista's trying to frame Dexter as the BHB, since it's already "known" to be Doakes. Why, after all these years, would Batista re-open that whole thing if he's already off the hook?

It was funny/ridiculous that the recruitment course just went right to a currently open serial killer case - showing crime scenes, etc. as if they were sharing information to other investigators. Who would do that?

Dexter's pretty much putting the spotlight on himself with Prater and Charley. How could they not think something is up with him?

Read someone make a decent prediction. The Inmate # of the killer of Prater's family will be Praters code to his vault. They seemed to focus in on it when they showed the letter.

I get what you’re saying. In universe the explanation could be that he went crazy after LaGuerta’s death, and since she pinned Dexter as the Butcher now he is trying to do the same by “framing” Dexter.

I might be just be making crazy theories up too. I do think something has to happen to further discredit Batista by the end of the season. That or worse for him.

I wish Batista would go back to smoking weed with Quinn in his car...

Great episode and one of the best Dexter seasons ever and it has not really gone in a super predictable way. Dexter admitting he cannot feel love but still values Harrison more than anyone was a pretty strong moment.

Some (probably wrong) theories after this episode

Doe the Detective bring in Dexter for consultation on the NY Ripper?

In the end, does Dexter wind up as blood spatter guy for the NYPD?

I think Charley could very well be the NY Ripper. It seems like something Dexter will solve, and they really foreshadowed that being solved this episode. The only real "twist" candidate would be Charley since it would seem impossible for it to be Dinklage. Prater has the NY Ripper weapon it is unsolved but he is also not at the gatherings. And Charley just being middle aged Beatrice Kiddo as the entire role does not seem like something you pay Uma for. Just seems like there has to be more to her role. She gets second billing after all too. The new girlfriend interest is too young to be the NY Ripper but she may be a serial killer. The motorcycle story is BS.

Yeah, I figure one or both of those things will happen.

There's definitely something more to Charley (maybe the New York Ripper). I also thought that she is very underused and didn't make sense to bring in a bigger name like Uma for such a nothing role.

The prevailing thought online on who The NY Ripper is...


Another excellent episode. The Batista Dexter cat & mouse game is heating up and making for some great TV. I could see this season ending with Batista finding the evidence he needs and officially charging Dexter, with Dexter going to Prater and coming clean about who he is. And Prater bankrolling him going on the run as long as he keeps in contact and sending trophies and videos of his kills. Which could lead to a point where Prater lets his mask slip more & more and they show how violent and dangerous he is. Then you have that Walt / Gus from Breaking Bad tension, working for someone you're terrified of.

No matter how it plays out, this season has been so good. Literally the best season since Rita died. I really hope in subsequent seasons they integrate Astor & Cody back into the story somehow. I feel like that could be a good source of tension. Dexter trying to put his family back together as best as he can, while being hunted by Batista, while also being hunted by The NY Ripper. Let's hope they have some ideas cooking for Season 2 already.

I have read that they already had a 3 season arc mapped out before season 1. There is also a willingness to continue for as long as Hall wants to continue playing Dexter.

The funny thing is I think Michael C. Hall is also responsible for how New Blood ended. I seem to remember hearing that he essentially was tired of being asked about the character coming back and agreed to come back to give the fans a sense of closure and wanted to be done. He must have been offered a ton by Showtime to do more.

I rewatched the episode again last night. Nothing much to add really other than this season is just so good. When Dexter goes upstairs and sees Batista all the way through to the end of the episode is maybe the best dialog in series history. So many double meanings behind everything said. And you understood every one of them.