Re: Dexter -- "Monkey in a Box" -- 9/15/13
 

How I would have ended Dexter:

After Dexter is caught and exposed as the BHB by Angel and Miami Metro, Deb winds up as guardian of Harrison. Last scenes flash forward 10 years or so to Deb realizing that Harrison has a dark passenger, and she decides to teach him the code.

Re: Dexter -- "Monkey in a Box" -- 9/15/13
 

EXACTLY. Tell me people wouldn't have been a lot more interested in that than Vogel, new lame bad guy, Vince's long-lost daughter, etc. UGH.

Also could Deb have looked any more guilty when the PI dude showed up? She had GUILTY all over her face the whole time he was there. You'd think a former undercover cop/detective could maybe act just a little bit better.

So disappointed in this series wrap-up...

Re: Dexter -- "Monkey in a Box" -- 9/15/13
 

On the plus side, this horrible final season is making that $500 blu-ray set of the complete series something I don't want anymore.

Re: Dexter -- "Monkey in a Box" -- 9/15/13
 

I really can't add anything to the discussion as I'm in agreement with everyone here.

Just terrible. The end can't come soon enough.

I was worried about hearing spoilers for Breaking Bad that I had to watch it before Dexter - which in that order makes Dexter that much worse. I'd rather be more disgusted with Dexter than to ruin the greatness of Breaking Bad because of it being spoiled.

Re: Dexter -- "Monkey in a Box" -- 9/15/13
 

:lol:

Great read. This writer gave a list of everyone to blame for Dexter's awful final season.

Loved how he rips Scott Buck. :lol:

1. David Nevins, President of Entertainment Showtime Networks — I know that Dexter is the highest rated television series in the history of Showtime, and that inexplicably, its ratings only increased throughout its run, but David Nevins should’ve been able to look past the easy money, and look instead of the reputation of both a once-great series and the network, as a whole. Showtime is going to be linked to Dexter for years, and for years, people are going to strongly consider what the network allowed to happen to Dexter before subscribing to the channel. “Hey, honey! I hear there’s a new drama on Showtime with Lizzy Caplan and Michael Sheen! Should we keep our Showtime subscription?” “Why? I don’t trust Showtime, after that terrible last season of Dexter, why should I?” David Nevins should’ve canned the series at least three years ago. He and the network allowed greed to get ahead of the quality and image.

2. Scott Buck, Showrunner for Dexter — Scott Buck was a writer on Six Feet Under, having joined that series in its second season (note: He was not part of the first season, one of the greatest seasons of television ever). He took over as showrunner in season six of Dexter, the Colin Hanks year, which you may recall was the second worst season until this final season came along. Why would Showtime entrust their highest-rated, most acclaimed series to the guy who wrote Tremors 4: The Legend Begins is a complete mystery to me. He, however, is clearly bad at his job, and should’ve been fired after season six. Either he had no interest in creating good television, or he simply doesn’t recognize good television. Whatever the case, he obviously did not put in the work and effort required of a show of Dexter’s caliber.

3. Michael C. Hall — I like Michael Hall. I think he can be a terrific actor, as demonstrated by his six Emmy nominations. He didn’t write the episodes, so it’s hard to blame him completely for the lack of quality and creativity. But, if you’ve heard him in interviews, he speaks of this season of Dexter with a kind of indifference. He’s admitted himself that you can only do the same thing so many times. As an executive producer and the face of the series, Michael C. Hall had a responsibility to the viewers of Dexter to demand better written episodes, to not do the same thing again (how many serial killers can Dexter meet who is he spiritually connected to?). At some point, he should’ve said, “This is not working. Let’s scrap it and start fresh, and bring in some new writers.” He should be held accountable for his failure to do so, in addition to his lackadaisical performances this season.

4. Steve Shill — Shill is a longtime television director, and he’s directed a lot of television episodes, including several episodes of Dexter, Deadwood and The Wire. He also directed last week’s episode, Goodbye Miami, and is set to direct the series finale. He should know better. The scene with Harrison on the treadmill was terribly, terribly written, but a good director might have been able to make it a little less embarrassing than this:
That is bad directing, plain and simple, and the blame falls squarely on Shill’s shoulders.

5. Jace Richdale and Scott Reynolds — These two were the writers on last week’s episode, Goodbye Miami, and this Sunday’s episode, as well as several other episodes this season. They are responsible for not only the worst episode in a season of bad episodes, but the worst episode in Dexter history. They thought it was a good idea for Hannah McKay — a fugitive whose face had been plastered all over Miami — to take Harrison to a hospital for a chin injury that required only six stitches. That’s just the most egregious problem in an episode full of problems. Scott Reynolds has been working on Dexter since 2007, and should know better. Jace Richdale has been a television writer for 20 years, mostly for (bad) comedies, like Cavemen. He shouldn’t have even had a seat at the writers’ table.

6. Jennifer Yale — Oh, you didn’t think I’d forget about you, did you Ms. Yale? Jennifer Yale’s only previous experience as a writer was as the head writer of Harper’s Globe, a web series designed to complement the quickly cancelled and very bad Harper’s Island. She has also written an episode of Jakers! The Adventures of Piggley Winks. She is a staff writer on Dexter brought in for the final season. Her name is on every episode of Dexter this season. My guess is that she was responsible for keeping the series’ long storyline in order, and ensuring that there were no lapses in logic between episodes. Jennifer Yale did not do a very good job of that.



Read more: http://www.uproxx.com/tv/2013/09/nam...#ixzz2f6Qlvjg2

Re: Dexter -- "Monkey in a Box" -- 9/15/13
 

I can't fathom why you guys would watch this shit after BB. I watch it before just to get it out of the way so I can end my night on a high note.

Re: Dexter -- "Monkey in a Box" -- 9/15/13
 

And to think Showtime just signed Scott Buck to a new development deal. :lol:

Re: Dexter -- "Monkey in a Box" -- 9/15/13
 

I watch this first, then BB so I can fast forward through commercials.

Re: Dexter -- "Monkey in a Box" -- 9/15/13
 

I watch BB first because I want to see it live.

Re: Dexter -- "Monkey in a Box" -- 9/15/13
 

There's some good in this season and it's too bad they didn't decide to flesh out the good to make room for the bad.

I actually liked this episode. Dexter's final goodbyes were nice and Dexter relinquishing the Dark Passenger and Harry would have hit with some great emotional punch if the rest of the season was good. Dex not needing to kill anymore is part of a good wrap up for the character.

I like Saxon as a villain. If they did the better thing and introduced him earlier he would have made for a great final villain for Dexter. Someone that is similar to Dexter but wasn't brought up with a code. Plus with it being the final season there was the chance that he could have made some big dents in Dexter's life.

I would have liked this season if they did this: Start with Deb being in the same downward spiral and hates Dexter. Dexter becomes close with Vogel the same we did but everything is sped up and we kill her off by episode 6 in the same way. Dex tells Deb what happened and who did it. This causes Deb to rejoin the force to go after Saxon herself to make sure Dex can't get him. She's also secretly building a case on Dexter. The season turns into Deb vs. Dex/cop vs. killer and it culminates in Dex catching Saxon and gives him the whole thing about how he can't be a murderer anymore and walks away from him. He calls Deb to make the arrest and runs off because him and Deb still aren't on good terms. Instead of Deb making the arrest, Saxon kills her, Brain Surgeon style. Dex is sad/furious/angry at himself but also knows that he lucked out again and that he can leave it all behind and go to Hannah (her story plays out similar to what it has been this season but she's already gone to Argentina, Dex and Harrison will meet her. She's more of a symbol than a character at this point). But first he has to kill Saxon. He tracks Saxon down and kills him. Meanwhile, what Dex doesn't know is that Deb left Quinn or Angel all the information for the case she was building on Dexter. It happens to be just enough to get them one last piece of evidence to make the arrest. Last scene: Dexter and Harrison are at the airport waiting to board their flight as Angel, Quinn and whole bunch of cops show up to arrest Dexter... then they could either go through with the arrest, they could show that Dexter's flight has already left or they could end it without them making clear if he made it out or if they got him.

Re: Dexter -- "Monkey in a Box" -- 9/15/13
 

Wow....Harrison had some miracle healing on his chin. No bandages at all!

Re: Dexter -- "Monkey in a Box" -- 9/15/13
 

Ugh. Watching this after Breaking Bad is like watching Battlefield Earth after Godfather.

Re: Dexter -- "Monkey in a Box" -- 9/15/13
 

Agreed on these points. There HAS been some good from this season, IMO. However, I'm a big fan of the show and even I will say that it has been really tough to get through. At this point, I'm just kind of glad that it is about over so I can just cancel Showtime already.

Re: Dexter -- "Monkey in a Box" -- 9/15/13
 

Yea, I noticed the same thing. When I didn't see the bandages I was looking for any signs of stitches, but he was unmarked. You get the feeling the writers aren't even trying when they let a continuity error this obvious slip by.

Re: Dexter -- "Monkey in a Box" -- 9/15/13
 

Final episode will go like this. Dexter kills Saxon. Deb recovers. Hannah, Dexter and Harrison move to Argentina. Cut to a year or two later. The 3 of them are all living happy lives. Dexter no longer feels the need to kill. He comes home from his new job one day to find Harrison standing over Hannah with a bloody knife and Hannah dead. The end.

Re: Dexter -- "Monkey in a Box" -- 9/15/13
 

Only if Harrison killed Hannah via a treadmill. Then that could become his MO. He kills all his victims with an out of control treadmill. His dark passenger was born via treadmill.

Re: Dexter -- "Monkey in a Box" -- 9/15/13
 

Based on what I've read, I might be using these quotes in next week's thread.

Re: Dexter -- "Monkey in a Box" -- 9/15/13
 

Actually Harrison was soaked in his mother's blood when Trinity killed her and left her in the bathtub.

Re: Dexter -- "Monkey in a Box" -- 9/15/13
 

Bathtub Butcher doesn't have the same ring to it.

Re: Dexter -- "Monkey in a Box" -- 9/15/13
 

I agree with all the weakly written mistakes this season has had to date... but dexter leaving his prints there wouldn't have been a problem because he has visit vogel before. if they had mention it I would've given it a pass... but like you said they didnt find any prints. I guess that is why so many serial killers like miami the police department are morons. lol

Re: Dexter -- "Monkey in a Box" -- 9/15/13
 

rough season for sure, glad its winding up, if it was not the final season, I would have bailed weeks ago...

Re: Dexter -- "Monkey in a Box" -- 9/15/13
 

I just caught up with the last few episodes tonight. Holy shit did this show fall apart! If cable networks ever owed fans a "do over" this is it.

Harrison is going to wake up from a 'bad' dream at the end. I wouldn't be surprised ....

Re: Dexter -- "Monkey in a Box" -- 9/15/13
 

Lets remember the good times:

http://youtu.be/V6MsuNR2YkU?t=1m45s

Re: Dexter -- "Monkey in a Box" -- 9/15/13
 

I thought the first several episodes or maybe first half of this season was pretty good. I had high hopes, but it has gotten terrible.

Granted, I think some of the nitpicking over small things is a bit much, but these last several episodes are pretty bad.

Re: Dexter -- "Monkey in a Box" -- 9/15/13
 

Not sure why anyone would be surprised with Dexter having a happy ending. But I'm not 100% percent convinced it will. Dexter going back to killing and/or losing his family would be a good way to end it.

I agree that the show peaked with Trinity season. After that, it's like the show didn't know where to really go. Not that I don't like it, but am surprised Dexter didn't get worse as far as his dark passenger was concerned. It went from being one of my favorite shows to one where I was glad to know the show was ending, and in less than a year from the last season's premiere. I just hope it's not all rainbows and unicorns for the finale.

Re: Dexter -- "Monkey in a Box" -- 9/15/13
 

agreed...

was decent to so-so for the first half..

now it's like "check please"

Re: Dexter -- "Monkey in a Box" -- 9/15/13
 

It's not about a happy ending, I wouldn't expect that anyway. It's about having an ending that is vaguely connected to logic and reality. See I believe, instead, that the writers created a number of conclusion scenarios, and them put them on a mat which they put on the floor. They would then jump to them. And that's how we got this final story.

Re: Dexter -- "Monkey in a Box" -- 9/15/13
 

:lol: too funny. I love Office Space.

Re: Dexter -- "Monkey in a Box" -- 9/15/13
 

Clyde Phillips the showrunner for the first four seasons did an AMA on Reddit. He said he would reveal how he would have ended the show after the finale airs.

He pretty much agrees, the show went to shit.

Re: Dexter -- "Monkey in a Box" -- 9/15/13
 

That's not what he said; he just would've gone a different direction. He only admitted to the quality of the show had declined.

Re: Dexter -- "Monkey in a Box" -- 9/15/13
 

A couple of highlights

http://a.thumbs.redditmedia.com/CE_YMLARZzBlV_Mf.jpg

Re: Dexter -- "Monkey in a Box" -- 9/15/13
 

He also mentions that Showtime was involved in every big story decision. I'm wondering if we'll find out from the writers that they wanted to end it earlier but Showtime was the one that wanted to keep it going.

Re: Dexter -- "Monkey in a Box" -- 9/15/13
 

if the execs were involved, his son lives and we are gonna see a Spinoff in 5 years..
yikes

Re: Dexter -- "Monkey in a Box" -- 9/15/13
 

I know a lot of people wanted to see Dexter die or get caught but I was never in that camp. I was always totally fine with a happy ending because Dexter has always been a comic book hero to me.

If you told me a year ago the show would end with Dexter no longer needing his dark passenger and running away to Argentina I would have been ok with it. I just would have liked them to set up that ending better than they have.

Re: Dexter -- "Monkey in a Box" -- 9/15/13
 

Just end already.

In my house we spend more time laughing at the show and all the stupid things they do.

I honestly feel like I am watching Heroes Season 3.

1) Deb knows that everyone is on to her that Hanna is in her house, but everyone walks around by the windows, there is no police survailance, etc

2) All of a sudden it is "OK" for Hanna to go to a hotel

3) Hanna goes into an airport - Full of TSA, Police, Immigration, etc officers and does not even wear a baseball cap, or put her hair back -ohbfrank-

Re: Dexter -- "Monkey in a Box" -- 9/15/13
 

here's how I would end the show...

Re: Dexter -- "Monkey in a Box" -- 9/15/13
 

Wait a minute. Why would Vogel even choose to digitize the tapes of Harry? How stupid is that, to put them on her computer where it can be more easily accessed and stolen?

Re: Dexter -- "Monkey in a Box" -- 9/15/13
 

The only way to watch this show now is to watch is at a sitcom/comedy. The stuff with Vogel last week was horrible but I started treating it as a comedy and it was far more entertaining that way.

I gotta admit I got a really good laugh at Saxon yeling "Fuck Dexter" at the gas station with a constipated look on his face.

Wouldn't it just be easier to drive to another airport and catch a flight there? There probably aren't as much people watching say the Tampa/St-Pete Airport. Or if they really wanted to be super safe, drive to another state and catch the flight there.

Also, why the hell didn't she clear her browser history? She practically gives them the airline and now it can't be too hard to figure out since there are only so many flights to Argentina.

Re: Dexter -- "Monkey in a Box" -- 9/15/13
 

He pretty much got LaGuerta killed. Not so much of a hero, just lucky that Deb showed up to do the dirty work/let Dexter off the hook for another season once again.

Re: Dexter -- "Monkey in a Box" -- 9/15/13
 

He also disputes the rumored finales being spread all over the internet. Apparently the execs have had a tight hold on it. None of the screeners were released.