The sundrenched shores of Miami, Florida have played home to the murderous ways of Dexter Morgan since the series “Dexter” started in 2006. Since then the show has had six Golden Globe- and Emmy-winning seasons, with a seventh in the can. Though things look as if they are settling down, as “Dexter” executive producer Sara Colleton revealed that the series’ title character will “absolutely” put away his knife after the season after next, the show's eighth.
While Dexter has been able to lead a double life as a serial killer and police forensics expert (Spoilers ahead), things went a little downhill for the character when his sister Deb discovered him killing someone at the end of season six – which was supposed to be the catalyst for the show’s end in season seven. Though a devoted fanbase like that of “Dexter” is certainly a nice one to keep occupied, and speaking with TV Guide, Colleton said that “We wanted to end it this year, but [Showtime] convinced us that it would be best to do it in two years. In some ways, this is a two-season series-ender.“
While many “Dexter” fans may wonder why the show will continue to press on, Colleton insists that “from the very beginning, when I first started developing the pilot, I always knew it would be a seven-year arc for this series. I feel easily that we can be an eight-year show, but I never want it to get old and stale. I want us to go out on a high and everybody on the show is determined to keep the level of it up to the very end. It’s always wise to know when it’s time to leave the stage before you’re asked to leave the stage.”
For some, the term “old and stale” will ring true, as “Dexter” hasn’t exactly gotten there yet, but it has certainly become repetitive and predictable. Colleton does insist that “we have worked that out and know where it’s going to end,” we’ll have to wait and see if the show has a satisfying end-game, or leaves us as cold as the bodies of Dexter’s victims. Season seven starts airing on Showtime on September 30th, so we imagine the eighth and final season will follow on a similar date in 2013.
I guess season 7 will have a descent start just because of the season 6 cliffhanger. Loved more or less all the seasons thus far except the 6th one. They had an amazing opportunity to deal with Dexter's relationship to religion … but they failed hard. Even with two amazing actors as bad guys.
It's a testament to Hall's talents that people there is still some interest in 'Dexter', no matter how badly the scripts have gone off the rails.
I hope they have a fantastic endgame planned out, because I can't see this playing out over two seasons. Season 6's writing contained so many gaps in logic and out of character actions, yet like a sucker, I watched it anyway.