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Dexter: Original Sin has already introduced several familiar faces from the original series. However, some key characters have yet to join Dexter on his early journey as a serial killer, one of them being James Doakes, portrayed by Erik King in the original series.

In Dexter, Doakes was the only colleague at Miami Metro who harbored deep suspicions about Dexter, which escalated by the end of Season 1. However, Original Sin has yet to introduce him. Fans believe there’s a perfect reason for his absence in the prequel and why he might make his debut in future seasons.

Erik King as James Doakes | Credit: Showtime Why Dexter: Original Sin is saving James Doakes for future seasons?

From the very start, James Dokes was the only one who saw through Dexter Morgan’s carefully crafted mask, unlike his colleagues at the Miami Metro. His suspicion stemmed from Dexter’s unnerving...

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Hannibal is a psychological crime thriller drama series created by Bryan Fuller. Based on the Hannibal novels by Thomas Harris, the NBC series follows FBI special investigator Will Graham, who has an exceptional talent for getting into the minds of the killers, which takes a heavy toll on his psyche. To get psychological treatment, he frequently consults forensic psychiatrist Dr. Hannibal Lecter, but what Will doesn’t know is that Hannibal is a notorious serial killer. Hannibal stars Hugh Dancy, Mads Mikkelsen, Caroline Dhavernas, Hettienne Park, Laurence Fishburne, Scott Thompson, Aaron Abrams, and Gillian Anderson. So, if you loved the dark psychological stories, thrilling mysteries, and compelling characters in Hannibal, here are some similar shows you should check out next.

Mindhunter (Netflix) Credit – Netflix

Mindhunter is a psychological crime thriller drama series created by Joe Penhall. Based on...

Many fans of Dexter have been watching Dexter: Original Sin, and the fantastic prequel has prompted some, present company included, to re-watch the original. The original show premiered in 2006, which was almost 20 years ago. So, it’s easy to forget a lot of the minor details. One such detail is just how close Dexter Morgan (Michael C. Hall) came to being caught... on more than one occasion.

In Season 2, the dismembered bodies wrapped in garbage bags that Dexter had been so neatly disposing of for years finally rose to the surface. Piecing everything together (literally), Miami Metro P.D. theorized that there was a serial killer in action, whom they named the Bay Harbor Butcher. They brought in Special Agent Frank Lundy (Keith Carradine) to assist, a man with a reputation for solving cases and a specialty in investigating serial killers. His reputation for sniffing out serial killers was impressive,...

Dexter was Showtime's big breakout hit and delivered one of the more consistent TV experiences of its time. That is, until it didn't. While there are certainly some problematic elements to the show that only hindsight can truly shed light on, the main reason Dexter has aged poorly nearly 20 years following its premiere is simply because of decisions made at the writing level. There is a clear cutoff point where Dexter becomes a different show than what it began as, and this sort of jarring pivot is something most modern scripted dramas avoid at all costs.

Make no mistake, Dexter has still aged gracefully in many regards. When it comes to casting, performances, tone, and editing, it's easy to see why Dexter is still adored by so many. But there are also some very valid reasons for those who have trouble revisiting the series to be apprehensive. The divisive ending to Game of Thrones aside,...

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Dexter: Original Sin is a mystery crime drama series created by Clyde Phillips. Based on the Showtime series Dexter by James Manos Jr. and the Dexter novels by Jeff Lindsay, the prequel series follows the origins of Dexter Morgan as he learns his code of only killing criminals and how not to get caught by the authorities. Dexter: Original Sin stars Patrick Gibson, Christian Slater, Molly Brown, Christina Milian, James Martinez, Alex Shimizu, Reno Wilson, Patrick Dempsey, and Michael C. Hall. So, if you loved the nail-biting, thrilling, hilarious dark comedy and compelling characters in Dexter: Original Sin, here are some similar shows you should check out next.

Dexter Credit – Showtime

Dexter is a psychological crime thriller dark comedy-drama series created by James Manos Jr. Based on the 2004 novel Darkly Dreaming Dexter by Jeff Lindsay, the Showtime series follows Dexter Morgan,...

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Murder Mindfully is a German dark comedy crime thriller series written by Karsten Dusse, Doron Wisotzky, Michael Kenda, and Anneke Janssen. Based on the bestselling 2024 book of the same name by author Karsten Dusse, the Netflix series follows Björn Diemel, a down-and-out top-flight lawyer who goes to a mindfulness retreat and suddenly becomes a murderer and mastermind for the mob. Murder Mindfully stars Tom Schilling, Emily Cox, Michael Ihnow, Sascha Alexander Gersak, Amer El-Erwadi, and Viktoria Schreiber. So, if you loved the dark comedy the dark comedy, thrilling story, and compelling characters in Murder Mindfully here are some similar shows you should check out next.

Dexter Credit – Showtime

Dexter is a psychological crime thriller dark comedy series created by James Manos Jr. Based on the 2004 novel Darkly Dreaming Dexter by author Jeff Lindsay, the Showtime series follows Dexter Morgan,...

Although Dexter's killer protagonist was always careful not to get caught, there were a number of key characters who find out about Dexter Morgans dark passenger over the course of the series. Dexter documents the life of Dexter Morgan, a vigilante serial killer who also happens to be the blood-spatter analyst for the Miami Metro Police Department. Dexter operates his serial killing unconventionally, sticking to a strict code where he can only kill those who deserve it confirmed murderers who have evaded the justice system.

While trying to appease his dark passengers need for blood, Dexter has to carefully avoid getting caught while on the hunt and after he kills. His most important rule while serial killing is to not be caught, which means not letting anyone know his real identity or acting in a way those around him find suspicious. Aside from his many victims who obviously knew...

Warning: Implied spoilers ahead for the original Dexter show.

Sgt. Doakes missing in Dexter: Original Sin is intentional, preserving the dynamic for later seasons. Dexter: Original Sin takes place in 1991 Miami, exploring a new chapter in Dexter Morgan's timeline. Doakes may still make an appearance in Original Sin, bridging the gap between the prequel and the original series.

Dexter: Original Sin has recast many of the characters from the original Dexter show, and although there's still one very important figure missing from the prequel, it feels very much like an intentional move rather than an oversight. The cast of Dexter: Original Sin will be playing younger versions of those who appeared in the franchise's original show, with the addition of Michael C Hall coming back to narrate the story. The omitted character in question didn't appear in every season of Dexter, but it would be incorrect to...

The following list contains characters from the TV series Dexter who experienced tragic deaths throughout the show: James Doakes - Played by Erik King. A detective who suspected Dexter's dark secret, leading to his capture and death. Rita Morgan - Played by Julie Benz. A sweet and likable character, Rita's death was shocking and tragic due to her past abusive relationship and her connection to Dexter.

Despite the titular character making a habit of killing only the most heinous criminals, there are a number of Dexter deaths that are actually tragic. Dexter Morgan (Michael C. Hall) amassed a massive body count over the course of the series, targeting other serial killers. However, the dangerous and deadly world in which the story takes place also means that there were a lot of innocent people who fell victim to some bad people or even became unintended victims of Dexter's criminal activities.

Ripley is a psychological crime-thriller series written and directed by Steven Zaillian. Based on a 1955 novel titled The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith, the Netflix series is set in the 1960s and it follows the story of Ripley as a wealthy man hires him to convince his son to come back home from Italy. However, when Ripley gets there he gets jealous of the oppulant life the wealthy man’s son is leading and decides to take it for himself. The novel by Highsmith was adapted once before into a film written and directed by Anthony Minghella, and it starred Matt Damon as the titular character. Ripley stars Andrew Scott in the lead role with Dakota Fanning, Johnny Flynn, Eliot Sumner, and Maurizio Lombardi starring in supporting roles. So, if you loved Zaillian’s take on The Talented Mr. Ripley, here are some similar shows you should check out next.

The dynamic relationship between the hero and the villain is a compelling element of any TV show, requiring great actors to create chemistry and tension. Rivalries between characters, such as Captain Holt and Madeline Wuntch in Brooklyn Nine-Nine, can add burning hot intensity to a show. The best rivalries on TV, like Sherlock and Moriarty in Sherlock, feature brilliant characters engaged with one another to make for the most enjoyable and engaging storytelling.

One of the most compelling elements of any TV show comes from the dynamic relationship between the protagonist and the antagonist. Several elements go into making a TV show gripping and exciting, from the camera work, to the casting, to the story being told. While the narrative may call for a special relationship between the hero and the villain, it takes great actors to create the right chemistry and tension to make the pair into a timeless coupling.

Death is a devastating experience that becomes an easy way for any story to raise its stakes, but its impact can be especially powerful in television since audiences get to know these characters week after week. Supporting and ancillary figures in television are usually the ones who meet their doom early on in a series’ run, while the deaths of major characters are reserved for later on as a way to create drama. That being said, many television series love to defy expectations and surprise their audiences.

One of the biggest ways to make viewers feel that anything is possible in a TV show is to take out a beloved character early on to prove that nothing is sacred. It’s a risky maneuver that not every series recovers from, but these are the top shows that strategically take out major players during the beginning of their runs.

10 Saddest Deaths...

The trajectory of Dexter was taken wildly off course by two major kills, proving that Dexter: New Blood was necessary to put the serial killer's ending back on track. Dexter season 8 is in the hall of fame for controversial TV show endings, with many viewers blaming the lack of closure as a big reason behind its failure. Nearly 10 years later, Showtime released the follow-up series Dexter: New Blood, which checked in with Michael C. Hall's titular serial killer following his move to a small town in upstate New York.

The 10-episode sequel series did what it set out to do, properly ending Dexter Morgan's arc and passing the torch to his son, Harrison (Jack Alcott). Dexter had particularly gone wrong when it killed off two major characters — James Doakes (Erik King) and Maria Laguerta (Lauren Vélez) — leading the Bay Harbor Butcher case to be left wide open at...

Network: Showtime

Episodes: 96 (hour)

Seasons: Eight

TV show dates: October 1, 2006 -- September 22, 2013

Series status: Ended

Performers include: Michael C. Hall, Julie Benz, Jennifer Carpenter, Lauren Valez, David Zayas, James Remar, Erik King, Desmond Harrington, and C.S. Lee.

TV show description:

Nice guy Dexter Morgan (Michael C. Hall) works for the Miami Metro Police Department as a blood-spatter analyst.

In his time off, he also happens to be a serial killer. His adoptive police detective father, Harry Morgan (James Remar), recognized his sociopath tendencies as a child and taught him to channel his passion for killing into eliminating only heinous criminals who've slipped through the justice system. Harry also teaches him to mask his emotional emptiness so that he can appear normal.

Read More…...

Like it or not, the Bay Harbor Butcher, Dexter Morgan, is returning to Showtime. The network announced that a new 10-episode limited revival of Dexter is coming in 2021. According to returning showrunner Clyde Phillips, who was in charge of the earlier seasons of the Miami-set crime drama before it jumped the bloody shark, the revival aims to deliver a more fitting ending for the series. After fans and critics alike despised the disappointing season 8 finale, which saw Michael C. Hall’s serial killer retiring to the Pacific Northwest to become a lumberjack, Phillips, Hall and Showtime are returning to end things on the right note.

“This is an opportunity to make that right, but that’s not why we’re doing it,” Phillips informed THR on its Top 5 podcast via NME. “We’re doing this because there is such a hunger for Dexter out there. We’re not undoing anything.

Sony Crackle has set Thursday, February 21 for the Season 2 premiere of crime drama series The Oath, created by Joe Halpin and executive produced by Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson. The network also released first-look images from the second season (see above and below).

The Oath explores a world of gangs made up of those sworn to protect and defend. Shedding light on corrupt and secret societies nearly impossible to join, only the chosen few make the cut—and once inside, members do what they must to shield each other from enemies who attack from both outside and within their own ranks. The sophomore season picks up with the Ravens attempting to free themselves from their debt to the cartel. Themes including redemption and the meaning of family are examined in season two pushing the characters to find a new path, conquer their inner demons and giving them one last chance to...

Dilshad Vadsaria, Sebastian Zurita, Erik King, J. Anthony Pena, Richard Burgi Rich Paul and Carlos Sanz (Stronger) are set for recurring roles on the second season of The Oath, Sony Crackle’s gritty drama from executive producer Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson.

They join the previously announced cast for season two, which includes new series regular Christina Milian, and Leona Lewis and Zulay Henao who will recur, along with returning cast Ryan Kwanten – who’s also a producer – Cory Hardrict, Katrina Law and J.J. Soria.

Created by Joe Halpin, The Oath explores a world of gangs made up of those sworn to protect and defend and sheds light on corrupt and secret societies that are nearly impossible to join.

Joseph Baxter Jan 10, 2019

Crime drama The Oath unveils its second season, which streams for free on Sony's Crackle.

The Oath Season 2 will see the Sony Crackle crime series starring Sean Bean continue fulfilling its title.

News of The Oath Season 2 renewal arrived at the upfront presentation at Sony Headquarters in New York, just a little over a month after The Oath made its March 8 premiere on Crackle. The series is, as Sony Crackle claims, the most-watched new original series in the platform’s history, with the highest episode-to-episode retention rate.

The Oath Season 2 Trailer

The trailer for the second season of The Oath has arrived, teasing a rapidly-evolving dynamic for the Ravens, resulting in the formation of shady secret alliances.

Video of The Oath Season 2 Official Trailer - Only on Sony Crackle February 21 The Oath Season 2 Release Date

The Oath Season 2 is set to stream for free on Crackle starting on February 21.

The series,...

Can you believe it's been a decade since we were first introduced to the killer of criminals? Today, Showtime announced they are celebrating the 10th anniversary of Dexter with an upcoming contest and marathon.Based on the novels by Jeff Lindsay, the drama followed Dexter Morgan (Michael C. Hall), a blood spatter expert working for the Miami police who happens to moonlight as a vigilante serial killer. The cast also included Julie Benz, Jennifer Carpenter, Lauren Valez, David Zayas, James Remar, Erik King, Desmond Harrington, and C.S. Lee.Read More…...

“I just know there’s something dark in me and I hide it. I certainly don’t talk about it, but it’s there always, this…dark passenger. And when he’s driving, I feel alive, half sick with the thrill of complete wrongness.

I don’t fight him, I don’t want to. He’s all I’ve got. Nothing else could love me, not even… especially not me.

Or is that just a lie the Dark Passenger tells me? Because lately there are these moments when I feel connected to something else… someone. It’s like the mask is slipping and things… people… who never mattered before are suddenly starting to matter. It scares the hell out of me”

Dexter Morgan

The dichotomy – raging battle ongoing – that engulfs the core of the protagonist summarized in one shatteringly honest, beautifully troubled confession…to an AA meeting, where he is...

Network: Showtime

Episodes: 96 (hour)

Seasons: Eight

TV show dates: October 1, 2006 -- September 22, 2013

Series status: Ended

Performers include: Michael C. Hall, Julie Benz, Jennifer Carpenter, Lauren Valez, David Zayas, James Remar, Erik King, Desmond Harrington, and C.S. Lee.

TV show description:

Nice guy Dexter Morgan (Michael C. Hall) works for the Miami Metro Police Department as a blood spatter analyst.

In his time off, he also happens to be a serial killer. His adoptive police detective father, Harry Morgan (James Remar), recognized his sociopath tendencies as a child and taught him to channel his passion for killing into eliminating only heinous criminals who've slipped through the justice system. Harry also teaches him to mask his emotional emptiness so that he can appear normal.

As...

Now that Dexter has concluded it’s time for a definitive ranking of the seasons. I’m braced for your blowback because season 4 is Not #1 on my list (scandal!). Be sure to check out our series finale recap and Q&A with the Dexter producers about that ending and the final season. See what you think:

Season 2: The Bay Harbor Butcher

Riveting, format-breaking season: The Big Bad wasn’t some temporary guest star but Dexter himself as hostile colleague Sgt. Doakes (Erik King) and FBI blood-hound Agent Lundy (Keith Carradine) closed in with every hour, and Dex contended with...

The people who bring "Dexter" to life visit "The Writers' Room" on Monday (Aug. 12), and it appears they like their dialogue short and not so sweet.

In this clip from the Sundance Channel series (which is exclusive to Zap2it), host Jim Rash asks "Dexter" star Michael C. Hall and the show's writers and producers what their favorite line from the series is. Rather than some artfully written monologue, they agree on two lines, totaling just five words. One is "Surprise, motherf***er!," delivered by Doakes (Erik King) in the Season 7 finale that takes its title from the line.

The other comes from John Lithgow in the Season 4 episode "Hungry Man." An unbelievably tense Thanksgiving dinner is punctuated by Arthur (Lithgow) telling his wife (Julia Campbell) to shut up, followed by just about the worst thing you can call a woman. "Coming out of John Lithgow's mouth, that is such a shock,...

Note: Do not read on if you have not yet seen Season 8, Episode 4 of Showtime's "Dexter," titled "Scar Tissue."

Things will never be the same for Deb (Jennifer Carpenter) and Dexter (Michael C. Hall) Morgan. The fourth episode of "Dexter" Season 8, the show's final season, ended with Deb going off the deep end in more ways than one.

In the final moments of the episode, Deb attempted to kill both herself and her brother Dexter by driving their car into a lake. However, once Deb was saved by a witness, she went back to rescue Dexter.

"In the first four episodes of this season, Deb is searching for her bottom, and I think she's surprised to see just how low it actually is. She hits it when the car hits the water. When she looks back, she is able to see Dexter as this living, breathing person and it makes him real in that instant,...

Showtime announced that the complete series of Dexter will be collected together in an upcoming Blu-ray and DVD set. Due out in November, we have release details and a look at the special packaging that is sure to please any Dexter fan:

“Dexter: The Complete Final Season and Dexter: The Complete Series Collection will arrive on Blu-ray Disc and DVD November 5, it was announced during today’s Dexter panel at San Diego Comic-Con International 2013. From Showtime Networks, CBS Home Entertainment and Paramount Home Media Distribution, Dexter The Complete Series Collection includes all eight acclaimed seasons in an ultra-collectible recreation of the actual blood slide box used by Dexter Morgan to catalog his victims on the show. Also designed and included specifically for this collection, “Grafix: The Art of Dexter” is a collection of photography, fan artwork and iconography and images used in the series’ cutting edge promotional campaigns.

San Diego — There weren't any kills at the final panel for "Dexter" at Comic-Con, but there were some tears.

"Dexter" actresses Jennifer Carpenter and Lauren Velez held back the waterworks as they expressed their gratitude to fans gathered inside the San Diego Convention Center for the pop-culture convention.

"You're the reason we show up every day," said Carpenter, who plays Deb, the conflicted sister of loveable serial killer Dexter Morgan. "We want to do right by you because your standards are high, and you deserve good work, so it can't be a wrap until we're all here together, especially for those who waited to be in this room."

Many of the "Dexter" devotees had camped out for a chance to see Michael C. Hall and the rest of the cast, who finished production on the eighth and final season of the Showtime drama last week.

"Just as you all waited...

Inside a packed, appreciate Ballroom 20 last night, Dexter said farewell to Comic-Con.

It was an emotional panel discussion highlighted by a group consisting of the show's top producers, main talent... and a few surprising, returning favorites.

Indeed, Julie Benz, Erik King (Doakes) and Lauren Velez all showed up for the event, while a certain beloved ex-serial killer also stopped by.

"Hello... Dexter Morgan fans," John Lithgow said video video. "I wish I could be with you all today, but as you know... I'm dead."

Among other highlights of an especially entertaining and endearing Q&A:

Dexter Season 8 wrapped production last week and Michael C. Hall said it has only sort of hit him: "Our conscious minds are aware that it's over," but his body will be curious why he isn't still doing the show again: "I would say five or six months now there'll be some wave of something that we'll all experience.

Tears and hugs and emotional high fives. Not exactly the sendoff you might expect for a totally gruesome show about a serial killer! But such was the case for Showtime's Dexter, which said goodbye to fans Thursday at San Diego's Comic Con. Dexter brought back a few blasts from its past including showrunner Clyde Phillips, Lauren Velez (Laguerta), Erik King (Doakes) and Julie Benz (Rita), with the man himself Michael C. Hall bringing the audience to its feet among a sea of flashbulbs and raucous applause. The cast revealed they concluded production last week, and Hall explained to fans that he was still in denial. "There's some unconscious part of us that hasn't accepted or recognized it...

Showtime's "Dexter" panel at San Diego Comic-Con was particularly emotional for fans as the cast and producers took the stage to say goodbye to the show. "Dexter" is currently in its eighth and final season, and cast members old and new discussed what it's like leaving the show behind. 

The large panel included Jennifer Carpenter (Debra Morgan), Aimee Garcia (Jamie Batista), Desmond Harrington (Joey Quinn), Yvonne Strahovsky (Hannah McKay), David Zayas (Angel Batista) Lauren Velez (Maria Laguerta), and of course Dexter Morgan himself, Michael C. Hall.

The panel also included some more surprising guests: Julie Benz, who played Rita Bennett during the show's first four seasons, and Erik King, who portrayed James Doakes during the first two.

"Dexter" wrapped up shooting last week, and the cast agrees that it hasn't yet settled in. "I don't think it's a feeling that any of us have really processed yet," says executive producer Sara Colleton.

"Dexter" has been a staple of Comic-Con International in San Diego for the past few years now and with the show's final season currently underway, fans knew it was their last time to interact with the Morgans and the folks of Miami Metro in Hall H.

For "Dexter's" final Comic-Con panel on Thursday night, Showtime kicked things off with a video that included never-before-seen interviews with the cast on how they feel about saying goodbye. Check out a snippet below.

But to brighten the tear-eyed audiences' spirits, Showtime brought three former stars (four, if you include virtual visitors) back from the dead for "Dexter's" last trip to Comic-Con. Erik King (Sgt. Doakes), Julie Benz (Rita Bennett) and Lauren Velez (Captain Laguerta) all returned to share the stage with Michael C. Hall (Dexter Morgan), Jennifer Carpenter (Debra Morgan), David Zayas (Angel Batista), Desmond Harrington (Joey Quinn), Yvonne Strahovski (Hannah...

Michael C. Hall & Co. hit the Comic-Con stage on Thursday night for Dexter‘s final, fan-filled hurrah — and they brought along a surprise friend or Trinity three!

A handful of former Dexter faves — including Julie Benz, Lauren Velez and Erik King — surprised the crowd by “crashing” the panel, making the Showtime saga’s swan-song Con showing one to remember.

Related | Dexter Season 8 Series Finale — Deb and Dex Reunited?

Following two tear-inducing video packages – a look-back with the cast, and one featuring Dexter’s greatest kills – Hall, Jennifer Carpenter, Desmond Harrington, David Zayas, Aimee Garcia, Yvonne Strahovski and executive producers Sara Colleton,...

Dexter: The Complete Final Season and Dexter: The Complete Series Collection will arrive on Blu-ray Disc and DVD November 5, it was announced during today's Dexter panel at San Diego Comic-Con International 2013. From Showtime Networks, CBS Home Entertainment and Paramount Home Media Distribution, Dexter: The Complete Series Collection includes all eight acclaimed seasons in an ultra-collectible recreation of the actual blood slide box used by Dexter Morgan to catalog his victims on the show. Also designed and included specifically for this collection, "Grafix: The Art of Dexter" is a collection of photography, fan artwork and iconography and images used in the series' cutting edge promotional campaigns. Finally, fans will enjoy an all-new bonus disc with access to over three hours of behind-the-scene interviews, featurettes and more. Available for the first time on Blu-ray Disc and DVD, this bonus material delves deep into the series and is highlighted by...

The Project: Dexter, in Hall H!

The Panel: Michael C. Hall, Jennifer Carpenter, Aimee Garcia, Desmond Harrington, David Zayas, Yvonne Strahovski, Lauren Velez, Aaron King, Erik King, Julie Benz. Executive Producers Sara Calleton, Scott Buck, Manny Coto, and former showrunner Clyde Phillips.

Footage screened: A goodbye video featuring old scenes and the actors thanking their fans, especially those from Comic-Con. “Everything is a series of lasts,” Hall reflects on the video. “I didn’t imagine how many people (got) on the Dexter train.” Carpenter talked about how the show “made my life” while John Lithgow admitted it was the...

After eight emotional, death-filled seasons, Dexter will sign-off for good — but the question remains whether the series' titular character will do the same.

Dexter final season scoop: Does Dexter have to die?

Ever since the show's inception, viewers had wondered how long Dexter Morgan (Michael C. Hall) could get away with being a serial killer. But, over time, those same fans also began to root for the blood-spatter analyst. They'd hold their breath when Sgt. Doakes (Erik King) got close to discovering the truth and mourned the loss of Rita (Julie Benz) because Dexter had actually — and surprisingly, for a sociopath — come to care for her. In short, viewers changed their entire perception on this particular serial killer because he was our anti-hero.

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Take the poll for this article at TVGuide.com >...

When Scott Buck is ready to talk, you better be prepared. The Dexter showrunner’s answers tend to be rapid-fire direct, the interview equivalent of speed dating. When we met in his Hollywood office two months ago, the writer-producer was perhaps even more urgent than usual. Dexter’s final season is debuting in the summer for the first time (June 30), which has the creative team meeting earlier deadlines than usual (don’t worry, they assure the show is on track — this final storyline has been in the works for years). Below Buck talks about the Miami Metro gang’s last days in the sun.

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

As I’ve written many times, season six was pretty awful, but it was arguably worth it for that cliffhanger in which Deb walks in on Dexter doin’ his thang to poor Travis Marshall. It was a truly great cliffhanger because it promised to bring the series into that final frontier that’s been looming over the show since the second season – Dexter being caught.

Season seven has done a mostly solid job of fulfilling that promise which held such potential for authentically exciting story-telling because it mostly kept those stakes dangerously high. Right up until this episode the audience had plenty of reason to think Dexter would at last find himself in a corner from which he couldn’t slink away. But now Dex is more or less back to square one as is usually the case.

After six years of watching Dexter always narrowly...

Review Billy Grifter Dec 18, 2012

Dexter seals its penultimate season with the departure of a main character, but was it any good?

This review contains spoilers.

7.12 Surprise, Motherfucker

I've just watched the season seven finale through for the second time, and frankly, I'm not entirely convinced by what I've just seen. If I'm reading the show correctly, the premise of this entire season is that Dexter is a corrupting influence, and if you spend too much time around him, then you too will become a serial killer! Really? That's it? 

But before I get on to the 'dramatic' major character exit, which has become a trademark Dexter season finale feature, what else did we discover here? To be pointed, that not much makes sense in the world of Dexter these days. 

We've got Laguerta acting so mad that when holes start to appear in her paper-thin case, she looks even more disturbed than she probably is.

Spoiler alert: Do not read on if you haven't seen the Season 7 "Dexter" finale, titled "Surprise, Motherfucker!"

All season long, "Dexter" fans had a hunch that Maria Laguerta (Lauren Velez) would end up on Dexter's table. The theory started with the Season 7 premiere back in September, when Laguerta -- Captain of Miami Metro Homicide -- found a blood slide at the scene of Travis Marshall's (Colin Hanks) murder that bared a striking resemblance to the blood slides kept by the famed Bay Harbor Butcher, Sgt. James Doakes (Erik King).

With each new episode, Laguerta seemed to be getting closer to finally unmasking Dexter's "Dark Passenger," and fans expected a big showdown between Dexter and Laguerta in the Season 7 finale. What many didn't expect, however, was that it would be Deb (Jennifer Carpenter) -- not Dexter -- who killed Laguerta in order to protect her brother.

Below, actress Lauren Velez...

Dexter, Season 7, Episode 12: “Surprise, Motherf—r!”

Written by Scott Buck & Tim Schlattmann

Directed by John Dahl

Airs Sundays at 8pm (Et) on Showtime

When Dexter returned to the airwaves twelve short weeks ago it returned as if possessed by a ethereal phantom bearing the face of its old self but the fury of some chaotic, unpredictable demon. A ferocious and breathless season opener laid waste to the sense of decline, and in the following episodes the pattern for an unreadable, indiscernible story that seemed to be getting back to the basics of the classic era while packing the punch fitting to wrap up the show. After all, this is the penultimate run. So it all comes down to this one hour of television, perhaps the most important since the pilot throttled jugulars. Surprised?

It’s all going to hell in a hand basked for Dexter Morgan, with the love...

We're still not sure how Deb (Jennifer Carpenter) managed to hug a bloody corpse at the end of last night's finale of "Dexter" without getting a drop of the red stuff on her party dress, but maybe this final "Wrap-up" podcast of Season 7 will shed some light on things. If not, at least we get to hear once again from Sgt. Doakes!

Listen in as producer Scott Reynolds sits down with Lauren Velez (Maria Laguerta) and Erik King (Doakes) and then is joined by executive producer Scott Buck to answer fan questions.

"Dexter" Episode 7.12, "Surprise, Motherfucker!" Synopsis (12/16/12 Airdate)

Laguerta (Lauren Velez) is on the verge of exposing Dexter (Michael C. Hall) and his killer ways, while he does his best to cover for himself and Debra (Jennifer Carpenter) and maintain the life he’s created.

For more be sure to visit the official "Dexter" page on Showtime, "like" "Dexter" on Facebook,...

Spoiler alert: Do not read on if you haven't seen the Season 7 "Dexter" finale, titled "Surprise, Motherfucker!"

All season long, "Dexter" fans had a hunch that Maria Laguerta (Lauren Velez) would end up on Dexter's table. The theory started with the Season 7 premiere back in September, when Laguerta -- Captain of Miami Metro Homicide -- found a blood slide at the scene of Travis Marshall's (Colin Hanks) murder that bared a striking resemblance to the blood slides kept by the famed Bay Harbor Butcher, Sgt. James Doakes (Erik King).

With each new episode, Laguerta seemed to be getting closer to finally unmasking Dexter's "Dark Passenger," and fans expected a big showdown between Dexter and Laguerta in the Season 7 finale. What many didn't expect, however, was that it would be Deb (Jennifer Carpenter) -- not Dexter -- who killed Laguerta in order to protect her brother.

Below, actress Lauren Velez...

Showtime’s re-energized seventh season of Dexter delivered a finale twist that’s arguably the most disturbing moment of the series: Debra Morgan (Jennifer Carpenter) murdered Miami Metro police captain María Laguerta (Lauren Velez) to protect her serial killer brother (Michael C. Hall). How will her decision impact next season? Will Yvonne Strahovski return? And will the show really end next year?

Below, showrunner Scott Buck takes our burning questions.

Entertainment Weekly: Dexter is a serial killer and even he was struggling with the idea of killing Laguerta. How did Debra, whose value system is so different than Dexter’s,...

A ghost of Dexter Morgan's (Michael C. Hall) past paid a visit in the Season 7 finale of "Dexter": James Doakes (Erik King) -- and his catchphrase, the title of this episode -- was resurrected in flashbacks from the first season, in which Dexter first saved himself by implicating him as the Bay Harbor Butcher.

But now it was Laguerta (Lauren Vélez) who paid the ultimate price for discovering Dexter's secret. Only this time, Deb (Jennifer Carpenter) pulled the trigger.

The episode started with Dexter visiting Hannah in prison, where she admits she poisoned Deb. Despite his betrayal, however, Hannah assures her lover that she will keep his secret and kisses him goodbye -- and bites him, drawing blood. Touché.

Laguerta then pays a surprise visit to Dexter's apartment, arresting him for the murder of Hector Estrada -- ironically, one of Dexter's only victims who is actually still alive.

After three episodes of Dexter season 7, it’s clear that the series is back on track to rekindling the glory days of seasons one through four. While we may not have Doakes (Erik King) or the Trinity Killer (John Lithgow), we do have a suspenseful season without the cheesy melodrama of the Lumen era.

The truth about Dexter is in the open and the subsequent Dexter-Deb relationship is everything we could have hoped for from the series. Deb is struggling with her knowledge. She may hold onto the pipe dream of “curing” Dexter, but she’s not totally delusional. Deb knows that Dexter’s passions can end only one way, with Dexter dead or in jail. Plus, she’s concerned about Harrison. Thankfully, (so far) Deb didn’t follow suit with the Lumen saga. She has yet to take up arms with Dexter as his sidekick. Things may change,...

Producer and race car driver Ali Afshar discusses his drag-racing drama Born 2 Race, due out on DVD February 28

There are all kinds of ways for one to break into the entertainment industry, and producer/actor/writer Ali Afshar took a rather interesting route. After breaking into the drag racing circuit as a teenager, Ali Afshar moved to Los Angeles to pursue his dream of acting, appearing on Saved by the Bell: The New Class, Power Rangers Turbo, and in films such as Godzilla, The Siege, and Three Kings. He also continued racing throughout the years, launching the company Esx Motorsports, and his new project Born 2 Race, is a perfect marriage of both racing and filmmaking.

Born 2 Race, which is currently available on VOD formats and arrives on DVD February 28, gives us a legitimate look at the drag racing world, and the super-charged Subaru imports that Ali Afshar himself used to...

In the Fall of 2012, Dexter will return for Season 7 and fans will be wondering how Dexter (Michael C. Hall) will deal with his latest debacle. Here is a rundown of what fans can look forward to.

Note: This article contains Season 6 finale Spoilers

The Dexter Season 7 Premiere

Instead of a time jump between seasons, expect Season 7 to begin right in the Church where the Season 6 finale left off. This will be similar to the shift between the Season 4 Trinity finale and the Season 5 premiere. Fans would be upset with any sort of time jump, especially after such a major cliffhanger. Unlike other shows with longer seasons that go on 2-month hiatuses, fans have to wait a full nine months until Dexter returns for its seventh run.

Dexter and Deb

Don’t: Expect Dexter (Michael C. Hall) and Deb (Jennifer Carpenter) to become a couple. Deb may have said “I love...

The ghost of James Doakes is alive and well!

What else could make Dexter producers want to bring a tough, no-nonsense homicide detective that immediately ruffles a few feathers once he transfers to Miami Metro from the Chicago Police Department? Aside from the Chi-town connection, doesn’t that sound just like Doakes?

Lights Out star Billy Brown is filling said role as a character named Mike Cutler for Dexter’s sixth season. Expect him to bring the pain just as Erik King did as Sergeant Doakes during the first two seasons of the show. Brown most recently played Death Row Reynolds on FX’s short-lived Lights Out, serving as the nemesis to Patrick “Lights” Leary (Holy McCallany).

I’m expecting this Cutler character to piss off everyone in Miami Metro, primarily Dexter. The question is – will he just butt heads with people or will his sleuthing skills land him close to Dexter’s secret?...

New Rule: If Hart Hanson isn’t prepared to allow Booth and Brennan to go you know where during the upcoming sixth season finale of Bones appropriately titled “The Change in the Game,” he better have a really good reason as to why not. What’s more, said reason must not involve another person of the opposite sex getting in between them… again.

New Rule: General Hospital can’t put another child in jeopardy for at least six months. Jake being run down and killed, Brenda’s son going missing. Soaps are a genre aimed at women, and no mother wants to be “entertained” by tales involving kidnapped children.

New Rule: If Network bean counters are going to insist on continuing to counter the proliferation of household DVR/PVR’s — complete with their very helpful fast-forwarding capabilities — with intrusive and not the least bit subtle in-show product placements, the very...

One... two... Dexter's coming for you. We're only a few short weeks off from the Dexter Season 5 premiere and the anticipation continues to rise. Will Quinn (Desmond Harrington) fill the void left by Doakes (Erik King) after Season 2? How will Dexter (Michael C. Hall) cope with single-dad-angry-tween drama? What's next for Lt. Laguerta (Lauren Vélez) and Angel Batista (David Zayas)? David Zayas has his own ideas on that relationship. How will Dexter Season 5 ever top Season 4 without a scare-you-psycho Trinity killer played by the incomparable John Lithgow? And, will this finally be the season when Deb (Jennifer Carpenter) learns the truth about Dexter's dark passenger? We can only hope. Check out the new poster art for Dexter Season 5. It says it all. Dexter's face reflected in blood. Dexter premieres Sunday, September 26th at 9pm Et/Pt only on Showtime. Be sure to check out our Dexter's...

Get ready for potentially one of the darkest seasons of Dexter to date. The Dexter Season 5 trailer was unveiled at Comic Con revealing the ominous future of Dexter Morgan (Michael C. Hall). "It was me." These words reiterated throughout the trailer will give viewers a sense of what to expect in Season 5. This season won't be about one major Dexter villain. Instead, it will be a call back to the days of Sergeant James Doakes (Erik King) who knew the truth about Dexter's Dark Passenger. Season 5 takes off right after the events of the season 4 finale and Rita's (Julie Benz) untimely death. Expect Quinn (Desmond Harrington) to take over where Doakes left off in the ongoing investigation into Rita's death. Dexter will now take over custody of Astor (Christina Robinson) and Cody (Preston Bailey) so expect a lot of family drama on the home front. Dexter had ...