'Dexter' Latest From TV Guide's Matt Roush

Question: As a massive Dexter fan, I've found myself unattached and disappointed with the fifth season. I accepted that it would not be as strong as the fourth season and was interested in how it would deal with Dexter losing Rita, but moving into this season's close, I am eager for it to finish and hope that the sixth season will redeem what a lackluster and uninteresting year this has been. There's been a few problems: the Maria/Angel "snooze" subplots, a wooden and uninvolving performance from Julia Stiles, a pedestrian killer storyline that looked like it came off an episode of Criminal Minds, to name a few, but the problem I have had is how it has dealt with Rita's death. Her death was a risky game-changer and moved the show into a new direction, but all it seemed to do was return Dexter back to doing what he was doing in season 1 (killing bad guys, covering his steps), and moving the kids away to Florida was a sloppy and predictable move.

I get that Dexter doesn't feel emotion, but his handling of the Rita death and how it splits his family apart felt unauthentic and cold and in hindsight now seemed an excuse to remove his family and it appears that he hasn't changed as a person. After five seasons, Dexter is still the same person he was in season 1, now with a baby and the good old plot device of the babysitter who is always around so he can continue his killing. If anything has a pulse this season, it's Debra, who at least has been doing something interesting this season. Michael C. Hall as usual is giving it everything he can, but the season has made me frustrated as a die-hard fan and I just can't wait for it to be all over. What are your thoughts this season? Has it all been worth it? — Chris

Matt Roush: I waited till watching Sunday's season finale before answering this, and while I see where you're coming from in terms of this year's villains and the hit-or-miss characterization of Lumen, I'm not nearly as down on the season — and the development of Dexter — as a whole. It was undoubtedly an uneven season and sagged quite a bit in the middle, but I was OK with the way they handled Rita's death, especially the immediate aftermath, when a numb Dexter tried to endure and understand the stages of grief while having trouble getting back his killer mojo. Even the kids turning on him made sense, although I agree the saintly babysitter is an awfully convenient device. I do think it was worth it for Dexter to experience being with someone who sees the true Dexter and accepts him for it — although ultimately is unable to live with it once she achieves her own bloody vengeance. With the baby, the family, Lumen, watching Deb let the vigilantes get away (not knowing it's her brother behind the screen): Dexter is continually confronted by the mysteries of humanity and there are moments when he actually sees hope for himself. But only to a point. And really, what a great final line: "Wishes, of course, are for children." The fact is there is no Dexter if Dexter gives up the hunt. As he tells Lumen: "Don't be sorry your darkness is gone. I'll carry it for you always." All of which may be an argument for the show not continuing indefinitely. It can be frustrating if you really want to see change in a character this perversely audacious. But as imperfect as this season was, the way it ended probably left most of the show's fans eager for next season to begin already.