10 TV Shows You Were Ready To Hate

When Dexter’s original run came to a close in 2013, it's safe to say that it limped, rather than strode, over the finish line. Despite an originally engaging premise of the vigilante serial killer, and a commendable performance from lead Michael C. Hall, the quality of the show invariably declined as it continued. In particular, the sixth and final eighth seasons received highly negative critical reviews, so that by the time the finale rolled around, much of its audience was glad to see the disappointing decline laid to rest.

Many were conflicted, then, when a limited series sequel to the show was announced. Consistent inquiries from fans over the years as to whether Dexter would ever see a continuation to follow the misguided original ending had been taken seriously by Hall and original showrunner, Clyde Phillips, and they sought to bring a narratively separate yet satisfying conclusion to the character’s story.

Dexter: New Blood later premiered on Showtime in 2021, following Dexter years after his faked death under a new, false identity. It received praise for the consistently compelling portrayals and its attempts to revive the show’s bloody magic, and thankfully performed better critically overall compared to the latter seasons of its predecessor, which should seem like a job well done.

However, an almost equally divisive finale saw New Blood once again disappoint many fans - which is ironic, considering such a fate is what the writing team deliberately set out to avoid.