4. Repeating Storylines
Once Rita died in the Season 4 finale, we all wondered how Dexter would cope, and if he would find someone else to use as cover. It was well established that whilst Dexter thought he had some kind of feelings for Rita, she was definitely there to help his 'mask'. She was little more than a piece of scenery in the façade that is Dexter's cover life. Season 5 introduced us to Lumen (Julia Stiles) who Dexter helps in murdering some pretty nasty guys. The introduction of Lumen was the first sign things where heading south for two reasons the first was that the teaming up aspect and letting other people know his secret had been done in Season 3 with Miguel Prado, and the second indication was that giving Dexter a 'partner' that he could reveal all to was subsequently repeated again in Season 7 and 8. So that's four counts of Dexter revealing his secret to someone. Miguel Prado, Lumen, Hannah McKay and Zach Hamilton. The idea of whether Dexter can truly be happy or feel emotion is another well-worn trope for the show. In the beginning it was genuinely interesting watching Dexter struggle with his emotions and over time the show itself, through Dexter's actions have shown to us that yes indeed, he can feel emotion and he is capable of loving another human being. We've seen this with Harrison, with Rita, with Hannah McKay and with Deb. So why can't Dexter figure this out? There have been so many instances (particularly in Season 8) of Dexter's inner monologue contradicting what we as an audience already know. Why the writer's feel the need to continuously drag this up is baffling. The concept of a psychopath being able to love another would have made great television, if they'd have actually ran with it from the first time instead of dragging the audience through the same repeated monologues again and again.