A Cut Above the Rest: A Season 5 Dexter Review

*WARNING SPOLIERS BELOW*

There are dozens of good television shows out right now. In most instances, many have a stellar first season and just can't quite recreate the same magic that the introductory season gave to the viewers. “Heroes” is an excellent example. Here is a show that had a first season that garnered a massive fan base and an almost instant renewal for season 2, but as history proved, it just couldn't maintain that drive.

As you can tell by the article header, I'm not here to write about how Heroes screwed the pooch, I'm here to talk about one of the few great, and I mean GREAT, television shows out there. I'm talking about America's favorite serial killer: Dexter. Back again for another amazing season and this one is by far the best yet. After Rita's death in Season 5, Dexter was left with a shattered family, a few loose ends, and an uncertain future. Trinity is dead, which robs Dexter of his own brand of justice.

In my opinion, the removal of Rita (Julie Benz) from the program was long awaited and anticipated. She just never seemed to be "the one" for Dexter. Her way of life could have never accepted the truth about Dexter's "dark passenger" and that just seemed like this was inevitable.

I enjoyed seeing Dexter become unhinged. The death of Rita and the departure of Lumen showed the cracks in his armor, and showed a more human side of Dexter as he continues to "evolve" as the show progresses. His brutal murder and primal scream in the first episode showed how much Rita meant to him, regardless of how little she meant to me.

Along comes Lumen, played brilliantly by guest star Julia Stiles, who is tortured and raped by a group of childhood friends led by Jordan Chase. Chase gave Dexter as good of a hunt as Trinity did last season. Like Trinity, it seemed like Dexter began to learn and even share a kindred (monster) spirit with Chase. He found a deeper resonant bond with Lumen, which was left with a "dark passenger" of her own after the attack.
Lumen was a better ally than Miguel and a more plausible love interest than Lila.

 Lumen was the highlight of the show for me and I was sad to see her leave at seasons end. The writers did a great job showing the evolution of both Dexter and Lumen as individuals and as a couple/team. The finale left a little to be desired. The end wrapped things up nicely and left the next season open to glorious bloody possibilities.