DEXTER: NEW BLOOD Ending Explained With Comments From Michael C. Hall And Clyde Phillips - SPOILERS

The Dexter: New Blood finale has been generating a lot of discussion on social media, and we're now breaking down the show's ending and taking a closer look at what it might all be leading to next...

By HamiltonParker - Jan 10, 2022 11:01 AM EST

Filed Under: Showtime

Dexter: New Blood's finale aired on Showtime last night, but did Dexter Morgan's story wrap up in a way that finally did the character justice? This series was a do-over after season 8's underwhelming finale, but you've probably already seen a fresh round of backlash on Twitter this morning!

Not everyone was going to be happy, of course, but this ending definitely felt like a fitting one.

Below, we break down the events of the finale, take a closer look at what might follow, and even share comments from showrunner Clyde Phillips and Dexter himself, Michael C. Hall.

It should go without saying that SPOILERS for Dexter: New Blood follow from this point on...

First, A Little Background...

Season 8 of Dexter ended with the serial killer sailing into a hurricane with his sister's body to seemingly end his own life. Moments later, however, we'd learn that he survived and had taken on a new identity as a lumberjack, leaving viewers to wonder whether Dex had left his old life behind for a self-imposed exile or if he planned to continue killing, albeit in colder climes.

When Dexter: New Blood begins, Dexter Morgan has made a fresh start as "Jim Lindsay" in upstate New York, giving up his old, murderous ways. His sister's spectre haunts him, though, and it doesn't take long before he murders again. It's at this point Harrison, the son he left behind with his girlfriend/fellow serial killer Hannah in season 8, shows up looking for his father.

They struggle to connect, but seemingly bond when Dexter reveals that he has the same Dark Passenger as his son. They kill local mass murderer Kurt Caldwell and look set to become a vigilante team in Los Angeles. However, Harrison clearly isn't fully on board, something that is evident from his reaction to seeing Dexter's pleasure at killing Kurt and watching on as his dad cut the body to pieces.

With that, we reach the finale...

A Shocking Conclusion

A series of unfortunate coincidences lead to Dexter's girlfriend, Angela, connecting him to Matt Caldwell's death and Miami's Bay Harbor Butcher case. He's arrested for Matt's killing and Angela makes it clear she plans to bring his old friend Batista to town and have Dexter - who attempts to gaslight her on multiple occasions - taken back to Miami where he'll ultimately face the death penalty.

Now, Dexter is a cornered animal and kills local cop and Harrison's wrestling coach, Logan, to escape his jail cell. Meeting with Harrison in the woods, the truth about what Dexter has done comes out and the teenager realises his father kills because it's an addiction, not out of any sort of duty to help people. He then tells his dad to "Open your eyes and look at what you've done," a throwback to what Dexter said to the man he killed in the original show's first episode.

Dexter sees many of the innocent people caught in his crossfire over the years and realises that with Logan's death, he's become just like those he's murdered as part of "The Code."

Harrison's Dark Passenger

Upon having this realisation, Dexter comes to terms with the fact that death is his only way out (he's not willing to answer for his crimes) and instructs Harrison exactly where he needs to shoot him.

The prolific serial killer is then gunned down and dies in the snow with the realisation that he finally feels love for the first time (for his son) as Angela arrives. She tells Harrison to leave and never return, and he drives away from the town; however, could the Dark Passenger send him down the same path? It's not outside the realm of possibility; he's shown traits that are quite a bit more sinister than your average messed up kid, and murdered the father he'd just met with relative ease.

That's where we end things, and it's apparent the world will soon learn the truth about Dexter Morgan, something we, unfortunately, don't get to see his old colleagues in Miami reacting to.

Michael C. Hall And Clyde Phillips Comment

Talking to Deadline, showrunner Clyde Phillips was asked if there's any chance Dexter might have survived that bullet to the chest. "I have three words for you: Dexter is dead," he responded. "I wouldn’t do that to the audience. It would be dishonest. Here, there is no question that this is the finale of Dexter. Dexter is dead."

As for the chances of a continuation that focuses on Harrison, Phillips isn't ruling it out. "It’s up to Showtime to make the call to me if they want more," the producer confirmed. "If they ask me if I’d like to make a continuation of this, I would say yes. I have a lot of things going on but I would drop everything for this and say yes in one second."

Dexter could be Harrison's Dark Passenger in that show, but we're not entirely sure a spinoff would have the same appeal without Michael C. Hall, who recently caught up with The Los Angeles Times and revealed how pleased he is with the finale. "The way the season concludes is one that resonates with me. It feels justifiable. As upsetting as it may be, I hope audiences will appreciate the resonance of Dexter dying this way at the hands of his son."

"People moaned about an ending that was admittedly open-ended and without any sense of closure," he added with a smile. "I guess you have to be careful what you wish for."

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