Our TV critic Bill Harris sure has struck a chord with readers. He has been inundated with letters from people commenting on his column about Sunday’s shocking Season 4 finale of Dexter, which he couldn’t stop thinking about this week. Obviously, neither can many readers. To be sure, that incredible finale has stuck with a lot of people. To read Bill’s column, go online to canoe.ca/dexter. For a sampling of the letters Bill received, read on:
Thank you so much for writing this article. I thought I was being ridiculous, feeling so horrible about the ending of a TV show. My husband went into shock and thought Rita had committed suicide. I guess the reality of such a brutal ending was too much for both of us. I have never read an article that sounded as if I had written every word. And I haven’t had such a strong reaction to the death of someone I didn’t know since we lost Princess Diana. What’s up with this? She was just a TV character! The really big question is where do they go from here.
LYN DAINARD
Hello, I just read your article. I too was in disbelief that Rita was actually killed off. I was STUNNED! And disappointed that she is no longer on the show. Dexter is a great show and I can’t wait to see what happens next. I am still shocked at how it ended. I did not think for one second that she was dead. But, when the message came in about the plane being delayed, I had a sick feeling. Thanks for the article as I can relate.
MARIA GROSS
Thank you for writing that article, it said everything I had been thinking since Sunday night. As the show came to an end my wife and I sat in dead silence (pardon the pun) for several minutes in utter shock. I also went back and re-watched the final scene with Dexter and the Trinity Killer to find clues — what an amazing performance by John Lithgow! It’s nice to know there are other people as affected as my wife and I are from that final show. This proves to me once again Dexter is the best show on TV. Thanks again for your fantastic article.
JASON CUBITT
My wife and I just watched (the finale of) Dexter last night and, like you, I was stunned by the ending, to the point of being upset. My wife consoled me (and said) it was only a TV show, but the ending came out of left field and caused a real emotional response. I guess that’s what good TV does. My only thoughts now are, what about the poor kids?
RANDY CASIER
Although I agree that Season 3 was a let-down and Season 4 was great, Season 2 was better, but just by a smidge! Seeing Dexter trying to act as a normal person, getting a mentor and then killing his mentor, was fantastic stuff. However ... The final episode was way too packed with info and scenes. It needed to be 90-120 minutes to truly deliver the goods. And while I agree that the death of Rita leaves a massive door open for new stories, I still am bothered by all the glaring plot-holes I had to sit through in a single episode. “Kyle Butler” is at (Trinity’s) home as SWAT raids it, but not a single member of the family says, “Hey, SWAT guy, there’s another dude here, don’t shoot him.” And they don’t recognize Dexter as Kyle when he is on their front lawn? The sheriffs don’t even try to fact-check Dexter’s story about racing to a crime scene? Come on!
BRAD
Thanks for an excellent article, you are right on! The Rita character was annoying and whiny. That said, I had NO clue that the show was going to kill her — I thought we were stuck with her. And her death scene? Wow! As a truly discerning and somewhat cynical TV viewer, nothing much surprises me. That makes the achievement that much more impressive. I was truly shocked, and, yes, haunted! I don’t think I have EVER felt an emotional punch like that from a TV show. It had me reeling all evening. How wonderful!
KEVIN
I just read your article on the Dexter finale and I just had to drop you a line. My husband and I are both huge fans of Dexter, have been since the beginning, and we too are still reeling from Sunday night’s finale! I had a hard time sleeping after I watched it, and as you said, the whole thing was haunting and disturbing. I am still shook up about it, and am hoping against all odds that the end was nothing more than a dream sequence, that just maybe Dexter fell asleep on his boat and had this terrible dream (I know it’s a long shot, but I am still not ready to accept what has happened). I’m still amazed that a fictional story, on TV no less, can bring out such strong emotions in me! John Lithgow was terrific, terrifying and chilling! And what now? Dexter is a single dad? It’s going to be a long wait for Season 5!
KARLY FISHER
Yes, the Dexter ending was a little shocking, and presumably not a dream sequence of any sort. I thought I would pass along my son Derek’s suggestion for Rita that he conjectured about prior to the last episode. His thoughts were that she would join Dexter as an accomplice to strengthen their relationship and provide another season of goodies. This was a little compelling given that some episodes back Dexter found out that she had an earlier husband, whereabouts unknown. Hmmmmm. Perhaps a dropped plot thread now but it would have allowed for more development. In any case, all fun and games.
DAVE McCARTHY
It was so great to read your take on the finale of Dexter. It is by far my favourite TV show along with House. Unfortunately, I am the only wise person amongst my group of friends that watches this amazing show. So when it ended not only was I in shock and about to start having heart palpitations because I could not believe what my eyes had just witnessed — but I had no one to talk to about it. I desperately ran through the names of everyone I know, hoping, wishing, to come across one that I could phone and talk to about what I was feeling, because I had no idea what that was. It took me a while to get off the couch and continue with the rest of my night. Therefore thank you for your review — it finally felt like someone heard what I was going through.
IDA MAROZZO
Just wanted to say thanks for writing the great article on Dexter. You have been telling people for many seasons now about this show and I hope people listen to you. I have been telling anyone I can tell about this show since its inception. Dexter is the best series by far on television and I wish I had the forum to tell people the way you do. Your title “haunted” is the exact phrase I used when my friend called me and asked me how I felt. Everything you wrote is exactly how I felt, about Rita, about all of it.
ALEX GYMNOPOULOS
I have just read your article, and I couldn’t agree more! I have been watching Dexter since it started. I thought I was shocked when Sgt. Doakes was killed in Season 2! Wow! When I realized Rita was REALLY dead, I really felt like someone in my own life had just been found dead. Oh, yeah, and I cried a little. LOL, yep. I just gasped when I saw your article. As I read, I was so glad to find someone who thought it was just as devastating!
TIFFANY MYERS
My husband and I are huge Dexter fans and watch the show faithfully each season. Your article was absolutely spot-on! I don’t think we have ever been so upset about an ending. The ending bothered us so much. We were just distraught. (I thought we were the only ones. Glad to see we aren’t.) We did the exact same thing you did and re-watched scenes about five times! John Lithgow deserves every award in the book. He’s a brilliant actor from comedy to drama. Nice to see there is still excellent TV out there.
JILL BROWN
Read your article and yes, I am still thinking how I felt seeing Rita dead! I believe that Dexter is going to find out that the Trinity Killer is his biological father!
MARTY
It is nice to read about somebody else walking the floors after watching the season finale of my favourite show! Just as an aside, I think they will start the next season five years later, and Rita’s kids will be with their grandparents — what do you think?
CHERYL MORRISON
