I saw it coming. I predicted it last week. Though it definitely came to my mind way earlier in the season simply because [blank] fit the profile of one of Trinity's victims. This is why I think Clyde Phillips should hire me to the writing staff for the Dexter.

Honestly, it was the only logical way I personally could think of to end the season. It was good writing, and also necessary writing. Dexter was stuck in an unchanging position, and he needed a REALLY big kick in the pants catalyst to get him moving again. Last night's ending should do it in spades, and also hopefully kick the show in a slightly new direction we can enjoy the ride for, hopefully for the next season, and at least two more after that.

Personally, I think they should go no further than 8. Reason being? Deb has to find out (everything) about Dexter sometime. I say, next season Deb moves in with Dexter to help take care of the kids. That will be S5. S6 will she will become suspicious of Dexter. S7 she finds out about it, and perhaps everything. That ends with a cliffhanger of him getting caught. Then Season 8 is the fall out. Of course, by then the show would be markedly different, and there would probably be no killing for Dexter whatsoever. There might not even be an overarching mystery.

That's how I would do it, at least.

Clyde Phillips, sir, if you read this and like what you see, Scott -- the writer of this wonderful blog -- has my email address. I think. And yes, I would love a job.

Okay, good on you, Nicholas. And in the off chance that Mr. Phillips passes through this blog, consider yourself [Nicholas] recommended by me - at the very least for having nailed the BPT [Big Plot Twist] last night.

I must admit, I didn't see it coming, but I'm absolutely excited to see what they do with Dex and the kids in season 5. I think this season has been my favorite so far, and this is the only show that consistently makes my jaw drop. Last night was definitely the biggest jaw dropper yet.
I'm a little worried about them raising the stakes so much, but I hope that they can handle Dexter and keep raising the stakes higher and higher in the (hopefully) upcoming seasons beyond 5.

Didn't catch this, but heard about it. Don't get Showtime at the moment, so I'll have to catch it on DVD.

It's a great show.

When I was reading about the episode online today, I came across a story from last year about a screenwriter in Canada. He was writing a script about a serial killer and then decided to act it out in real life. He murdered one man and tried to murder a second who escaped. Cops say that he was a huge Dexter fan and "idolized" the character.

Then last month, a teen in Ohio, inspired by Dexter, murdered his little brother and ditched the body in the park.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dexter_(TV_series)#Missing_person_case

Like I said, it's a great show, but some of these Dexter fans are proving to be certifiably nuts. The screenwriter one is especially unsettling.

Devastated by the plot twist.

My friends and I were on a totally different path. We were thinking about the cycle of killings and that since Arthur didn't succeed with the first boy, he would find his way to Cody, since he is ten years old. Not sure where to go from there, but that was the idea. Besides, Rita is not a young woman, and she is a mother of THREE not two, so we threw that possibility out because she didn't fit the bill and it would be illogical. But, it was a desperate and accidental ending for her to die, really, and we all know strange things can happen in desperation. It ended up having nothing to do with his MO, other than the setting. Arthur was done with his campaign, he just wanted one last stab at Dexter.

I agree with Nicholas, though I think they could finish it up in 6-7 seasons. Season 5 could blow up more than we think it could and send things into instant fallout for season 6. Though it is unlikely since the show is gaining momentum and ratings and they'll want to milk it a bit.

Can't wait to see the fallout next season.

I didn't see it coming and neither did any of my friends who also watch it.

We ALL admitted, though, that we felt a little guilty. Every one of us thought Rita was getting too whiney, we just didn't want it to stop this way!

Great show and huge surprise ending. So I went back and watched it again with the advantage of knowing the ending. And if I submitted a script like that, I'd be shunned. Okay..
1)Where was Dexter? Not in the back seat because Arthur drops his baseball cap back there as he's driving off.
2)In the trunk? Maybe. But that means he got to the body shop before Arthur and without any of the shop guys seeing him, snuck inside. And Arthur didn't have any luggage?
3)If, somehow, he was in the trunk, that meant he was waiting there while Arthur killed Rita.
4)Did Dexter follow in his car? Perhaps, but how long was that going to take? And taking the oil cap off a filler doesn't cause the engine to seize- oil doesn't geyser out some tiny opening.
I loved the show, but those are gaping holes. Just saying.

I kinda saw it coming. I was wondering what Trinity was doing during the time that Dexter was trying to figure out where he was. I was still surprised.

The question is..How will Dexter do his side activities when he has to run a house full of kiddies?