Warning: Contains spoilers for Dexter: New Blood episode 10
Michael C. Hall is happy with the way Dexter: New Blood ended. Dexter first aired in October 2006 on Showtime, where the crime drama ran eight seasons and 96 episodes, before finishing with the controversial season eight finale in September 2013. Following a blood splatter analyst for Miami police, who secretly moonlights as a vigilante serial killer hunting down criminals, Dexter was a big hit for Showtime and received critical acclaim.
Hall played the titular character for all eight seasons of the show and has enjoyed a strong career since. And when it was announced in October 2020 that the show would be revived, Hall confirmed his return to the role. The 10-episode limited series, titled Dexter: New Blood, premiered on Showtime November 7, 2021, and is set 10 years after the events of the original show. New Blood just aired its final episode with a shocking twist that Hall has weighed in on: Dexter is killed by his own son Harrison.
Speaking in an interview with LA Times, the Six Feet Under star discussed his thoughts on the finale and on the death of his beloved character. He explained his satisfaction at New Blood tying up loose ends after previously admitting he was unhappy with how the original show ended. Read Hall's comments on the finale and how people might perceive it below:
"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."
Choosing to kill off the main character in any TV show is always a risk, and it is one that can often elicit fury from devoted fans who bond with characters and want to see them survive. It can also sometimes feel forced and out of place, which is why so many shows avoid doing it. However, there are certainly situations and scenarios where shows killing off the (anti)hero not only makes sense but is, in a lot of ways, necessary. And Hall's comments would suggest that he shares this view and that Dexter's death is a natural conclusion for a character who spent his life surrounded by, and often causing, death.
Showrunner Clyde Phillips clearly planned for this finale to happen several years in advance, with reports that Hall knew about the ending before he even signed on. Whether fans will react as positively to this as Hall remains to be seen, and there is always the risk of a big backlash. But, as a rule of thumb, it should be the ending that feels right for the show and for the character, as opposed to what the fans want to see from the show. Now, with the curtain coming down on Dexter, and no chance to revive the character again, Hall can move on to other projects, and explore new roles knowing that he is satisfied with the death of this iconic serial killer. And, with several projects in development right now, it might not be too long before Dexter fans get to enjoy Hall in other successful shows.
Source: LA Times