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Thursday, January 12, 2012

Dexter Season 9 Still a Possibility - Showtime Boss Offers New Story Hints


Via screenrant.com: Showtime President of Entertainment, David Nevins, is back with another update on everyone’s favorite serial killer, ‘Dexter’ – offering new season 7 plot details as well as asserting that season 9 is still a possibility.

Showtime President of Entertainment, David Nevins, is quickly becoming one of the most noncommittal and chatty network heads in the business – taking every TV-related event he attends as an opportunity to toy with the emotions of Dexter fans.

However, this time, Nevins is set to deliver some good news and intriguing details for fans of the Bay Harbor Butcher – as the Showtime executive indicates that, while the writing team is still working toward a Dexter season 8 end-date, there’s still a possibility that the show could continue on into season 9 and beyond. Read more after the jump below!



Speaking at the Television Critics Association winter press tour, Nevins remained open to the possibility of further seasons of Dexter as well as offered an intriguing detail about what audiences might be able to expect next season:

“[Season 8] is the likely endpoint, but I’m leaving open the possibility that plans could change [...] I think there’s a very clear trajectory now of where they’re going. I think it’s going to help to write with that endgame in mind. I’ve been pushing to shake up the formula a little bit. I think there should be fundamentally different dynamics now.”
The comments echo similar assertions from Nevins following Showtime’s official announcement that Dexter would be back for season 7 and 8. At the time, Nevins implied that they intended to wrap-up the story lines and go out with a bang – unless they decided they’d rather keep going:

“I’m not going to say with absolute certainty that this is the end, but that is the likely scenario, that the series is moving towards a definite end.”


Nevins also dropped a short, but especially interesting, detail about just how the writers intend to “shake up the formula” – implying that, in the coming months, Dexter may no longer work as “such a lone wolf.”

Could this mean that Deb, who recently caught her brother mid-ritualistic killing act, will actually join-up with Dexter’s cause and help round-up Miami’s surprisingly robust stable of active serial killers – outside the confines of the law? That said, earlier reports seemed to indicate that Deb might not truly understand the full extent of what she witnessed in the Season 6 finale (i.e. Dexter may have offed the Doomsday Killer but that doesn’t mean he’s full-blown serial killer). As a result, it’s certainly possible that someone else, potentially serial killer fan Louis, could be the other “wolf” in Miami – though, that might be a bit too similar to the Miguel Prado (Jimmy Smits) storyline from Dexter season 3.

Nevins also briefly discussed whether there is on-set tension between former off-screen husband/wife and on-screen brother/sister pair Michael C. Hall and Jennifer Carpenter – which is especially relevant now that Deb has admitted she’s in love with her (non-biological) adopted brother - ”It makes for an interesting ripple in the show.” According to The Wrap, Nevins believes audiences will “‘figure in’ the dynamic” but also asserts that, wherever the writers want to take the show, Showtime won’t be held-back because “Michael and Jennifer have a really good relationship.“

Regardless of whether or not it’s awkward on set, many viewers will probably attest that watching Deb pine after her adopted brother is, at the very least, still awkward to watch.

30 comments:

  1. well, the Dexter maniac that lives inside me would like that possibility, but the logical me, would not! It depends on how they are going to continue... because in the last two seasons... there were two many mistakes!

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  2. Go away anon! If you find SOOOOO many faults with the show, quit watching and go direct, write and film your own show.

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  3. I don't at ALL think it's awkward that Deb is in love with Dex. I think the hits and signs have been there all along. I was just waiting for it to all unravel! So excited for next season. Keep the inside info coming. Love reading it!

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    1. I am so confused. I thought that Dexter's adopted dad was really his dad. Didn't his dad have an affair with Dexter's mother the informant? Wouldn't that make them half brother and sister? Did I miss something?

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    2. No he had a DNA test confirming the guy who left him a house after he died was his Bio dad in season 1 I believe.

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  4. OMG.!!! Hope so...!! season 9 !!!! It's crazy,,, ^_^

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  5. why are they backtracking now. If a season 9 is still open and there is no commited end date, how can the show really go forward towards more exciting storylines that a final 2 seasons would allow them to? Debra knowing will become a boring side story in that case,another quinn!...they will just become lover vigiliantes or something ridiculous like that

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  6. My thought is that they shouldn't be so noncommittal with this. If they say they're planning on ending in season eight, then they need to follow through and do it. I really do not want to be strung along with this show, or any show for that matter. To me, I think two more seasons is plenty of time for them to give us a satisfying ending that makes sense.

    These past two seasons have been average, but they were at least entertaining enough to keep me watching the show. Nine seasons sounds like too many and I think it would be pushing the show beyond its prime. I don't think any of us want to see the show become lame and feel like they are grasping for ideas. The time I have invested in these characters and the show itself will never make me just stop watching, so I hope they don't expect to keep making seasons until ratings significantly drop off. For one thing, I make a point of sticking with a series to the bitter end, no matter how bad it gets. A more preferable way to conclude the story would be if the series ended on a high note. I know I'm not alone here when I say that DEXTER should go out with a bang; not a whimper.

    Debra should be smart enough to immediately understand that Dexter is a serial killer, or at least recognize that he has serial killing tendencies. Dexter took the time to strap Travis down, layout all the plastic sheeting on the altar in the church and went as far as wearing specific clothing to kill Travis. Dexter also has an assortment of killing tools. Debra is a smart detective who has worked on serial killer cases in the past, so she should recognize that it was very ritualistic how Dexter killed Travis. I think it would be ridiculous if Debra doesn't at least ask him about how many victims he has claimed.

    The secret that Dexter should keep from Debra now, is about Harry's involvement in giving Dexter an outlet for his urges. To me, that seems like a truth that Dexter would want to keep hidden from Debra. Dexter wouldn't want to be responsible for destroying the bright and shiny image she has of Harry. At the same time, when Debra does learn about Harry's involvement, she may be more willing to accept Dexter; she would be free of believing she is living in shadow of Harry's legacy. She could finally understand that Harry was far from perfect and it would give her a major boost in confidence.

    Lastly, there's still one thing the article didn't mention: Debra pretty much has no choice but to keep Dexter's secret to buy herself some time in deciding what she should do. The complete exposure of Dexter's activities would cause more harm than good and Debra would see that. Think about it -- if Dexter's secret gets out, then that would simply destroy the image of Miami Metro and the Morgan name. Every case that Dexter has worked on would be scrutinized and it would give criminals the ammunition they would need to seek parole and be freed from custody, so they could commit more horrible crimes on the outside. Most of the dectives in Homicide would more than likely be relieved of duty. It could be argued by shady lawyers that those same detectives knew exactly what Dexter was doing, but chose to look the other way. Obviously, that would be a lie, but all a lawyer would need is to discredit the detectives and their case is won. The original terms of their convicted client's sentencing would be dismissed. That would be ironic, because murderers would walk free and Dexter would be locked up, unable to remove those once-convicted criminals off the streets.

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    1. Debra would inmediatly recognize Dexter as a major serial killer since in the first season she was strapped in the same way as Travis. If Dexter tells her she only kills the bad guys she is smart enough to figure out that he is the real Bay Harbor Butcher and that he's killed many times before.

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  7. All this criticism is bullshit. Seems a certain section of fans simply don't understand the show and what it has become. Neither do you understand how BUSINESS works.

    #1 Your opinions and criticisms don't mean shit. Many many people loved season 6 and are enjoying the show going forward. Furthermore many new fans are coming to the show. These thing with Deb and Dexter is going to put it over the top. It is already attracting new viewers and new interest from people who might not have watched the show before.

    #2 These people are making art yes, but they are also in this to make money. If a flagship show doesn't make serious bank, then other new and exciting shows won't get a chance. When you are big time and people count on you, you go forward. Want to know why Michael C. Hall was acting in season 5, while he was feeling like shit and going through chemo and having to wear a wig? Because it was a crucial point for the show and PEOPLE WERE COUNTING ON HIM. Showtime was always going to pay him because he came through in a big way and at great personal cost. They are really putting serious $$$ down for Michael C. Hall because he is a major star, and Jenn Carpenter is a major rising star, and this show is Showtime's Crown Jewel. You get to see shows like "Homefront" because of Dexter and what it has done for Showtime.

    #3 Nine Seasons would be 108 Episodes... Sopranos knocked out 86 in just 6 seasons and Sex in the City did 94. I often hear, in certain circles, that they still kick themselves that they never went for 100. Anytime you nail 100+ episodes the syndication and DVD rights go "bump". It's a huge selling point. "Monk" for example, is the only cable show to ever surpass 100 episodes and that is part of the reason it holds the record as the highest rated scripted cable drama of all time. So if they can do it, they will. Plain and simple. The show is attracting more and more viewers it is already a "seminal" work, and its going to be legendary by the time its all done. Especially if this love story really starts to work, and it becomes a whole new show with all new sets of possibilities.

    Personally if I have 108 Episodes of Dexter to watch, I will be happy forever.

    A: I fucking love this show.
    B: I could watch these characters, Deb and Dex as a damn romantic sitcom and be happy.

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    1. Oh, and PS - I should note, that while I say "your opinions and criticism don't mean shit" I am talking in terms of the decisions being made, which come down to numbers and the interest of the collective.

      I am sure the people who said that Cam Newton would be a shitty NFL Quarterback also thought they were right. People have opinions, doesn't mean shit. It's the results that count. If he had sucked, it would not have made them geniuses either. Some things cannot be measured, you just have to look at them after the fact and judge then.

      For all the whining of a small section of the fanbase this "controversy" has kicked up interest in the show, which is exactly what they needed to do. "Dexter the vigilante serial killer who has no feelings and his sister doesn't know", as a hook, has been milked dry. That udder is hissing air... We KNOW Dexter now, what he will and won't do, we know he is capable of love, and that he does have a conscious and that he will always try to honor the code, and that he has a darkness he cannot rid himself of.

      However, Dexter +1 makes it all fresh. We actually don't know how far Deb will go, how much she can give, and what effect her love will have on Dexter, and how his darkness will affect her, and in return how each of them will affect change in each other.

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  8. I put way too many caps and cussed way too much in the above.

    I should have stopped at 7 cups of coffee tonight. :P

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  9. I think people can understand your frustration, even if they don't agree with you. DEXTER fans are just very passionate about the show and we are not afraid to share our thoughts and concerns when we have them. I doubt that any fan is looking to make a change in the show by making posts on the internet, but they just need an outlet to get their issues with the show out on the table. As we all know, the show's creators can respect their fans, but that doesn't mean they have to cater to us. If a writer doesn't have freedom of expression, then what's the point? By now, I have come to accept that the show is much different than it used to be. I no longer feel like the show is brilliant, but that doesn't mean I don't still enjoy it. DEXTER still has a lot of entertainment value, even if I'm not loving the direction the show is going. Lastly, I wouldn't worry about the use of the language, because I never felt you were directing it toward anyone. You were just frustrated and that's understandable. I try not to focus on the negative when it comes to DEXTER. It just suits me to focus primarily on the positive and share my thoughts on the direction I'd like to see the show take. That's all. We just need to learn to not take each other's opinions so personally. It's inevitable that we won't agree on everything. We also need to understand that no matter what happens on the show, the writer's can't satisfy everyone, either.

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  11. I agree with Nicholas M. Denoyer: if they say that season eight is going to be the final season they need to stick to that and not change their mind. However, I would just like to bring in some food for thought. Firstly, when they said that season eight was going to be the finale that was never 100% definitively confirmed and stated. They only said that it was "likely" and from the very beginning, that being the very first public statement by the showtime president, they said that things could change. Also they could already know that season nine is going to happen and are just choosing not to say anything. The writers, actors and producers could be stringing the audience along, making us believe that season eight is the end and when the finale of season eight airs, it could end with this huge and epic cliffhanger and than the following day they release that season nine is happening.

    Also, they could be toying with the idea of season nine and sending mixed signals to the audience as a way to keep us intrigued. It will have everyone wondering, particularly after season seven has aired, if season eight is the final season. Season eight could very well be 100% confirmed to be the end but they are just messing with our heads (Which I would not like to be the case at all).

    I would be okay with a ninth season because I too would like to see Dexter surpass the one hundred episode mark. Very few cable shows ever reach that monumental land mark. It would definitely put Dexter in the books as one of the longest running and highest rated cable show in history. But if season eight is the end I would be okay with that as well, though I would prefer the previous scenario. I think there is a lot of life left in the show and a lot of unexplored territory that the show can still cover, especially with Debra knowing the truth about Dexter and his extracurricular activies .

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  12. Anon 6.49... seriously?? did you read what i wrote? i did say i 'm a dexter maniac, not that i don't like the series... but as much as we like Dexter, the last two seasons were not flawless.. like the fourth for example.

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  13. Personally I have never seen anything "brilliant" on television except for Season 1 of Dexter. I've seen damn good TV, yes, The Wire, the Sopranos, BSG, 6 Feet Under, Game of Thrones, Deadwood, but I doubt anything will ever compare to Season 1 of Dexter.

    Filming on location was huge, you can smell and taste Miami in every scene, the Miami light is burning the eyes, you can watch the sweat dripping off the actors, sense the rich and oppressive atmosphere of that place and UNDERSTAND Dexter.

    Now the show just looks like another typical show filmed in LA. It's all light and breezy and the mood has to be conveyed by warm up filters. The effect has slowly shifted away with each season and now the actors don't even pretend they are in Miami anymore. (They haven't been filming there since season 1) Everyone acts LA.

    In my opinion that's the biggest problem with the show. They need to go back to Miami for some more filming and get that mood back.

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  14. I think the show really should end at season 8, I think 2 seasons more would give time enough to explore what's left, like the new Deb & Dex dynamics and posibly, a grown up Harrison (which I would like to see) I don't really feel like we need more seasons for this show to have a great ending. But I also would like the show to reach the 100 episodes mark. That would be epic. And they never say season 8 was 100% confirmed to be last one, they only said that's the most likely scenario. Season 9 could happen... but I still think season 8 should be the series's last one.

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  15. I have an idea. Just make seasons 7 & 8 into 14 episode seasons and that will bring the show to 100 episodes. Dexter's already close enough that we will probably get to see his 100th kill in season 7. At the beginning of season 5, Dexter said he has kill 67 people and him and Lumen killed 8 more that season, bringing the total to 75. Dexter killed 10 victims in season 6, so he now has at least 85. We don't know how many victims he killed in the year between seasons 5 & 6. His 100th victim should be right around the corner according to the numbers. I want Dexter to let the audience know when he's about to kill his 100th victim. That would be cool. "99 before you died this way. Hello, Mr. 100."

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  16. Go on for as long as it wants. I adore this show and if it extends beyond the season 8 timeline, as long as its really freaking good, I'm happy. :) And for the most part, it always is so....keep it rolling ;)

    Stella Link

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    1. I don't want this show to ever end but keeping a show going for so long can be dangerous. it might start to get weird after awhile like other show that were on way too long. I think the whole Deb in love with Dexter things is super weird anyway. I would rather have Dexter end with a bang than have it fizzle out.

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  17. HELLL YA!! season 9 of Dexter would be awesome either way , this show has been going on for what ..eight seasons us the audience have been thrilled and gripped another three seasons wouldn't hurt! Ill watch Dexter all the way!<3

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  18. it seriously cannot go on any longer than 8. 8 is too long! It is ridiculous that they're considering it.
    For the record, i absolutely adore this show,more than anything(first 4 seasons anyway) but it needs to end no longer than season 8.

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    1. I loved season 5. Why doesn't anyone like season 5? Julia Styles gave a surprisingly good performance and it was an interesting twist. It wasn't like the other seasons.

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  19. I really wish this show would be longer than 12 episodes. I feel like they could do a lot more every season. I mean, it's still the best show running, but they could really explore a lot more side plot lines. Sons of Anarchy did that this year, they added 2 more episodes on the fly.

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    1. I have always wondered why shows on cable only have about 12 episodes but shows on prime time TV has 22-24 episodes. Does anyone know why that is?

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  20. I cant believe any of this. This show is amazing and there is so much that could still be done. Ending it at season 8 I feel is just lazy. If they feel the show is getting stale then shake it up and take risks. The show, by the way, is not stale. It's wonderful. I feel like every time I fall in love with a show some jerk thinks it's not good enough and ends it way before it's time. There are plenty of people who love the show and want it to continue. I'd be plenty happy if the show went on for 50 years like Dr. Who but I know that's not practical since Dexter certainly isnt a face changing time lord. Even still the point remains, everyone I've spoken to who has been a Dexter fan is still a Dexter fan and doesnt want to see the show end. This show has so much potential still and if they arent afraid to keep it safe then there's so much more they could do. It's TV... anything could happen. I really do hope that if they do end it (way before it's time) then they will at the very least consider leaving an open ending... that way when they realize what a huge mistake they've made they can pick it up later. Or at the very least maybe someone else can pick it up and make something out of it. I'd love to see a Dexter movie or even a Dexter cinematic trilogy. The one's saying that Dexter is stale or is going on too long are entitled to their own opinions as are those of us who are die hard Dexter fans and are still enjoying the show immensely, the problem is that if they listen to their side and end the show that's it, the rest of us who are still loving it are screwed. If they listen to our side who are still really loving ever second of it then those on the other side can simply move on and just stop watching it (although I have a feeling that they wont) and we can continue loving this show and new fans can come in and love it too.

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    1. Eight seasons is a mind-boggling run, especially for a syndicated television drama. The Wire went only five seasons, The Sopranos Six, Breaking Bad (on regular cable) is going five seasons, Six Feet Under went five as well. Going eight seasons in and of itself is a difficult thing to do. Dexter is a ripe premise, but to put out a great season year after year is seriously hard.

      I think eight seasons is just perfect when you put in perspective of some of the other great series that have been on TV.

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