The actress recently revealed what she believes would be the perfect way to end Dexter’s story.
Dexter has always been a series that struggles with endings. The first attempt to close the story came twelve years ago, in 2013, when Showtime aired the final season of the original series. That finale quickly became notorious and widely regarded as one of the most disappointing endings in television history.
Eight years later, Dexter Morgan returned in Dexter: New Blood, a limited series marketed as the definitive conclusion to America’s favorite fictional serial killer. Michael C. Hall agreed to reprise his role for one season only, with the ending filmed early in production to ensure that Dexter’s fate would be final.
Yet, history repeated itself. The conclusion of New Blood was met with backlash nearly as strong as that of the original, igniting debates that refused to die down until Dexter: Resurrection was officially announced, a series that undoes the previous ending and brings Dexter back from the dead.
Earlier this month, during the Scaradise 2025 Dexter panel featuring Erik King, David Zayas, Desmond Harrington, Julie Benz, and Jennifer Carpenter, the cast took part in a fan Q&A session. One fan asked a question that immediately changed the mood in the room: what would be the ideal ending for Dexter?
The cast hesitated. There was a shared sense that this was question that touched on years of conrtoversy. Desmond Harrington, who played Joey Quinn, was the first to take a crack at it, though his answer was quickly interrupted by his co-star, Jennifer Carpenter.
Before that interruption, Harrington reflected on the original finale, explaining that many viewers misunderstood its intent. He said that the ending was about punishment, that Dexter, after spending years trying to become a real person, was ultimately condemned to a personal hell. He was left utterly alone, stripped of his job, his family, and even the daily rituals that let him blend into normal life. “He was cut off from everything,”
Harrington said, noting that while the fans hated it, he understood why. He admitted there are shows whose endings he despises too, but felt that a truly fitting conclusion should carry a form of truth, a consequence that feels real, no matter how uncomfortable.
Jennifer Carpenter, however, saw things differently. Interrupting Harrington with conviction, she offered her own take in just three words, repeating them for emphasis:
“Go to jail. Go to jail.”
For an actress who played Dexter’s beloved sister for so many years, her response surprised many in the audience, to the point it caused some laughs. Yet her stance has been consistent that the only true justice for Dexter would be incarceration, not escape or death.
Erik King chimed in next with a more philosophical view. He reflected on the challenge of crafting a satisfying finale, explaining that endings are rarely well received because fans don’t want to say goodbye. “Finales are hard, period,” he said, acknowledging the grief that comes with losing a beloved story. For King, every ending is a kind of surrender, the moment when the show belongs to the audience, who must interpret it in their own way. “Sometimes you’re going to hit the mark, and sometimes you’re not,” he said, urging fans to show the writers some grace.
It’s clear that for the cast of Dexter, talking about the series finale still feels like navigating a minefield. Yet, moments like this Scaradise panel show just how each actor still connects to their character and how much the story continues to cause debate.
You can watch Jennifer Carpenter share her idea of the ultimate Dexter ending, and the cast’s reactions, at the 12:17 mark in the Dexter panel video below.