Dexter - "Do You Take Dexter Morgan?" (Episode 312 - Season Finale)

Dexter sails off after another wonderful season!

We open with the discovery of Miguel's body in a park. Vince notes that he's had some skin removed from his torso, leading the cops to believe that he was another of the skinner's victims. Quinn told Deb that King probably killed Miguel because he felt he knew something about Freebo. Ramon glared at Dexter while he took photos of the body. Angel told Dexter that since Miguel was his friend, that he could find someone else to handle the investigation, but Dexter said he would stay on. He was playing "the grieving friend who buries himself in his work." As Miguel was loaded into the ambulance, Dexter went to touch him, to say goodbye (for appearances' sake, I'm sure) and as he reached in, Ramon grabbed his arm and told him not to touch his brother. He vowed to find out exactly what happened to Miguel.

Rita and Dexter went to Miguel's funeral, which was "awkward" since a drunken Ramon pushed Dexter out the door. Rita couldn't believe he was so angry (even though he's lost two brothers in a short span of time) and felt he shouldn't be putting the blame on Dexter. She tells Dex that even though Miguel wasn't the man he thought he was, that he didn't have to be so strong and could grieve for his late friend. Dex said he "can't help it." Rita feels bad for Syl, who insists that Rita and Dexter go on with their wedding ceremony and rehearsal dinner, scheduled for the next night. Dex said "life goes on." He opened a card from Rita's mother, Gail. Gail couldn't make it for her daughter's big day because she had begun to teach again and couldn't take the time off. In the card she wrote "let's hope the third one's the charm." Rita looked uncomfortable when Dexter asked what that meant and she stumbled through an (obviously) made-up answer. Dexter suspected Rita was lying to him. Rita changed the subject quickly, asking Dexter if he had written his vows yet. He hadn't, he wasn't sure what he should say. Rita told him just to write about togetherness, loyalty affection...and honesty. Dexter headed home to work on his vows and as he drove, he came up with some awful sappy prose (including the line "Now our future is as bright as the sunglinting off the morning dew.") Dex even knew that was crap, admitting that it "Sounds like I'm marrying a unicorn." When Dexter returned home, he found his place ransacked and crawling with police dusting for prints. The cops told him his neighbors saw a burly Latin with a goatee hanging around before the incident. Dex knew Ramon was the one responsible for the impromptu redecorating job. After the cops left, Dexter immediately checked to make sure his slides were safe (they were.) Harry from the dead showed up and told Dex that Miguel's death didn't end everything. Ramon even tore up Dexter's suit for the wedding ("that's personal"). Harry said Ramon was like a wounded animal and told Dex that he knew what to do with wounded animals - put them out of their misery. Dexter says he can't kill Ramon because he doesn't meet the code. Harry tells Dexter that if he can't kill him, he has to ignore him. Dex found Ellen Wolf's ring and said he had no intention of ignoring Ramon.

Dexter went to Ramon's house to talk. He knew that with the ring he could tie Miguel to Ellen's murder and knew Ramon wouldn't want his late brother's reputation to be besmirched. This was a way to keep Ramon at bay. Dex found Ramon's wife at the door. She said he didn't come home after the funeral and she had no idea where he was. The next day, Dexter did a little digging into Ramon's whereabouts by contacting some of his former co-workers. Dexter decided to also look into Rita's past, still bothered by what Gail wrote in the card. It only took a few clicks of the mouse for Dexter to discover that Rita was married at 16, long before Paul - and later Dex - came into her life. It was a quickie teen marriage, only lasting six months, and it left Dexter to be "the charm." Angel gave his officers more information on King and told them he needed to be caught. He was a bad man, torturing people for a living as a resistance fighter in Nicaragua. The case had become "huge" since Miguel was his latest victim. Dexter finally got through to Ramon's former co-worker at the sheriff's office. He hadn't seen him since he left the office but knew a few of his hangouts.

Angel pulled Deb aside and told her that homicide was getting some additional funds - to add another detective to the squad. He put in a recommendation to LaGuerta and Deb's shield is only a signature away. Dexter told Deb that Harry would be proud of her. Deb went down to the records department to see if Frances dug anything up on harry and the CI he had an affair with. Frances said she hadn't gone through everything yet and asked Deb if she really wanted to know about her Dad's past. Deb said he needed to put a face on the woman who harry cheated with. LaGuerta pulled Dexter into her office. She was disturbed because they were going to rename the freeway interchange in front of her house to honor Miguel. LaGuerta was upset that a cold-blooded killer was being treated as a hero. She knows that Dexter is the only other one who knows the truth and suggested they share their secret. Dexter said that they really had no evidence against Miguel and that to expose the secret would only hurt Syl, the rest of the family and the whole Cuban community. LaGuerta said she hated secrets and asked Dexter how she was supposed to live with this. Dexter said, "you just do."

Deb ran into Anton outside of the station. He came to pick up some of his belongings. He and Deb had an awkward conversation and it's pretty obvious that they still have feelings for each other. Dexter picked the kids up from school after hitting four bars looking for Ramon. All he discovered was that there were a lot of alcoholics in South Florida. He was being followed. Angel again pulled Deb aside and told her that he read the surveillance logs that the ADA was requesting and found out that she had been sleeping with a key witness. He was pissed that she didn't give him a heads up and said LaGuerta should be aware of the situation. Deb asked if LaGuerta knew that Angel met Barb when he was cruising the streets looking for a hooker. Angel went into LaGuerta's office and told her the whole story about Barb. Maria told him that everyone had skeletons in their closet and suggested that Angel keep his way in the back. Angel then told Maria something about Deb, but we don't find out just what, just yet. Dexter realizes he's being followed and runs a red light to get the car off his tail (which works beautifully, as the other car gets hit as it attempts to get through the intersection.) Dexter turned around and saw that whoever was following him was alright enough to walk away from the scene of the crime.

Rita and Dexter celebrate their rehearsal dinner. Dex is still working on his vows and tries to get Rita to 'fess up to marriage number one by asking what she said during her first wedding. Rita says she and Paul just repeated what the pastor said. Dex said (to himself) "Liar, liar pants on fire." A drunken Ramon stumbled in and pulled a gun on Dexter. Deb and Angel saved the day and wrestled him to the ground. The next day, Deb got a call from the robbery division about the hit and run, the car was stolen and the red light camera caught the face of George King in the driver's seat. Dexter spent some time in the interrogation room of the county jail with Ramon. Ramon said that Miguel recruited him to be his bodyguard to protect him from Dexter, but he didn't say why. Dexter said no one knew what Miguel was up to 24/7. Ramon just wanted to hurt Dexter because everyting went to pot in the Prado family after he showed up. Dexter said Miguel's "darkness" was present long before he came into the picture. Ramon said he was actually the one who pushed his father down the stairs all those years ago - not Miguel. Ramon knows about Miguel's brutality and said he was always cleaning up after his messes. Dexter asked Ramon if he thought his kids were proud of him and said that the sins of the father would keep living on if things didn't change. Instead of destroying this wounded animal, Dexter just removed the thorn - and never brought up Ellen's ring.

Vince was looking at evidence recovered from the stolen car. All that was there was a tobacco leaf - from the cigar company King's former employee spoke about. Dexter got himself another wedding suit and Harry showed up to help him tie his tie, something he hadn't done since his mother's funeral. Deb and Quinn searched the cigar factory and got nothing - except a box of cigars. Dexter walked out of the tailors, feeling calm about his upcoming nuptials. As he got ready to get in the car, King showed up and knocked him out. Deb came into the station and found Vince there (on a Saturday, no less) re-examining the evidence from the stolen car. Frances had found a stack of Harry's CI's for her, but she didn't have time to review them just then - as LaGuerta called her into her office. She wanted to talk to her about Anton. She says she wanted to be with him and didn't care if she didn't get her shield because all she wanted was to be with him. LaGuerta recognized her hard work and gave her the shield. She's now Lieutenant Tourette's and she and Maria share a celebratory cupcake.

Dexter awoke to find himself strapped to a table. It was a familiar scenario for him, but he was usually not the one tied up. It was definitely a new perspective for him. He never should hgave trusted Miguel, but he wasn't afraid. Harry showed up and Dexter told him that he forgave him. He cried, because he wanted to see his son enter the world. He realized the experience of watching his son grow up could be taken away from him. Deb showed up at Anton's. She said that they couldn't be much more different than each other (she calls him "valium", he calls her "Red Bull") but she can't imagine her life without him. Deb told him she gave up the skinner case to be with him. Awww....Vince called Deb and said that the tobacco found in the car didn't come from the cigar factory they visited - it was from the company's older location, which they had moved out of years earlier.

Dexter saw a lot of himself in King and hoped to make him lose control by telling him that he killed Freebo. King didn't believe him, despite his detailed description. Dexter told King that Miguel used him and discovered the table he was tied to was a little wobbly. When King went to get his tools, Dexter managed to knock the table over, crushing his hand, but able to free himself and fight off King. Dexter finally broke his neck - just as the cops showed up at the former cigar factory. Dexter dumped the body down to the first level, where it was run over by the cops. The distraction gave Dexter a chance to escape. Rita was in her wedding gown and Syl informed her that Dexter had a little "whoopsie", falling down some stairs and breaking his hand. He's fine. He came in and saw the bride (bad luck!) and said she looked "wow." Dexter lets Rita hold onto her secret, because he understands about that sort of thing. Deb says she feels like "a transvestite" in her dress. She ties his tie just like Hary taught him to do. Well, they finally went and got hitched. Dexter's vow was a promise to be the very best husband and father that he can be. he's officially "Dexter Morgan, Family Man." How's "Demented Daddy Dexter" going to raise a kid? He's content and happy...life is good. Well, it's good until the next season, as the promo for next season had a lot of killing in it!