THE DARKEST CUT OF ALL? 'DEXTER' SEASON EIGHT

Shrink-wrapped! Is DEXTER (Michael C. Hall) ready for the slaughter? Images: SHOWTIME. 

He thought he could have all his bloody cake and eat it- enjoy his family life and stay within that disciplinarian personal "Code" showcasing his gregariously murderous, yet blackly heroic, self-gratification against the worst serial killing scum inhabiting the sunshine state of Florida. But now it's all falling apart for DEXTER, in Michael C. Hall's curtain call as the titular star, as his eighth and final season from SHOWTIME begins its exclusive run on the UK's FOX HD channel this month.

Doggedly pursued by police woman boss Detective Maria LaGuerta (Lauren Velez), determined to avenge and clear the tarnished name of her late department friend Detective Doakes (who had been unintentionally but conveniently framed by Dexter as the so-called Bay Harbour Butcher), she had finally cornered her prey in last year's gripping season finale. But she hadn't reckoned on the rogue element presence of his devoted sister, Debra (Jennifer Carpenter), recently discovering the horrific truth about her brother and his "little ways", resulting in her personal integrity and sense of duty as a cop now tarnished, but ultimately having no choice but to protect him, instinctively shooting her boss and once rival in a shocking but series decisive moment.

Tables turned? How will things play out for sister Debra (Jennifer Carpenter) this season?

Set sixth months on from the warehouse horror, Season Eight has to deal with the fallout of their actions. Dexter may have finally regained a spring to his steps once again, now that he can get back to his dedicated life's pursuits as Blood Splatter Analyst and ardent blood splatterer, but things aren't so-great for heart-broken Debra, who wants as little to do with him as possible, now part of a private investigation company and subduing the pain and guilt of LaGuerta's death with an intense and seemingly unending menu of drugs and alcohol. But it surely won't be too long before a series of violent events and unusual coincidences bring the pair back to face their final choices and consequences together.

Guest starring British film legend Charlotte Rampling as Dr. Evelyn Vogel, a top neuro-psychiatrist specialisng in child psychopaths, who might know more about Dexter than she's letting on, plus former YOUNG INDIANA JONES star Sean Patrick Flannery as a private detective, with Kenny Johnson alongside him as a US Marshall, both likely after Dexter's hide, as well as seeing a blistering return from Yvonne Strahovski as Dexter's loyal and caring poisoner girlfriend, Hannah McKay, will the Morgans get out of all this alive? Or have the sands of time finally run our for blood stick, trophy collecting hero, and his beleaguered sister, as well as any persons who even dare to love them?

Dexter Season 8: Official Trailer - YouTube

To all the kills I've loved before... Dexter with his gallery of slain nemeses.

Overall, the show has been a tremendous career opportunity to relish for star Michael C. Hall, consistently excellent in the role of one of modern TV's boldest, funniest and violent series characters, despite mixed success from the series behind the scenes writers in coming up with sustainable plots and nemesis for him to fight. The show peaked in its third and fourth years, and perhaps should likely have ended with its sixth run. But with this two season-long planned for end finally starting to bear fruit, lets hope that Dexter's fans are well served with some surprising, game-changing, perhaps life-altering last episodes for the blackly comic anti-hero, who truly made audiences like and root for a serial killer!

Official FACEBOOK page: Dexter