Dexter, the cutting edge of drama (predictions for season 3 finale)

One more episode left in another tumultuous day(s) in the life of Dexter Morgan. This season, like the previous two, has been a gripping one, though many of the themes aren't as shiny and new. I've read that Jimmy Smit's Miguel Prado was essentially Lila with a mustache. Despite my initial desire to dispute that claim, it does hold true under scrutiny. Dexter, the most defended of all men, takes a lot to seduce or befriend, respectively shown by Lila and Miguel. The odd thing about Dexter is that for all his monstrous characteristics, he does try to let people into his world. Of course, given this latest track record of killing off Lila and Miguel, it makes me a little worried for Rita. As long as Rita continues assuming Dexter is just an aloof sweetheart, she's fine. It's only when people dig deeper into Dexter's soul that they get in trouble. There's no soul to find and therefore no way for him to feel remorse when he slices them up like a red onion.

So how will this season end? I suspect that they won't wrap this one up in neatly wrapped packages, as Dexter wraps up his victims. Showtime has given us two seasons with fully resolved season finales and so we're do for one hell of a cliffhanger. This leads me to several different possibilities.

Cliffhanger 1:
Someone finds out Dexter's true colors. You might jump to Rita as the first person to find out, but then she would certainly annul their marriage. I assume the writers are looking forward to figuring out how a serial killer can pull off murder AND marriage. Just imagine what a great hiding place a diaper bag would be for his knives. So that leaves us with Deborah.

Deb has been in the dark for her and Dexter's entire relationship. It's high time she find out about Dexter and the secret he shared with Harry, their dad. Dexter has already let the cat out of the bag about Harry cheating, so how much worse would it be to learn about Dexter's tendencies? "Sure Dad cheated, but he never killed anyone.... Speaking of murder, did I ever tell you about this hobby I picked up sometime after forensic school...?"

Cliffhanger 1.5:
This cliffhanger is sort of a back up one in the chance that the writers don't pick Rita or Deb to discover Dexter's dark side. Laguerta always felt that Doakes was innocent. Imagine her inner conflict if she determines that not only was Doakes framed, but that Dexter is a dark twisted Miami hero? If Dexter has managed to kill the Ice Truck Killer, Miguel Prado, and countless other "bad guys," will Laguerta have the balls to turn him in? If she was torn about handing in Miguel, I suspect she'd be reluctant to pass Dexter over.

Cliffhanger 2:
Deb is still hopeless in the love department. It probably would help if she let down her guard a little bit and laid off the bad language. In the race between, Quinn and Anton, we think Anton wins. Deb has a knack for picking guys that seem like Prince Charmings on the surface, but are supremely effed up when you get down to their core (she might as well get hitched with Dexter, since they're not blood related and he's her "type"). Anton is not quite a bad guy, but he's certainly a "bad boy." I mean on the Dexter/Hannibal Lector scale, Anton looks like a pretty solid citizen. My guess is that the writers will leave us up in the air about who she'll decide on. Maybe Anton will crash the wedding to confess his true feelings, right as Deb has given into one dance with Quinn. A guilty glance from Deb, followed by an Anton pursuit to some quiet corner of the reception?

This all depends on whether Dexter makes the wedding. From the previews for the finale, it seems that he gets tied up on his way...