I know the topic title is a bit provocative and I'm not here to bash the series. I know I'm not the only one who has noticed the choppy writing during this season and characters acting different from before.
The thing that bugged me the most in this season was how sloppy Dexter was. I won't pinpoint all the mistakes (you can browse through the episode topics to find them) but he clearly acted against his set of rules that has kept him from getting caught earlier. Following the murderer to scout the perfect time, scouting for murder place and generally living according to the code given by his father.
It just made me wonder why this sudden change, well the reason is simple and very common in TV-world. The series producers and writers have changed.
Here is the breakdown for those interested:
▼Spoiler
SEASON 1 (2006):
- Melissa Rosenberg works as a consulting producer and writer. She and the other members of the Dexter writing staff are nominated for a Writers Guild of America Award for best Dramatic Series for their work on the first season.
- Daniel Cerone joins the crew of Dexter as a co-executive producer and writer for the first season in 2006. Cerone is nominated for a Writers Guild of America Award for Best Dramatic Series for his work on the first season of Dexter.
- Clyde Phillips joins the crew of Showtime television drama Dexter as a writer and executive producer midway through the first season in 2006. He is nominated for the Edgar award for Best Television Episode (Teleplay), for writing the episode "Crocodile".
SEASON 2 (2007):
- Rosenberg gains staff position on the show as co-executive producer and writer.
- Cerone is promoted to executive producer. He is again nominated for the WGA award for his work on the second season of Dexter.
- Phillips returns as an executive producer and writer for the second season. Phillips and the writing staff are nominated for a Writers Guild of America Award for best dramatic series for their work on the second season.
SEASON 3 (2008):
- Rosenberg continues her role as co-producer and writer.
- Phillips remains an executive producer and writer for the third season. The writing staff are nominated for WGA award for their work on the third season.
- Cerone remains executive producer and writer, but leaves at the end of the third season.
SEASON 4 (2009):
- Rosenberg is promoted to executive producer and head writer. As part of the senior production team, she is also co-nominated for the Outstanding Drama Series award at the 60th Primetime Emmy Awards. She is nominated for the WGA award a third consecutive time at the February 2010 ceremony for her work on the fourth season of Dexter.
- Phillips remains an executive producer and writer for the fourth season but in addition, also becomes the series show runner. Phillips and the writing staff are nominated for the WGA award a third consecutive time for their work on the fourth season.
- Coming off a record-setting Season 4 finale, Head writer Melissa Rosenberg leaves after Season 4 after being offered the chance to adapt Stephenie Meyer's bestselling novel "Twilight" into a film of the same name, which she accepted.
- Clyde Phillips stands down as show runner after the fourth season and leaves his role as an executive producer. He signs with HBO to work on "The Naked Truth".
SEASON 5 (2010):
- 24 co-executive producer Chip Johannessen takes over Clyde Phillips' post.
- Phillips is credited as a consultant on the fifth season.
- After the conclusion of Season 5, it is revealed that Chip Johannessen was departing the show after a single season.
SEASON 6 (2011):
- Scott Buck takes over as showrunner for season 6.
This is why "Dexter" will never return to what it was - the senior production staff has completely changed, it seems, for the worse. This explains why Season 6 has felt "off" compared to earlier seasons, as Phillips wasn't even on as a consultant like he was in Season 5.
I know most people find this very boring but I find this kind of behind the scenes stuff rather intriguing. Also interesting to notice is Rosenberg was a really credited writer and he left Dexter for the turdfest of Twilight. Also Scott Buck, who the hell ever you are, FU for messing with my Dexter!