It’s been two weeks since the last Dexter. The break (along with other reasons too off-topic to be discussed here) has allowed me to use that Dexer-cation to try a few new shows including the hit Netflix series Orange Is The New Black, a superb black comedy gem about life inside a woman’s prison. Perhaps it’s my recent binge-viewing of Orange clouding of vision, or maybe it’s due to re-watching much of season 1-5 of Dexter on August, but upon returning to the world of Miami Metro and everyone’s favorite serial killer, the show felt stale and bit underwhelming, which, given the fact the show is in it’s last three episodes, is a bit of a let-down. After a rocky couple of seasons, Dexter seemed to be on track for its last batch of episodes. Dr. Vogel is an inspired character and Dexter fans everywhere were waiting for the conclusion of Hannah McKay’s storyline. Interesting, too, was the emerging theme of Dexter’s sociopathic identity. Did Vogel shape it? Did she instill the murderous sprit onto him somehow? And can Dex finally, with a son and girlfriend, ever put down the scalpel and syringe?

But something about the last few episodes, including this week’s “Goodbye Miami” that just doesn’t feel right. Perhaps the show needs, if you pardon the pun, to be put down. Maybe things have just run their course. Hey, maybe if, after the show ends, she’ll become Chapman’s next roomie in a new cross network crossover.

Moving on. In “Goodbye Miami” we picked up right where we left off last week. Dexter, smitten with Hannah and looking forward to a fresh start, plans to move to Argentina. He begins to tell people like Debra and Angel, which leaves his sister in a state of betrayal and Angel feeling sad yet revealed that Dex can have some away time with his kid. Unfortunately for Dex, word of his move gets to the PI that’s been trying to track down Hannah and knows that Dexter has a history with the fugitive.

Matters get worse for McKay when she takes Harrison to a local clinic after he falls and cuts his chin. The woman at the desk recognizes McKay, even though she signs in as “Debra Moran” and tells police.

While Hannah wants Dexter to move right away to South America, Dex can’t go until he’s gotten rid of Daniel Saxon, Vogel’s troubled son turned Brain Surgeon serial killer. At first Dr. Vogel tells Dexter to leave her son alone but after mother and son get reunited – and Vogel realizes he’s still an angry, and very lethal, criminal – she gives him the OK to do away with her son. But things go awry as Daniel senses his mother’s anxiety at their prescribed last meeting and slits her throat in front of Dex, who is waiting outside.

The killing of Vogel is just another thing that feels odd from a writing standpoint. Here’s a character that can mean so much to Dex – she’s the mother he never had and a key to figuring out his true psyche. And yet she’s killed off in a manner that, except for fulfilling this season’s Big Bad role, has little to do with Dexter at all. It wasn’t for shock value and I can’t see how it would help wrap things up.

I guess the point they are trying to make is that Dexter, once more, has to choice between his Dark Passenger and his family. Now, does he go after Vogel’s killer and risk his new family? Perhaps I’m just bored by what feels a bit like Dexter déjà vu, but “Goodbye Miami” didn’t really add anything new to spice up the show in its penultimate few episodes.