Dexter -
The Final Season
- aka Season 8
[Blu-ray]
(Developed
for Television by James Manos, Jr,
2006-2013)
Review by Gary Tooze
Production:
Theatrical: Showtime
Video: Paramount
Disc:
Region: 'A'-locked
(as verified by the
Momitsu region FREE Blu-ray player)
NOTE: The UK
Blu-ray
version appears to be region FREE!
Episode Runtime: 56:00 X 12
Disc One Size: 37,751,053,663 bytes
Single Disc Features Size: 35,222,218,752 bytes
Video Bitrate: 18.30 Mbps
Chapters: 7 X 12 episodes
Case: Standard Blu-ray case
Release date: November 12th, 2013
Video:
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Resolution: 1080p / 23.976 fps
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video
Audio:
Dolby TrueHD Audio English 1433 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1433
kbps / 16-bit (AC3 Embedded: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 640 kbps)
Dolby Digital Audio Spanish 256 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 256 kbps
Subtitles:
English, English (SDH), none
Extras:
Disc 1
• Ray Donovan Episode 1 (57:17)
Disc
2
• Ray Donovan Episode 2 (52:30)
Disc
3
• From Cop to Killer Featurette (3:15)
• Dexter - The End Begins (3:07)
• Dexter with Scott Buck - Executive Producer Episode
801 (2:07)
• Dexter Episode 802 - directed by Michael C. Hall
(2:17)
• Dexter Episode 803 - Scene 30 (1:37)
•
Dexter with Scott Buck - Executive Producer Episode 804 (2:17)
Bitrate (disc 1):
Description: All 12 episodes from the eighth and final
season of the American crime drama about a Miami police
forensics expert who kills those he believes have escaped
justice. Dexter (Michael C. Hall) was orphaned at the age of
three after the murder of his mother, an incident which
implanted in him a fierce desire to punish those who commit
criminal acts. While avoiding suspicion with a genial and
helpful professional facade by day, when off-duty Dexter
remorselessly hunts down those he believes have escaped the
justice of the law and takes his vengeance. The episodes
are: 'A Beautiful Day', 'Every Silver Lining...',
'What's Eating Dexter Morgan?', 'Scar Tissue',
'This Little Piggy', 'A Little Reflection', 'Dress
Code', 'Are We There Yet?', 'Make Your Own
Kind of Music', 'Goodbye Miami', 'Monkey in a
Box' and 'Remember the Monsters?'.
Everyone’s favourite serial killer is back for the
finale in
Season 8 of the wickedly good drama, Dexter. Golden GlobeŽ
winner Michael C. Hall returns as the Miami forensics expert
with blood on his hands--only now…
Season Eight descriptions from IMDb
HERE:
Season Eight, Episode 1
A Beautiful Day
S8, Ep1
Jun. 30, 2013
It's now 6 months since Captain LaGuerta's death. Dexter is still
working as a blood spatter expert but Deb has quit the force and is now
working as a private investigator. She's also been avoiding Dexter as
much as possible. Angel Batista is now the squad's Lieutenant and Tom
Matthews is a Deputy Chief. Dexter is worried about Deb in general but
even more so after he hears she hasn't been in touch with her new boss
for two weeks. Metro homicide has a new case after a body is found on
the beach. The man's skull has been sliced open and a small part of his
brain ...
Every Silver Lining...
S8, Ep2
Jul. 7, 2013
Dr. Vogel shows Dexter some video she shot when his father Harry visited
her for help in treating him. Dexter was only 10 years old when Harry
first visited her and she takes more than just a little of the credit
for what Dexter calls Harry's code: that he would only kill bad people.
Vogel says she did it because she cared for him. Having saved his life,
she now wants to call in a favor: she thinks the man who recently slide
open someones brain and left the body on the beach is one of her former
patients. She wants Dexter to do what she and Harry taught her to do.
...
What's Eating Dexter Morgan?
S8, Ep3
Jul. 14, 2013
Deb is going through a particularly bad patch and there is nothing
Dexter can seemingly do about it. A cop finds her behind the wheel her
car, drunk. She had the good sense to pull over but ran over a parking
meter in the process. She contacts Quinn who manages to get her out
without being charged. Dexter blames himself but Vogel says he shouldn't
take on her problems. She also wonders why Dexter didn't kill her when
she found him out. Drunk again, Deb goes to the station and tells Quinn
she killed LaGuerta. Meanwhile, Dexter and the police check out Lyle
Sussman's ...
Scar Tissue
S8, Ep4
Jul. 21, 2013
The next potential killer on Vogel's list is A.J. Yates, who was
institutionalized at 15. Vogel tried to channel his hostilities much as
she did with Dexter but was unable to do so. When Dexter sees a huge
scar on his head, he learns from Vogel that Yates had surgery to remove
a brain lesion. He breaks into Yates' house and finds something
interesting in the closet. Dexter isn't alone in the house however and
it looks he may be their man. He also finds something that affects his
relationship with Vogel. Dexter meets a neighbor, Cassie, from the next
door apartment. ...
This Little Piggy
S8, Ep5
Jul. 28, 2013
Dr. Vogel tells Dexter that Deb was traumatized when she tried to kill
him. Now that she's hit rock bottom, things will improve. Dexter isn't
too happy with either Vogel or Deb and concentrates on finding serial
killer A.J. Yates. Deb and Dexter have another problem when Yates
kidnaps Vogel and they set out to rescue her. At the station, the police
continue investigating the death of Norma Rivera. She had sex not long
before dying and they assume that whoever that was is also the man who
killed her. They have a suspect, her former employer Ed Hamilton, who
admits to ...
A Little Reflection
S8, Ep6
Aug. 4, 2013
Dexter is convinced that Zack Hamilton killed Norma Rivera but has no
proof and takes to following him whenever he can. He's more than a bit
surprised to follow him to Dr. Vogel's office. She admits that Zach is a
new patient but refuses to talk about his case. Batista is under
pressure from Deputy Chief Tom Matthews to make a decision on who to
promote to sergeant. When Quinn learns he didn't get the job, he
redoubles his effort to solve the Rivera murder. With Dexter tagging
along, it becomes obvious - to Dexter at least - that Zack is stalking
his next victim, ...
Dress Code
S8, Ep7
Aug. 11, 2013
After being drugged by Hannah McKay, Dexter wakes up in an industrial
area outside of town. He knows that Hannah is responsible and she's
surprisingly easy to find, which makes Dexter more than just a bit
suspicious. It turns out she's living on a luxury yacht with her husband
Jacob. She's changed her name to Maggie and says she's quite happy. Her
husband doesn't appreciate the fact that she's met with Dexter forcing
her to take action and for Dexter to help her out. Meanwhile, Dexter has
agreed to teach Zach Hamilton the code - to Dr. Vogel's delight - but he
is ...
Are We There Yet?
S8, Ep8
Aug. 18, 2013
Dexter is certain that Zach Hamilton killed his next door neighbor
Cassie, who is found bludgeoned to death in her apartment. The scene
suggests that the crime was impulsive rather than planned, as was the
case with the death of Norma Rivera. Dexter finds Zach's blood under her
fingernails but can't report it for obvious reasons. Zach is in the Keys
- he's used his credit card - and Dexter and Hannah set off to find him.
What he finds there impresses Dexter but also suggests that Zach isn't
the killer. Meanwhile, Dexter is also helping Hannah acquire a new
identity ...
Make Your Own Kind of Music
S8, Ep9
Aug. 25, 2013
Dexter has decided to make a new life for himself with Hannah and
Harrison but not before he takes care of the Brain Surgeon. In searching
Zach Hamilton's photo studio he finds a clump of hair and blood hidden
under a table. When Dexter runs the sample against the DNA database he
finds a familial match - to Dr. Evelyn Vogel. Somewhat incredulous at
his revelation, Vogel explains that she once had two sons, the eldest of
which killed the other. He was placed in a mental institution but died
in fire. Dexter believes he must have survived and soon has him
identified. Deb...
Goodbye Miami
S8, Ep10
Sep. 8, 2013
Having made the decision that he and Harrison will move to Argentina
with Hannah, Dexter has a lot to do. He tells Deb about his plan but
that doesn't go over very well. He also tells Dr, Vogel that her son,
Saxon, is dangerous and she is in need of protection. She insists that
he back off and let her deal with him in her own way but Dexter has no
intention of leaving Miami while Saxon is alive. Saxon has problems
however and he takes his mother to his killing room explaining that it's
identical to the treatment room at the mental hospital she put him in.
He wants his...
Monkey in a Box
S8, Ep11
Sep. 15, 2013
Still coming to terms with Dr. Vogel's death, Dexter wants to eliminate
Oliver Saxon before he, Harrison and Hannah head off to South America.
He also has a lot of personal items to tie up including selling his
condo. Saxon shows up as a prospective buyer and offers Dexter a deal:
they stop going after each other and go their own way. Dexter is
non-committal and, having located his kill room, sets a trap for him.
Meanwhile, U.S. Deputy Marshall Clayton is following Deb, certain that
she will lead him to Hannah. Dexter is continuing to reevaluate his
priorities and his...
Remember the Monsters?
S8, Ep12
Sep. 22, 2013
Dexter has to act quickly when Hannah tells him Elway is staking out the
airport. He finds a way to get him out of the way but it also leads to
the entire airport being closed. With a hurricane bearing down on Miami,
few options are open to them. Dexter races to the hospital when he
learns that Deb has been shot. She seems to be recovering and he decides
to send Hannah and Harrison to Jacksonville where they could catch a
flight. A return trip to the hospital leads to Saxon's arrest but also
bad news about Deb. Realizing that he has, directly or indirectly, been
...
Image :
NOTE:
The below
Blu-ray
captures were taken directly from the
Blu-ray
disc.
We've previously covered
Season One,
Two,
Three,
Four,
Six and
Seven on
Blu-ray
and this image looks totally
in-line with the strong visual quality.
The 1.78:1 HD shot episodes
look strong with the occasional weaknesses of that format -
some noise in darker sequences and it handles outdoor light
somewhat poorer than straight film with occasional flaring. Overall it
supports the series in 1080P with excellent detail in
close-ups and bright impressive colors with Floridian flora.
All three discs are dual-layered and with 4 episodes on each of the 3
Blu-rays.
There are no manipulations at all and it is,
predictably, spotlessly clean. This looks exactly as it was
shot and ready for broadcast in 2013; essentially it can be
considered flawless as a direct representation.
CLICK EACH
BLU-RAY
CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION
Audio :
Audio has another notch down in robust-ness from the previous Seasons on
Blu-ray. A
Dolby TrueHD 5.1 at a supportive
1433 kbps .
It has some mild, and subtle, range. I'm
always impressed with Daniel Licht original score that can really light
up a scene or bring it down to a more human, and sympathetic, level. I
think it is one of the best for a TV show that I've heard.
There are optional DUBs and English + English (SDH) subtitles and my
Momitsu
has identified
it as being a region
'A'-locked - like the previous packages.
Extras :
So this last season
Blu-ray gives us some supplements - Discs 1 +2 , respectively, have two,
hour long, episodes of Ray Donovan with Liev Schreiber. It is
described as; Ray Donovan, a professional "fixer" for the rich and
famous in LA, can make anyone's problems disappear except those created
by his own family. The two episodes are decent TV and encourage more
investigation into this new series. Disc 3 has more extras relating to
the show. There are 6 short featurettes with interviews of the
principles of production and some of the cast. Not a lot of detail but
at least it is something.
BOTTOM LINE:
No question that the show gravitas was dwindling - and the writing
has dropped a notch from Season 1 thru 5 of Dexter.
The finale could have been moved up a season but here we are
and those desperate to see the outcome have this
Blu-ray package which gives a great presentation. Nice to see some extras
and two Ray Donovan episodes. It still offers value for almost a dozen hours of
unique TV - those who've been following the series will get
some closure. For devout and curious fans.
Gary Tooze
November 2nd, 2013
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