It was a good cap to a good season, although for once (with Dexter, this isn't the rule), I could predict all the key plot developments: that Deb would get her shield as well as Anton, that Dexter would kill King, and that he'd get married. It's testament to this show that I still enjoyed every minute; the Deb/Laguerta moments were especially fascinating, as was the scene of Rita lying to Dexter.

I see the Doakes/Ramon parallel, but just like King's death, their shared moment of grace felt a little too easy: Even beaten and broken, someone like Ramon would not give up so quickly, open himself up and make himself vulnerable to an enemy, which is very obviously what he perceived Dexter to be (and justly so, just not in quite the right way). And King - I could see him being thrown by Dexter and Dexter's mastery at mental chess, but I could not see him tie knots that one can slip out of, even with a broken hand (men's hands are quite tapered, compared to the arm and wrist, after all). At the same time, I wouldn't wish for all the ensemble or minor character moments to be cut, as they make it what it is, and already, we didn't get the Quinn resolution I was waiting for, or a bit more meat to Angel's story.

I can't wait for the next season and, like you, really hope it'll be a girl. (I doubt it, though. The show, especially by now, is too much in love with certain themes, ironic as the twists may otherwise be).