Dexter: Rita's Brutal Death Explained (& Why It's So Problematic) (2024)

Of all the disturbing kills in Dexter, Rita's death is the most problematic. The series revolves around Dexter Morgan (Michael C. Hall), a forensic blood spatter analyst for the Miami Metro Police Department who leads a double life as a vigilante serial killer. Dexter's code dictates that he only kills those who have escaped the justice system, making him a peculiar blend of hero and anti-hero. Central to the series’ emotional depth and character development is Dexter’s relationship with Rita Bennett (Julie Benz). A mother of three and later Dexter's wife, Rita represents normalcy and humanity in his tumultuous life.

Rita’s unexpected death at the end of season 4 remains a shocking moment in television history, not just for its brutality but for its impact on the narrative and characters. It marked a pivotal turn in Dexter's storyline, changing the course of the show and the protagonist's emotional journey. Her death not only affects Dexter's personal life but also shifts the show's tone, pushing it into darker territories. This event redefined the stakes and underscored the perils that Dexter's double life imposed on his loved ones, but the Dexter Rita death is also somewhat problematic.

The Trinity Killer Murdered Rita In Dexter Season 4

Michael C. Hall & Dexter Creator James Manos Jr. Praised The Bold Decision

Rita Bennett's demise in "The Getaway", the finale of season 4, the best Dexter season, was a dramatic and haunting conclusion to one of the show’s most intense seasons. Rita’s death was orchestrated by the Trinity Killer, a methodical and sad*stic murderer portrayed by John Lithgow, whom Dexter had been tracking throughout the season. The scene was shocking, revealing Rita dead in a bathtub filled with her own blood, mirroring the Trinity Killer’s pattern of killing women. This marked a horrifying full circle for Dexter, who, in his pursuit to stop Trinity, inadvertently exposed Rita to danger.

The buildup to this tragic event was a masterclass in tension and misdirection. Dexter believed he had finally outsmarted Trinity, arguably the best Dexter villain, and could return to his life, only to discover the devastating result of his double existence. The murder was not depicted on-screen; instead, Dexter discovering Rita's body created a poignant and heart-wrenching moment that left viewers in shock.

Michael C. Hall praised the bold decision, noting how it propelled the story forward and opened new avenues for character development and plot exploration (via EW). Hall noted:

"I knew what was going to happen probably three or four weeks before it happened. As far as the how, that was much closer to the day of. I thought it was brilliant. I was really proud of the writers, and the network, for not backing away from so bold a step. It really propels us forward in a way that we wouldn’t have enjoyed otherwise. And what it could mean for the character is really wide open."

However, Julie Benz was understandably devastated. Speaking to the Inside of You podcast (via LAD Bible), said it was the worst moment of her career. She only found out three days before when she was called in to do ADR (automated dialogue replacement) on her day off and was then asked to go to the producers' room. Benz discussed having a panic attack and calling her manager and boyfriend for moral support. She said,

"When you get called to the producers' room, you're being killed off a show, it's just, you just know that... So I was only in a sports bra and a pair of leggings, and I went to do ADR that way... So all I could think about was that movie where the guy gets broken up with while he's naked, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, that's all I could think about, like, 'I don't have a shirt on and I'm losing my job'. Like, I felt so vulnerable... I was [bawling], I was really upset... I loved it [the show]. Also it was such a great family, and then here you are being told, like, 'OK, well we're still going to get together as a family but you're on your own'."

Rita's Dexter Death Is Part Of The Problematic "Fridging" Trope

Rita Was Reduced To A Mere Catalyst For The Male Protagonist's Story

The term "fridging," short for "women in refrigerators," originates from a 1990s comic book trope where female characters are killed, maimed, or depowered as a plot device to motivate male characters. This term has since been adopted more broadly to describe similar patterns in other media, including television and film. Rita’s death in Dexter is a textbook example of this trope: her violent demise is primarily used to alter Dexter's trajectory and emotional state rather than serving her own narrative arc.

The problem with fridging lies in how it reduces complex female characters to mere catalysts for the male protagonist's story, often ignoring the potential depth and agency of the female characters themselves. In Dexter, Rita's development over four seasons as a recovering survivor of domestic abuse who finds strength in her new life made her death feel particularly jarring and disheartening. It stripped away the possibility of further exploring her character independently of Dexter's storyline.

Using the Dexter Rita death as a dramatic pivot point for the protagonist emphasizes a narrative dependence on violence against women as a form of emotional manipulation. This not only perpetuates problematic storytelling norms but also desensitizes audiences to the gravity of such acts, framing them as necessary for the greater narrative good. Rita's death aired in 2009, 10 whole years after the "fridging" term was coined, proving that Hollywood had (and still has) a long way to go in doing right by female characters.

Sources: EW, LAD Bible

Dexter

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Mystery

Drama

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Based on the character created by author Jeff Lindsay, Showtime's Dexter follows Miami Metro Police Department's most skilled blood spatter analyst, Dexter Morgan, as he attempts to satisfy his Dark Passenger's need to kill by hunting down criminals who have escaped justice. However, using the rules his adoptive father taught him to remain undiscovered, Dexter must walk the fine line of seemingly blending into society while continuously feeding his dark urges. Dexter faces several serial killers as his facade slowly crumbles around him; with every problem solved by his Dark Passenger, another one arises for his suburban fatherly life. When Dexter takes things personally or feels that the law is failing, he takes matters into his own hands and even compromises the investigations of his co-workers. Dexter aired on Showtime for eight seasons before receiving a mini-sequel series called Dexter: New Blood, which picked up ten years after the show's events. You can buy each season for just $9.99 for Prime Day.

Cast

David Zayas , Michael C. Hall , Lauren Velez , C. S. Lee , James Remar , Jennifer Carpenter , Desmond Harrington , Julie Benz

Release Date

October 31, 2010

Seasons

8

Network

Showtime , CBS

Streaming Service(s)

Hulu , Amazon Prime Video

Writers

Jeff Lindsay , Scott Buck , Scott Reynolds , Tim Schlattmann , Karen Campbell , Melissa Rosenberg , Kevin Maynard , Wendy West , Manny Coto , Daniel Cerone , Jace Richdale , Drew Z. Greenberg , Chip Johannessen , Adam Fierro , Jim Leonard

Directors

Clyde Phillips

Showrunner

Clyde Phillips