Season synopsis
Contains spoilers for this season and earlier seasons.
While stalking drug dealer Freebo, Dexter is forced to kill Oscar Prado in self-defense. Oscar’s brother, Assistant District Attorney Miguel Prado, comes to trust Dexter as they investigate the death; after Dexter finds and kills Freebo, Miguel helps conceal what happened. Their friendship deepens as Miguel feeds Dexter information about criminals who escaped prosecution and encourages him to act on it. Dexter tries to keep Miguel from becoming a partner, but a risky plan to free and kill an Aryan Brotherhood leader brings them closer. Meanwhile, Rita tells Dexter she is pregnant and will raise the baby with or without him; Dexter proposes, and she accepts.
Debra works toward a detective’s shield with new partner Joey Quinn and investigates the Skinner, a killer who removes his victims’ skin. Miguel asks to take part in a killing, then kills defense attorney Ellen Wolf on his own; Dexter realizes Miguel has been manipulating him and that their alliance has become dangerous. Dexter and Miguel try to undermine one another as LaGuerta investigates Wolf’s disappearance. Miguel helps the Skinner escape custody in exchange for targeting Dexter, while LaGuerta uncovers evidence tying Miguel to the murder. Dexter captures Miguel when he tries to reach LaGuerta and kills him, confessing before the act that he killed Oscar.
Dexter stages Miguel’s death as a Skinner murder, but Miguel’s brother Ramon suspects him and is arrested after threatening him. Dexter calms Ramon in jail. On the night before his wedding, the Skinner captures Dexter; Dexter breaks his own hand to escape, then kills the Skinner and makes the death look like suicide. Debra receives her detective’s shield, and Dexter attends his wedding to Rita.