It is the 84th overall episode of the series and was written by executive producers Scott Buck and Tim Schlattmann, and directed by Steve Shill.
Set in Miami, the series centers on Dexter Morgan, a forensic technician specializing in bloodstain pattern analysis for the fictional Miami Metro Police Department, who leads a secret parallel life as a vigilante serial killer, hunting down murderers who have not been adequately punished by the justice system due to corruption or legal technicalities.
In the episode, LaGuerta arrests Dexter for Hector Estrada's murder, while wanting the precinct to accept her theory that he is the Bay Harbor Butcher.
According to Nielsen Media Research, the episode was seen by an estimated 2.75 million household viewers and gained a 1.4 ratings share among adults aged 18–49.
[1] The episode received highly positive reviews from critics, who praised Jennifer Carpenter's performance, closure to LaGuerta's storyline, tone and shocking ending.
Dexter (Michael C. Hall) visits Hannah (Yvonne Strahovski), where she confesses that she poisoned Debra (Jennifer Carpenter) to prevent her from separating them.
Suddenly, LaGuerta (Lauren Vélez) appears with two officers, arresting Dexter for the murder of Hector Estrada.
LaGuerta accuses him of Estrada's murder through photos, but Dexter debunks her theories, telling her that she cannot let go of the idea that James Doakes was the Bay Harbor Butcher.
However, LaGuerta shows her a security footage video of Debra at a gas station on the night of Travis Marshall's death.
Dexter sneaks into LaGuerta's house, finding that she wants to track his and Debra's move on the night of Travis' death.
Debra attends Angel's New Year's Eve party at his restaurant, but discovers that Dexter has tricked LaGuerta to the shipping yard.
In that moment, Dexter, for the first time, acted in a totally selfless manner; willing to die to save the "goodness" in Deb.
Deb's murder of LaGuerta will surely have some huge emotional ramifications, but it didn't seem very climactic, nor did it justify some of the weaker points of the season.
At the very least, Yvonne Strahovski's Hannah McKay will likely return in some capacity, as we await news of how the final season will unfold.
"[8] Richard Rys of Vulture gave the episode a perfect 5 star rating out of 5 and wrote, "Now, that's how you finish a season.
Cliff-hangers can be fun in a masochistic way, like waiting months wondering how Deb would react after seeing Dexter kill Travis Marshall.
"[9] Katy Waldman of Slate wrote, "By targeting LaGuerta, a true innocent, Dex slid to the bottom of a slippery slope that has beckoned him since day one.
"[10] Drusilla Moorhouse of Zap2it wrote, "This isn't going to be easy to explain when Dexter returns for its eighth and final season.
isn't just the phrase uttered by Doakes in a few flashbacks - which, by the way, seems out of place, so if you have a reasoning for its purpose, please let me know - but at the end, it feels more like the show tells us as viewers, surprise!
"[12] Nick Harley of Den of Geek wrote, "So with LaGuerta out of the picture and the Morgans' bound tighter than ever, what else could possibly lie in wait for Dexter?
With only one season left, will Hannah become the final loose end that forms a noose for Dexter or will someone notice the framing of LaGuerta's murder; like the newly retired Batista?