It was day filled with Dexter deliciousness at Comic-Con as the cast took the stage to give us all the goods on a killer season. (Sorry it's a little after hours and we just couldn't resist that pun.)
When we last saw our favorite "Dark Defender," Dex and Rita had just walked down the aisle and were headed for wedded bliss, so all is well in suburbia, right?
Not so, says the man himself, Michael C. Hall: "In the first episode we see Dexter dealing with the fact that he doesn't have as much time as he'd like to have. He's a bit sleep deprived, which creates a frantic energy that we haven't seen characterized in his kills before."
Wait a minute, let's get this straight: the newly-dubbed hubby, step-father and baby daddy is still in murder mode? Looks like it.
"The theory of being a father appealed to Dexter...but he didn't appreciate how trapped it might make him feel and how difficult it would be to exercise his compulsions," explains Michael.
Click on the video above to see the gorgeous cast talk about it themselves and keep reading for more on Daddio Dexter and everything else season four has to offer...
Isn't there anything Dex likes about fatherhood? By the looks of it, it's definitely taking it's toll, but, hey, at least he has someone to share the tales of his nightly excursions with.
"Dexter feels a connection with the child that he doesn't feel with anyone else," he said. "His blood is in the baby's veins. He can say anything to that baby he wants and we might see some of that."
Might? Showtime gave us an exclusive first look at the new season (yes, we have it for you, too!) and within the first few seconds Dex is chatting away his ridiculously adorable baby boy—who is named Harrison as an homage to the one and only, Harry Morgan.
The always lovely Julie Benz was exactly that and more than happy to dish on Rita's vastly different outlook on things.
"Rita finally has it all—the husband that she always dreamed of she has a beautiful home, healthy kids. She's in a grounded, earth mother place—her life is exactly what she wants," says Julie.
Speaking of that other dad, everyone was beyond thrilled that James Remar is back as the omnipiscent Harry Morgan. Gushed Michael, "Dexter and his father will continue to have scenes together. They represent an internalized version of Dexter's father [and also his] relationship with himself, but it's developed ina great way to dig deeper into what makes Dexter tick."
Don't worry, we didn't forget about darling Detective Deborah. Jennifer Carpenter is on a mission with her character this season (we'll have much more of that in the next few weeks), but all we really want to know is if Deb will finally find some happiness.
"You'll see her move out of the shadow of Harry and unplug certain cords that don't fit with Dexter and every move she makes will be about herself," Jennifer says. So, is that a yay or nay on the happiness? "I don't know if she will be happy in the end, but it will be the most authentic she's been." Oh well, we're still keeping our fingers crossed.
Last, but certainly not least, as the Comic-Con crowd went absolutely bananas for newcomer—and clear fan fave—John Lithgow. (We have lots of goodies from him on his "Trinity Killer," but check out a peek of his eerily creeptastic killer in the trailer).
John fessed up to knowing each and every detail about his baddie, but spilled nothing. Not. One. Thing. Fret not because his charm won us all over when he informed everyone that his "first victim is High Commander Dick Soloman. I think we need to rest my zany television persona from 3rd Rock from the Sun." After he said those words, we were sold.
He may not have said a thing, but based on his praise of the scripts it sounds fantastic: "They have everybody on the edge of their seats, including the crew. The revelations are astonishing, they're so thrilling, complete surprises."
One reveal? John has yet to work with any cast members and they are about to start filming the sixth episode, so we're expecting lots of "lurking" and "stalking," as he so eloquently put it.
And while we're on the topic of new characters, this season of Dexter will be filled with a few familiar faces, too. Desmond Harrington is back as a series regular playing Detective Quinn and there will finally be some resolution on that whole I.A. storyline that was sort of left dangling. Keith Carradine's Frank Lundy comes into town to help with the Trinity Killer case, so Deb will definitely feel the affect of that. And her boyfriend Anton (David Ramsay) is still around, with that relationship going to "very interesting places."
So, there you have it. Season four of Dexter in a nutshell. We have so much more scoop on what's ahead, so be sure and check back on Monday's Spoiler Chat.
—Additional reporting by Natalie Abrams
Are you as crazy excited as we are to see Dexter on daddy duty? Let us know!