Comic-Con 2012: ‘Dexter’ Panel

If 'Dexter's crazy promos plastered all over the internet (and all over San Diego, for that matter) wasn't already hinting at this, the Showtime series had an enormous presence at Comic-Con 2012. It started with the addictively funny internet memes and continued long after its Thursday night panel.

Fans of the show all gathered in Ballroom 20 to hear Michael C. Hall, Jennifer Carpenter, Yvonne Strahovski, John Goldwyn, Sara Colleton and Scott Buck give out some inside information on what can be expected from the upcoming season.

When last we left 'Dexter' in season 6, Deb finally learned the truth about Dexter's killer instinct (it only took six seasons). We weren't left completely in the dark, however, thanks to a suggestive poster and trailer for the new season, airing Sunday, September 30. But what did the panel have to say about what's to come?

We open of course, on what we’ve all been waiting for – the first two minutes of the ‘Dexter’ Season 7 premiere!  You can catch on ScreenCrush, but we’ve got the scoop firsthand!

The first thing Debra naturally does upon catching her brother, is to take out her gun!  Smart one, that Deb.  Dexter pleads with her to put it down, insisting that he came to do one last forensics sweep before Travis confronted him with a sword, and Dexter was forced to kill him in self-defense!  So…why’s he wrapped up in plastic?

Well, something in Dexter “snapped” after Rita died, but as for the plastic…he’s a forensics expert!  He didn’t even think about it, he just knew what to do not to leave a trace.  Just then, Deb starts calling the station, as Dexter moves ominously toward her to prevent it!  But he wouldn’t harm his sister, would he?  As much as we all want to for the feelings she developed last season?

Well, anyway.  Out comes the cast!  Michael C. Hall certainly hopes that Debra bought that story, at least for the moment.  Deb will be around this season, so it’s safe to say that she’ll be okay.  But will Deb slowly clue in to her brother’s true nature?  According to Jennifer Carpenter, she’s taking things one step at a time. As or those romantic feelings, she seems to think that Dexter stabbing someone in front of her “trumps those thoughts,” but her fascination with him might create some “slight allowances” for them to recur.  This will be the first season that Deb feels “lost,” without any kind of compass.

Speaking on Dexter’s human evolution, Michael C. Hall seems to think that through what happened with Debra, Dexter will learn to be more human, not just in shiny, happy ways, but in ways that represent the darker side of humanity, to be manipulative, paranoid, even self-serving.  One interesting dynamic that Deb being in on the secret creates is that now, one of young Harrison’s guardians knows what kind of influence Dexter might have on his development.

Have no fear, as James Remar’s Harry will be back as well, both in new flashbacks to Dexter and Deb’s youth, as well as a representation of Dexter’s subconscious.

But wait, what of new guest star Yvonne Strahovski, and her “dangerous, mysterious” Hannah McKay?  Yvonne didn’t reveal much that we didn’t already know, but did mention that she’d only shot for a few days thus far.  Given that we saw part of the premiere during the panel, might it be safe to say that Hannah doesn’t appear until a few episodes on?  In either case, Yvonne certainly knows her character’s story, but isn’t telling.

Keep it here for all the latest from ‘Dexter’ season 7, and let us know what you want to see in the comments!  And don’t forget to check out the first two minutes of the season 7 premiere!