fourth season finale american television drama series 48th overall episode series originally aired showtime december episode goes great lengths stop arthur knows true identity learns truth mother homicide division closes support acknowledges hidden demons written based story directed marked conclusion plotline final regular appearance guest star portrayed episode included death wife portrayed regular cast member beginning series protect twist ending death producers imposed strict security measures included distribution fake alternate endings forcing staff members sign non disclosure agreements received generally positive reviews commentators calling twist ending shocking unexpected likely change direction entire series according nielsen ratings episode watched million households making watched original series episode showtime history plot having learned truth identity arthur confronts police station knows arthur warns leave leaves follows arthur car accidentally strikes car way follows arthur bank sees arthur bring large envelope van attacks arthur knocking dragging van realizes envelope filled cash plans arthur van away kill arthur spots driver car struck earlier talking police officers car hides envelope confronts driver acts frustrated attacks detained police time released arthur gone recovers envelope money continues looking mysterious woman secret affair father harry old informant harry takes woman house recognizes house ice main villain season engaged tried kill informant reveals woman sage researching learns mother ice brother police discovered real identity trinity arthur house confronts surprise fears close realizing secret life serial killer instead says believes ice loves foster brother inspired partially partially desire better family man arthur considers giving killing people convincing wife safely town searches arthur eventually tracking capturing insists like arthur arthur insists right killed framing hammer arthur tells arthur body boat comes realize love family starting need kill begins hope future killing returning home finds message came home airport forgot identification returns phone find cell phone bags house hears harrison crying bathroom finds dead harrison sits pool blood bathroom floor manner left pool mother blood youth gave tendencies production fourth season finale directed written based story final episode helmed runner executive producer departure spend time family filming ended october episode originally aired showtime december marked conclusion season long plotline featured serial killer primary antagonist fourth season episode included death regular character beginning series death screen killer specifically identified strongly suggested killed confirmed true interview aired showtime immediately episode originally broadcast said future series determined fifth season set begin february death alluded producers told media outlets included series changing twist leading widespread speculation possibility character death possibility learning truth brother nature extra security precautions taken prevent finale secrets exposed network staff members forced sign non disclosure agreements scripts drafted protect twist ending fake alternate endings learned news child murderer escaping prison episode end trying decide join vacation escaped killer essential cast staff allowed set filming episode scripts dvds episode taken set phillips claimed staff know finale conclude late season phillips said death began feel inevitable story evolved said told knew beginning season phillips said staff felt simply kill final episode especially felt death season antagonist played handled writers discussed idea having find secret life decided drastically series changed revelation heard rumors character killed episode officially notified late september producers held meeting day season finale script distributed cast said tough meeting bizarre way felt like scene unhappy news handled professionally described death scene poetic executive producer said difficult kill long standing character felt needed taken felt motives arthur killing deliberately open interpretations including arthur killed bizarre way trigger deal asked arthur told secret life killing phillips said answer determined fifth season planned added think tell called ending bold stroke reset stage series character began feel live emotional connection wife family hall said ending felt audience think kind thing going tie people knots called death fantastic choice said shed completely different light final scene arthur appears somewhat sympathetic audience learned arthur said knew arthur killed beginning season said particularly enjoyed working particularly cited opening scene police station said hall great working rhythms finding real meaning moment realizes arthur advantage said enjoyed final scene including moment realized daughter committed suicide unusual character moment like moment pain reception ratings broke records showtime cable network finale episode seen million households according nielsen ratings making watched original series episode network history rating surpassed record broken week prior episode hello seen million households pair episodes watched showtime telecast october broadcast boxing match seen percent viewers season finale morgan aired december high ratings gave boost season finale aired immediately season finale episode seen million households highest viewership series critical reaction episode received critical acclaim cited critics best series commentators calling twist ending shocking unexpected likely change direction entire series entertainment_weekly television writer ken_tucker praised twist episode said sent series spinning new direction season tucker praised writing staff maintaining suspense creating new world world awful universe trinity trapped family said episode good final scene twist shed different light scenes harris said twist nice know isn god ign reviewer gave episode incredible rating saying sure loved final moments arthur toy train bomb shelter looking scene knowing final moments episode filled eerie easter eggs definitely arthur said thought heard words saw beat line confused meaning fact arthur accepting death let know sinister play course real bitch having dispatched trinity officially spirit vengeance scene stands beautifully certainly given arthur send knew monster point fingers certain took entire season mistakes led demise satisfying constructed story actually buy believe end truly wanted rid spirit need kill trinity wound entire justice system wound catching arthur based solely expert detective work ign listed 2nd list kills saying murder america great review entire fourth season giving season incredible rating said finale came ton creepy guilty fun bet saw final scene season finale simply time spent characters years felt ton emotions known writer called ending said death shocking deaths television said twist ending intense woven feature moments led suspect different conclusions praised expected set series death declared best cable dramas called final scene arthur particularly touching said episode shocking called series leaves psychological run deeper darker awards director won primetime emmy award outstanding directing drama series episode addition nominated outstanding single camera picture editing drama series
The Getaway (Dexter)