"I don't mind the cleavage between seasons on this show. It's in fact very tidy and neat that Dexter "disposes" of one big nasty serial killer each season. On season 1 we had the Ice Truck Killer, on season 2 we had the Bay Harbor Butcher, on season 3 we had the Skinner and now on season 4 we have this maybe Trinity Killer guy, all as major plot arches tidily cleaned up at the end of each season.

The huge story arches about each of the main characters are transposed between seasons very well, though. Dexter is still juggling his daytime, nighttime and family time "jobs", now with a baby son and getting away with everything everytime, Debra is still the detective investigating her father's past life, Masuka is still the major perv, Batista is still the good-hearted guy looking for love, Rita is still the role model mother, and so on and so on. So, all fine with me.

About the season 4 premiere itself, I thought there were precious moments, like Dexter getting dressed apparently just like the intro sequence, but looking all sleepy instead, and the ending cliffhanger, almost more suitable even for a season end, not an episode end. So, I liked it more than enough.

BTW, it's my first post ever here. I've passionately watched this show from the start, but only now did I start to lurk here and decided to join.
Sorry for the (too) long post."