"I somewhat agree. I liked Doakes and he added a nice element to the show. He was a constant reminder that Dexter has to be careful, and it added tension in the first season that kept the idea that someday, Dexter could be caught, that he couldnt just glide through the world as a ghost.

That said, about part way through the Season, I started to sort of get used to the idea that Doakes had to be dealt with, and I am glad the show had the cajones to do it. Lets face it, to have the guts to kill off a character like that is something the average tv show wouldnt have done and in doing so, they have given Dexter life. I mean, it would have quickly become old hat to have Doakes constantly shadowing Dexter, hounding him for 4, 5, or even 6 seasons. My biggest complaint was that the show was beginning to lose it's way, and thus it's potential longevity with the path they were on. Dexter is a serial killer who tracks down bad people, with elite detective skills. In the first season, almost every episode had him tap-dancing through life, his emotions, Doakes, tracking another killer, a new victim every episode, all while trying to avoid being caught. In this season, we lost that, and spent much of our time watching Dexter wrestle with his internal demons but the threat of being caught was so prevalent that it took over and overshadowed any other aspect of the show. They had a point when they could have saved doakes character, when he thinks Dexter is an addict. But then they took it too far.
I'm glad they didnt leave it at a cliff hangar either or have Doakes or Lila just 'disappear' to haunt Dexter again in subsequent seasons. at least now we have other things we can see. lets not forget, the old man Dexter killed may have killed his mother, but he didnt give the order. There's more to that story. Lundy, i believe, will return. There's harry's tale. The series has new wings with which to fly, and the sky, is the absolute limit."