One of the central figures in the original Dexter series was Julie Benz's Rita Bennett, who after crossing paths with Dexter Morgan, began a relationship and eventually married him. She had two children with her ex-husband, whose abusive nature left Rita traumatized.
It was their mutual emotional struggles that brought Rita and Morgan close, and more importantly, she was ideal for maintaining Dexter's secret life as a serial killer vigilante. Interestingly, Rita never came to know about Dexter's double life and always provided a facade of normalcy for him.
Over time, Rita got romantically attracted to Morgan as he would always care for her children and show kindness. Since her priority was looking after her kids, Rita didn't question Morgan's mysterious nature.
However, Rita gradually grew suspicious of Morgan due to inconsistencies in Dexter’s behavior. Some of the key events that raised flags were Morgan's entanglement with Lila Tournay, a Narcotics Anonymous sponsor; followed by his unexplained absences and odd actions. Despite the complications, Rita and Morgan reconciled and portrayed a happy couple.
Continue reading to explore Rita's fate and how it affected her husband.
Who was Rita Morgan in the original Dexter series: Exploring Julie Benz's character
Julie Benz's Rita Bennett who later became Rita Morgan was one of the key figures in the first four seasons of the Showtime series. She was introduced as a troubled and tortured mother of two, all thanks to her ex-husband Paul Bennett.
However, after meeting Dexter through Debra Morgan, the two quickly felt a connection and after their first meeting, they promised to meet again. This way, Rita entered the serial killer vigilante's life and added depth to the narrative.
Over time, Rita and Dexter's relationship evolved and she transformed into a stronger personality compared to when she was with Paul. In Season 3, she found out about her pregnancy with Morgan, which resulted in their marriage.
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The couple welcomed their first biological child Harrison and moved to the suburbs. However, in Season 4, tensions began to arise as Morgan would never share the truth with his wife, as he was dealing with the series one of the most haunting killers—Trinity Killer.
At the same time, Rita’s brief romantic temptation with a neighbor also contributed to their complicated relationship. However, the two reconciled as Rita ensured accepting her husband's flaws by saying "You have your own demons. I accept that", explaining that he made her life easier after Paul left her miserable.
Also Read: Dexter: Original Sin Season 1 release schedule - Every episode and when do they drop?
How did Rita Morgan meet her in Dexter?
It was in the same Episode 12 "The Gateway" when Rita explained her love for Morgan, without the two knowing that it would be their final moments together. As mentioned above, the Trinity Killer was the leading antagonist in Season 4, whom Dexter managed to kill but failed to stop him from committing his last crime.
Upon reaching home, Dexter heard a voicemail from Rita saying she would take the next flight to their honeymoon. When Morgan called her, he found Rita's phone in the house and later heard Harrison crying.
He rushed to the bathroom, and saw Rita's lifeless body in a bathtub filled with blood, mirroring the Trinity Killer's pattern of targeting women. He killed Rita as an act of revenge as Morgan caused notable trouble in his life, and before he got killed, he ensured causing another tragic incident in Dexter Morgan's life.
The sight of Harrison sitting in blood eerily mirrors Dexter’s origin story when he was found by Harry Morgan, sitting in the pool of his mother's blood. Rita's death didn't just serve as the greatest shock to the viewers and Morgan himself but also highlighted the consequences of leading a double life.
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