We've come to expect penultimate episodes of 'Dexter' seasons to be heart-pounding and intense, but the second-to-last episode of Season 6 raised the stakes of serial-killing suspense. In 'Talk to the Hand,' Dexter thwarted a poison gas attack aimed at Miami Metro and lost a showdown with Travis that ended with him set out to sea, surrounded by a ring of fire. It also opened a pandora's box of step-sibling sexual tension when Deb's therapist suggested she might be in love with Dexter.

To help bring some perspective to such a dizzying episode, AOL TV has an interview-cap with Dexter Morgan himself, Michael C. Hall. We discussed tonight's episode, the developments of Season 6 and where 'Dexter' may be headed in its final two seasons. Hall offered his thoughts on the Wormwood attack, the Gellar twist, and the new, strange wrinkle in his complex relationship with Jennifer Carpenter. Read on for the interview.

Over the six seasons I've been watching 'Dexter,' I have at times been frustrated that the show insists, season after season, on setting our man up with a double -- a partner, a lover, an enemy. Like other fans, I've bemoaned the predictability of it. But on the other hand, there is something to be said for a show that consistently tackles the fascinating idea of how others affect our view of ourselves.

Season Six of 'Dexter' has already shown it has two intriguing, disturbing and creepy "Big Bads" working for it in Travis and the Professor. They're murdering people in bizarre ritualistic ways and their storyline was the most compelling part of this episode, yet frustratingly, Edward James Olmos and Colin Hanks were only given a few minutes of screen-time. Using an abandoned temple as an evil lair, they orchestrated a grotesque final scene that made the Headless Horseman look quaint, sending a chopped-up, half-murder-victim, half-mannequin riding on two horses through a Miami block party.

Still, at this point it's unclear exactly what specific kind of twisted cult ideology is driving Travis and Professor Gellar's murderous weirdness. It feels like we should know by now, but I guess we're still in the weird ritualistic storytelling phase of this season's plot set-up. It's something about repentance and purity, but that lack of info is starting to walk a dangerous line between suspenseful and feeling like it's overdue. As Travis put it, "I don't believe what you are saying."

The future of 'Dexter' is in jeopardy.

According to Deadline, Showtime's long-running serial killer drama may come to a close all because of money.

Contract talks between the network and series star Michael C. Hall reportedly broken down on the same day as the strong 'Dexter' Season 6 premiere ratings posted.

With repeat airings included, the 'Dexter' Season 6 premiere was watched by about a total of 2.8 million viewers. It was the highest season opener for the network in 14 years.

Negotiations between Hall and Showtime have been ongoing, but the talks are rumored to have broken down over the $4 million gap in new salary deal. Hall's team is asking for $24 million for two more seasons of 'Dexter' while Showtime is offering $20 million for two additional years. The contract dispute won't affect Season 6.

"I'm scared right now," Jimmy Fallon said. Yeah, well -- this was to be expected. Michael C. Hall is best known for playing a serial killer on 'Dexter.' So inviting him onto your show, then having him sing a Christmas carol ... can have a certain creepy effect on some people.

On 'Late Night' (weeknights, 12:37AM ET on NBC), Michael performed his version of the classic tune 'Santa Claus Is Coming to Town' -- but he modified the lyrics somewhat. Not that it mattered very much. Hearing the original lines "You better watch out/ You better not cry" is already pretty unsettling, when they're delivered in Mr. Hall's unique ... idiom.

Still, by the time that Michael sang "Santa Claus will kill you/ If you're bad," Jimmy Fallon was starting to look mildly terrified, in a humorous kind of way.

Julia Stiles is one of those actresses, it seems, that divides people. Those of us who love her love her for her deep voice, her strange beauty (flat face and down-turning mouth) and her off-beat choices ('10 Things I Hate About You,' the 'Bourne' series, and now 'Dexter'). Those who don't like her point out -- rightly I suppose -- that she's monotone, odd-looking, and makes bad choices ('The Prince & Me,' 'Mona Lisa Smile').

Whatever you think of her, it's hard to imagine another actress who could deliver in the role of Lumen Pierce, Dexter's latest partner in crime. For one thing, she has experience playing the no-man's-land of emotional intimacy without physical intimacy.

In her role as Jason Bourne's girl Friday and as the untouchable Kat in '10 Things,' she has been a romantic lead where romance is off the menu. It's a key element to the developing relationship between Dexter and Lumen. Like Rita, she's recovering from trauma, but her trauma is fresh and horrifying -- sex is clearly even further from her mind than it was from Rita's on those early dates with Dex.

Michael C. Hall recently completed treatment for Hodgkin's lymphoma in March and reports that he's now in remission. His battle with cancer was an intensely personal one that he chose not to share with his 'Dexter' cast mates out of fear that it would derail the filming of season 4, he said on 'The Early Show' (weekdays, 7AM ET on CBS).

['Dexter' - 'Hello Bandit']

This episode wasn't as remarkable as the season premiere, but it did introduce several key characters and themes that should be important in this season's story arc.

First up, is the loss of Rita's kids, Astor and Cody. Stroppy Astor was beginning to grate on the nerves, even when cut significant slack for having just buried her murdered mother. And since sweet little Cody couldn't feasibly stay with Dexter (Michael C. Hall) while Astor moved in with her grandparents, it's understandable why the writers chose to banish the kiddos to Orlando and leave Dexter with only his biological son to raise. It's a blow to Dexter, though, because as he said, the step-children proved Dexter could feel, and now he's down to his sister and baby.

It's not every day that a talk show host asks a guest, "which one of us would you kill?" But it happened today on 'Live with Regis & Kelly' (weekdays at 9AM ET, check local listings). The guest was Michael C. Hall of 'Dexter,' and he was describing how it feels to play a serial killer every week when Regis asked him if his character would rather kill Regis or Kelly. Hall said he'd have to do some research first. (We've done plenty of research, and are willing to bet that Reeg would be more likely to end up on Dexter's table.)

Hall did say that personally, he's not the kind of guy who has a need to kill and dismember people. That's why they call it "acting." Good to know, Michael!

['Dexter' - 'My Bad']

America's favorite serial killer 'Dexter' is back for a fifth season, and now he's a widower in a grief-induced fog. The last time we saw Dexter Morgan (Michael C. Hall), he had returned home from finally killing the Trinity Killer (so awesomely played by Emmy-winner John Lithgow) to find his baby Harrison sitting in a pool of blood, and his wife Rita (Julie Benz) murdered in the bathtub.

But how does a psychopath grieve? Apparently, he randomly and bloodily kills a belligerent scumbag at a boat gas station. Until Dexter unleashed his rage at the idiotic boater (Note to readers: Telling a guy who's just admitted his wife just died "Your dead wife can suck my d--k" is likely to get your head bashed in), he had no idea how to show how upset he was with himself for being responsible for Rita's death.

In our Outside the Box interview, everyone's favorite serial killer, Michael C. Hall, and his 'Dexter' co-stars -- James Remar, C.S. Lee and Desmond Harrington -- answered questions submitted by fans.

The cast dug deep to answer your burning queries about which character is primed to be Doakes 2.0, if Trinity was Dexter's greatest foe and whether anyone is really safe from the mild-mannered blood splatter expert.

With the Emmy awards less than a week away, I'm continuing to pick who I think should and who I think will win the major awards.

On Friday, I discussed the Best Lead Actress in a Drama category. Today we look at their male counterparts in the Best Lead Actor in a Drama category.

Nominees:
Kyle Chandler, 'Friday Night Lights'
Bryan Cranston, 'Breaking Bad'
Matthew Fox, 'Lost'
Michael C. Hall, 'Dexter'
Jon Hamm, 'Mad Men'
Hugh Laurie, 'House'

Who will win: Wow. You could make a case for everyone in this category, given the strong episodes they each submitted. That being said, Bryan Cranston didn't give the Academy any reason to avoid giving him the award for the third year in a row. 'Breaking Bad' had an exceptionally strong season, and it says a lot that I don't even think Cranston was the best actor on his show this year -- Aaron Paul did that good of a job, but he's nominated in the supporting category -- but I still think he will take the prize.

If you haven't seen the fourth season of 'Dexter', STOP READING NOW.

I'm serious. Fans of the show have been so touchy about the possibility that they might have the shocking ending of the fourth season spoiled for them, even months after it aired, that I'm putting the warning up now to make sure no one accidentally reads something that'll make them so red hot with rage that the wax in their ears will melt.

During the panel for 'Dexter' at the TCAs this morning, Michael C. Hall, along with the stars and producers, all were in agreement that the theme for this season was atonement. And Dexter, obviously, has a lot to atone for.

Remember, if you haven't heeded my warning before, STOP READING NOW if you haven't seen season 4. Your day will be better if you do.

Want to interview a serial killer? Here's your chance!

For our Outside the Box interview series, we're gathering the men of 'Dexter' -- Michael C. Hall (the killer, Dexter Morgan, himself); Desmond Harrington (Joey Quinn); C.S. Lee (Vince Masuka); and James Remar (Harry Morgan) -- to answer questions posed by fans.

The most pressing concern for fans of Showtime's 'Dexter' at the show's Thursday night PaleyFest 2010 panel was touched on only briefly -- as if spending too much time on the topic was bad form -- or, worse, a jinx.

When series star Michael C. Hall took to the stage to a standing ovation -- it was impossible to miss his stocking cap. With the other stars and creators dressed to the nines across the Saban Theatre dais, that modest piece of headwear served as the uniform for an individual undergoing cancer treatment.

When it was pointed out to him that his reception might be the first "standing O" in PaleyFest history, Hall smiled, shrugged and pointed to his cap -- as if saying, "Well, it's the cancer treatment."