Leaving it open as to who was shot, would have been a really good ending for the series.

I read somewhere, although I now have no recollection where, probably Perez Hilton or something that William Baldwin was on some sort of morning/chat show and said that ABC are still monitoring DSM and have not released the actors from their contracts/dismantled any of the sets, suggesting their is still hope of a renewal, but that the season will end with a definitive answer as to who killed Dutch. I would like for this series to return, it, along with Lipstick Jungle, has drastically improved this season and it would be a shame to lose it. I think given the current economic climate and TV networks trying to cut costs, that shorter seasons could be a way forward. It works in British television, where each season of Footballers' Wives was only eight episodes long...maybe shows like DSM might return next season again? I know, it's a long shot, but I'd love it to happen.

I like the idea of shorter seasons as well. Especially since those that are seem to be better shows because they don't need to do filler episodes.