Dexter : A Review

[thekay]

Based on the book, Darkly Dreaming Dexter [there's a comma in there somewhere I think- it's getting late], Dexter stars Michael C Hall [last seen in Six Feet Under] as a blood spatter forensics expert who has a very icky dark side. Produced by Showtime, Dexter is not for the faint hearted, and all children should be removed from the vacinity when viewing!

The secret Dexter is hiding? To put it lightly, he's a serial killer who really enjoys torturing and disposing of his victims in a manner he feels they deserve. The bright side?... He only goes after people he feels are more evil than he is... In the premiere this week, he dispatched a man who got away with molesting and killing young boys in his children's choir and a man who viciously stalked and murdered a young mother, but got off on a warrant technicality. In essence, Dexter sees himself as just one guy who is trying to ensure justice prevails.

Dexter's problem is of course, is his psychological/emotional issues. He admitedly fakes his way through life, following and upholding societal norms, and "lovingly" looks after his foster sister. He also looks out for his "girlfriend," [a victim of severe domestic abuse from her previous husband], whom he doesn't really have the "normal lustful feelings" for- he enjoys however her companionship, understanding and listening ear... and I think he likes interacting with her children too, as he secretly misses his childhood and innocence.

He is of course, being nice to others so that he gets opportunities to see and try to solve horrific murders, as he charms his way in getting unsolved files and onto fresh crime scenes. Oh, and he's fixated on blood... which is probably good since he's in that line of work.

His current puzzle to date involves a series of apparently escalating murders where prostitutes are carved up into chunks and left in not so isolated areas. With no real witnesses coming forward, the cases are driving the police crazy- but not as much as Dexter... why? because at all the crime scenes, there is no blood anywhere.

Half wanting to get this unknown murderer for his crimes against his victims, and half wanting to find him so he can learn how the killer manages to do his "art", Dexter is on this case.

Any thoughts from those of you that have seen it? Since it's not on normal cable and not yet international as far as I know, it might not be available for everyone, and not everyone might want to see it. The current buzz is that it's amazing- Hall is after all a great actor!, and the CSI stuff is interwoven very well. I just hope Horatio Caine doesn't show up

[Poseidon]

I went to the site and checked out the book's title, Kay! It's Darkly Dreaming Dexter.

[thekay]

Yes- Realized I typed it wrong this afternoon when I looked at the TV guide; Movie Central [HBO+Showtime, etc Canadian version] replays it the following day and then again a few days later- helpful for those that miss it the first time.

I'm editing my post above- no one ever said I was a professional TV reviewer !

[Dangerzone]

i downloaded the show..................not bad at all

there are a lot of good new series this year, as opposed to the one or two from last year

[thekay]

Is that ever true- I was very frustrated last year with all the rip offs and doomsday shows that sealed their own dooms by being either stupid or poorly done. The few interesting ones [Threshold for example] was axed after the network decided they wanted money instead and shoved it over to horrible Friday time slots. I hope that this year's crop of shows make it further- they are a little bit more varied, but still quite a few heists or kidnappings/CSI involved creations... but I'm happy as long as they don't go through with the oft threated TV version of Dude, Where's My Car?...

[Poseidon]

Don't mention Threshold to me, Kay! Personally, I find its premise rather repulsive...

[thekay]

Perhaps you should avoid Dexter then Poseidon- being a Showtime production, it's pretty gory and graphic.

[Poseidon]

The premise of Threshold is that of an alien invasion of insects whose plan was to infest humans to make them like them while Dexter's premise, while it is both graphic and gory, deals with a killer working for the police!