Move over, Hannibal Lecter, because Dexter Morgan (Michael C. Hall) has become all the rage when it comes to fictional serial killers. Since 2006, when Showtime first began airing Dexter, the series has been frequently mentioned among the best that television has to offer.
Based on Jeff Lindsay’s novel, Darkly Dreaming Dexter, and developed for television by James Manos, Jr (whose impressive resume includes being a writer/producer on the first season of The Sopranos, where his writing earned him an Emmy, and the first two seasons of The Shield), Dexter has a very intriguing concept as our “hero” uses his homicidal tendencies for good.
As a young boy Dexter was adopted by a police officer, Harry Morgan (James Remar), who became aware of Dexter’s issues when he started killing animals. Rather than seek help, Harry decided to right wrongs he saw within the justice system by turning Dexter into a vigilante who would kill people guilty of murder that went unpunished. This allows Dexter to fulfill his pathology.
Dexter’s life is consumed with murder. He works as a blood-splatter expert for the Homicide division of the Miami Police Department. Not only is it the department his father worked in, but his adoptive sister Debra (Jennifer Carpenter) is a police officer there as well. Lt. Maria LaGuerta (Lauren Vélez) heads the division and Dexter works under her, which she wishes was a literal statement considering how strong she comes on. Sgt. James Doakes (Erik King) is the only police officer who senses there’s something not right about Dexter.
Dexter has a girlfriend, but he just uses her as a beard to fit within society because he’s not into sex. Rita’s (Julie Benz) marriage was very abusive, so she has intimacy issues, which works well for Dexter and makes him look very sweet and understanding in her eyes. She also has two young kids, Astor and Cody.
The First Season is comprised of 12 episodes and has a story arc that deals with the Ice Truck Killer, a serial killer who not only neatly chops bodies into pieces, but also removes their blood. Dexter is awed by his peer’s skills and ingenuity and gets pulled into The Ice Truck Killer’s grand scheme when clues are left in Dexter’s home and pictures from Dexter’s past are left at crime scenes.
The series grips you from the very first episode with its compelling premise. Michael C. Hall is captivating on screen and the combination of his acting skills and the series’ writing makes a viewer forget his previous memorable role as David Fisher on HBO’s Six Feet Under. It is rare for an actor to bring two vastly different characters to life and to do each so well in such a short time span. He is also joined onscreen by a talented cast. Even though the show is about killing and murder, the show is very light on gore.
Article comments
1 - Aaron
Seriously! What is up with Showtime and their extremely sub-par offerings in the extras department?
But, you're right the show looks fantastic in HD.
2 - El Bicho
Don't know. It's not like there's not enough space on the discs