Dexter Morgan is a disarming fellow, in more than ways than one. When he's not helping to solve crimes in his capacity as a blood splatter forensics expert for the Miami PD, he's methodically chopping up bad guys who slipped through the cracks of the justice system. Anyway, that's the premise for Showtime's new series, Dexter, premiering tonight at 10PM, ET.
Michael C. Hall (Six Feet Under) portrays the title character, loosely based on the novel Darkly Dreaming Dexter, by Jeff Lindsay. To the world at large, Dexter is an affable guy without a care in the world, the kind of guy who brings doughnuts to work for his co-workers to enjoy, who brightens everyone's morning with flippant, flirty remarks, whose every action reflects his love for the sun and sand lifestyle of Miami. Nobody would ever suspect that all his charm is a facade designed to hide the fact he is actually a sociopathic serial killer devoid of human emotion. His relationships, at least in his mind, are based solely on his need to divert attention from his sinister proclivities.
By and large, the people in his life play into his hands. His girlfriend Rita (Julie Benz) is a survivor of domestic abuse and, as a result, disinterested in sex. Since Dexter himself is incapable of feelings of intimacy, she's perfect for him. His adopted sister Debra (Jennifer Carpenter), the only person he feels any love for, looks to him for inspiration as she tries to move from the vice squad to homicide detective. Only Sgt. Doakes (Erik King), a cynical homicide veteran, suspects something isn't quite kosher with Dexter. The head of the homicide unit, Lt. Marja LaGuerta, is too focused on her unrequited feelings of lust for Dexter to suspect anything.
If all this sounds a wee bit comic book-ish, it should. The character of Dexter is much more aligned to pulp vigilantes like the Shadow than psychos like Ted Bundy. True, he stalks his victims, researches them obsessively, and takes pleasure in dissecting them alive. But there's a difference -- he only kills really bad guys — child murderers, snuff filmmakers, that ilk. Seems Dexter's foster father, himself a cop, channeled Dexter's love of vivisection into a tool for righteous justice. And it's this angle that Showtime is banking on. The idea that some people are so evil that no punishment is too harsh for them is one that resonates in our collective psyche, and a character like Dexter provides us with a cathartic release.
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Article comments
1 - Joan Hunt
Congrats! This article has been placed on Advance.net
I wish I got Showtime. This looks too good to miss!
2 - Snarkattack
I promised you a comment, and I delivered. But seriously, this sounds interesting and I would've read it earlier but I didn't see you'd had it published.
I get Showtime, so I'll be keeping an eye out for this. Just hope it doesn't get too gory.
3 - Ray Ellis
Thanks, Joan and Gem. If they keep up the momentum, "Dester" may be a winner. An obsessive compulsive detective seems an unlikely premise, too, but it workd for "Monk."
I wouldn't worry about it becoming too gorey, Gem. The show works on misdirection. When you have lines like,"Look! Or I'll cut your eyelids of right now," you don't really need visuals to prove your point.
4 - brad Schader
This show is everything I had hopes it would be. The opening scene between Dexter and the first victim we see (although they let us know he has been doing this for a long time) was just perfect. I hope they can keep it up because I was hooked from the first five minutes.
5 - Ray Ellis
CSI meets dark avenger--what's not to love? I think I'll be following this one on aregular basis.
6 - Vikk Simmons
Hmmm, I've been trying to decide if I should pay for Showtime just for this show.
7 - brad Schader
Yes you should.
8 - Josh
Excellent series, very addicting, often find myself craving for the next episode.
9 - alvania
a unique entringuing series that keeps you gueled to your screen
10 - Rixo
Its a nice tv show, i like it. Dexter is a one of the best tv series i ever watch. Looking forward to third series.
11 - jamison
hands down the best character ever!!!