A man with a deadly secret (Dexter)

Member Name: IzzyS

Product:	Dexter
Date:	28/12/08 (91 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Interesting and intriguing characters, good story, good acting

Disadvantages: None really, for the type of show that it is (that is, if you can stomach it)

- Introduction -

Dexter is a US drama thats a Showtime show in the US and its become quite popular with adults over there, as well as here in the UK. Its based on the novels by Jeff Lindsay, such as 'Darkly Dreaming Dexter' and 'Dearly Devoted Dexter'.


- Whats Dexter all about? -

Dexter tells the story of Dexter Morgan (played by Michael C. Hall), a blood spatter expert who works for the Miami police, examining many various crime scenes. However, he hides a dark side and indeed he lives a double life, as the viewer discovers early on in the first season that he's actually a serial killer himself, who believes that he's helping the world out in his own way. So while during the first season, the Miami police department are tracking down the infamous 'ice truck killer' who keeps striking, they don't realise that they have a killer in their own team. Or do they? Is Dexters identity really safe? does Dexter himself have anything to do with the ice truck killer? without giving too much away about the show, I will say that there are multiple people involved, Dexter is just one of them and things get pretty personal. In the first season, both Dexter and the viewers learn alot about Dexters family, things that give an insight into why he is how he is and dare I say it, even make you feel somewhat sorry for him and perhaps partially understand why he does what he does...

Also in the Miami police department, working close by to Dexter is his sister, Debra Morgan (played by Jennifer Carpenter). While Dexter is normally a very quiet person at work, Debra is more outgoing, a bit louder and 'in your face'. Also close to Dexter is his casual girlfriend, Rita (played by Julie Benz, who people might know as having played the vampire Darla in Angel and the original Buffy The Vampire Slayer show). Rita is less than happy, having split from her husband Paul and with her children to look after, so she hopes better times lay ahead with Dexter. Dexter is wary as he's never been one to go too far commitment wise with the opposite sex, infact I think he claims that he's always left the other half as soon as they've had sex. Things do seem to be slightly different with Rita though, which makes him question things.


- The Tone of the Show -

The show is quite dark, obviously and its certainly not for the squeamish. Be prepared to see gory crime scenes with oodles of blood and of course there are scenes of murder in this show. The murders that take place tend to be quite... butcher-like, with the victims often tied up and hung from hooks or taped to a rather clinical trolley, or something similar to that.


- Extra Info. & My Thoughts on 'Dexter' -

In the show, you hear alot of Dexters thoughts which are put across by way of narration from the actor. This is what I find so interesting though, the narration gives viewers a real insight into Dexters thoughts, the reasoning behind some of his actions, the way he feels about certain things and his justification for what he does. It becomes clear that while he isn't entirely happy, I feel, with what he does and he becomes increasingly more paranoid that his secret double life will somehow, inevitably be discovered and that will be the end of him, also there is a part of him that feels that he is providing a service for the public. He picks his victims in a certain way and puts thought into who he will kill and why, with the belief that its somehow what needs to be done and that he's giving justice to others in doing that. Its kind of hard to explain if you haven't seen the show but hopefully this helps give you a brief idea of the way he sees things and what the show is like. Its because of how he explains things through the narration given, that I think the viewer can in part feel both intrigued and perhaps even slightly sorry for him and its this interest and curiosity in this very complicated and flawed character that is Dexter, that makes you keep watching the show.

I'm not generally one to watch such a gory at times show, as this. I did used to watch Nip/Tuck for a few seasons but there again, I felt the storyline became pretty weak after a few seasons and also I couldn't stomach a great deal more surgery scenes, I can be slightly squeamish myself, even when I know its just a fictional show! this is why I hadn't followed this show from the start. I was aware of the show though and had seen posts on an online forum that discusses TV shows and saw many people in Britain were finding this to be a good TV show and so when it was shown from the start (start of season one) on ITV1, I ended up putting it on to see what it was like, when I was bored and after seeing one episode, I decided to keep watching. I have now gone on to watch the second season on FX and I know the third season is being shown in the US, so the show isn't about to finish anytime soon.

Also I should mention that the story is quite complicated and, certainly in the first season, it gets more complicated as each episode passes, pretty much, so you do have to pay attention to be able to really follow it all properly, hence its best to watch it from the start. Its not like some shows where there's a different story to each episode and no continuation of a main plot, in this show there is alot of baggage, plot wise, which continues with every episode, pretty much. Also as much as there is alot of gore and violence present in some episodes, I wouldn't say that there is alot of blood and guts and such like present in each and every episode of the show. For each season/series so far, there are a few notable episodes where there is perhaps an over indulgence in this but in the other episodes between these ones, there isn't so much in the way of visually offensive material, although every episode contains quite alot of very strong/heavy language.


- What are the performances/cast like? -

I do think that Michael C. Hall plays his character, Dexter, very well. He does have a pretty creepy look about him (no offence! lol), he has 'that' look in his eye that you see on the show and can really believe that he does what his character does, it helps you become more interested and even in part accept that he does live this double life... all the other characters are well played by their actors and actresses too, the performances I think are all very good, from the female lieutenant who struggles to keep her position as basically the head of the 'Ice Truck Killer' operation (played by Lauren Velez), to the sergeant (James Doakes) who works close to Dexter and starts to have his own suspicions about him (played by Erik King), as well as Rita and Debra, who have already been mentioned above.


- Conclusions -

So, should I bother watching this then, I hear you ask? well, thats up to you. I've tried to explain what its about and warn what its like, it depends on if you think this would interest you and if you think you can stomach it. The first season is already out in the UK on DVD boxset (check the usual retailers), so if you missed the first season on ITV1 and FX, you can always buy the DVDs and catch up that way. The show is rated 18, as far as the DVDs are concerned, as it is quite bloody and graphic and there is also a fair bit of strong language, so you've been warned.

If you like CSI and are interested in watching a graphic crime drama show that gives an insight into a fictional serial killers mind, with a complicated storyline that gets deeper as the series continues, then this is for you. You will have to pay attention to follow the story in its entirety through to the end but I think it is worth it.


- Where/when can I see this show? -

The second season finished a while ago on the FX channel on cable in the UK and im sure the channel shows repeats of it at times. The first season was shown on ITV1 after it was shown on the FX channel too, so I presume ITV1 might also play season two as well but either way, if you haven't seen the show then you can always catch up by renting or buying the official DVD boxsets, which can be bought for about the £25-£30 mark for each series/season boxset, which is about the same price as any other similar US crime drama boxset.

I hope this review has been helpful, thanks for reading it and thanks again for any and all r/r/c's. This review was originally posted on Ciao UK under my username which is the same name (IzzyS).

Summary: A blood spatter expert working in the Miami Police department leads a double life as a serial killer