Dexter (serial, spoiler, movies, series)

[Tricky D]

The serial confessions of a DeX-head (someone hoplessly addicted to the Showtime TV series Dexter)
Hi. my name is Tricky D and I'm a series-a-holic.
But I have it under control tho.
My main choice of poison is the Showtime TV series Dexter. The series is based on the novel Darkly Dreaming Dexter by Jeff Lindsay.
I simply luv the idea of a serial killer hunting other serial killers. But the main hook of the series is the struggle of a psychopath who wants to be normal. Dexter knew from his early childhood that he is different, he tried everything to just be normal but he simply isn’t.
He can’t relate to other people because he cannot connect with his own feelings. Luckily his (foster)father taught him to only kill evil people. In order to not standout he has learned to blend in. I just find it interesting to see him learn to become more and more empathic during the season.
At the end of the 1st season he is almost normal (besides his urge to kill evil people) he has a girlfriend, which he has chosen, because, like him, she has some serious intimicay issues. And he developes a closer bond with his sister to which he had to keep secret that he is a serial killer.

Orphaned at the age of three and harboring a traumatic secret, Dexter (Michael C. Hall) was adopted by a Miami police officer named Harry Morgan who recognized his sociopathic tendencies and taught him to channel his gruesome passion for killing and disecting in a "constructive" way: by killing only heinous criminals (such as mob assassins and serial killers of the innocent) who have slipped through the justice system. To satisfy his interest in blood and to facilitate his own crimes, Dexter works as a blood spatter analyst for the Miami police. Although his drive to kill is unflinching (he begins to become overcome by a feeling of "emptiness" otherwise), he is, through extensive instruction from Harry, able to fake normal emotions and keep up his appearance as a socially-responsible human being. He is well-liked by most of his colleagues (with the exception of Sgt. James Doakes), his girlfriend, and her children. The complete season one of Dexter was released in a 4 disc DVD package on

Dexter begins the season unable to satisfy his urges for over a month due to the constant surveillance of Sgt. Doakes. When the opportunity to kill arises, he has problems executing his victims

Fans of Bones should check out Dexter.

Rita's relationship with Dexter becomes more tense as she and her children are dealing with the death of her ex-husband Paul, the result of a prison fight. Her late ex-husband's suggestion that Dexter was to blame for his imprisonment eats at her conscience and eventually Rita accuses Dexter of setting up her ex-husband. Dexter admits to setting up Paul, but Rita refuses to believe that Dexter premeditated the crime. She assumes that Dexter is a heroin addict, an accusation to which he acquiesces, and she vows to stay with him while he goes through Narcotics Anonymous.

Everyone loving Fightclub should check out Dexter.

Deb continues to struggle with the trauma of her experience with the Ice Truck Killer. For a sense of safety and comfort she stays with her brother, another new source of stress in Dexter's life.

Everyone loving Grey’s Anatomy also should check out Dexter. It has the same level of drama and the charcters do evolve.

Source: Dexter (TV series - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

[desertgirl]

I watched the premiere last season, thinking it was a movie. I loved it! I got my husband to watch the premiere which I taped and didn't say anything about it. After it ended, I asked him what he thought. He turned to me and said, "That was so good!" We're both hooked on the series. It got rave reviews from critics. Some predicted that Michael C. Hall was going to be nominated for a Best Actor Emmy. He didn't though but got nominations from the SAG and Golden Globes.

What I like about Dexter: the originality, the self-narration and the entire cast of characters and of course, Hall in the role of Dexter. I can't imagine anyone else playing Dexter.

Here's a link to critics' reviews.

Dexter (Showtime) - Reviews from Metacritic

[tigerlily]

We don't subscribe to ShowTime, but we have On Demand and a few weeks ago they let nonsubscribers see the first season of Dexter and Brotherhood The premise of a serial killer acting as vigilante is fascinating. Most of the shows that were worth watching on HBO have been cancelled so we're thinking of picking up ShowTime. I'd also like to read the book.

[Tricky D]

It's good to know that I'm not the only Dex-head.
I luv that Dexter has joined the AA support group. I mean I have to admit that I got a bit 'tired' that he kept killing other serial killers to keep the series dramatic. Luckily they have solved this with Dex talking to his mentor.

What do you guys think of his new mentor and the possible 'mum-in-law'?

[desertgirl]

Spoiler alerts for those planning on watching Season 1 DVDs.

I haven’t formed an opinion on Rita’s mother yet because her character is too new. I liked the introduction of the AA sponsor but I wish her character didn’t turn out to be so strange. She may be similar to Dexter’s brother in Season 1 when he served as a weird foil to Dexter’s character. It looks like the mother and sponsor will make this season very interesting assuming they are not too over-the-top.

I agree that the AA meetings gave us a refreshing breather from Dexter’s killings. He only killed one person so far this season.

Don’t you think the writers injected a little more humor this season? Examples:

Just when we thought Rita was going to break things off with Dexter, she eagerly embraced Dexter and decided to help him after he admitted to being an addict. She seems to like troubled men.

Sgt. Doakes wanted to nail Dexter for something.... anything... simply because Dexter’s calm, unfeeling personality gave him the creeps. After stalking Dexter to a AA meeting, Doakes did a 180 degree turn and suddenly backed off Dexter with a high degree of sympathy. In Doakes’ mind, Dexter’s so-called drug addiction can explain a lot of his behavior. Doakes’ harassment of Dexter was quite funny.

The look on Rita’s face when she sees Dexter with his new sponsor was worth a million bucks. She can’t complain because after all, she begged and cajoled Dexter into getting help.

I can’t wait until the next episode.

[Tricky D]

Originally Posted by desertgirl

I haven’t formed an opinion on Rita’s mother yet because her character is too new.

True, but I always trust my 1st impressions (even when they are fictional characters). I find it interesting that she doesn't mind that evil people got massacred by the Bay Butcher.
I suspect that she is a very clever lady and might even discover that Dexter is the Bay Butcher. But even then, she will like Dexter more than her daughter's ex-husband.

Don’t you think the writers injected a little more humor this season?

I can't decide, I always found Dexter's comments on 'normal' people funny even when they are ironic truth-bombs.
I especially liked his comment on his girlfriend's mother; at 1st it he thought of her as a nemesis because she was the-mother-in-law, but as soon as she commented that the Bay Butcher did society a favour by cleaning up the criminal element he quickly adjusted it.
Talking about judging a book by its cover.

Sgt. Doakes wanted to nail Dexter for something.... anything... simply because Dexter’s calm, unfeeling personality gave him the creeps. After stalking Dexter to a AA meeting, Doakes did a 180 degree turn and suddenly backed off Dexter with a high degree of sympathy.

Well I can understand Doakes, someone who is too normal is also suspect in my book. And I guess that because Doakes is a trained-killer himself, he would recognize Dexter as another killer.
I find it interesting that Dexter is not plagued by nightmares of having killed so many people, while trained men like Doakes often are.
Maybe it has to do with the fact that Dex is a natural born killer and the soldiers are only trained killers. So I don't think Dex would kill his girlfriend by accident, while Doakes divorced his wife because he was afraid that he could.

The look on Rita’s face when she sees Dexter with his new sponsor was worth a million bucks. She can’t complain because after all, she begged and cajoled Dexter into getting help.

I agree, but for the sake of their relationship she will overlook her own fear and trust Dexter.
And I don't think that his mentor will become a love-interest anyway. Just because she is physically very attractive doesn’t mean he is interested in her. They are too much alike, but I agree that she can help Dex with accepting who he is.

She may be similar to Dexter’s brother in Season 1 when he served as a weird foil to Dexter’s character.

Well, Dex and his brother are much alike because they are family and share the same trauma.
The sponsor looks allot like Dexter because Dex's urges are exactly like an addiction. When she talks about monsters she is talking about her addiction and when Dex talks about monsters he is talking about himself and other serial killers. But both urges operate on the same basic level.

I liked the introduction of the AA sponsor but I wish her character didn’t turn out to be so strange.

LoL, compared to Dexter she is completely normal. And I like how she views human nature. We are not completely good or completely evil; we only decieve ourselves by thinking in terms of those 2 absolutes to feel safe. The truth is that anyone is both evil & good.

[nanannie]

Rented the whole first season on Netflix,watched just the first one and just couldnt get into it. Sent them all back. I dont like gore for gore. Maybe I will give it a try another time as I like the actor who plays him ( from Six Ft Under)

[Tricky D]

Originally Posted by nanannie

I dont like gore for gore.

Trust me it isn't gore for gore. If it was than it would be no different than those slasher/horror movies, which I truly find boring (barely a story and / or no character development).

[nanannie]

Originally Posted by Tricky D

Originally Posted by nanannie Trust me it isn't gore for gore. If it was than it would be no different than those slasher/horror movies, which I truly find boring (barely a story and / or no character development).

Only saw the first episode. I'll give it another shot. I'm curious about it now after this thread.

[Tricky D]

Originally Posted by nanannie

Only saw the first episode. I'll give it another shot. I'm curious about it now after this thread.

Okay, after you've seen it, please tell us what you think of the series.
Anywayz, I hope you will enjoy it.