Dexter is based on the compelling novel "Darkly Dreaming Dexter" by Jeff Lindsay. Orphaned at the age of four and harboring a traumatic secret, Dexter Morgan (Dexter Morgan (Emmy- and Golden Globe- nominated actor Michael C. Hall from "Six Feet Under") is adopted by a police officer who recognizes Dexter's homicidal tendencies and guides his son to channel his gruesome passion for human vivisection in a constructive way - by killing those heinous perpetrators that are above the law or who have slipped through the cracks of justice. A respected member of the police force, a perfect gentleman and a man with a soft spot for children, it's hard not to like Dexter. Although his drive to kill is unflinching, he struggles to emulate normal emotions he doesn't feel, and to keep up his appearance as a caring, socially responsible human being.
An interesting and original idea that's very skillfully executed, Showtime's Dexter is never less than watchable, often quite compelling, and sometimes thoroughly riveting. As the 12 episodes from the show's first season (packaged here in a four disc set) reveal, it's also the epitome of "high concept," a kind of Silence of the Lambs for the C.S.I. generation. Creator-executive producer James Manos Jr.'s title character, one Dexter Morgan (played by Michael C. Hall of Six Feet Under renown), works for the Miami Police Department as an blood spatter analyst, visiting crime scenes and helping figure out what happened. He has an avocation, too: during his off hours, he tracks down some very, very bad people who for various reasons have eluded the proper authorities. Seems his adoptive father, a cop himself, taught the kid how to channel his dark side in a "positive" direction; and so, having captured these evildoers (including a child molester-murderer and a recidivist drunk driver with a trail of bodies in his wake), Dex dispatches them with clinical precision, thus making him a serial killer who snuffs serial killers. But there's more--much more, as it turns out. By his own description, Dexter is "a monster," an empty shell who fakes all human interactions and admits to no real feelings for anything or anyone, including his foster sister (Jennifer Carter) and his nominal girlfriend (Julie Benz), a former crack addict and battered spouse who's as uninterested in sex as he is. There's an explanation for Dexter's weirdness, of course, one so deep and traumatic that even he isn't aware of it. It's gradually revealed over the course of the season as he and the cops (who include Erik King, Lauren Velez, and David Zayas, all first-rate) track down the so-called "Ice Truck Killer," a fellow monster whose grisly m.o. both fascinates and taunts our hero, leading to a genuinely shocking and squirm-inducing finale. Dexter can be a bit arch, with an ironic, too-hip-for-the-room tone that get a little old. Still, it's a safe bet that anyone who views this first season will be salivating for the second. Extras include audio commentary on two episodes, a featurette about real-life blood spatter analysis, and a variety of DVD-ROM items. --Sam Graham
Beyond Dexter
More TV Head-cases on DVD
The Book that Started It All
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Stills from Dexter: The First Season (click for larger image)
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.5 / 5.0
I was hooked from the first episode:
I love a good, entertaining, smart show. I had heard people commenting on Dexter and how brilliant it was and thought I would check it out for myself. I did have some concerns because I usually am not a fan of anti-hero stories. However, most anti-hero stories drive me nuts because I can't stand selfish people. So, I thought I would get into this series and be turned off by Dexter -- a serial killer -- and then end up abandoning the series knowing I at least gave it a fair shot. Boy, was I wrong!... more info
Disgusting:
This is not a nice program. There is nothing about it to enjoy. Dexter, the main character, has the eating manners of a dog and is disgusting to watch.
The acting is below the level you see in High School plays and the story lines are even lower quality. If this program is what America is about, we are in trouble.
Usual smooth amazon transaction:
this DVD set arrived more quickly that I anticipated. It was new and I loved the story. I bought all 3 seasons. I will buy the 4th, when it becomes available. thanks, amazon.
boing:
thought the show was rather boring...not very "edge of my seat". definitly an original show idea i must say! i prefer, by a high mark, criminal minds...
