Customer Reviews

Dexter Season 1

5 star:		(504)
4 star:		(54)
3 star:		(14)
2 star:		(13)
1 star:		(16)

 

 

The most disturbing movie I ever saw was "Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer". In its portrayal of a man who lived physically among his fellow human beings while existing completely outside the orbit of human emotional interface, I thought I had seen the definitive screen rendition of a serial killer's psyche.

Then along comes Dexter who, with 12 episodes and a carefully-crafted life of friends, family, and career at his disposal for telling his tale, paints a portrait of sociopathic existence far more detailed and more disturbing than anything attempted by "Henry". That's accomplishment enough. But to do it with the droll wit and endearing demeanor of Dexter is downright amazing. TV seldom gets odder than this . . . and never more profound.

The real horror of each episode lies not in the killings by Dexter or by his victims. It lies in the horror of watching a man having to tread his way among his fellows in full knowledge that he is a hollow shell -- a body and brain devoid of a soul, with the only emotions being a fascination with blood and the driving hunger to kill. None of the means by which other people assuage their physical or emotional needs are available to Dexter, at least in the context in which others pursue them. Sex is a threat to Dexter, an act which can open cracks in the facade of humanity he has crafted and through which people can peer into the inner void. Friendly gatherings are obstacle courses, full of little bumps that could cause Dexter to trip and let his mask momentarily slip. Even eating, from which most people derive some emotional pleasure, is simply a necessity to which Dexter submits, preferrably combined with another necessary task, such as driving.

Clever. Interesting. But 12 episodes of this, no matter how well done, would soon get boring. So what sustains "Dexter"? Well, it turns out Dexter is neither who nor what he thinks he is. It takes him some time to figure this out, and it takes some help from rather interesting quarters. But Dexter has depths below the depths, voids within the voids, and substance where he was certain there was only nothingness.

But does it matter? Well, that's why I'm already pacing for the second season to start. It could go either way. Or, given this show's creativity and skewed viewpoint . . . neither, or both. Dexter -- and "Dexter" -- simply defy prediction.

Dexter does not disappoint. Based on the novels of Jeff Lindsay, Dexter is the story of a serial killer who murders other serial killers. While yes he is a sociopath, I find that one of the most fascinating parts of both the novels and the Showtime series is that slowly Dexter is starting to show that he may even be developing emotions. Could be a distinct possibility since he has had to wear a mask of humanity ever since he was three years old.
The surprising thing about this show to me is that it is very different in many ways to the novels. I think that Jeff Lindsay has to be both pleased and upset over what Showtime has done with Dexter. And in my humble opinion, I think that the series is actually much better than the books. The characters are much more developed and Deborah is no wear near as annoying in the series as she is in the novels. Plus I like how Angel "No Relation" Batista is a full on Homicide detective instead of just working for the M.E.'s office. In short, Showtime improved vastly on the novels and developed a much more diverse and rich world that Lindsay had created.
The part that ends up really getting to the viewer the most is that Dexter becomes a hero of sorts that even though his actions are quite immoral, you begin to view them as justifiable vegence for the victims of the people he kills. Maybe admitting that means I have a problem myself LOL but seriously, you can't help but like the guy. He is the nicest serial killer you could ever meet. And make sure you do meet him and buy this DVD. The replay value is outstanding.

If I could give 6 stars I would, and I've never said that before. Love this show. LOVE IT! (Pissy at showtime but that's just because they don't let people - even US people serving their country - outside the US look at stuff on their website, but their product is awesome... )

Ok, so Dexter, he's a little different, right? He works for the police, he's charming and geeky, he kills people for fun after work. Just bad people, of course. It would be no fun otherwise...

This is a strange story - more than half revenge fantasy but also part personal growth drama, part romance, lots of humor, and some good old fashioned thriller thrown in for spice. It makes you ache a little inside and then giggle in horror. It invokes a lot of emotion in it's viewers, as you watch someone without emotion begin to feel things and not know what's going on... not understand that these are feelings he's having. I'm sure a lot of people are pursing their lips over it and going "tsk!". I mean, a comedy/drama where the hero is a sociopathic serial killer? And a very good one at that?

The acting is AMAZING. This is TV done right, TV that makes you sing with delight, that catches you with it's beauty and writing and the way it perfectly catches the atmosphere of a place. I cannot rave enough - it goes in with the other perfect shows like the new Battlestar Galactica (somewhat less funny but just as perfect) and Wire in the Blood, Buffy, Firefly and Touching Evil. It's vastly better than CSI Miami (really, what isn't?) but it will draw comparisons, or parallels, because both take place in Miami and involve forensics (from weirdly skewed angles mentally, when you look at it - he's both catching killers forensically and keeping from being caught himself...) This show catchs the flavor of Miami in such a lovely way that you want to visit, even if - like me - you absolutely hate humid heat and bugs and all that sort of crap. It makes it seem alive and vibrant, dead hookers and all...

Can't wait for season 2. Can't wait can't wait... couldn't wait for this season either but man oh man, now I know exactly how good it is? Yes!

Wow! I finally watched my very first episode of "Dexter" last weekend, and I ended up finishing Season 1 in its entirety within a few days. This is an amazing show about Dexter (Michael C. Hall), a Miami-based forensics experts who also happens to be a serial killer. However, Dexter is a NICE serial killer in that he has a strict moral code that he always adheres to: He only kills people who are violent criminals themselves and deserve to be punished. The first season of "Dexter" revolves around another serial killer that's been terrorizing the state of Florida. The Ice Truck Killer has a nasty habit of murdering prostitutes, cutting them up into pieces, and arranging their bodies artfully in very public places. Dexter works with members of the police department, including his adopted sister, Deb (Jennifer Carter), to find the killer. However, Dexter can't help being fascinated by the Ice Truck Killer's meticulous technique. He soon begins communicating with the killer, who seems to have an uncanny connection to Dexter and starts using his murders to trigger painful, repressed memories from Dexter's past.

I became hooked on this show very quickly. Hall is amazing as Dexter, who is probably one of the most complex characters in television history. The supporting cast is excellent, especially Carter, Erik King as Sergeant Doakes (the only person who suspects Dexter of any wrongdoing), and James Remar, who portrays Dexter's father in flashbacks. I'm not particularly fond of Rita's character (portrayed by Julie Benz). She's incredibly wishy-washy, but I can definitely see why Dexter was drawn to someone with her personality. I also think the whole Ice Truck Killer identity revelation, intriguing as it was, could have been a bit less obvious. (I figured out his real identity and true connection to Dexter right away, so either the story was a bit too predictable or I am just incredibly brilliant.)

Overall, though, "Dexter" is a very unique and compelling show. I have no idea how the program will manage to surpass its first season, but I can't wait to find out.

Is it possible to create a drama where the audience sympathizes with a serial killer? By the time you finish watching Season 1, the answer crescendos to a resounding YES!

With theatrically trained Michael C. Hall as a blood-spatter forensic expert by day and a "taking out the trash" serial killer by night, this expertly cast nail-biter mixes quirky humor, relationship conflict and existential self-examination with atmospheric music, visual surprises and complex characters.

The result is a superb show that presents a colorful layering of moral dilemmas, office politics and human psychology into one helluva entertaining drama. (Want proof? My husband and I watched the entire first season of Dexter on DVD within a few nights!)

I knew there was quite a buzz surrounding Dexter and since I have an intrinsic fascination with "separate lives" serial killers (e.g. BTK), I was eager to view the series. When I saw that Deb Aquila was a casting director, the anticipation increased. (For those who don't know, Deb Aquila has an outstanding ability to cast actors, especially police dramas. FX's The Shield is but one example of her uncanny ability to pair the right actor with the perfect role.)

I'd rather not give you a run-down on each episode (which you could readily find elsewhere), but suffice to say that this mature-rated drama raises profound questions on one level while satisfying "entertain me!" cravings on another. What is family? Is killing ever moral? What is justice? Is blood thicker than water? Are humans more a product of genes or the environment? Do emotions define relationships?

You won't find much in the Bonus Features in Season 1 (unfortunately), but the cast bios were intriguing. (I wasn't familiar with ANY of the characters except recognizing "Debra Morgan" as the actress who played the central character in The Exorcism of Emily Rose). For example, the actor who plays Angel Batista was an NYPD cop before becoming an actor; he heads up a theater company with Oscar-winning actor Philip Seymour Hoffman.

Amidst the cloying heat and mambo music of Miami walks an "ethical" serial killer with a code taught by his adoptive cop father, Harry. With a remote and a stomach for blood, you can explore the twisted world of Dexter Morgan and company.

But don't say I didn't warn you if you end up dreaming of cunning, methodical serial killers...

Dexter is the best thing on television today, but the DVD release is marred by the fact that Showtime continues to release heavily over-compressed DVDs that look like they were transferred to VHS then copied to DVD. It does look good on my old low-def 7 year old TV, but it's blurry, choppy and has a considerably annoying combing effect on my PC. It's not as bad as Huff (which is nearly unplayable on my computer), but pretty much every other DVD I own plays and looks great on it.

I give the show a definite 5-star rating, but the horrible Showtime transfer gets a big fat zero. What were they thinking?!

As people before me have stated about how good this show is, I'll talk about that briefly. Dexter Morgan is a blood splatter analyst for Miami PD. He goes to crime scenes and deciphers the blood for the cops. He is not a cop however. The twist of the thing is is that Dexter himself is a serial killer. However unlike traditional serial killers, Dexter only kills those that have "beaten the system." It's a good take on everything. Good ethical consideration here. The series is a 5/5.

Now onto the actual blu-ray. The video is stunning. Amazing colors (I've never seen Ocean Drive look any better.) The audio is what you'd expect; Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound. Really though, this series does not rely on sound to make it stand out. The reds are the colors that are really vibrant here. As far as the extras go-it's got the same extras as the standard DVD release as well as the first episode of season 3 as well as a few other promos for showtime shows.

On the whole, this series as well as the transfer is amazing.

It appears that most reviewers are focusing on the show itself, but if you're thinking of buying the entire first season on DVD you probably already know how great it is. In short, the show is amazing and Michael C. Hall is one of the most underrated dramatic actors.

On to the DVD...this set is not a very good treatment of this fantastic show. The video quality is subpar and one can only hope that an HD-DVD/Blu Ray release is on the horizon. The show was broadcast in HD...why was this not released in that format? And it may be nitpicking, but the menus are atrocious and give the production a cheap feel.

If one believes what they read, it would appear from the packaging that there are ample special features. On further inspection, the "special features" are heavily padded with filler and largely underproduced. The first one listed is "The Academy of Blood - a Killer course"...I have no idea what this is as I was unable to find it on any of the discs. The featurette is only tenuously connected to the show in that it involves murder investigation. Most of the other features are cross-promos for other Showtime programs (episodes of Brotherhood, etc.).

It also appears that some studios have not caught on that good commentaries are excellent incentive for purchasing a DVD set of a show, ESPECIALLY if it has a cultish following. You could probably get away with little or no commentary on a Will and Grace DVD, but on a show like Dexter the fans want as much depth as possible. On this set we get two commentaries out of 12 episodes: the first is with several cast members (NO MICHAEL C. HALL!) and the second is with producers. The producer commentary is decent and offers some insight, but the cast commentary is largely rambling and suffers greatly from the absence of Michael C. Hall. I respect all of the actors on the show, but I'm sure I'm not alone in wanting to hear mostly from the main character. In a laughable oversight the studio does not list which episodes have commentary on any of the packaging or menus, which lead to a somewhat annoying search. You basically have to put in each disc and drill down to each episode to see if there is commentary or not. Here's a tip for those that have not yet purchased...the commentaries are on Episode 6 on disc 2 and on the finale on disc 4. It is puzzling that they chose to ignore the convention of having commentary on the first episode so that cast and crew could introduce the show and speak to its beginnings and main themes.

Bottom line is if you love the show you'll buy this, but don't get your hopes up about the extras or overall quality of the presentation. Here's hoping for an HD release with better extras down the road.

At first glance I didnt think this show was going to be any good, however, one night due to boredom, I gave it a chance. I'm glad I did. I got hooked after watching just one show. Luckily I have a cable network that saves past shows so I was capable of going back and starting the series from the start. I watched the whole season all the way through.

Now about the show. What I like about it is that it provides you with a glance into a serial killers mind and how they develope into killers and how they see the world. Literally every part of Dexter's life is filled with manipulation due to the fact he hasnt developed the ability to truely bond to others... a true sociopath. Everything from dating, family relationships and interactions with co-workers is done to superficially fit-in to society and to fulfill his urge to kill. For example, Dexter has a girlfriend not because for his need to love but instead to be accepted as normal and acceptable. This idea of fitting into society and not sticking out is a primary theme his foster father taught him growing up.

Another thing I like about the show is that it constantly inserts childhood flashbacks explaining things about Dexter's development. I work with emotionally disturbed children for a living and many of the behaviors and experiences Dexter displays, the children I work with do also. This exploration into a serial killers life and mind is VERY fascinating to me. I believe a lot of what's true about Dexter is also true of the every day sociopath.

As for an example of what I am talking about in regards to these flashbacks explaining Dexter's development, during one of the very first scenes, Dexter, as a child, is talking with his foster father, who is a cop, about multiple neighbors animals going missing. Dester, looking around 11 at the time, explains to his foster father that he sometimes gets urges to kill and uses neigborhood animals to relieve his urges. He then goes on to explain that he sometimes gets urges to kill people also, however, he doesnt because he doesnt want to let down his foster father. (This bond with his father is rather odd to me though. True sociopaths dont bond to any one. The show kind of explains why he bonded with his foster father and no one else later in the show though. His foster father was the first person to rescue him from the tramatic experience he went through.) Throughout the season, flashbacks occur such as this that definitely adds to the storyline. I usually dont like flashback type shows, however, this one was done VERY well. Another interesting thing about Dexter is that over time you learn to like him and root for him due to the fact he only kills the evil... other serial killers and killers. His foster father the cop trained him to relieve his urges that way as he got older. This show was VERY interesting all the way through. Take my word for it and you'll be another person I got hooked on to this show. As my title states, I've gotten everyone else I know hooked, now I'm starting on people like you I dont know. Give it chance you wont be sorry.

Now that Tony and Carmela have shared their last dish of ziti, the title of television's finest hour flips to Showtime's Dexter, a remarkable dissection (pun intended) of America's first serial killer crime fighter. The twelve episode first season provides the most intriguing television in years, with the beguiling Dexter as mesmerizing to audiences as he is deadly to his victims.

To summarize the story, I'll explain the three references in my title...

CSI: Miami - Dexter works as a blood-splatter analyst in Miami's forensics crime unit. The episodes provide the same graphic crimes and creative plots that attract viewers to the forensics shows on broadcast television. Fans of David Caruso's pretentiousness and exaggerated emotional response will be disappointed in Michael C. Hall, however...because he can actually act. His sly smile, his charm, his wit. All hook viewers immediately. But even though Dex is the kind of guy everyone seeks out when in need, we know his true essence is different.

American Psycho - Beneath his nice guy image lurks a soulless killer, a monster lacking basic human emotions. While investigating crimes, he is unaffected by horrific murder scenes, sometimes even bedazzled by the creativity of killers while standing next to pools of blood and sliced-up corpses. He also has an unquenchable thirst to end human lives, dissect bodies and keep a blood drop souvenir of his activities. Dexter is upper middle class, mid 30s, lives alone, and detached from his emotions; he fits all the criteria.

Batman - What distinguishes Dexter from most serial killers is his code; he only kills people who deserve it. His proximity to the police department criminal records gives him access to all the pedophiles, murders and mobsters who have beaten the system. To satisfy his bloodthirsty urges, Dexter preys on these victims, and in affect, performs a great service to the community. Batman and other crime fighters also target the worst of the criminal world, but when they "get their man," the bad guys usually end up behind bars. Dexter sends them to the bottom of the Ocean.