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The Deadly Capone Has Seen The First DEXTER Of 2008!! Now With Jimmy Smits!!
SPOILER ALERT !!
I am – Hercules!!
Is the third season of “Dexter” as good as the first two? I couldn’t say; I saw very little of the first two. But I found the first four episodes of “Dexter’s” third season involving enough to season-pass the show on my DVR – so if you, like myself, have managed to avoid “Dexter” for two years, I don’t imagine you’ll have much difficulty leaping into the fray.
And if, like me, you’ve not yet seen a lot of “Dexter,” you’ve got plenty of company. The show’s debut episode garnered about 334,000 viewers. By its 2nd-season premiere, its audience had grown to just over one million viewers, or roughly 1/3 of one percent of the U.S. population. While obviously tiny compared to the 11 million viewers garnered on average by the “Sopranos” or the 5.6 million viewers averaged each week by Michael Hall’s earlier series “Six Feet Under,” that season-debut number for “Dexter” last year marked the first time a Showtime series had ever breached the million-mark. (That record has since been tied, roughly, by the June 15 Showtime premiere of “Secret Diary of A Call Girl” and eclipsed on the same night by the 4th-season premiere of “Weeds,” which scored 1.3 million viewers – still the most ever for a Showtime series.)
I did see the season premiere episodes of the last two seasons over the last two years, and was not tempted to continue. This may or may not have something to do with Daniel Cerone. Cerone, who wrote, produced and/or served as executive story editor for more than 90 episodes of the WB drama “Charmed” from 2000 to 2004, wrote the first, last and middle episodes of “Dexter” last season, but he left the show subsequent to season two to serve as showrunner on ABC’s “Dirty Sexy Money” (though he has apparently since departed that show as well).
Below, you’ll discover that Capone thinks “Dexter” is doing just fine without Cerone (at least so far).
Before I turn things over to my colleague for his full review of the third-season premiere, I have a question for anyone who saw “Dexter” during its brief run on CBS during the writers’ strike: How did they handle Deb’s potty-mouth? Was she dubbed or bleeped, or does the series shoot “clean” versions in the event “Dexter” goes to broadcast syndication?
Hey everyone. Capone in Chicago here in Coaxial twice in one week. Have I defected to the smaller screen because audiences have become so intolerable at the multiplexes? No, but would you blame me if I said I had? In fact, the reason I'm over on this side of the International Date Line is to talk to you about the third season of Showtime's finest asset, a little show called "Dexter." I like me some "Weeds," don't get me wrong. But "Dexter" just gets better with each passing episode. There are more layers in this show than a wedding cake, more levels than the Sears Tower, and more skins to pull away than a prize-winning, State Fair-type onion. Michael C. Hall so beautifully captures this fractured sociopath that I'm really devastated that the Emmys has failed to recognize him. At least the Golden Globes has paid attention.
I'm also truly glad that Showtime seems to be keeping its shows on a schedule, much like the networks. A show's season ends, and nine months later a new one begins, just like clockwork. Anyway, here is Episode 3.1 of "Dexter."
What's the title of 3.1?
"Our Father"
Who scripted?
TV vet Clyde Phillips (“Trapper John, M.D.,” “Parker Lewis Can’t Lose,” “Suddenly Susan,” “Boomtown”), whose name is also on the teleplay for “Dexter” 2.2, “Waiting To Exhale.”
Who directed?
Keith Gordon, director of three previous "Dexter" episodes, as well as Episode 4 of this season. Sometime actor Gordon is probably best known as the lead (human) character in CHRISTINE, as well as for directing such features as A MIDNIGHT CLEAR, MOTHER NIGHT, WAKING THE DEAD, and THE SIGNING DETECTIVE, starring Robert Downey Jr.
Where do we pick things up?
Dexter Morgan has spent the summer re-establishing his routines. The show opens with Dexter visiting his dentist for a crown, and what seems like the dentist making small talk about how Dex spent his summer turns into a nice series of flashbacks that shows that the serial killer has been beginning a new collection of blood sample slides. But on the more personal side, his relationship with Rita (Julie Benz) has been going swimmingly, with a sex life that just won't quit. And Rita's children adore him. The young boy even asks Dexter if he'll come to "Dad Day" at his school. In the wake of the "solving" of the Bay Harbor Butcher murders, Dex's life has probably never been better. Rita refers to this period as "The Calm" ("Everything is falling into place." We all know what comes after "the calm."
So Dexter is back to meticulously stalking and killing new victims, all of whom has slipped through the fingers of the law?
Pretty much. We see him scouting out a new victim, a drug dealer named Freebo (Mike Erwin), who killed two college girls and got released on a technicality. Dexter poses as a junkie to meet Freebo and get a look inside the guy's very pink house. Inside he meets Freebo's hooker girlfriend, who is looking to fix as well. He refuses to supply the freeloading whore, so she counters with "I guess your dick will have to suck itself." Best line in the show.
Have things in the office become routine as well?
Sure would seem that way. Angel (David Zayas) gets promoted and seems to be getting along with his wife. In fact everybody's getting along.
How's Dexter's sister, Debra?
Deb (Jennifer Carpenter) gotten a new hair cut, and some people haven't noticed after two weeks. She also assumes that Angel's promotion means that she's due for an upgrade in pay any second now. She also seems to be getting chummy with a new detective, Joey Quinn (Desmond Harrington), who Deb finds out is being investigated by Internal Affairs. An IA officer named Yuki Amado approaches Deb to get close to Quinn, and Deb refuses but still wants to know what the guy did.
So what's the first big case of the season?
Turns out it's a self-generated crime thanks to Dexter, who goes to Freebo's home to kill him after setting up a new murder house. But when he arrives there's a stranger there fighting with the drug dealer. Freebo escapes and the stranger attacks Dexter and is killed in the process. Dexter loses something in the process.
So who is this mystery man?
Turns out he's the squeaky clean brother of Florida's top prosecutor Miguel Prado (Jimmy Smits, a welcome addition to the show and fresh from his failed CBS outing "Cane"), who naturally will stop at nothing to find the killer. Thankfully for Dexter, all evidence points to the now-missing drug dealer Freebo.
If Dexter is in the clear, why is he so stressed out?
My favorite parts of the show revolve around Dexter's guilt at killing a stranger, someone he doesn't know without a shadow of a doubt is guilty of something. He even investigates the dead man to see if he can come up with any reason the guy might have been in that house in that neighborhood other than the story his family is giving. His own code and the code his father (James Remar, who is only seen in photos for this episode) has been broken for the first time. Naturally, Dexter is brought in to do the blood work on the murder.
Anything else about Prado we need to know
He and Lt. Laguerta (Lauren Velez) have a history. Word on the squad room is that she considers him the one that got away.
How's Deb's promotion coming along?
She's convinced solving this case will get her that promotion. Quinn gives her the name of an informant who might be able to help her on the whereabouts of Freebo. Instead he gives her surprising intel on the victim. When Deb comes back to the station and announces her findings, she's taken off the case by Angel.
What I liked.
A long sequence between Dexter and Prado at the crime scene, where Dexter is asked to recreate the struggle that resulted in his brother's death. The sequence includes Prado confronting Dexter about why he's been investigating his brother's life. The second-best scene is Dexter at the dead man's wake. He has a few choice thoughts offer the victim's coffin that are show that rather than let his guilt get the better of him, he's going to allow his code to…evolve.
Daniel Cerone, who wrote the first, last and middle "Dexters" of last season, has left the show. Does his absence diminish in any way season three?
Not that I can see, but honestly, it's too soon to tell. I am curious how/if the show runners are going to drag out the Prado storyline beyond this initial death of his brother. The episode also doesn't give any clues as to whether or not we'll have a season-long case (like the Ice Truck Killer or the Bay Harbor Butcher). And as much as I like Jimmy Smits, will he be any match for the note-perfect performance of Keith Carradine's Agent Lundy last year? Again, time will tell. Or maybe even the next episode will tell.
How does it end?
Dex and Deb are called in to investigate another dead body, that of a woman Dexter recognizes and who has a square of skin missing from her upper torso. Yes, the two cases are linked. Also, Rita makes pudding and plays soft music, which leads her to believe her relationship with Dexter is about to change forever.
-- Capone
capone@aintitcoolmail.com
$22.49 For The Entire First Season!!
Part Of The 202-Title CBS DVD Sale!!.
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24: Redemption!!
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I feel like the premise of the show is kind of good, but that first season finale kind of put me off. Everything was too nice and pat...
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And Firsties!
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Sep 28, 2008 3:56:55 AM CDT
Don't "leap into the fray", watch the previous two seasons first
by ayii
Seriously Capone, why would you recommend someone to start at the third season? Would you tell someone to start watching LOST or Battlestar at the beginning of third season? This a story with character arcs that continue through the seasons and should be watched from the beginning.
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I just said a viewer should have no trouble doing so.
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First episode of season three has been torrentable for a month+.
Killing Lila off was the most retarded shit this show did, since killing Rudy...Dexter has proved itself to be so square-safe, it's a circle. This is the Jack Johnson of serial-killer-centric series...
I love Michael C. Hall, but he really is all there is to the series, especially with Doakes gone and Harry's flashbacks happening way too infrequently. -
It's a shame you don't actually use the inviso spoiler space for, you know, actual spoilers.
And would it kill you proof read the thing? Spelling TWO as TO, and using AT for AND?
Are the writers at AICN no better than some talkbackers, who just want to put ANY old shit out there and cry "FIRST!!!" ?
For anyone who cares, but hasn't already used BitTorrent to see this episode, the BIG news (for me) was that this episode featured more naked Julie Benz than the previous two seasons combined. She is still a hottie. -
They both had to die. Not only was it the correct capstone to the season, keeping the form that each season is like a self-contained novel, they both marked necessary advancements in Dexters character.
Killing Rudy, his brother and fellow killer, link to a past and family he doesn't remember. Killing Lila, the one person who knew who he was and accepted him for what he did. Both of these things show that Dexter has no interest in his original family, and no interest in being understood. He is just Dexter.
I expect this season, especially based on the first episode, to focus on whether or not he needs his modern family, which today includes Debra, Rita, and the kids. -
That's an interesting way to look at it. And yeah I don't get when people complain about Rudy or Lila being killed... Would it really have made sense, or provided any satisfaction, if they weren't?
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you've already seen the first 4 episodes of season 3. can't wait for this season to start.
dexter, shield, and pushing daisies are the 3 american series i've been waited patiently for the new seasons to start. -
The first two season were great and I'm looking forward to season 3 to continue the shows feel.
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FUCK YOU MORGAN!!!
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Is one of thoese shows that just works with no effort it seams. I noted this fact from the first episode every actor fell straight into there character with NO problem.
V'Shael is right those characters had to go, Dexter is dexter plain and simple, the only one that will know dexter for what he is, is the audience no one else should plain and simple. If the writers forget that dexter won't be as special.
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i watched the entire first season on cbs without having seen it on showtime, then watched the first couple episodes of season two on dvd. i really found the difference negligible. beyond the cleaned-up language and occasional nudity, i really don't think cbs edited much. almost all of the gore went untouched in season one, it seemed. final verdict: the cbs version of "dexter" is just as good as the showtime version.
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i'll take this opportunity to ask any directv customers if they enjoy their service. i'm getting directv next week, and i'd like to hear some opinions before i fully commit. more specifically, is it better than comcast, particularly in the denver area?
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Cuz this show is better than Buffy, and I am a fan of that show, and every CSI show, and quite frankly 95% of the crap out there. This is gold. Pure gold. Get with it.
Stop focusing on SHOWRUNNERS to determine if you will watch something. -
This site made its name on letting spies subvert embargoes by publishing their early reviews. Why not do the same for pre-air television shows?
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dude, read the books. seriously, doakes got off EASY in the series, lol.
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:barkbark:
would have to agree -
its about time DEXTER got a little support around here. I cant wait to jump on here after tonight's episode. i for one am glad that Lila and Rudy are dead... each was the end of a story arc and lead to an evolution in Dexter's character. and as much as i was sad to see a nemisis like Doakes go out like that, it was necessary... i will miss his expletive greetings for Dexter. "what are you smiling about you fucking psycho?" shit like that cracks me up. when Dexter says "I own you." and headbutts Doakes then calmly walks away....that was possibly the greatest moment in the history of television. this show is like an onion, with so many layers, just like ogres, or parfaits. everybody loves parfaits.
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I hope they keep the soap opera drama to a minimum this season. The first episode is promising.
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Sep 28, 2008 1:17:57 PM CDT
I literally just started watching the show yesterday...
by banzai rootskibango
...I'm 5 episodes in and I'm enjoying it quite abit. It's different, you know?
Once I get through the first two seasons I'm going to have to make a decision for Sunday nights...
...True Blood or Dexter. I think right now I'm leaning towards Dexter. -
Nuff said. One of the best TV dramas. Underwatched.
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I like the direction the children were heading in the books. I preferred the way Doakes was handled in the books and Debs beau. Same with the ring.
Third book sucked though. -
Seriously, some of the best TV on TV. You probably could jump right into season 3, but you'd be cheating yourself by being exposed to spoilers regarding the first two seasons.
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Damn funny. Considering Brit mainstream tv is like cable here it would do well as an import.
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an ungodly amount of HD channels plus an easy to use DVR. the only problem is their prices - you really need to get everything you want right out the gate, because otherwise they'll charge at least double. other places lease out a box free of charge (plus monthly fee and all), but if you want to upgrade to HD DVR later on, it costs you $200 just to LEASE the box, plus the $5 a month DVR fee. if you want to actually buy it to keep? $750. they charge out the ass, and apparently they're being investigated by the government for charging too much, but if you have the money it's totally worth it.
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Just finished watching the 2nd season (aired last week here in the UK). And I will most certainly be watching the third. A couple of episodes into the first season I wasn't sure whether I would stick with this - a couple of episodes later I knew it was one to watch. I feared the 2nd season couldn't match the strong first season - but you know, it pretty much did. I'm genuinely interested where they'll take the show in it's third year. Along with The Wire, it's currently the only US show I watch every epsiodes of. Lost and Heroes I waved goodbye a while ago.
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Certainly in this case. Dexter, Weeds, Californication....they all pwn the competition. Hopefully, Showtime won't pull an HBO on these 3 shows and pull the rug out under the fans, like they did for Deadwood and Carnivale, 2 other great shows. Its a shame we have to pay extra to see quality programming, thanks to the networks mind-numbing drivel like American Idol and Americas Got Talent, but these shows are worth the extra cost.
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"And if, like me, you’ve not yet seen a lot of “Dexter,” you’re got plenty of company."...really? "...you are got plenty of company." great English guys!
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you're new here, aren't you...
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A Dexter talkback. This is awesome and am pumped for tonights episode.
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Man are you right! I didn't like the exposition regarding the Dark Passenger and it's origins. Too sci-fi. Really detracted from the Dexter I'd come to know.
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The first season was excellent whilst the second season just stunk terribly. I couldn't stand the second season, it was a huge sophomore slump IMO. I hope the third season is better. Also I think I'll miss Doakes.
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no...not at all. i just rarely post. and i know the typos and horrible grammar run rampant on this site, it's just you'd kinda hope that after all the years the contributors have been doing this that they'd have learned something by now instead of coming across as some illiterate with the English comprehension of an immigrant fresh off the boat!
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sorry, Dexter is a well-made show with good writing. But better than Buffy? Sorry, but Dexter lacks the requisite greatness to compete with Buffy, let alone win that race...
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i can spot at least half a dozen egregious violations of basic grammar rules in your last comment. so stfu and leave the criticism to high school english teachers and other professionals who actually know what they're talking about. douche.
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Sep 28, 2008 8:06:40 PM CDT
Why shows like this are watched by little yet millions will watc
by jingle_balls
A die a little on the inside.
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as a lover of seasons 1 & 2 I gotta say I thought it's starting slowly. Hope the next episodes pick up the pace a bit as of course they were introducing characters and story in the first episode. I hope they keep the continuous story-arc going and not make the cases episodic because it'd be a pity if this show ended up like Bones (which I thought went downhill from season 3).
But IMHO Dexter is one of the best shows on TV. Up there with House and BSG. Comparisons to Buffy are as silly as comparing Jekyll to Harvey Birdman. -
Why so many will continue to watch American Idol yet hardly anyone will watch shows like Dexter really pisses me off.
I will miss Doakes this season. MOTHER FUCKER!! -
The books had a very interesting angle on Dexter's murderous side which may or may not have involved something vaguely supernatural in origin...and if done well this whole plot would be fucking amazing in the show...unfortunately after season one the show writers have thrown out the idea of adapting anything from Dearly Devoted Dexter, or Dexter In The Dark...unfortunately I haven't yet caught up with all of season two, let alone season three, but I know its different, not bad, just different, and its dissapointing that the show has just DECIDED to disregard the rest of the character's mythology. They're also missing out on my absolute favourite bit of the books which is the idea that Rita's kids are just as nuts as Dexter as a result of their father and that Dexter becomes their mentor and teaches them the Harry Code. It reminds me of Nolan just REFUSING to use Robin in his Batman films. I understand with any adaptation their are issues but for the love of God it seems arraogant to throw out fantastic material.
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Sorry, I refuse to take criticism in any topic from someone who resorts to "webspeak" such as "STFU". I never claimed that I was some perfectionist with my own English and/or grammar. I'm simply stating that a website that's predominantly text-based should (again, after all these years) have better spelling, grammar and overall English capabilities. (By the way, you didn't impress anyone by using a big word like "egregious".)
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dont think that showtime owns the rights to the third book...and personally, i dont like the concept that every child who experiences trauma will become a serial killer
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I'm a Dexter fan through and through (even though that abysmal second season tested me) but still it doesn't hold a candle to HBO's finest. The Sopranos and most of all The Wire. Now you guys wanna watch a GOOD showtime show? Watch "Brotherhood". Support that, fuck Dexter. That show needs the viewers.
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Pretty much every other show on HBO and most of Showtime is higher quality than Dexter. Dexter the character is great, and well-acted. All the rest -- story, supporting characters, surprises along the way -- is trite and belonging more on something like CBS. Brotherhood is far more complex, surprising, and emotional. The Wire was amazing. The Sopranos was amazing. Six Feet Under was fantastic, as is The Shield. But every time I read glowing praise for Dexter I can't help but think of some 17-year-old who's never seen any of those other shows all the way through, never seen much of anything off network television, but was drawn to Dexter because serial killers are all sorts of cool 'n shit. I'm still watching it, though -- it's good, just not great -- here's hoping something happens that's more surprising than anything we've seen to date. Dexter headbutting Doakes was funny, but as far as "best moments" in television go... no, not by a long stretch.
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I didn't know it was under new management, I hope the fact that this episode was dull, sappy, and lacking any edge the show had in its' first season isn't an indicator of things to come.
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My Dexter watching partner and I have been excitedly waiting for season 3, I'm so glad it's finally here. Dexter and Deadwood are the two best shows I've discovered since Lost started.
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this show needs more people to watch it. and waqman and kesoze4, obviously you dont watch this show. you probably watched 1 or 2 episodes and gave up. 90% of the people i have introduced to this show are addicted to it.
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And this show is the second best show on tv right now. Trust me. It's the closest thing to Buffy there is right now. Tight knit, intelligent story telling that is developed over a season and wrapped perfectly in a mind blowing finale. Sound like Buffy? It's Dexter too. You should really go back and watch the first 2 seasons, regardless of the Charmed douche, I assure you you'll have no problem comparing this show to your other faves. Assuming there is no weak season a la 24, I'd definitely put it up there with Twin Peaks, Buffy and BSG when its all over.
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I was disappointed that Cane didn't make it. Smits, Elizondo, and oh crap, can't remember name, the guy from Lost, Rita Moreno. It was a good cast. Not all the episodes flowed, but the ones that did gel together were great.
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this is a basically a complete description of the episode (spoiling it for all that wouldn't have seen it) with IMHO little real added value. IMHO it doesn't do much service to a show when you spoil it all for potential viewers.
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A "review" of the show lets you know if it is or is not worth your time. This essentially spoils the entire show by letting you know everything that happens. I'm glad I didn't read it until after the first episode aired.
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People like to suck them off and pay about a hundred bucks for each season on DVD but Dexter holds its own just fine and I think The Shield is infinitely better than the Wire. Also, The Sopranos was vastly overrated and the last two seasons were mostly painful to watch. Personally, I think Flight of the Conchords is one of the better things on the network right now but reagrdless, Dexter can hold it's own with anything on HBO.
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The first two seasons ran on such constant high stakes, I wasn't sure they would do something that brought the tension but didn't feel like a repeat. So far they are doing pretty well with that. I thought the logical conclusion last season would have been for Dexter to get caught and go to prison. I hope we do get a season of that before the show ends.
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I fucking love fucking swearing, but when you fucking swear every fucking second or third fucking word, it fucking sounds like you're just fucking swearing for the fuck of it. Or maybe she's just a bad fucking actress.
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It's exactly the kind of show you'd be likely to proclaim, "One of the finest 60-minute audio-video streams ever transmitted to Herc's magic rectangular box!" The first season is by far the best; Netflix those shiny discs post-haste and bask in the glow of its televisual brilliance. Sadly, its writing staff does not contain any of the extra-brainy superscribes who drafted five-star Buffy episodes, but I think you'll still find that it's good enough to skip Dancing With the Stars for.
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Which may explain why it has a small audience. It took me a couple of eps to get this show's appeal.
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Sep 29, 2008 12:52:53 PM CDT
"obviously you dont watch this show. you probably watched 1 or 2
by kesoze4
Nope, seen them all except 3.1 now. Funny how no matter how much I say I *like* Dexter, I just don't *love* it, people still take offense and insist I can't be watching the same show they're watching. My only point: if you like Dexter, then damn, you're gonna be psyched when you get a load of some of the other, much better stuff out there. Well, this is assuming you're looking for quality, a great supporting cast, real surprises, and not just blood spatter and flashbacks, in which case Dexter probably *is* your best show ever.
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Go watch the first season, then go read the 2nd book, then feel sad that the rest sucks. Sorry, season 2 blew. It was so terrible I can't even begin to describe how bad it all was. Doakes should not have been killed, Rita shouldn't have existed, all of the supporting casts' subplots were trite and boring. Dexter should have focused more on Dexter, killing and his lack of humanity.
While I agree the killing Rudy was a good ending to that arc, leaving him alive would have made it so much more interesting. Dexter allowing a serial killer to live, hearing about murders and knowing who committed them and wondering if he'd ever come back. It was an ace in the hole. -
What's the differences? I've watched and enjoyed the two seasons, but some of the comments here make me curious... What happens to Doakes in the books? Any other big departure? Please guys, throw me a bone here.
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I was wondering where the writers would take Dexter after the first two seasons, and I'm completely pleased at the direction they've chosen. Without giving away any spoilers, the two story arcs this season appear to be the unusual ramifications arising out of Dexter's latest kill, and the stunning news he learns at the end of the episode. Both arcs are going to show us Dexter from a fresh new perspective. Not bad for a series' third season.
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And the author has already moved into the realms of rehabilitating his monster creation, so that people won't have to feel bad about rooting for him. Like defanging Hannibal Lector, by giving him a sympathetic past and shit like that. Only the method used to rehabilitate Dexter is stupid and supernatural.
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Because Jimmy Smits helped out Star wars so well....
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One night, my band played a gig in Princeton, NJ and Jimmy was there hanging out. Well, we got a picture of him with the band and he was the coolest dude I ever met. He ws like, "That was you guys playing up there? Man, you guys are gooooood!" JIMMY RULES!!!
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..and a whore. For Time Warner and every other corp that pulls his pud. Oh, my god what a phony!
Never google MacFaux. -
who the fuck would live in a town that is vampire central? its like in the power rangers when the same town gets trashed by giant monsters day after day... and they just rebuild. a show built around the idea that nobody would just move away is ridiculous.
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!!!!SPOILERS!!!!
That season packed in so much:
Dexter on the run from the FBI, Psycho killer girlfried, Doakes finally discovering his secret, Dexter finding his mother's killer, Dex discovering his father committed suicide. Freakin awesome! -
...but still better as 90% of the rest we see on the tube....
Start with season 1. Season 2 gets up to speed in the middle of the season. But the ending was a crowd pleaser. Anyway i love the show. Great television!! Go and check it out on DVD.
P.S.
3.1. was great!! Jimmy Smits is a great addition to the show. -
Both were excellent but Season 2 just never let up. After each episode ended tell me you weren't thinking "how the hell is Dexter going to get out of this?" The first time a show has had me on the edge of my seat since the early days of Lost.
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was cleaned up for CBS in the recording studio - you better freakin' believe it!
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You're an idiot. What the TV writers came up with for Season 2 is hugely superior to the crap-fest that is "Darkly Dreaming Dexter." And if you still think Jeff Lindsay is not a hapless hack, just try reading "Dexter In The Dark." He created an amazing character - voice and all - but the man knows fuck-all about plotting a novel.
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Granted, season 2 went in a bad direction, but I still loved every episode. This season appears to be going even further in that direction. That is turning Dexter into a human being. He shouldn't have a conscience. What made him cool in S1 is that he was a serial killer with a code, but apart from that code, he seemed just as amoral as any other psycho. And every 'normal' thing in his life was a fiction.
His relationship with Rita should have never advanced beyond the dysfunctional stage. He should have never felt much guilt over the death of that dude in the drug house either. They shouldn't be putting him so front and center with the dude's brother like they are, it feels so contrived. I still have hope that it'll get better, but this show is starting to suffer from the curse.
You know the curse. Whenever you like a character for being bad, they inevitably make them good. Sylar on Heroes is a recent example. Spike on Buffy. Crais and Scorpius on Farscape. Jane on Serenity. Weevil and Logan on Veronica Mars. Cordelia on Angel (they took away her edge). The Cylons on BSG. And to some extent Al Swearingen on Deadwood. You can even argue Ben on Lost. I imagine they would have made Jim Profit a heck of a swell guy eventually, had FOX not canceled that show. Just once, I'd like them to keep a character dark through the duration of the show. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. -
...and you haven't seen Profit, rent it. I consider it the spiritual forerunner of this show, even if the virtual reality computer interfaces will make the show seem dated to the millisecond. Consider Profit, Dexter with a goal. There are only 8 episodes, so it ain't much of a investment.
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Me for opinions. Dexter in the books is more or less exactly the same character, but everything else is very different. You should just read the first one. It's pretty good and it's a fast read, but I think you'll find it a letdown after watching the show, especially in terms of supporting characters and subplots. The second and third books go off on really unfortunate tangents, imnsho. The whole Lila-Doakes thing was much better than anything in them. This is the rare case - maybe the only case - of the adaptation being superior to the the original.
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don't you think they are laying it on awfully heavy with Rita and Dexter's "normality." I'm expecting things to start to go deliriously wrong there, sooner rather than later. and I'm not sure I think that Dexter feels guilt .. fear of being found out, yes, but not necessarily guilt.
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Yes, I'm sure things will go wrong with Dexter and Rita. I just have a problem with him appear so comfortable in the relationship when he started out faking the whole thing just to fit in. Even if he acts comfortable, his inner monologue should indicate otherwise.
As for fear vs. guilt, it sure seemed like guilt to me. After all, he found the tooth and any other DNA evidence (like hair) can be explained by him being called to the crime scene. And in S2, when the entire police force was against him, I believe he mentioned that it made him feel exhilarated, rather than afraid. He was feeling guilt over killing a "good" guy. They might be able to redeem this if, after killing his next "bad" guy, Dexter discovers that it doesn't have the same kick as killing the good ones and he starts too branch out, in line with partially rejecting Harry's code in S2.
I guess we'll see. It has been my favorite show, so I still have faith in it. I'm just a little worried because every other show I like has started out pretty weak this season, and I'm just worried that bad writer phenomenon will spread to my other favorites like Dexter and tonight's Pushing Daisies.
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