DEXTER: killing me softly

Every Sunday night during the fall season you will find me in front of the TV watching a new episode of Dexter. An hour later I’m jumping onto Facebook blabbing about the crazy stuff that’s going on in the world of Dexter. Usually my post say something like this, “OMG! DEXTER! NOOOOOOOOOO!” or “OMG Dexter! I’m freakin out! Woohoo!”

Dexter is easily my all time favorite TV show. Why? Because Dexter checks off every box on the list of what a satisfying TV series needs.
Box one, a unique never been done story line. Dexter works for the Miami Metro Police station at a bloodstain pattern analyst who, in his spare time, kills bad guys only to satisfy the psychological monster that processes Dexter deep inside. With the help of his dead father, who appears to Dexter in needy times of guidance, Dexter can succeed living a split life of a monster living amongst the good. His father Harry, a previous cop, is the only person who knows of Dexter’s dark secrets and has constructed a code for Dexter to live by so he will never get caught. Unique storyline, check.

Box two, the urge to watch the show every week. This Peabody award-winning show has an amazing set of writers who makes sure that the show is constantly progressing every episode. Each episode satisfies either the conclusion to a problem Dexter faces or unravels a new one. The writers of this show alter their audience’s perception to see that this psychotic killer is a guy to root for. We don’t want Dexter to get caught. To be able to have the power to convince that bad is good takes extraordinary writers.
Weekly urge, check.

Box three, amazing actors. Michael C. Hall is the brilliant actor behind Dexter. He has won the award for best actor by the Golden Globes, SAG, Satellite Awards, Saturn Awards, and the Television Critics Association. After witnessing Hall’s astounding performance in season one of Dexter, I was to further my interest of Hall by renting his first TV series of Six Feet Under, my second favorite show created by the astounding Allan Ball. Not only has the story’s hero won awards, but also has the villains. This year John Lithgow won an Emmy for his role as season four’s guest actor and villain. He also won a Golden Globe as Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series.
Great actors, check.

Box Three, greatly written characters. Yes Dexter is a gory thriller, but it can be funny if you know its characters. The depth to which Dexter’s character goes is as personal as your own character. The reason behind the actions of Dexter become so understanding it’s scary. It is within his dark past that we see that all Dexter really wants in the world is to be normal. And all the other characters within Dexter’s life are there to show how he himself wants to be seen. For example, his sister sees Dexter as the good kid, the reliable, quiet, and smart brother she has always had. The people Dexter works with at the police station see him as a good guy, trusting, and always one to count on to help with a murder scene.
It is easy to connect Dexter’s character to that of Superman’s. Superman was born Superman, and alien. His disguise is the adopted son of the Kents. Clark Kent wants to be portrayed as a normal quiet farm boy, who wears a suite and glasses. Dexter was born a monster. His disguise is an adopted son of the Morgans. Dexter Morgan wants to be portrayed as a normal quiet family man, who wears khakis with a button down shirt. Dexter constantly battles with who he is and who he wants to be just like Superman.
Great characters, check.

I am proud to say that I have turned six of my friends onto Dexter. Strangely enough it was my own mother who got me watching Dexter. The biggest turn-off that I read online from people who don’t like Dexter is the bloody killing scenes and the fear of their own support of other people’s deaths. I guess people are afraid of loosing their moral stability. But once a week, for only an hour I get to question my own morals without really hurting anyone, and guess what? I enjoy it.

Tata,
C