Dexter is a tv show I’ve been meaning to revisit for a long time. I watched the entire series for the first time awhile back with a friend. Murder mystery and police procedural shows have always been my favorite to watch when I was younger. But Dexter was unlike anything I had ever seen.
To have a show center around an anti-hero, more specifically a serial killer, who also works for the police department, just seems like an exciting take on the genre. When I consider some of the most well known killers in both TV and movies, I immediately think of Norman Bates, Hannibal Lecter, and Patrick Bateman. The nods to other popular killers are present in Dexter, but luckily the show is still able to make this character fresh and interesting.
It’s adapted from Jeff Lindsay’s Darkly Dreaming Dexter and tells the story of Dexter Morgan, blood splatter analyst by day, working for the Miami Police Department, and vigilante by night. He only targets those who have committed murder.
It benefits from a reliable cast in Michael C. Hall, Jennifer Carpenter, David Zayas, and many other great supporting members. Michael C. Hall’s performance as Dexter is truly mesmerizing, cementing Dexter Morgan as other fantastic anti-hero. Jennifer Carpenter is great as his step sister, Debra.
In the first season, we dive into the psyche of Dexter Morgan. His relationship with his foster father, and how that shaped him into the man he is today, also how he lives by a code when he goes on his killing’s. We get a first look at his personal life which he hides in the shadows. The first season also finds the MPD tracking down the new killer in town, also known as the ice truck killer.
For a pilot season that is designed to immerse you into the atmosphere and it’s characters, Dexter does a pretty impressive job. It’s everything you want in a “cop” show and more. It’s riveting from start to finish. Dexter exceeds expectations not only as a gritty police procedural, but also a contemplative character study.
Cedric Cinema 