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View Full Version : Any love for "Dexter"? (spoilers)

Otto
10-23-2006, 10:01 AM
Seems like the sort of show that Dopers would flock to, either to praise it or revile it. Me, I fall under the "praise" category. Four episodes so far and they've all been pretty solid. Interesting characters, interesting plots, good central mystery. Michael C. Hall is great in the part. Strikes an amazing balance of sweet and creepy and has an amazing ability to look very different from scene to scene depending on the mood (although some props should probably go to the lighting department for that too). Makes me want to read the book it's based on.

One thing I'm not getting is why the lieutenant has such a hardon for Dexter's sister. They clearly don't like each other but the sister seems to be basing that on the LT not treating her decently. I'm not getting why the LT is being such a tool.
Revtim
10-23-2006, 10:15 AM
Yeah, I've been watching it, I read the book a few weeks before it first aired, after it was mentioned by a Doper.

I liked the book, and I'm enjoying the show. I'm looking forward to reading the 2nd book soon.
simster
10-23-2006, 11:32 AM
SimWife and I are liking it....havent read the books, and probably won't... wouldn't want one to spoil the other too much at this juncture.
DrDeth
10-23-2006, 11:39 AM
Since Showtime has a bad record with it's shows (like "Deal like Me", which I thought was GREAT!), I don't trust them, and am unwilling to spend either the $ subscribing or the time to get involved.

Looks like HBO might go that same way with the bad news about the much loved Deadwood.
AuntiePam
10-23-2006, 12:39 PM
I think they're doing a good job with Dexter and I like it, but I wouldn't be terribly upset if I missed an episode or if it was cancelled. It's really not that much different from CSI or Bones or any other crime show.
Khadaji
10-23-2006, 12:51 PM
Yeah, I've been watching it, I read the book a few weeks before it first aired, after it was mentioned by a Doper.

I liked the book, and I'm enjoying the show. I'm looking forward to reading the 2nd book soon.IMO the second book is much darker. Just as well written, but darker.
Bosda Di'Chi of Tricor
10-23-2006, 12:53 PM
i got bored with Dexter after the first few times Dee-Dee tradshed his lab.


,,,what?

:D
:p
Revtim
10-23-2006, 12:54 PM
It's really not that much different from CSI or Bones or any other crime show.Are any of the protagonists of those shows serial killers? ;)
Yorikke
10-23-2006, 01:16 PM
I like it. Mrs. Wheresgeorge LOVES it - it's her new "Even though tomorrow is Monday, I have a reason for living" show.

I don't like the girlfriend subplot - I literally look away or cover my head when they address sex, because I can't bear the uncomfortableness - maybe because it's effective writing. And the police chief needs to die in a fire.

George
pinkfreud
10-23-2006, 01:29 PM
I'm really enjoying "Dexter." Michael C. Hall sure is one hell of an actor to be able to go from being the meek, gentle funeral director on "Six Feet Under" to being a serial killer. And he's so totally believable in both roles. Wow.

I wonder: if I read the books now, will this spoil the series for me?
FriarTed
10-23-2006, 01:32 PM
I loved the preview, which I saw free on the Net, and I'll probably buy the DVDs, but I didn't love it enough to subscribe to Showtime.
Eleanor of Aquitaine
10-23-2006, 01:33 PM
I have all of the episodes recorded, but I'm still trying to work my nerve up to watch them. I'm not particularly squeamish - I don't mind regular murderers (or ghosts, or monsters, or plagues that wipe out mankind, etc.) but serial killers really creep me out and I normally avoid books and movies involving them.

But, when I heard about the show I did read the first Dexter book, and I liked it pretty well. It's short and fairly shallow (and the sister character is annoying) but Dexter himself was intriguing. I liked Michael C. Hall in Six Feet Under and I bet he does an amazing job as Dexter.
Otto
10-23-2006, 01:41 PM
I don't like the girlfriend subplot - I literally look away or cover my head when they address sex, because I can't bear the uncomfortableness - maybe because it's effective writing.
Julie Benz is so good in it. I look at her and don't see a trace of Darla. love the reasoning behind Dexter's choice of girlfriend. Which kind of got shot all to hell when she blew him, so that'll be interesting to watch develop.
AuntiePam
10-23-2006, 01:53 PM
Are any of the protagonists of those shows serial killers? ;)

Well, no. :) But with his impulses under control, he's not much different than the police officers, prosecuting attorneys, and judges in the crime shows. He catches killers and brings them to justice.

If he wasn't so controlled, there'd be more tension. Everybody on the cop shows has a dark side, and I worry more about them than I do about Dexter.
Revtim
10-23-2006, 02:08 PM
I wonder: if I read the books now, will this spoil the series for me?Probably. My guess is that they will continue to follow the book fairly closely with regard to the ice-truck killer. But it'll be impossible to know that for sure until probably the end of the season.
Valerieblaise
10-23-2006, 02:17 PM
I just watched the first 3 episodes on-Demand over the weekend and liked them enough to watch the new episode last night. Michael C. Hall is just great. There are 3 or 4 actors that were regulars on "Oz," so it's kind of funny to me to spot them. The woman who plays the bitchy Lt., Lauren Velez, was the prison doctor, while 3 of the cops were convicts.

It's definitely an entertaining show. I'm wondering if the cops are going to catch the Ice Truck Killer or if he'll remain free for the whole season. It seems like that would get a little ridiculous before the end of 12 (or whatever) episodes, but they've kept it entertaining for so far.

I'm a little bummed that I'm completely caught up, 'cause now I have to wait a week for anything new.
yellowval
10-23-2006, 02:21 PM
We're enjoying it; my husband probably moreso than I am. I decided to give it a try because the repeat is on at 8 p.m. on Tuesdays and there is absolutely nothing else on at that time. I needed something to watch while on the treadmill and Dexter was the best thing I could find. I'm in the, "I like it, but wouldn't be upset if I missed it" camp.
DrDeth
10-23-2006, 02:30 PM
I decided to give it a try because the repeat is on at 8 p.m. on Tuesdays and there is absolutely nothing else on at that time.

NCIS. You have to watch it a couple time to understand that a big part of the show is it's humor.
Dewey Finn
10-23-2006, 02:44 PM
I like it, especially the mystery of the Ice Truck Killer, except for the use of the supergenius serial killer cliche. We're supposed to believe that
he didn't leave any evidence in the abandoned hospital and that he could remove the security guard's hand, foot and lower leg cleanly, and without killing him. Unless it turns out that he's got a medical or forensics background.
yellowval
10-23-2006, 05:00 PM
NCIS. You have to watch it a couple time to understand that a big part of the show is it's humor.

That one has never really caught my eye, but I'm certainly willing to give it a shot. If they have it on DVD I'll order it on Netflix.
merrily
10-23-2006, 05:12 PM
I'm enjoying Dexter a lot. Michael C. Hall is fantastic, and the part that is fascinating me is the contrast of his flattened affective state contrasted with the more normal people around him.

I like the bits with him trying to fit in, and how he doesn't always get it.

I'm very, very glad he didn't kill the dog!
Sonia Montdore
10-23-2006, 06:20 PM
One thing I'm not getting is why the lieutenant has such a hardon for Dexter's sister.

Oh, this is just sick. DeeDee is like, what, seven? Okay, she's annoying as hell and obviously hyperactive with all those ballet twirls, but she must be protected from this vile, leering lieutenant, whoever he is. We can but hope that Dexter is even now in his lab working on an anti-pedophile death ray.
AuntiePam
10-23-2006, 06:53 PM
Huh?

Dexter's sister is in her 20's. The lieutenant who has a "hard on" for her is a female, who has the hots for Dexter and doesn't like the sister.
pinkfreud
10-23-2006, 06:56 PM
The "DeeDee" reference above was, I think, a joking allusion to a cartoon show, "Dexter's Laboratory."
AuntiePam
10-23-2006, 07:11 PM
Thanks, pinkfreud. Whoosh! :)
DrDeth
10-23-2006, 09:01 PM
That one has never really caught my eye, but I'm certainly willing to give it a shot. If they have it on DVD I'll order it on Netflix.

They do. The show took an epi or two to get into it's humor and rythym. Some dudes thought it was "just another CSI".

Note that Dexter does sound interesting and if it lives, I may be renting season 1 in about a year or so, who knows!
beowulf573
10-23-2006, 09:19 PM
I didn't care for the book, didn't care for who the killer was in the end, but I actually like the series. It's not the best thing I've ever seen, but it's worth watching.
Snooooopy
10-23-2006, 09:36 PM
They do. The show took an epi or two to get into it's humor and rythym. Some dudes thought it was "just another CSI".

Grissom traps his victims in a room and recites obscure facts about bugs until they slash their OWN throats out of boredom.
Tortuga
10-24-2006, 12:28 PM
Just a heads up that the first two eps can be watched free on Showtime--they've been modified to be TV14 rated though, so the eff bomb is muted and I'm assuming there's some gore missing.
Tortuga
10-24-2006, 12:29 PM
Sorry, Showtime's website. Stupid me, stupid tempting quick reply button.
Hey, It's That Guy!
10-24-2006, 11:03 PM
Just a heads up that the first two eps can be watched free on Showtime--they've been modified to be TV14 rated though, so the eff bomb is muted and I'm assuming there's some gore missing.
Thank you! I just watched the pilot on the Website, and absolutely loved it. It was pretty much exactly what I expected, only with more tension-breaking humor. I wish I got Showtime, since I have a feeling this show is going to be right up my admittedly dark alley.

--Darkly Dreaming Lou, a Miami boy