A Killer of a Show: A Review of "Dexter"

We learn early on that the character of Dexter Morgan had emotional problems from an early age. He was adopted by a man who was a cop and he immediately saw that Dexter's tendencies were going to lead to trouble. You see, Dexter killed the family dog and then when his father went digging around, he found that Dexter had been killing a lot more than the family dog. Dexter has a thing for blood, you see. He loves the stuff.

Dexter is a serial killer.

However, because his father was a cop, he saw what his boy was and he decided that something should be done with his adopted son's unique tendencies. "There are a lot of bad people in the world," he tells him one night after finding Dexter's collection of knives, "and the police can't catch all of them."

He wants to channel Dexters urges towards good. He then teaches Dexter how to track down killers. Yes, Dexter may like to take men, strap them down to a table and then dismember them while they're alive, but at least he only tracks down other killers. Dexter is a serial killer who kills other killers. At the same time, he is also a forensics expert for the local police department, with a specialty in blood spatter.

This is the televsion series that was brought to Showtime a couple of years back. Now, thanks, in part, to the writer's strike, the disturbing and very darkly comic story of Dexter Morgan has come to network television. The show is called simply "Dexter" and it stars Michael C. Hall (formerly of "Six Feet Under") in the titular role. He is remarkably good.

Hall does not do anything with his face. He is the exact same actor, looking exactly the same, as he did when he was on "Six Feet Under" and yet he is entirely Dexter Morgan. He is an amazingly talented young actor who can portray Dexter's madness with just a few blinks of his eye, or the strange falsness of his smile.

Dexter also narrates his own story. He tells us that he collects blood from his victims, sealing it on a slide that he keeps hidden in the air conditioning unit of his apartment. He also tells us that he feels no emotions. His entire life is a study in fooling everyone else that he is normal. All the while, he is using his connections within the police department to gather information about his next potential victim.

Dexter also has a girlfriend. He has one even though he has no interest in sex what so ever. He finds the act of sex "undignified." So, what does he do? He gets involved with a woman who has been sexually and physically abused by an ex and also has no interes in sex. This role is played by the stunning Julie Benz who you may remember from shows like "Angel."

Dexter is right in the middle of the lions den. His act must be perfect because there are cops all around him. He is very good, because only one cop seems to susect that Dexter may have outside interests that are a bit unwholesome. In fact, he is trusted and sought after by the police to help out on cases. Not only is he an expert in blood spatter, but he seems to have a keen insight into the minds of killers. Of course he does, he is one.

In the first episode we see Dexter at work. We see him searching crime scenes. We see him interact with his girlfriend. We see him hunting. We see him collecting. We see him become interested in the work of another serial killer. This killer freezes the bodies of his victims and then cuts them into neat pieces all the while without leaing a single trace of blood. It is only by studying this fellow killer's techniques that Dexter experiences anything close to emotion. He is intrigued. In fact, he is excited.

This is a very good show. I have no idea how much has been cut in bringing the show to network television, but even with those restrictions, the show maintains much of its creepiness, intensity and disturbing nature. It is the kind of show that slowly pulls you in, makes you shake your head in disbelief, then leaves you stunned and feeling really bad about having liked what you just went through.

Hall plays Dexter perfectly. His narration is spot on, completey devoid of emotion, watching everything happening to the people around him and himeself with a disturbing detachmet. His performance as Dexter manages to convey a man completely playing a game on everyone around him. He somehow manages to convey Dexter's false smiles and fake emotions and yet still make us see how it would be convincing to everyone else around him. He knows when to laugh at the right times, smile at the right times, and show joy and happiness at just the right times. The moment when he plays with his girlfriend's kids is particularly creepy when filtered through the lense of what we really know about Dexter.

CBS has made a bold move in bringing this show to network TV. Given the times we live in, when the FCC is willing to fine anyone and everyone with a broadcasting license, it is a risky move. I applaud them for taking the chance. Now I just hope audiences will get over thei squeamishness and give "Dexter" a chance.