Dexter - He's Back..

Last season Showtime pulled out all the stops with the series, Dexter, played by Michael C Hall. He's a serial killer who has turned his attentions to those that have escaped justice, taking out those who are a danger to society as a way of channeling his need to kill through destroying those who will never face justice in the traditional sense. Dexter faced a man who turned out to be his brother, he tracked down a man responsible for a wave of murders by a man called the Ice Truck Killer and the answers to his past, the reason why he is the way he is, were all exposed. And then there is Rita, played by Julie Benz, his flawed girl friend who he's come to enjoy being with, perhaps because of her flaws. Fans might well remember Julie Benz from another cult show, where she played Darla on Buffy the Vampire slayer.

Through seasons one, all the lies and all the secrets were stripped away before the eyes of thousands of fans as they watched Dexter put the pieces together, and save his foster sister from his own brother.

But now Dexter has someone else on his trail. Doakes, played by Erik King, the only police officer in the unit who gets the creeps from Dexter - as there's a twist to this serial killer, he's a blood analyst specialist for the forensic department. But with Doakes on his trail there's nothing he can do. As the episode opens we're introduced to the fact that it's been 38 days since Dexter has been able to have a moment to himself in order to kill someone, and now that need is eating away at him.

But as Doakes gives up and walks away after 38 days of following Dexter in his attempt to look normal, Dexter slips free to deal with a man who he has had his eyes on for several weeks. A Voodoo priest who has committed murder in order to make his death curses work. But as he brings the knife down something goes wrong. He can't do it. He faltered. The knife doesn't feel right in his hands, he can't take the life. Death has always brought order to the chaos of his life, but this time he can't strike. This time his hand is stayed.

Why?

Is it because his last victim was his brother? The betrayal he still felt from the way his brother was hidden from him by his adoptive father? Or the fact Doakes is trailing him? Or, perhaps, it's just because his chosen victim was a blind man and he felt some level of sympathy toward him?

Whatever the reason, Dexter is off his game, as the next crime scene shows. He falters. He can't focus. He steps into a pool of blood. He forgets to prep his camera fully. His balance is off and when the dead man's mother runs onto the scene and begs for help, begs for someone to kill the one responsible for her son's death, Dexter is the one she asks for help. The look in the eyes of the small child who runs into the woman's arms, is the final key. Dexter knows the look. The need to have someone help them. To kill the one responsible for the death. Is this the answer to Dexter's problems? A man who needs killing so badly he can taste it?

"A challenge, a mountain to climb. I need this one."

One of the things I enjoy about the show is the glimpse into Dexter's thought processes that appear in the form of an ongoing narration. How often do you get to crawl around the mind of a serial killer?

Ah, but things are about to explode for Dexter, when treasure hunters stumble across Dexter's dump spot for all the bodies he's disposed of over the years and damn - there are a hell of a lot of them. Far more than the first season ever hinted at. How many has Dexter killed?

39 days since he killed his brother and his new target, one who deserves to die according to the code Dexter was raised with, escapes - leaving Dexter believing he is now cursed. So just what will happen in this series?

The previews hint at a terrible, delicious set of twists. Dexter's world is about to crumble completely around his ears. Will he fly, or die? Will he be able to continue to keep his code, or will he be discovered? All his secrets exposed for those around him?

I can see I'm about to be as addicted to this season as I was the first!

Dexter is dark, delicious and so beautifully creepy.