First Impressions: Dexter

In a measure of full disclosure, I do not subscribe to Showtime, so I will not be watching the show I’m about to describe basically because I have no desire to subscribe to any premium channels because I’ll just waste all the hours in my day watching every single movie just to get my money’s worth. With that said, the kind people over at Showtime were nice enough to give me an advanced screening of their latest attempt to crack HBO’s dominance in original programming.

Being that this is a premium channel, Dexter is definitely something you would never see on network television and you really won’t be able to edit out all the profanities to get into syndication. The show follows Michael C. Hall (from the equally morbid Six Feet Under where he was nominated for an Emmy) in the title character role that works forensics for the Miami Police Department’s homicide division and moonlights as a serial killer. Before you start to think the guy is completely evil, he only kills other killers, the ones that the cops can’t nail. But to keep him from being totally redeemable, we become well aware that he enjoys the hunt and the kill a little too much. In the first episode they dig deep into his back story to help explain how he became who he is today and makes Dexter completely believable as a guy who puts on the charade for strangers yet is empty inside.

But Dexter isn’t completely cut off from society as his foster sister played by Jennifer Carpenter (don’t think less of her for her appearance in White Chicks) works Vice in the police department, insert your own Crockett and Tubbs joke here. Surprisingly Dexter is in a long term relationship with Julie Benz (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) who seems as much emotionally challenged as Dexter thanks to her crack head ex-husband. The rest of Dexter’s coworkers seem to be their basically for comic relief including the Lieutenant that constantly hits on him and a sergeant that is the only one that correctly pegs Dexter’s creepy demeanor but acts like something out of a blaxploitation film.

In the first episode, we watch Dexter do his thing on two criminals that the cops couldn’t keep their charges to stick. On top of that it looks like we are introduced what seems to be a season long arc focusing on another serial killer. If I were a betting man, I would put money on the other serial killer turning out to be Dexter’s real father who was never mentioned here in the first episode, but Dexter’s foster parent, who also worked for the police department, didn’t seemed to phased after finding out hid kid’s penchant for blood. But even if the mystery is that easy, Hall is still able to carry the show balancing his cheerful façade with his disturbingly creepy inner-monologue.

Verdict: If you already have Showtime this may be worth checking out if you have the stomach for. If you don’t, much like every other show, it’s not worth subscribing to check it out but could be worth buying or renting when (or if) it is released on DVD if you are a fan of horror or suspense. But if you are like me and are not a Showtime subscriber, you can check presumably the first two episodes during Showtime’s free preview October 6th thru the 13th. For those with Showtime, you can check out the premiere of Dexter on October 1st at 10:00.