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Dexter is an American television drama series that airs on American premium channel Showtime. Set in Miami, the series centers on Dexter Morgan (Michael C. Hall), a serial killer governed by a strict moral code who works for the Miami Metro Police Department as a blood spatter analyst. (official distributor synopsis)
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Takes life. Seriously. A likeable and successful Miami PD forensic detective who is very popular and has a happy relationship... But first impressions can be wrong. Dexter just pretends to have emotions, in reality he isn’t capable of feeling anything. And, just by the by, he is also a serial killer who only murders murderers, but as we know, the more you eat the hungrier you get. No, this really isn’t just another variation on CSI. And personally I wouldn’t even this as a criminal thriller. The indescribable acting performance by Michael C. Hall (who played David Fisher in Six Feet Under; this guy seems to have a natural talent for strong roles and working with dead bodies) in the main role will get right under your skin and, although this time he is directly involved in their deaths, so this is a completely different slant. And again he handles it beautifully; without him Dexter wouldn’t work for a second and the entire concept would collapse like a house of cards. A disturbing series that asks controversial questions and, because it’s made for cable, is peppered with rude words. Everything here is brilliant, from the choice of actors, through capturing the special atmosphere of Miami, to the technical aspects, where the soundtrack is the proverbial icing on the cake. The opening credits, reminiscent of Švankmajer, and the flawless “dark" piano during the ending credits complete the picture, convincing you that this series is pure genius. However much Dexter’s psychological profile differs from the book (like totally; in the book he is an absolute screwball on the brink of madness and schizophrenia), it really doesn’t matter in this series. The series makes up for this with detailed storylines involving the other PD members. It almost seems that the creators found inspiration in the Argentinian series Epitafios. This is missing in the book, which is really only about one sick mind. And what about season two? Some drift away in their thoughts, Dex’s cadavers drift away in the sea. Significantly different to season one. And, believe it or not, although it doesn’t look like it at the beginning, it’s even better. FilmBooster hasn’t got enough stars to be able to evaluate this properly. It’s that good. And even season three exceeds the quality bar, although perhaps not as much this time round. Despite this, Dex is still unique and mainly unbelievably real. At least as far as life is concerned. Again, still, again and anew. It loses points mainly in the storyline with the main baddy which is... Just a little tired. And then, not only thanks to the phenomenal Lithgow, season four is the best season of all (so far). Of course, if I took Dexter primarily as a criminal series, I wouldn’t be so enthusiastic, but I take it mainly as a series about life. Sooner or later, we all end up having to deal with Dexter’s relationship, family and social problems, and that is where the power of this series lies. And if I add to that a suspenseful and gripping sarong, then it can only be positive. Although I am convinced that it would have worked well even without that sarong. Surprise, surprise, season five is nothing short of excellent, but for my taste it has strayed too far from Dexter’s struggle with “humaneness" to classic thriller (albeit with wider overlap into other realms than most, even above-average thrillers). The behavior of some protagonists and the police is rather illogical given that this is presented as a thriller; on the other hand, it is fundamental in building atmosphere and suspense. In this season, Dex finds himself a little sidelined and it is the girly Debra/Lumen duo who go through the greatest development. But this isn’t a negative - there is a reason for it - but the screenwriters should have stepped on the gas in the last quarter hour, instead of cowardly putting it into reverse, thereby throwing the entire series back to where it had got to once before at the end of season four. In doing this, while on the one hand they made this season extremely high quality (and very tasteful), on the other, it seems rather like superfluous watered down porridge. I christened season six the “most to-and-fro-est". But that doesn’t make it bad or even average, but it is a bit too much of a patchwork of storylines, all of them with untied loose ends; at the same time it is pleasantly soap opera-style daring (but only if the screenwriters manage not to fumble this situation in the next season). However, a kind of conflict between good ideas and fizzling out takes place in the first two-thirds of this season. While Rita’s departure was logical (and necessary too), and was a great help to the series overall, the (temporary?) departure of Lumen is much more damaging and so the Dexter storyline (again) begins walking in circles, not even interrupted by Dex’s dabbling in religion. Although this is super, this promising storyline ends sooner than it starts to develop into something that might move the story forward. Tying up the storylines from past seasons comes across almost like they had no better ideas (the Nebraska episode) and the main “murder" storyline isn’t completely uninteresting, but the more observant viewers realize how this is going to finish (and it does excellently) long before the outcome. And primarily the whole storyline with religiously motivated murders stays too long on the sidelines and nobody at the police department seems to show the slightest interest in it. And also deus ex machina comes into play far too often, and also the way Dex keeps on making mistake after mistake, but without any real consequences (unlike the first few seasons or other uncompromising series where every action has a corresponding reaction) is a bit annoying. The only thing that I can have no objections to is everything happening around Debra. The way this rather superfluous character (as she was in seasons two and three) turned into the main powerhouse of the series (sorry Dex) deserves respect. And in view of what course this character takes, I retract what I said about the ending of the previous season. It made sense to wait a season for “that". Season seven begins with the best episode of the series and... But nothing comes of it. Although more happens in the side-stories than elsewhere (including the fantastic Stevenson), none of them get adequate space for development. And the reason? The Dex/Debra storyline that steals most of the air time for itself. Is this a problem? Not if they didn’t get done with it in the first four episodes. The series is founded on “this" from the very beginning, and they have been preparing the ground for “this" for six years already. And what do we get? “An entire" four episodes! And considering how they dealt with similar situations in other series (T Shield, Breaking Bad) this is all the sadder. I think the creators got this over with so quickly only so that they could send Dexter toward a relationship that doesn’t move the main protagonist at all forward and therefore for the first time has no reason for happening. Dexter’s change of demeanor to a state of “smug jerk-off ignoring any consequences" doesn’t improve things either. I have already reluctantly come to terms with the fact that Dexter the series isn’t (and probably never again will) be that all-encompassing study that it was originally, dressed up as a crime series merely to attract viewers. But I don’t see why I should come to terms with the fact that it isn’t even a crime series, but rather something dangerously bordering on a badly written telenovela; and the reason isn’t that the central theme of the series this time round is love. If, under the strict supervision of an uncompromising dramatist, they combined the best of the last two seasons, turning them into one respectable season, it would be no disaster for this series as a whole. This way we have one great season and one to be quickly forgotten. Season eight, the final season could have saved the series from going under and save it, despite the quality of the past couple of seasons; it wouldn’t have taken much to make this an uncompromising and unforgettable ending, but that doesn’t happen and so all that can be said of season eight is that it’s exactly the same as the preceding two seasons. And that’s bad, very bad. P.S.: What does it say about me when, the second time I watched it, I realized in horror that that pervert Masuka in season five is wearing the same Desigual shirt that I have in my closet? S1: 4/5 S2: 5/5 S3: 4/5 S4: 5/5 S5: 5/5 S6: 4/5 S7: 3/5 S8: ?/5
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The series has definitely become one of my favorites, although it’s true that I missed the old Dexter in the last two seasons - a cynical and emotionally empty narrator. It was his sense of humor, so dry that you shouldn’t use open fire in the vicinity, which perfectly complemented the great suspense and action. The amazing atmosphere was supported by an excellent score. Although I’m not a huge fan of this music genre, it fit here perfectly.
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Season one: Dexter isn’t the type of series that wins you over at first glance, but the deeper you get into that world, the better it is. It’s main merit is the initial idea. An emotionless serial killer who pretends that he’s “normal" and works as a blood spatter specialist with Miami Police. Genius! How simple, but still something that we’ve never seen before in series form. Plus Michael C. Hall is talented and his Dexter is a nice guy even when he’s chopping his psychiatrist up into pieces. The problem is with the rest of the cast. Some of them are really annoying (I found Dexter’s sister drove me up the wall sometimes), some are fine (Dexter’s dad, the kooky Chinaman or the laid back Angel), but most of them are just boring. As the series goes on, the situation is getting a little better, but they come nowhere near Dexter and his Max Payne-style wisecracks. I’d just like to thank Fars for recommending the series to me. I’m intrigued about what season two will bring. Season two: If it manages to maintain its upward spiral, then this could be the best, or rather highest quality series of all times. Several twists every episode, and a plot that gets better and better. It’s like a dream that you don’t want to wake up from. The lives of others gain real dimensions and you find yourself no longer assessing acting performances or picking at the logic. Everything is convincing and falls in place like a jigsaw that you had as a child. Michael C. Hall is Dexter and the story that unwound during season two is one of, or maybe simply the best that I have yet seen in a series. Season three was confirmed recently and I am looking forward to it. Looking forward a lot... Season three: After the high standard set by season two, I didn’t expect the new episodes to be any better, but I hoped they would at least maintain the quality. And the creators managed this. Thank god. Moreover, Dexter goes off down unexpected alleys and the theme of “friendship" that was central to this season gains a new, different perspective. Michael C. Hall is as excellent as ever, but I’m glad that the other characters too were given better opportunities to show their stuff. The otherwise annoying LaGuerta was pretty nice in the end and Vince’s escapades are getting better and better. Plus, Dex’s new lawyer friend (the excellent Jimmy Smits) is beginning to show his true face, little by little. The only thing that annoys me is having to wait a year. It’s like a good friend leaving the country for a long time, you start missing him. Season four found a clear direction and I am seriously intrigued to see how Dexter deals with it. So see you next year… Season four: Another year has gone by and the freshly married Dexter has put a hellish time behind him. Family takes up all his time and he doesn’t know where to turn. This year they really stepped on the gas in this series. Every episode is literally jam packed with events, surprising twists and an atmosphere that you can cut with a knife. The third series was just freewheeling compared to this, I tell you. Very nice care is taken with the supporting characters too, both Deb and Quinn have great storylines and this year’s killer, John “Trinity" Lithgow, is one of the trumps of this season. The last episode is an emotional shower that I’m slowly recovering from by writing these words and the ending is poetry in itself. Even so, I felt sort of... sad. Season five: You would have said that after the shit that Dex had to go through, the creators would leave him chill for a while (six feet under), but they did this horrendous thing to him. This time they didn’t try as hard as in season four and they play on a more intimate string. Deb is slowly maturing, I’m curious when they drop that Damocles’ sword that’s been hanging over the brother-sister relationship from the very beginning of the series. Quinn has grown into a superb character, I grew to like him a lot during season five and I wonder how things will work out for him in the next season. The new arrival, Lumen, played by one of my favorites, Julie Styles, is a welcome diversification in Dexter’s life and the driving force of the whole season. I wonder what they come up with next. I think there is only one more thing they can take from Dexter, and that’s never going to happen on TV. They just wouldn’t allow it. Or would they...? Season six: What a mess they made of potentially the best theme for this season. The end of the world, God, fatherhood. The ingredients were here, but somebody didn’t do their job right. In the quest for sensation, the screenwriters ran off down illogical paths in the second half. Dexter is careless and almost ill-fittingly emotional, characters are behaving weirdly. The first half is a perfect take-off. About five episodes are exemplary, making the others fall down even flatter. Now Deb is turning into an emotional wreck, which doesn’t suit her, Quinn is super (but has too little room), new boy Mike is just there to make up the numbers. And now for the bad guy/s. The promising plan of two murderers, a master and apprentice, is foiled by a clichéd twist and the unusual extension of the existence of Trevis. The old Dexter would have been done with this pair, chip chop. Why? Because he had no emotions. The ending then finally brought what we were all waiting for, but did it ineptly predictably that the finale of season five looks like a masterpiece in comparison. I hope that season seven mends the reputation of the series because Dex doesn’t deserve such negligence. He wouldn’t like that one little bit. Season seven: At last Deb is drawn into believing in Dexter’s secret antics and the creators again cut deep, mainly toward the end of this season. The main bad guys here aren’t actually bad guys, Dexter is a immeasurably greater swine in comparison. Even the main evil maestro of this season, the Ukrainian Issac Sirko (the excellent Ray Stevenson), whose premature departure left me with an unfamiliar feeling of sorrow. The other bad guy here is Ms Hannah, whose fate (dumb, stubborn Deb!) I didn’t foresee, but it’s quite clever and I hope we haven’t seen the last of her. The whole of this season keeps a high level of quality and considering it’s already seven years that Dex has been cutting up people, it’s unexpectedly inventive and fresh. At the end, we return a lot to my all time favorite season two, but the whole Ukrainian intro also worked well and was, I dare say, even literate. It has a story, action, suspense and a certain dose of reality that season six lost. Reputation mended, excellent and promising ending. I can’t wait for season eight. So that’s what it was about, right? Finding your human streak is a drag? Rather depressive. Season eight: They had the interesting idea of a return of Dexter’s creator and then, same as in season seven, they mixed in various ingredients from previous seasons. The situation around Deb led to a lot of exiting event and the murderer who gouges out brains is fairly original. Everything was fine. But the last season again showed a fallible Dexter, but at least this time he was able to realize it, and he didn’t behave like a psychopath/person together until the finale. Unique. Dexter. I was quite moved.
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The first episodes were slightly above average, but over time it turned out to be an affair to which it’s not difficult to develop an addiction. There’s simply no other series as good, with such a sophisticated psychology and at the same time so masterfully strumming the dark side of the human soul. Review of the final season: it should be said that this is the weakest season. The screenplay is clueless, clumsy, with nonsensical random situations, with even more nonsensical plot twists, and with a logic that has more holes than a Swiss cheese. But then came the final episode, which at least partially corrected the dull impression, when the resolution of Dexter's and Debra's fate got a fantastically emotional charge and was the most logical and only right one (although if I were in the creators' shoes, I would’ve been even more uncompromising). It's admirable how believable the psychological development of Dexter was throughout the series, which has maintained (with some rare exceptions) a continuous quality that many competing TV series could only envy.
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Dexter immediately captivates with its original premise of a “good” serial killer who works on the police, murdering evil serial killers while leading a normal family life, and entertains with its take on silly soap operas as the main character tries to balance his dual life as a killer and family man. Most of the ironic humor rests on Dexter's memorable internal monologues, which he uses to sarcastically crash any melodramatic situations. Personally, I'm not a fan of voiceovers, but I can't imagine Dexter without them. Without them, the inner contradiction of a character who has no emotions and tries to pretend he's just like everyone else could never work. Dexter also amusingly satirizes the usually serious forensic investigations of procedural crime shows like CSI. However, from about halfway through (after the departure of the original showrunner) it starts to suffer from what a lot of long-running shows suffer from: the proliferation of side plots from the lives of minor characters that nobody cares about, as well as the unintentionally comical pathetic moments that the series initially made such a mockery of. The story becomes less and less believable and, as a result, less and less suspenseful. In later episodes, Dexter doesn't adhere so strictly to the strict code that helped him not get caught. He's getting more and more lax, but he still gets away with it. Some major events don't even have the expected serious consequences and are brushed off too quickly. And if that wasn't enough, this is one of the worst endings of any series ever. I don't know anyone who wasn't upset by it. But don't let that put you off, the first four seasons are top-notch.
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