By [ad_1]
Based on a series of novels written by Jeff Lindsay, Dexter premiered on Showtime in 2006 and ran for eight seasons. Starring Michael C. Hall as the title character, Dexter followed the life of Dexter Morgan, blood splatter analyst for the Miami Police by day, serial killer by night.
When it first aired, the series was new, inventive, and exciting. It was well-written, well-acted, and featured unbelievable narrative twists, especially in its early years. Overall, the show had its ups and downs, great seasons and bad ones, but throughout those eight seasons and the sequel series Dexter: New Blood, there’s plenty for fans, new and old, to enjoy.
10 Michael C. Hall Is A Perfect Lead
Dexter features a fantastic cast throughout the entire series, from Jennifer Carpenter as Deb, Erik King as Doakes, Julie Benz as Rita, and beyond. But no actor beats Michael C. Hall as Dexter Morgan. Hall becomes this character and helps cement Dexter as one of television’s most interesting protagonists.
Hall hits notes of anger, meditation, humor and more in a character that uses these emotions to mask who he really is. His acting is phenomenal, his chemistry with each of the supporting cast members is unique, and his presence onscreen is simply mesmerizing.
9 Audiences Are Deep Inside The Protagonist’s Head
One thing that sets Dexter apart from many other shows is the usage of internal monologues. The audience knows what Dexter is thinking at all times. We experience events and learn new pieces of information as he does. Michael C. Hall’s performances and line deliveries are chilling, yet compelling.
The sheer quantity of internal narration Dexter provides brings the audience as close to the protagonist as they could possibly be. And the quality of those monologues endears the audience to that character, despite some of the horrible actions he takes.
8 A Fresh, Inventive Idea When It Began
Since Dexter‘s debut in 2006, shows like Breaking Bad, Bates Motel, and Hannibal achieved success and presented audiences with characters who walked the line between good and evil and whose actions are usually morally or legally questionable.
When Dexter premiered, this concept of an “anti-hero” protagonist wasn’t new by any means, but the concept of a serial killer who only kills other killers, or those that deserve it, mixed with some kind of moral code and Michael C. Hall’s amazing performance, was refreshing and inventive.
7 Season One Is Television At Its Finest
Dexter presents one of the finest premiere seasons of television. The first season plops audiences into Dexter’s world, introducing us to Dexter Morgan, his dual life, his supporting cast, and an overarching, season-long mystery all in the first episode.
The twelve-episode season successfully expands on the lives of almost every major character, fleshing out their own lives and struggles while connecting them to Dexter, through friendship or rivalry. Season one also features an incredible “villain” and mystery that spans the entire season, culminating in an amazing finale full of twists and reveals.
6 An Easily Recommendable Show
Recommending television shows to others can be tricky. The elevator pitch for a series may sound great until the person recommending the show says something like “once you get past the first two seasons, then the show becomes good.” Dexter, thankfully, doesn’t suffer from this problem. The first season is a masterfully told, complete story and the few seasons that follow are equally impressive.
While the show starts strong and carries that quality over many seasons, the latter half of the series is not everyone’s cup of tea. While the series finale was a disappointment to many fans, Dexter’s story does continue in the new mini-series Dexter: New Blood.
5 More Good Seasons Than Bad For A Long-Running Show
While the series ran for eight years, it certainly had its highlights and failures, not uncommon for a long-running show. While the series ended on a mixed note, the bulk of the series more than makes up for it. The first season alone is a complete story with a beginning, middle, and end, and satisfying payoff and conclusion.
The next few seasons that followed were equally entertaining. Everything that was built in season one was expanded upon and fleshed out in later seasons. The ending may not stick the landing, but the ride itself is certainly worth it.
4 Great Twists In Nearly Every Season
Pretty much every season of Dexter operates on a “serial killer of the year” formula. A new serial killer threatens Miami and Dexter and the police attempt to find them in their own ways. The intricacies of each season are unique and surprising. Twists come not only in the narrative but for the characters as well.
Season one has the season-long mystery of the Ice Truck Killer. Season two turns the formula on its head, making Dexter the serial killer everyone’s hunting. Season four and six feature satisfying reveals, and more. On the surface, each season seems formulaic, but the creators take audience assumptions and build off of those predictable foundations, crafting original plots years after year.
3 A Great Series To Watch With Others
Dexter is a great show to experience with others for the first time, or to watch with others to enjoy their reactions. The number of twists and turns each season takes, coupled with standout performances and shocking scenes make this series just as entertaining to experience with others as it was on first viewing.
Though the series originally aired weekly on Showtime, it’s now available on streaming services and is definitely a binge-worthy show. There is a specific satisfaction in knowing a reveal and experiencing that reveal all over again through the eyes of another person watching it for the first time.
2 The Show Significantly Branches Off From The Books
The television series was originally based on a series of novels written by Jeff Lindsay, the first titled Darkly Dreaming Dexter, which the first season was mostly based on. Though the first season pulled much of its influence from the book, the rest of the series would branch off significantly from Lindsay’s original stories.
The show and books feel distinct, and the portrayal of Dexter, thanks to Michael C. Hall, is unique to the atmosphere and narrative of the show. The great thing about a series straying from its source material is that it creates even more content for fans to enjoy. Fans of either the books or the show will certainly find surprises in the other.
1 Dexter: New Blood Gives Fans Even More Content
Fans enjoyed eight seasons of Dexter. When the series concluded in 2013, the majority of fans were not too pleased with the finale and the conclusion to this eight-year arc of Dexter’s story.
As seems to be the theme in modern media, that “old” show, Dexter, has been revitalized in the form of a mini-series titled Dexter: New Blood. Fans of the original series and new fans will finally have some questions answered about Dexter’s life post-series finale. We can only hope that this mini-series can make up for the original’s ending, but nevertheless, new Dexter content is here with more to come.
About The Author
[ad_2]
