The modern television era has given us loveable hookers, vampires and corrupt cops, so why not a loveable serial killer? For when all is said and done that’s what Dexter is – a good looking killer who only kills people who deserve it (i.e. other serial killers), a brilliant police officer (he’s really into blood), a devoted boyfriend, a reliable brother. Every now and then there’s a glimpse of a less pleasant character – he tortures his victims, when a guy re-possesses his girlfriend’s car he doesn’t really care – but they don’t push it: understandably, otherwise I’m sure audiences would be reluctant to tune in.
This is a smart, well made show with a nice line in black humour and some excellent acting. Michael C Hall’s weird presence is ideal for the title role and I especially loved Jennifer Carpenter as his sister, a sort of leggy foul-mouthed Bridget Jones, unlucky in love and full of enthusiasm (she gives the show real life) and James Remar as Dexter’s dad (he’s been having a bit of a later career renaissance, has Remar – it’s been obvious since his old Walter Hill films that he had presence and it’s great to see him getting big gigs these days).
Julie Benz is sweet as Dexter’s girlfriend and I also liked the Latin cop and the highly political Cuban lieutenant (who looked a lot like a friend of mine) but the angry black cop got irritating after a while; he also has a particularly silly sub-plot involving Haiti. The show seems to have a gay subtext, being about a man unable to control his cravings, hiding from society, not interested in sex with women (when Benz first goes for him, she gives him a blow job).
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