Michael C. Hall is Bloody Good as Dexter, Serial Killer

For me, the writer's strike of '07-'08 was actually a good thing. Missing my favorite TV shows wasn't a big deal; in fact, it enabled me to do two things: 1) finally watch the 20 hours of saved TV shows and movies on my TiVo, leaving more than 15 minutes of free space on it for the first time in years, and 2) discover shows that I miss out on when they first aired for one reason or another. Through the power of Netflix, I was able to catch up on the entire first season of 30 Rock, which I missed when it first aired because I figured Studio 60 was going to be a better show. Well, Aaron Sorkin is probably back snorting cocaine, while 30 Rock won an Emmy for Best Comedy.

I missed Showtime's Dexter the first go around for an entirely different reason: I'm too cheap to buy Showtime. I have HBO because I got it to watch The Sopranos, although I should have canceled both after Season 4 of the show. I was intrigued by Dexter's premise, and by the presence of HBO refugee Michael C. Hall as the titular character, but ultimately, I wasn't going to shell out another $9.95 a month for another premium cable channel. It turns out I should have canceled my HBO subscription and gotten Showtime, because Dexter is better than anything HBO is currently offering.

Dexter tells the story of Dexter Morgan, a blood spatter expert employed by the Miami police. Dexter makes a rather unusual protagonist, in that he's a serial killer. It asks a lot of an audience to root for, and even identify with, someone who has killed numerous people. And I don't mean a killer like Freddy Kruegar or Jason of Friday the 13th who the audience roots for in escapist fun, or even a vigilante like Charles Bronson in Deathwish or the Punisher in a really bad movie, but the type of killer that usually ends up on deathrow after pleading guilty to ritualistically killing a couple of dozen people - Hannibal Lector without the favre beans and the bottle of Chianti.

But a difference does exist between Hannibal Lector and Dexter Morgan (other than the cannibalism) - Dexter only kills “bad” people. Adopted as a small boy by Harry Morgan, Dexter began evidencing the stereotypical signs of a serial killer as a child, such as killing animals. Harry, a veteran cop who nonetheless is protective of his adopted son, teaches Dexter “The Code of Harry,” which allows Dexter to kill people who Dexter knows have committed crimes worthy of the ultimate penalty. The Code of Harry also requires that Dexter blend into society, which isn't easy for him to do, as he is devoid of emotion or attachment to other human beings.

The actor who manages to pull off making a serial killer likable is Michael C. Hall, previously of Six Feet Under. Hall portrays Dexter as relatively light-hearted, focusing on the fact that Dexter doesn't feel sadness or grief, rather than the fact that Dexter doesn't really feel happiness or joy. His acting is helped significantly by two directing techniques: a voiceover and the cutaways to Dexter's reactions. Oftentimes, a voiceover can be an annoying crutch used by lazy writers, but here, it's a necessity, as Dexter's innermost thoughts cannot be spoken aloud to any other character. Hall's cadence and inflection in his voiceover sets the proper tone for the character, enabling us, the audience, to be part of his secret and thus helping us identify with him, the serial killer. Second, the camera cuts to Dexter at the most opportune times to show his delight in a particularly gruesome murder scene, for example. Combined with a snarky remark via the voiceover, these brief moments give us a window into Dexter's worldview. Overall, the premise and execution are really quite ingenious.

Dexter also enjoys a strong supporting cast. James Remar is particularly good as Harry Morgan, the cop who uses his police skills to train his son to kill without being caught. Remar does an excellent job of portraying the twisted morality of the Code of Harry, and making it believable, because at his core, Harry loves his adopted son and wants to protect him. The comic relief is provided by C.S. Lee as Vince Masuka, the sick-in-the-head forensics expert who frequently joins Dexter in the investigation of murder scenes. Erik King as Sgt. Doakes, David Zayas as Det. Batista, and Lauren Velez as Lt. Laguerta round out the police house, each providing their contribution. If there is a weak link, it would be Jennifer Carpenter as Dexter's adopted sister, Deb, but it's difficult to separate the acting from the sometimes annoying character.

But to really make Dexter great storytelling, Dexter's protagonist needs an antagonist, and the writers provide one in the Ice Truck Killer, another serial killer. The Ice Truck Killer, or rather his victims, are introduced early in Season 1. Remarkably, this other serial killer takes an interest in Dexter – and Dexter in him. The cat and mouse game that develops, in which Dexter investigates the Ice Truck Killer's murder scenes both from his position as blood splatter expert and as a fellow serial killer, gives the story the needed intrigue and tension to make it compelling. At the same time, Dexter's beginnings as a killer are explored in flashbacks of scenes with his adopted father Harry. The story gathers a head of steam as Dexter and the Ice Truck Killer move towards an inevitable confrontation at the same time that Dexter confronts who he is and how he came to be.

Remember, this is a story about a serial killer(s), and some of the scenes are a bit gruesome, although nothing compared to a Texas Chainsaw Massacre or the like. The blood is never for mere shock value; in fact, often, the blood itself tells the story.

A bloody good story it is.

DVD Details: the four disc series contains twelve episodes. As usual, the “extras” are throwaways, with the exception of the inclusion of the first two episodes of Brotherhood, an Irish mobster series from Showtime, which might be my next set of orders from Netflix.