by Dee Schneider

Created on: September 26, 2008

Dexter, the tv show based on the novel "Darkly Dreaming Dexter" by Jeff Lindsay, explores the life and times of a modern day serial killer.

Compelling television.

Dexter manages to take a fresh perspective within the genre of horror and crime fiction.
As viewers, we are taken on a journey that is narrated by the main character, Dexter, who is a Miami Police Blood Spatter expert by day, and a serial killer by night.

The main difference with Dexter, is that you can't help but like the guy.

As a young boy, Dexter was witness to an horrific event which was to shape him into the man he is today. Harry, his Adoptive father who happens to be a cop, recognises from an early age, Dexter's penchant for blood letting. Fearing that Dexter's facination will end him up in Gaol, or worse, Harry takes it upon himself to groom Dexter. He instills the importance of a code of ethics for serial killing. He focuses Dexter's attention towards people who have themselves done evil and deserve punishment, or slipped throught the legal system.
Harry teaches Dexter how to not get caught, and how obtain irrefutable evidence of the persons guilt. This way, Dexter can indulge in his passion - murder and disection, and society will be done a favour in the meantime.

The biggest survival technique that Harry nurtures within Dexter, is to fake human emotion, and pretend to be normal. Dexter believes himself to be completely devoid of all ability to feel, although as the character develops, this becomes more and more questionable.
Due to his diligent willingness to follow Harry's "code", he behaves in a manner that makes him very affable. He is super kind to his girlfriend, supportive of his sister, and an all round "nice guy".

As the series develops, we start taking a roller coaster ride with Dexter. We travel with him as he uncovers his past, his demons - and trys to make sense of his world.

Very cleverly interspersed with humour (all be it often Black), you are swept along through moments of fear, shock, sympathy and laugh out loud hilarity.

Personally, I find this show intriguing, and am particularly fond of Michael C Hall's portrayal of Dexter. The character is fascinating, and I imagine apealls to women on the level of "broken man that if I could just love enough would be fixed"...and men on a level of "Wow no one would mess with me, I'd just kill 'em".

The support characters are a little harder to like.
If you stick with the show, they soon become bearable and then almost likeable.

Some of the writing leaves you wondering if you have flipped channels and are sitting through a B grade pilot of some show that they will never put to air - but ride through the rough bits, because the good bits are delicious.

Learn more about this author, Dee Schneider.
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