by J A Wright

Created on: September 11, 2009

Dexter is an unexpected hit from Showtime and shown on CBS in the US, now screening series 4 since its beginning in 2006. Based on the crime novels (Darkly Dreaming Dexter, Dearly Devoted Dexter and Dexter in the Dark) by Jeff Lindsay. The main character is Dexter Morgan (Michael C. Hall of Six Feet Under notoriety), a police civilian and criminal mastermind. He examines blood spatter patterns and establishes causes of death and other crucial forensics information which assists the Miami Metropolitan police department in finding and catching murderers in their jurisdiction. But Dexter is just as much a killer, innocent colleague and upstanding staff member by day and methodical and disciplined killer by night.

Dexter was found in a deep pool of his mother's blood in a haulage trailer at the harbour at just 3 years of age and it has a lifelong and enormously traumatic effect upon him. He is found after 2 days by police officer, Harry Morgan (James Remar) who then brings him up along with his own daughter Debra. We discover very early on that Dexter is strangely taken with the concepts and actions of murder and his adoptive father teaches him discipline and method, learned by his own experiences in the police force, to protect Dexter. Now as an adult Dexter only kills bad guys, those missed by the scales of justice, using his training under 'The Code of Harry' to cover his tracks carefully.

Debra works alongside Dexter, as a police officer, intent on finding the bad guys and entirely unaware that her brother is one of them.

Further emphasising Dexter's sociopathic tendencies and highlighting his need to create a normal facade, he has a girlfriend to complete his disguise. Rita (Julie Benz of Buffy fame), is also emotionally damaged by her previous partner and mistakes Dexter's reticence as caring respect.

Dexter achieves character depth and history in flashback scenes, shown during conversation or during moments of reflection and we soon know much of the background which brings us to the present moment.

In series 1 when the Ice Truck Killer hits Miami we see what happens when another serial killer steps on Dexter's toes and there's a multitude of surprises along the way.

No matter how gruesome it sounds, it is an incredibly clever programme. The gore scenes are reasonably restrained, a few are used for the shock factor, coming as a cautious reminder that really is a programme about a murderer who is getting away with it. Even the beginning, titles

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