DexterRating: * * * *Air Time: Sunday, October 1 at 10 p.m. Showtime is typically not a station one associates with quality dramas and series, but lately they’ve been on a roll, producing such critically lauded shows as Huff, Sleeper Cell and Brotherhood, while continuing on with such hits as the L word and Weeds. Adding a bit of nuance and flavor to their repertoire is Dexter, a unique drama with bizarre comedic overtones based on the acclaimed novels by Jeff Lindsay. The series revolves around Dexter Morgan (Michael C. Hall, David from Six Feet Under), a blood-splatter forensics analyst for the Miami-Dade Police Department. He’s a seemingly normal guy, very likeable and charming, but he harbors a deep secret. During his off time, Dexter plays the role of a vigilante serial killer, hunting down the lowlifes from the dregs of society and dispensing his own sense of justice. Through flashbacks it’s revealed that Dexter survived a traumatic event as a child. His foster father, Harry, a former policeman, learns that his son has no recognizable human emotions except for an insatiable urge to kill. Harry channels Dexter’s rage and licentious desires into good, teaching him to kill only those who deserve it. Harry also teaches him to create a normal human persona, emulating normal human emotions he doesn’t actually feel so that he doesn’t draw attention to his extracurricular activities. The pilot begins with Dexter’s foster sister Debra (Jennifer Carpenter), also a policewoman, pleading with Dexter to help her find a serial killer known for cutting of all of the limbs of his victims. She needs his help because he has an eerie knack for thinking outside of the box. Dexter grows infatuated with the bodies, almost obsessed and even a little jealous. To further complicate matters is Dexter’s “girlfriend” Rita (Julie Benz), a single mother escaping a messy marriage. She’s not after anything more than a male companion and, of course, Dexter is more than OK with that. What makes Dexter such an intriguing shows is Michael C. Hall’s performance. He provides a glib and sarcastic voice-over in which he comments on the absurdity of “normal” people and their hidden anger. Hall wears the charming persona of Dexter like a second skin, allowing the audience to fall in love with a character who fakes every bit of his personality.
The pilot, brilliantly directed by Michael Cuesta, deftly handles the complicated tone of the series and nicely sets up future episodes. The teleplay, written by former Sopranos scribe James Manos, Jr., also perfectly captures the glib and comedic tone of the novel, economically stripping away the fat and creating a tense and exciting pilot along with introducing a set of believable supporting characters to mingle with Dexter.
Dexter is an odd and rewarding new series that puts a new spin on the tired police procedural drama, but should also appeal to those with a cutting sense of humor.
