(S01E03) I know I've said it the past two weeks now, but wow. Showtime has a serious hit on their hands here. It's killing me (no pun intended) that I could go out and buy the book Darkly Dreaming Dexter, read it all, and know what's going on with this show. I'm not so sure I can hold out for nine more episodes. The mystery of The Ice-Truck Killer is just too good. Who is he? What does he want? Does he like Fudgesicles?
Plenty was revealed this week and so far, Dexter has been moving at a very brisk, but sensible pace. Unlike some other shows that seem to have been dragging their feet as of late (cough, cough Lost, cough, cough), Dexter is proving that viewers can be kept engaged by revealing a boatload of information, yet make them feel like they're still in the dark by episode's end.
This episode featured more flashbacks with Dexter's foster father Harry then previous weeks and it didn't don on me until the episode was over that it all related to the title. Cherry was the name of a prostitute, the most recent victim of The Ice Truck Killer. She also happened to be the owner of the finger tips that were recovered last week. But the title was two-fold as it related to the flashbacks as well. There was a lot of exploration into how Dexter popped his cherry.
It was a night-shift nurse who had been looking after Harry Morgan during his illness. Did we find out what he had? If so, I think I missed that mention. Regardless, the nurse had been overdosing Harry (other patients as well) with too much morphine on purpose. Wasn't this an actual news story a number of years ago? A nurse who killed patients in this way? I feel like I've heard of it before. Oh well. With Harry's urging, Dex disposed of her and Harry went on to live another year now that he was receiving proper dosages.
We found out some little things about Dexter in this episode that I found really amusing. For instance, he hates funerals. How does a guy like this hate a funeral? Shouldn't this be the ultimate celebration for him? Beyond that, Dexter is terrified of crocodiles and he hates it when children cry. Stuff like that is what makes Dexter so appealing, despite what he does. Or even when Angel had to explain to Dex what a "butter face" is? It's hilarious and makes Dexter seem so inept, but we all know that's not the case.
One thing this episode really elaborated on was Dexter's list of rules he followed, better known to him as the Code of Harry. One of the biggest things it stresses is that Dex should only kill when it serves a purpose, like preventing some sicko from committing a crime again. Otherwise, Dexter would be just another murderer. We actually got to see the Code of Harry in action when Dexter spared the life of a young convicted killer when he found out that the kid only killed in retaliation for being raped by his victim.
Very interesting to see Dexter in a position where he spares somebody, but those somber moments are offset by all the humor written into this show too. The best exchange?
Rita (on her tendency to let fruit trees wither and die): "I can't help it. I kill things."
Dexter (doing to his best to not smirk or sound sarcastic): "That must be awful."
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
10-16-2006 @ 5:46AM
dwacon said...
I hope Sumner Redstone appreciates this hit. Now the big question is... how to raise subscribers, since Sho has roughly ½ the subscribers of HBO.
Here's an idea -- grab Deadwood (canx'ed by HBO) and put it on the line up with Dexter and perhaps people will come back (especially the 60,000 viewers who got dissed when "Dead Like Me" was axed.
But back on topic... I am a lovin' this dark, quirky series...
--
dwacon
http://dwacon.blogspot.com
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10-16-2006 @ 5:46AM
Derek said...
I was really excited about the beginning of this years TV season. I guess I bought into a lot of the critical hype about all the new shows that were supposedly so well thought out, expertly written and acted, and containing that cinematic flare for over the top editing that Hollywood is so known and loved for. Then I actually watched the shows. I was really dissapointed that none of the shows that I'd been reading about were THAT good. All the shows that had been related to me as the best of the year turned out to be wishy-washy (Studio 60) or really lame (The Nine). Well Dexter gets my vote for best show to premiere in 2006-2007 (so far) So were is the hype for this show bloggers?
Dexter is old fashioned television in a sexy, vital, young body. The cast of characters, in three episodes, have developed more than some characters in shows that have been running for three or four years now. More than that, though, they are fully rounded. Dokes is an ass, a philanderer, smarter than he seems, etc.
The mystery is cool, and yet (as mentioned in the main post) it isn't the sole reason to watch the show. Although as a sort of point counterpoint thing, even though I like the flashbacks, the hair styles young dexter wears really bother me for some reason.
I think this show has a lot of potential, so I hope showtime doesn't make this go the way of Dead Like Me and Huff, and actually sticks with the show for at least three seasons instead of two.
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10-16-2006 @ 10:19AM
ladi said...
I haven't seen the show. I just signed up for Showtime and will be watching it from now on. I read about the series and bought the book - and it was a quick read but it is really dark and funny at the same time. I hope the show is as good. Does anyone know when they will be rerunning the first few episodes so I can watch it from the beginning?
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10-16-2006 @ 11:02AM
Don McEwan said...
ladi - I don't know if they will be showing the previous episodes so that you can get caught up but they just did that with Weeds over the weekend so it could happen with Dexter, too. Also, check with your cable provider to see if they offer Showtime On Demand. I think that's what it is called. Anyway Time Warner often puts many of their channels On Demand (it's free/included in the price I already pay) and I've been able to catch missed shows this way so hopefully that is an option for you, too.
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10-16-2006 @ 1:23PM
Cross777 said...
"For instance, he hates funerals. How does a guy like this hate a funeral? Shouldn't this be the ultimate celebration for him?"
I thought he said he hated funerals because he didn't understand everyone's grief. And hated hiding the fact that he didn't care.
Do you think thats it for Harry? Seems like they won't use him anymore. Also I didn't like that he let that kid go. He bought a knife a lured that other kid in to the swamp and would have killed him if Dex didn't show up. I wouldn't think Dexter scared him straight by just grabbing him by the neck and asking for his wallet back. I think we will see this kid again, either he'll kill again, or maybe Dex needs a student to pass on the Code of Harry which is what I thought after seeing last weeks preview...
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10-16-2006 @ 3:08PM
Justin said...
Anyone else find it ironic that Dexter hates funerals, whereas Michael C. Reilly's former character (David Fisher) lived for them?
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10-16-2006 @ 5:28PM
docrmc said...
Everyone loves a good tite:
Frankly, good titles, or at least nomenclature, makes a show for me. Hell, it makes an article for me too. This show proves no exception. But, while im commenting, to make a correction... the title was actually triple-fold. The sister also popped hers - first homicide call.
Etc.:
What makes the show for me is the parallel attitude of Dexter. There is Dexter the serial killer, and then, though he denies it, Dexter the person.
We continue to see him struggle w. sexuality, in quite amusingly written ways; we see the great care he takes with his gf, and her kids especially; we see his relationship with a couple workmates in particular; and then we see Dexter and his interaction w. family, both alive (the sis is very tied into his life, as his father said she should be) and dead (the father in flashbacks).
What i look forward to seeing is more of the sister, for a couple reasons. Theyre very alike. He thinks he doesnt feel, and fakes it, but i think he does. She tries not to feel, and fakes being steely, but she does feel and it does show. Plus, theyve both got instinct for crime, but theyre intuition comes from different sources, i.e. he's had practice :P
Sho has got a hit, here. I am thoroughly enjoying it. I reserved my overall opinion, and my decision to blog on it, until id cleared 3 eps. Now that I have, i declare with certainty that this is a winner. The writing and character portayal is, simply, excellent.
Goodonya, Sho.
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10-16-2006 @ 5:51PM
Mika said...
This is the best series. It has great actors and a great story. I love it!! I love the fact that they are not playing up Miami like some shows do aka -CSI: Miami. Not everyone is hot and goodlooking and have flashy cars and wear Prada all the time. It's nice to find a "real" crime drama that focuses on what it's supposed too-the story. I never read the book but now I want too. I hope this show lasts. it's brillantly written and acted. Took CSI:Miami off my TIVo and put this one instead.
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10-17-2006 @ 7:24AM
Joe said...
Love the show, love the characters, love the concept, but I LOVE the music. I can't believe you never mentioned it, as it's definitely one of the stars of the show for me. From Dexter's 'hunting music' to the music at the swap meet, it's just so well done!
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10-17-2006 @ 11:20AM
Mica said...
You can catch up on Dexter now, for free.
Both episodes 1 & 2 are available online, here's the direct link:
http://www.sho.com/site/dexter/sneakpeek/home.do?source=blog
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10-18-2006 @ 12:26PM
Denise said...
Dexter hates funerals because he doesn't really care about death - it's killing he loves. At a funeral, there's nothing for him - all that emotion, he doesn't get that and he has a hard time faking it.
This episode, very good. Still sticking pretty true to the book, which is nice.
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10-18-2006 @ 10:44PM
Stigmata said...
WHAT AN AWESOME SHOW! best new show of the season hands down.
Dexter, Lost and BSG make my top 3 shows that i cant live without.
Now, i dont live in the States, i dont get showtime, so i download all my shows.
It's not that i'm not willing to pay for showtime, i just dont have access.
Hopefully, in the future, all the networks will adress this and distribute their shows online, with ADs in place, or for a small fee.
That way, we can assure that great shows like this stay in production cause i'm sure there are a lot more ppl watching than what the numbers suggest!!
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