These days there are only a few shows I consider must-watch for me. Showtime's Dexter is one of those shows. In fact, I liked the first season so much that I recently listened to the first book the series is based on, Jeff Lindsay's Darkly Dreaming Dexter. Sadly (or, actually, thankfully) the television show is much better. More on that later.I got a look at the first four episodes of the new season, and while things aren't so great for Dexter, for us viewers it's fantastic. Some spoilers follow.
The last time we left Dexter he had just seen his brother off (so-to-speak) and saw to Rita's husband being taken out of the picture -- or so we thought. Rita's husband makes a brief appearance at the start of the season, and his story from last season about the shoe comes up again in a big way. How Dexter handles the situation is both surprising and comical. Let's just say that some people hope Dexter can find a decent 12-step program that works for him.
Dexter's sister, Deb, is still reeling from having recently found out her fiance was a serial killer. Having trust issues is putting her situation lightly. She's now Dexter's roommate and, as you can imagine, that puts a cramp in Dexter's, um, style.
Something else that get in Dexter's way: Doakes is more suspicious of Dexter than ever, tailing his every move. Dexter always has to find ways now to lose the Doakes tail, making Dexter's hobby that much more difficult.
Something else that's making Dexter's thirst for the kill more difficult to quench is a big, fat ol' wrench thrown into the works of his careful body disposal process. I don't think it's revealing too much to discuss here, as I believe it's been publicly mentioned in TV ads already: Dexter finds himself smack in the middle of an investigation into his own murders!
Four episodes in and I'm hooked on again for this second season. As for the book I mentioned earlier, if you're interested in learning the details of what's different from the book and the TV show (at least the first book), let me know in the comments and I'll consider doing a spoiler-filled post listing what I noticed as differing. One thing I will say -- the characters are spot-on from the book, including the dialogue.
Dexter's second season premieres September 30 at 9PM on Showtime.
Here's a legally viewable video of the first episode of Dexter season two, password 'Killer Shows'. Enjoy!
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
9-25-2007 @ 11:36AM
Heather said...
I can't wait for season 2 & I'd like to see a book/show comparison post.
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9-25-2007 @ 12:04PM
khamel said...
first two episodes were awesome. its been so long since i watched them i might catch up again before the third episode airs.
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9-25-2007 @ 12:06PM
djb said...
would love to see the comparison!
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9-25-2007 @ 12:38PM
R.L. said...
Your comments on the book version of Dexter are dead on. I read the book before seeing the series, and it dissuaded me from watching the show until I finally gave it a shot on DVD. Almost everything from the show is miles better than the book. In my opinion, Deb's character started out a little flat on the series because she was trying to act too much like the character from the book (the cursing, her relationship with Dexter). Thankfully, she eventually makes the character her own. I actually like the ending of the book a bit better, but I understand why they couldn't do what they did on the series.
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9-25-2007 @ 2:16PM
Cody said...
No mention of new cast member Keith Caradine? I think he'll be a fantastic addition to this show.
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9-25-2007 @ 6:43PM
Kevinc said...
The book is so much better at explaining Dexter and his dark passenger. Something the show dropped which is at the heart of Dex.
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9-26-2007 @ 12:36AM
Dave said...
i think anyone who listens to a book isnt really qualified to come to those sort of conclusions. that being said, i do think the books are much better but the show is absolutly sweet. its pretty cool the two can coexist on the same premise yet be a little contrasting.
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9-26-2007 @ 12:53AM
Keith McDuffee said...
What the hell difference does listening to a book on CD versus reading the book make? I think you're being rather stuffy about it.
The book is completely rushed at the end and we get no sense of real conclusion, obviously making us feel "oh my, I need to shell out more cash for the next book!"
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9-26-2007 @ 1:34AM
Dave said...
sorry you take offense but just for the record ive read the first to via my local library and i purchased the third two days ago. on top of that i read the book before the show came out which is one of the reasons i feel the book is better. that not withstanding i still think it is one of the better shows on tv.
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9-26-2007 @ 9:22AM
Eric said...
I have read the first two books and seen the first two eps of the second season (And the whole first season). It would seem that the second season is not based on the second book, though I hope that the third season is.
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9-26-2007 @ 10:21AM
Shawn said...
I totally agree, Keith. The ending of the book felt rushed while the show had a very dramatic buildup to the finale in the last few episodes of the season.
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9-26-2007 @ 10:24AM
Keith McDuffee said...
@Eric -- It's been already said by the producers of Dexter that the second season is supposed to stand on its own, not following the 2nd book at all (which I haven't read and not sure yet if I will).
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9-26-2007 @ 1:19PM
Nora said...
I personally perfer TV Dexter to Book Dexter. The Dark Passenger explanation smacks too much of excuses for Dexter's behaviour. TV Dexter presents his deeds as wholly his own and offers no excuses.
That said, when I saw the scene with the divers discovering Dex's "packages", all I could say was "OMG!!!"
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9-26-2007 @ 4:05PM
Jennifer said...
I am currently reading book #3. Without spoiling it...folks, if you read the books, stop at book #2. I may have to be TV Dexter-only after this.
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9-26-2007 @ 4:13PM
TVblogger said...
HAHA! I love the stupid comments about reading vs. listening to a book. They are both two separate experiences. But, with both you get and understand the plot. I too listened to the book and thought it was really well done. I also think the show is better, but not just because I "listened" to it. But, because in the show a few things, for example the killer that confesses to the Ice Truck killings is done a lot more in depth in the show than the book. And done well.
Listening to a book and reading it are not that far apart. Get off your soapbox.
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9-30-2007 @ 10:45AM
TomB said...
I was goofing around with Comcast cable's VOD service and was pleasantly SHOCKED to see that the entire first season of Dexter was available for free (I don't have Showtime). They are edited down to a TV-14 rating... but still. I was blown away. What a great show!! Check your VOD service everyone!
Now I'm going to have to break down and subscribe to Showtime. They made the series available as a marketing ploy to get you to subscribe, of course, which I usually refuse to fall for -- but in this case the show is just too good to miss.
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10-11-2007 @ 1:26PM
Kim said...
I can't believe you didn't like the first book! I read it a year before I even knew there was a series on Showtime. I would definitely recommend the second book in the series. I can see why teh series doesn't mirror it, because they could never re-create the murders that occur in the book, (they are too graphic, the victims live as nothing more than butchered up vegetables, but not by Dexter's hand). The second book is better than the first and I love the tongue in cheek writing style.
I'm very much into the second season already, and I couldn't give Michael C. Hall any more praise than I already have for him. He is EXACTLY as I had perceived the character from reading the books. His performances are mesmerizing, and I am a forever fan.
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