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Dexter : Complete Season 1


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Editorial
Amazon.co.uk review

An interesting and original idea that's very skillfully executed, Dexter is never less than watchable, often quite compelling and sometimes thoroughly riveting. As the 12 episodes from the show's first season reveal, it's also the epitome of "high concept," a kind of Silence of the Lambs for the C.S.I. generation. Creator-executive producer James Manos Jr.'s title character, one Dexter Morgan (played by Michael C. Hall of Six Feet Under renown), works for the Miami Police Department as a blood spatter analyst, visiting crime scenes and helping figure out what happened. He has an avocation, too: during his off hours, he tracks down some very, very bad people who for various reasons have eluded the proper authorities. Seems his adoptive father, a cop himself, taught the kid how to channel his dark side in a 'positive' direction and so, having captured these evil doers (including a child molester-murderer and a recidivist drunk driver with a trail of bodies in his wake), Dex dispatches them with clinical precision, thus making him a serial killer who snuffs serial killers.

But there's more--much more, as it turns out. By his own description, Dexter is 'a monster,' an empty shell who fakes all human interactions and admits to no real feelings for anything or anyone, including his foster sister (Jennifer Carter) and his nominal girlfriend (Julie Benz), a former crack addict and battered spouse who's as uninterested in sex as he is. There's an explanation for Dexter's weirdness, of course, one so deep and traumatic that even he isn't aware of it. It's gradually revealed over the course of the season as he and the cops (who include Erik King, Lauren Velez, and David Zayas, all first-rate) track down the so-called 'Ice Truck Killer,' a fellow monster whose grisly m.o. both fascinates and taunts our hero, leading to a genuinely shocking and squirm-inducing finale. Dexter can be a bit arch, with an ironic, too-hip-for-the-room tone that get a little old. Still, it's a safe bet that anyone who views this first season will be salivating for the second. --Sam Graham


Editorial
DVD Description

The Emmy award-winning and Golden Globe nominated TV series Dexter is based on the story of Dexter Morgan. Orphaned at the age of four and harbouring a traumatic secret, Dexter (played by Emmy and Golden Globe nominated actor Michael C. Hall of Six Feet Under fame) is adopted by a police officer who recognises Dexter's homicidal tendencies and guides his son to channel his gruesome passion for human vivisection in a constructive way – working for the Miami Police Department as a blood spatter analyst, visiting crime scenes and helping to solve murders. However, during out of hours (and with the support of his father), Dexter focuses on capturing the heinous perpetrators (including a child molesting-murderer and a drunk driver with a trail of bodies in his wake), and dispatches them with clinical precision, thus making him a serial killer who murders serial killers. By his own admission, Dexter is "a monster", an empty shell who fakes all human interactions and admits to no real feelings for anything or anyone, including his foster sister (Jennifer Carpenter, The Exorcism Of Emily Rose) and his nominal girlfriend (Julie Benz, Rambo), a former crack addict and battered spouse who's as disinterested in sex as he is. There's an explanation for Dexter's weirdness, of course, one so deep and traumatic that even he isn't aware of it. It's gradually revealed over the course of the season as he and the cops track down another fellow monster whose grisly motives both fascinate and taunt our hero, leading to a genuinely shocking and squirm-inducing finale. This box set features all 12 episodes from the show's first season. Extras include audio commentary on two episodes, a featurette about real-life blood spatter analysis, and a variety of DVD-ROM items.
Editorial
Synopsis

After playing a mild-mannered funeral home director in SIX FEET UNDER, Michael C. Hall makes a smooth transition to serial killer in this original crime drama. But the twist in this smart show is that Dexter chooses to prey only on other serial killers. As a child, Dexter is adopted by a cop (James Remar) who soon realises that his new son is no ordinary boy. Since Dexter is compelled to kill, his law-abiding father pushes him to choose his quarry in a way that will best benefit society. As Dexter grows older, he works as a blood splatter expert in Miami, giving him a close view of other murderers and their handiwork. Stylish and blackly comic, this drama is adapted from Jeff Lindsay's novel DARKLY DREAMING DEXTER. This release includes the entire first series, which largely focuses on Dexter's pursuit of the coldblooded Ice Truck Killer and his own efforts to evade detection.

"I'm a very neat monster."
Review date: 2008-09-04 Rating: 10 out of 10

Here we go again. Another CSI clone. Haven't we seen this all before? Well actually, not quite. There is nothing quite like Dexter.

Dexter Morgan (played by the outstanding Michael C. Hall) is a blood splatter analyst who likes nothing more than a bucket of blood at a crime scene. Dexter is also a serial killer, or occasional killer, who kills the criminals who escape justic by administering some of his own.

Dexter was a troubled boy, adopted as a toddler and gaining a sister (with whom he now works along side) and brought up by an honest cop, who realised that Dexter was no ordinary thinking boy. Using knowledge and techniques shown to him by his father, Dexter has forged a 'career' as a very tidy and neat monster, as well as being a brilliant forensic analyst.

When attending a crime scene in sunny Miami, Dexter is shocked to be told that there is no blood for him to savour here. With surgical precision, a body is dismembered and almost presented perfectly, waiting to be discovered. Neatly wrapped body parts leave Dexter with a challenge - to improve his own killing technique and to find who becomes known as 'The Ice Truck Killer'.

There are many more twists and turns as the story unfolds and we discover much more about Dexter, and that he is an emotionless character much of the time, and very quiet, almost to the point of becoming an outcast, occasionally exploding in a crescendo of violence. Despite the madness and murder, Dexter has gained respect from most of his collegues whilst hiding the fact that he has a murderous evening and weekend job. Of course there is dark humour to lift the mood slightly, only before letting the viewer plunge back into the hellish psyche of the Miami serial killer division.

Dexter is a meticulously crafted modern television masterpiece, eclipsing our very own 'Waking The Dead' and leaving a bitter sweet taste in the mouth that leaves you wanting so much more.

Marvelous!




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Reviews


Certainly original!
Review date: 2008-08-25 Rating: 8 out of 10

The central premise behind this series is that Dexter is a man without human feeling, a sociopath and yet a man with the self control and social responsibilty to only kill those criminals who society abhors but who manage to escape justice. He's a kind of modern day superhero taught by his father (who realised his tendencies when he was six years old????) to channel his love of killing towards good.

As a premise for a series this is pretty weak but despite this Dexter is a highly watchable drama with a strong storyline. Sure the ending is a little bizarre but compared to most American dramas it is original, well acted and ground in reality, if a fantastic reality.

Michael C Hall is an interesting choice to play the role and one I found difficult at times to take seriously, partly due to his previous role in Six Feet Under, but also because he doesn't really look the sociopathic type. A typical scene sees him knocking out the ex-husband of his girlfriend with a frying pan. The camera then cuts to him standing there with a sardonic smirk on his face followed by the usual "jokey" voice-over before he drags the body out into a busy street and bundles it in the boot of his car. This light-hearted approach to the subject matter works though and essentially Dexter is a enjoyable romp, not in the class of The Sopranos or The Wire, but enjoyable nonetheless.

Simply addictive.
Review date: 2008-08-07 Rating: 10 out of 10

Simply addictive, some people take a little time to warm up to this series but when they do like my wife, its back to the first episode and engrossed from there on, its brilliantly written and executed with mixed opinions all the way through. Simply Brilliant.
Second series just gets better but not out in uk yet, however its currently being screened on tv now. Rumoured to be a third series is great news as im now suffering withdraw'll symptoms.


Fantastic, you won't be disapointed
Review date: 2008-08-04 Rating: 10 out of 10

I was sceptical at first but it was well worth it. Gets so much better after the first 2 episodes. Buy buy buy!

Dark, Mysterious, Intruiging and Amusing
Review date: 2008-07-22 Rating: 8 out of 10

Having never been a huge fan of the US import TV that usually shows up on Channel 4 or ITV over here, I wasn't exactly blown away by the trailers and teasers for this one. However, whilst idly channel hopping late one midweek evening I came across it..and never looked back. Never have I breen drawn into a show quite like this, despite being a somewhat unrealistic concept (serial killer who works for the police..)the show is produced to near perfection.

The entire show is near perfectly cast, Michael C Hall puts in a creepy, disturbing and genuinely frightening performance as Dexter, and is supported by the fantastic Julie Benz who does a great job in her portrayal of a traumatic victim of domestic abuse. Other performances from the likes of Jennifer Carpenter and Erik King are also top drawer, and help provide a range of likeable, amusing and believable characters.

The show focuses on the private life of the twisted and disturbed Dexter Morgan, who channels his dark urges to kill in a positive fashion by "taking out the trash" and killing only those who are guilty of heinous crimes themselves. Whilst leading this life of brutal crime by night, he gets by during the day as putting up a facade and acting as just another normal person on a day to day basis. Only when another serial killer invades his territory does Dexter become amused, inrtuiged and then anxious as the series reaches its climax.

The DVD itself contains what it says on the packaging, all 12 episodes from the first season, the only extras being a commentary on two or three episodes by two of the writers, shame that there is no commentary from Michael C Hall himself, but hey, it's not a huge problem.

Altogether this is a very different TV experience, it's dark, edgy, disturbing and it's sense of morality is dubious at best, but it's great, quite the find. Highly reccomended to those who like something a bit different.

Product Details/Specifications


Actor(s):
Jennifer Carpenter
Erik King
Julie Benz
Lauren Velez
Michael C. Hall

Creators:
Michael C. Hall (Primary Contributor)
Julie Benz (Primary Contributor)

Recording label: Paramount Home Entertainment
Manufacturer: Paramount Home Entertainment
EAN: 5014437945532
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 4
Format: Box set, Colour, PAL, Subtitled,
Release date: 2008-05-19
Audience rating: Suitable for 18 years and over
Region code: 2
Running time: 626 minutes
Language: English (Original Language)

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