Dexter

[Deleted]

So, I went back a year and couldn't find a thread, so if it exists, my apologies in advance.

Who's watching? It's on Showtime in the U.S. and The Movie Network in Canada, and stars David Fisher Michael C. Hall as a serial killer-killing, serial killer cop (well, a blood-splatter expert, in more ways than one).

I'm really enjoying the show, even though it took a couple of episodes to build a rhythm and momentum (and dispell memories of David Fisher), has a good, quirky cast and is predictably macabre and very darkly humourous. Hall is creepy-funny-sexy and his girlfriend, with whom he hopes he'll continue to have a completely sexless relationship, is played with touching fragility by Julie Benz of Buffy/Angel fame.

Flashbacks with James Remar as Dexter's killer-mentoring dad have a disarmingly warm quality to them and I only wish I could shake the idea that Dexter's boss, played by Lauren Vélez, is really Tootie from Facts of Life.

It's one of my appointment-tv shows this season.

[Ripley]

I saw the ads for it, and I'm disappointed that I don't get Showtime. I enjoyed the books by Jeff Lindsay, and I bet they make a great TV show.

[whatever]

I wish I could watch it but I can't get Showtime without turnign on digital cable, which is the tool of the Devil. I'll have to wait for the DVD's

I love Julie Benz - can you tell me why they are in a sexless relationship?

[Deleted]

She was repeatedly raped by her husband (resulting in her two kids) and is thus quite understandably turned off the sex thing. Dexter's simply not into sex, since he has other stuff, like the murder and torture of serial killers, to get him going. So they've got a good thing.

Julie Benz is really terrific as the girlfriend who wants, quite desperately, to be physical with Dexter, but flashing back to the abuse is too traumatic for her right now. Seeing her in such a fragile role, after the vampire-bitch stuff she did on Buffy, is quite a shift.

[whatever]

Thanks for that! I think she did fragile really well in that one episode where she was in labor and killed herself to save the baby - that whole "tell him I loved him" speech gets me every time.

The good thing about Showtime is they seem to put out their DVD sets quite soon after the season ends, so hopefully I won't have to wait too long.

[defaultusername]

I like the name Dexter. It’s intellectual and slightly edgy at the same time. If I have a son, I want to name him Dexter. I have no opinion on the show.

[Deleted]

Also, it shortens to "Dex", which is instantly and timelessly hip.

The casting of Dex as a little boy and teenager is really quite good, with all the actors portraying him echoing facial expressions and tics.

[Sunnyhorse]

We're on the verge of dropping HBO -- the only things left to watch are "Big Love" and "Rome" -- so maybe we'll pick Showtime up. I really want to see this program.

[jen808]

I saw the 2-minute behind-the-scenes thingie on TiVo, and this looks like something I could get hooked on very easily. I can't decide if it would be worth spending the extra money on Showtime, though.

Bah. Like I need another TV obsession.

ETA: anybody else think it might kind of look a tiny little bit like Psych on USA? I mean with the dad issues and the pretending-to-be-totally-legit angle?

[johnboysmole]

Yep, great show. I love the backstory with Dexter and his dad. Pretty interesting.