Dexter: The Complete First Season

It's no easy task to turn a serial killer into a likeable lead character on a television show; but Showtime's provocative crime thriller Dexter achieves it. Thanks in no small part to the charms of brilliant actor Michael C. Hall (inexplicably robbed of an Emmy nomination this year), Dexter becomes an unlikely anti-hero"”a character we root for and even, on some warped level, understand.

As soon as the show's stunning title sequence begins, you're thrown into this killer's twisted world. Filmed with unsettling closeness, it cleverly shows how even the simplest morning routines contain an underlying violence for Dexter"”the way he smacks a mosquito on his arm and gives a wicked grin, the way he cracks an egg, ties a shoe, even the way he flosses his teeth. After seeing the credits, you know the show's going to be amazing before it even starts.

Dexter has built a cozy, make-believe life for himself. To the outside world he's an average, law-abiding citizen. He works for the Miami police department as a blood spatter analyst, helping to solve crimes by day and then secretly committing them by night. He's become a pro at faking emotions and bluffing his way through relationships in a bid to fit in and look normal to the people around him. And he's got everybody fooled except the audience. Through insightful and often times humorous voice-overs (Hall's deadpan delivery is terrific) we get to know the real Dexter"”the Dexter with the dark secret.

Dexter's aware of his psychopathic tendencies, but unlike most serial killers he kills with a purpose. He follows the strict code given to him by his foster father Harry Morgan (played by James Remar in flashbacks), a respected, honest cop who adopted Dexter when he was three-years-old. Harry recognized his son's desire to kill at an early age and rather than try to stop his son's impulses, he decides to help him channel it. He lays out guidelines for Dexter, telling him to only kill people who deserve it, criminals who think they've beaten the system. So that's exactly what Dexter does.

It's hard to imagine anyone but the talented Hall (best known as David on Six Feet Under) playing the title role of Dexter. Though Dexter claims to have no emotions, he's no cardboard cutout. He's an extremely complex character and Hall is able to master each and every scene. The supporting cast is superb as well. Jennifer Carpenter plays Debra, Dexter's foul-mouthed foster sister who's also an ambitious rookie cop. As Dexter bluntly puts it, "I don't have feelings about anything, but if I did I'd have them for Deb."

Dexter is trusted and well-liked by most of his colleagues including flirtatious Lt. Maria LaGuerta (Lauren Velez) and good-hearted detective Angel Batista (David Zayas), but the tough-talking Sergeant Doakes (Erik King) harbors suspicions about him. Doakes'

When he's not dealing with dead bodies, Dexter's spending time with his girlfriend Rita (Julie Benz) and her two small children. Rita herself is broken and damaged, the victim of past domestic abuse, and for this reason Dexter thinks they're a perfect match. A lot of funny/awkward moments come out of Dexter's utter confusion about romance and sex and his struggle to fake interest in both.

The first season of Dexter contains an intriguing overarching mystery. There's a savage new serial killer on the loose with a penchant for chopping up the bodies of hookers and draining their blood. Dubbed the Ice Truck Killer for his special blood-draining methods, this new adversary instantly fascinates Dexter. As the season goes on, we find out the connection between the two killers runs deeper than the gruesome hobby they share.

In a fun, satisfying twist the audience will find the Ice Truck Killer's identity way before the characters do. Unlike most shows with a central mystery, Dexter is not afraid to give answers and it's done in such a way that you never feel cheated.

All of the season's 12 episodes are chillingly terrific. One standout is the eerie, suspenseful "Return to Sender" in which Dexter is called to his own crime scene. He must find a way to avoid getting caught. Another outstanding episode is the season finale "Born Free", in which the Ice Truck Killer's real connection to Dexter is revealed. Dexter must also confront his traumatic past and the horrific event that ultimately turned him into a killer. Both Hall and Carpenter give award-worthy performances in this episode.

Just be warned, Dexter is not for the squeamish. The blood flows freely and the killings can be intense. But the great thing about Dexter is that it's able to balance this violence with dark humor and a sense of irony. A couple of fun facts: Dexter's boat is slyly named "Slice of Life" and in one episode he uses the alias Patrick Bateman, the character's name from American Psycho.

Special features on this 4-disc set include two commentary tracks with the cast and producers. There's also an interesting feature called "Witnessed in Blood"”A True Murder Investigation" which shows how real blood spatter analysis can help in solving a case. Disappointingly though, some of the features don't even relate to Dexter and serve as nothing more than a plug for the Showtime network. Two episodes of the series Brotherhood and a free episodic download of The Tudors are included.

If you're looking for a unique show that's truly a cut above the rest, check out the deliciously deviant world of Dexter.

Season Grade: A+

DVD Features Grade: B+

Overall Grade: A