Cynical Cinema

Dexter has been one of the best shows on television for the past few years. Michael C. Hall plays Dexter, a serial killer who can’t control his impulses to kill, but who attempts to make the best of these impulses by killing only bad people. Like, other serial killers. He works, conveniently, as a blood-splatter expert in the Miami Metro Police Department. Season One was a rarity in television these days, a season that actually wrapped up with a definite ending, as the really bad guy lost, the kinda-good-guy won, and many questions were answered.

Dexter is the kind of show that lends itself well to being watched all at once. You can pick up the First Season on Blu-Ray Tuesday, January 6th, and you can have the whole thing watched by the end of the week.  I can only assume (having not yet seen this on Blu-Ray, but having seen it in HD on the ol’ television machine) that the bloodiness is that much bloodier in this format, and the creepiness is that much creepier.  This is one of the few TV shows that makes sense in Blu-Ray.  Well worth it.

Dexter has been one of the best shows on television for the past few years. Michael C. Hall plays Dexter, a serial killer who can’t control his impulses to kill, but who attempts to make the best of these impulses by killing only bad people. Like, other serial killers. He works, conveniently, as a blood-splatter expert in the Miami Metro Police Department. Season One was a rarity in television these days, a season that actually wrapped up with a definite ending, as the really bad guy lost, the kinda-good-guy won, and many questions were answered.

Season Two is similar, in that it has a very satisfying ending, a convincing and fairly neat wrap-up, and yet still makes me wait in a state of high anticipation for Season Three. The second season sees a net closing in around Dexter, as the evidence of his many, many grisly murders surfaces in the harbour. Soon, he and the rest of the police force are chasing down, and closing in, on the “Bay Harbour Butcher” - who is, of course, Dexter. Two characters become major players this season. Sergeant James Doakes (Erik King), who begins to suspect Dexter, and go after him with a single-minded intensity. And Lila (Jaime Murray), a stunningly sexy former meth addict and pyromaniac who becomes dangerously obsessed with Dexter. And who also provides some of the most creepily sexy scenes in TV history.

Dexter is the kind of show that lends itself well to being watched all at once. You can pick up the Second Season on DVD Tuesday, August 19th, from Paramount Home Entertainment, and you can have the whole thing watched by the end of the week.