Showtime's "Dexter"

[Austruck]

Okay, guys (Holden and OG- and anyone else watching Showtime's series "Dexter") ...

Shall we start from scratch in this thread and copy and paste our PMs? ;)

OG- ... It sounds like you agree with Holden on his theory about who the Ice Truck Killer is, yes? Did you come to your own independent conclusion, or did you do what I did and ask Holden outright and then go, "Oh yeah, that makes sense"? :D

There are several books with this character, by the way, so the Ice Truck Killer isn't the only story arc they'll be using in the series (assuming the series goes beyond the scope of the first book).

I did pick up the book again last night and got another chapter or two into it. Frankly, although it IS Lindsay's first novel, the writing is rather bland and he breaks all the writing rules of dialogue and undercurrents. At any rate, though, his concept is strong enough to carry you along anyway, despite the slightly weak writing.

He also goes into a lot more detail about Dexter's foster dad and their background of him teaching Dexter to channel his urges. In this way, the book makes a lot more sense than the series, which seems to go over the same ground with Dexter's dad every time they bring it up.

There are other slight differences in the book, most notably the character of Deb, who is portrayed as a lot more voluptuous and less ditzy than the way they have her cast now.

Anyway ... Ice Truck Killer? Third killer? Red herrings? How obvious is this show's writing? Is Rita's ex-husband the most stereotyped character on the show? Who likes Angel besides me?

Talk amongst yourselves ....

[Pyro Tramp]

Ooh, nice thread. Curious who Holden thinks the ITK is, there's several characters that I wouldn't be suprised at if they the ITK. I was half asleep during last episode but nothing seemed to make their identity glaringly obvious (was it intentional btw?). Anyway, series definitely seems to be gaining momentum with more interesting structures, thought the killing at the end of each ep was becoming a bit tedious. Would rather have more on Angel's marriage than Rita's though. Oh, does anyone else really dig the opening credits?

[Pyro Tramp]

Holden: yeh, i figured if anyone it would be him, though disregarded since it seemed a bit TOO convenient.

[Holden Pike]

Well, I just cheated and speed-read the last few chapters of the first Dexter novel. The character I think the Ice Truck Killer is, he is isn't in the book. BUT the killer from the book (and I'm sure they'll use the same device, though it's too bad because it's pretty silly) could well be that guy I think it is, just given the new job and wrinkle for the television show...but he'll have the same backstory and same ultimate identity.

If the series ending winds up being essentially the same as the novel, I don't think I'll be watching season two.

Oh, well.

http://graphics10.nytimes.com/images/2006/09/29/arts/29stanley.xlarge1.jpg

The idea of a "good" serial killer who is still a twisted fu*k and who also works with the Police under their noses on their crime scene unit is a good core character and premise, but it's like after that spark of an idea there's nothing else, and it just goes through the tedious genre motions.

Too bad. It had promise, but it's just not anywhere near the level of "Weeds" or "Deadwood" or "The Sopranos" or any other of the best pay cable series. Not anywhere close.

[Pyro Tramp]

It's always seemed like a one season show to me but this is coming from someone knowing nothing of the original books or whatnot.

[Austruck]

Oh Pyro --I ADORE the opening credits! The music is great. The shots are marvelous. I can barely even WATCH 'em because they give me the creeps -- and all he's doing is eating breakfast and shaving! Brilliant, IMHO. Creepier than the show itself. :)

Yeah, if Dexter himself stays too cutesy and witty (rather than brooding and dark), it'll quickly become Monk Meets Hannibal or something and that just won't fly for me beyond a season or two. I'd rather be exploring the weird psyche of Dexter than the other characters, so let's have more backstory on Dexter himself.

One paragraph in the book that I just read last night said that his foster dad asked Dexter what he remembered about his real parents (he was fostered out at age 3). He remembers virtually nothing, and his foster dad says that's good. And then the book says something like, "And that was all Harry ever said about it ever again."

Now THAT is intriguing. Harry does explain to Dexter that what happened to him before they took him in was what made him the way he is -- that he can't help it because, well, having stuff like "that" done to you at such a young age was bound to change him forever. But then he never tells Dexter what it is, what happened to him as a toddler.

So, naturally, we want that backstory. Dexter has these urges to kill (Harry discovered a bunch buried bones in the backyard -- the neighbor's dog plus a bunch of other animal bones of varying degrees of decomposition), and they spring from his past, not his genetics. And yet Harry is sure he's essentially a "good kid" underneath it all -- just with this urge to kill every so often (and escalating) because of his past abuse.

How Harry can see this in Dexter -- a "good kid" with killer urges he didn't want or ask for -- is fascinating to me. I think the show isn't doing justice to the foundations of Dexter's psyche.

It seems more formulaic than the book. But it's still early in the book for me, so I'll let you know how/when it diverges.

Holden ... so you're saying you're probably right in your guess, except that they've probably reworked the character (vocation, perhaps name) for the series? Gosh, why bother? :) Sounds like the ridiculous reworked ending of Stephen King's Dreamcatcher. That was a travesty of epic proportions.

But I digress....

[Austruck]

I tried to rewatch Episode 7 this afternoon on On Demand, but it's not listed ... yet. It's been three days. What gives? (Usually On Demand shows show up within twelve hours of their first airing.) Bummer.

[Austruck]

FWIW, Holden, I agree that this isn't up to Deadwood or Sopranos or Rome (another one I keep forgetting to mention in lists like this--very good HBO series!) or Six Feet Under (my first encounter with Hall). SFU is just great ensemble casting and stayed true to itself for its entire run. I definitely miss that show. I think I'm watching Dexter partly because of my weird fascination with horror books and movies and mostly because of Michael C. Hall. Oh, and because HBO doesn't currently have any of its series on in new runs.... I'll give it a good fighting chance, though, because Sunday nights are currently totally devoid of anything else to watch.

[Holden Pike]

I'm telling you, I'd bet good money that you'll groove to "Weeds". I know you just got virtually bullied into giving "Battlestar Galactica" a chance, so I'll leave it alone, but I love that show.

And the ending of the first Dexter novel, and I assume the first season as well, does get into a little more detail about the grisly events that made such a lasting homicidal impact on him.


http://online.tvguide.com/images/pgimg/james-remar1.jpg http://www.hboasia.com/images/posters/378x195/the_warriors.jpg

I also can't help but laugh every time his adoptive father is called by his full name, Harry Morgan. I expect Jack Webb and Trapper John to come waltzing in. I have always liked that actor, too, James Remar. He's been playing bad guys in movies and TV shows since The Warriors (1979) and up through 48 Hrs. (1982), The Cotton Club (1984), The Dream Team (1989), Drugstore Cowboy (1989), The Phantom (1996), What Lies Beneath (2000) and dozens of TV show episodes as a guest star. "Dexter" is by far the best best role of his career, and he's great in the part. After Michael C. Hall, I think he's the best actor on the whole show.

[Austruck]

Yeah, he does make it believable, doesn't he? The whole cop/good foster dad thing. It's a tough part to pull off -- he's actually encouraging Dexter to kill, and to lie to fit in, to fake it, and yet you see it as such a great fatherly thing he's doing. Odd juxtaposition of motives there, but he makes it work.

I thought I was the only one who kept thinking of M*A*S*H every time they say "Harry Morgan."

Is Weeds in its second season? I don't suppose season 1 is still on On Demand.... I suppose I could fit THAT in with the BSG episodes and this Firefly thing Yoda keeps telling me about... I was getting tired of lining up entire series on Netflix back to back anyway. (It took me forever to get through four seasons of 24!)

No more spoilers about da book, Holden. I do want to read it through to the end. But I did figure they'd have to revisit Dexter's childhood. It's so crucial to who he is now.

[Pyro Tramp]

Aus, suprised you want MORE backstory on Dexter, it seems quite ample atm and any more would just become one of those annoying boxs episodes have to tick. I think the ambiguity of his parents death works though if it was expanded on, one episode max would do it. As for the ITK, part of me want's it to be Deb, what with the sibling rivalry brewing.

While talking about good shows, i recommend Peep Show, probably on par with The Office and only 18 episodes over it's 3 seasons.

[Austruck]

Which station plays Peep Show, and what's the premise, Pyro?

I guess I wouldn't mind more backstory because I'm seeing differences from the book and the show. I probably would NOT want more backstory if they keep doing it the way they are now because it's shallow and trite. In the book they are hinting at deeper things.

The characters in the book are coming off very differently than they do in the show, which is odd. Any time I've read a book after seeing the movie (or show), I've naturally thought of the characters as they were portrayed on the screen. In this case, the characters keep defying those preconceived notions and are totally different than the ones I'm watching on Showtime.

That's telling me they're slanting the series differently. The series has a campier feel to it than the book, which is a little darker and sadder (so far -- I'm about 1/3 of the way done with the first book). And yet I also still think the writing is, well, noob writing, for lack of a better term.

Not sure where I'll end up with this whole thing, but as I rewatched the most recent episode last night (Showtime replayed it), I also watched the previews for next week. They actually had on the screen: "The Ice Truck Killer will be revealed!" If he/she isn't revealed on Sunday, that'll surely be false advertising.

Then again, perhaps revealed to just a character, but not us. Or to us, but not Dexter. Or whatever. :)

I just don't see where they can take this series once the ITK is out of the picture. Holden's right in that part of the really interesting part of the series is the interplay between the two killers. Are they going to do THAT every season? I doubt it....

[OG-]

OG- ... It sounds like you agree with Holden on his theory about who the Ice Truck Killer is, yes? Did you come to your own independent conclusion, or did you do what I did and ask Holden outright and then go, "Oh yeah, that makes sense"? :D

I had actually just finished watching episode 7 with Christine when I hoped on MoFo and saw Holden's shout regarding the most recent episode making it so obvious. I started talking to Christine about this and said that, if I had to take a guess, I'd go with (name absent for spoiler purposes), but that I didn't think that any character was as now obvious as Holden made them sound. So I sent him a PM and he was pushing the same character, though not as confidently as I was. I'd of guessed it was a 50/50 shot.

Hell, I want it to be Rita.

I'll go ahead and third most other sentiments that the chief draw of the show is Michael C. Hall and his devilish delivery of the character of Dexter. The procedural aspects of the show could use a massive improvement. I never buy Lauren Velez's character. Partially because I was so fond of Oz, but she just doesn't jive with what that character should be.

And is it just me, or is Jennifer Carpenter's bone structure fascinating? I'm not convinced she is human.

I'm telling you, I'd bet good money that you'll groove to "Weeds". I know you just got virtually bullied into giving "Battlestar Galactica" a chance, so I'll leave it alone, but I love that show.

Anyone can groove to "Weeds" because it is a sharp, sharp show and I second Holden's recommendation. But - and fanboy alert- there wasn't a whole lot of bullying. Aus had expressed interest in "Galactica" back in the day, it was just my and Sedai s extreme praise that pushed her over the edge.

Holden, you're truly missing out. The character archs throughout the seasons of "Galactica" (the mini is all buildup/introduction, the show blasts off from the first episode of season 1) give any HBO series a run for its money. In fact, I'd say that season 3 so far puts the hurt on HBO's latest season runs of "Deadwood" and - I say with trepidation - even "The Wire". Plus, it absolutely punishes any hour long on network television, though that competition is fairly narrow.

[adidasss]

why is everyone praising deadwood? i personally lost interest after the 67th cuss in the first 5 minutes of the show...i dig the whole "that's how they spoke" thing, but they could still learn a lesson from the wonderful south park episode dealing with the overuse of cussing....plus, i don't really dig westerns.....:-/

i'm hearing good things about Dexter though, and i think i might have blown the whole element of surprise thing, i see you talking about some murderer...i think i read who it is in the description of the show i read somewhere...i hope that doesn't take away the fun out of watching it though...

i assume this also means Six feet under has run it's course? the first season of that show is probably the best television program ever aired....

[OG-]

i'm hearing good things about Dexter though, and i think i might have blown the whole element of surprise thing, i see you talking about some murderer...i think i read who it is in the description of the show i read somewhere...i hope that doesn't take away the fun out of watching it though...

Well, there are multiple murderers on the show. Dexter himself is a serial killer. There is also another serial killer in the area who knows Dexter's identity and throws down an informal challenge.

[Austruck]

adidass ... It took me a while to get past the excessive swearing on Deadwood, but I'm glad I did. The writing (aside from that) is almost Shakespearean in the way people create something out of nothing. Amazingly creative turns of phrase throughout ... and I think it improved with each season in that regard. Plus, the subtleties of character -- no one's entirely good or entirely bad -- were a delight to watch each week.

I don't think anyone here has divulged who they think the second serial killer is in Dexter. FWIW, that whole side story comes out very early in the season, so it's not like it's a secret that there is a second serial killer. I'm sure there are real spoiler sites out there, but this isn't one of them. We're speculating but I don't think any of us has a lead on actual script spoilers.

Maybe Holden, though.... ;)

[adidasss]

Well, there are multiple murderers on the show. Dexter himself is a serial killer. There is also another serial killer in the area who knows Dexter's identity and throws down an informal challenge.
ohh ok, i thought you were talking about Dexter being the serial killer, i though that was the mistery...good good...very intrigued i am...

maybe you're right austruck, i'm not very sensitive when it comes to swearing, but it sorta kills the fun of it when it's over abused....:P
so i'm guessing it's just the western thing that didn't appeal to me much....i may give it another go now that you've put the whole sheakspearean spin on it...;)

[Austruck]

I detest westerns as a rule. But I didn't see Deadwood as a western so much as just a fictional account of a specific historical time and place. I very quickly forgot it was a "western" because it's SO against the stereotypes.

The swearing is/was excessive (it definitely put me off the show in the beginning), but I stuck it out because I trusted HBO's series up to that point.

I wasn't disappointed.

And Dexter: Nothing's spoiled. The whole premise of the show is that Dexter works for the police department as a blood spatter expert ...and yet he's a serial killer himself.

[Austruck]

Well, foopey. Holden's too smart for his own good. A good episode, though. A lot of truly tense moments (in various ways). Good psychological tension this week.

[Holden Pike]

http://www.sho.com/site/dexter/season1/images/323_127815_episodes.jpg http://www.sho.com/site/dexter/season1/images/char_rita.jpg

It was an OK episode (#8, "Shrink Wrap"), but suffers the same weaknesses that the series as a whole has been exhibiting all along.

Finding out the additional information about the bust that got La Guerta her promotion was nice background for her and Doakes. I still don't really care about or for Debra. We got a little more of the Harry teaching Dexter stuff, which is always the highlight for me. Laboriously drawing out the jerkoff ex-husband stuff instead of just having the timebomb go off already and let Dexter dispatch his worthless ass is more annoying than suspenseful to me. I didn't buy Tony Goldwyn's shrink or that he and Dexter would have such a big breakthrough so quickly. And as for the reveal of the Ice Truck Killer, which I thought they made so damn obvious last week, I just want to gallop through these last four episodes and be done with it. Much of the tension of the show has evaporated for me the past two weeks. And knowing Debra is going to be a pawn in the final battle doesn't do anything for me because I'd just assume she be killed and cut into tiny pieces, so I'm not going to be rooting for Dexter to save her.

I'll still watch the rest of this season to see them go through the motions and wrap it up, but I do not think I'll be tuning in for season two.

[adidasss]

well, i recently watched the pilot and the enthusiasm has gone down a notch...it's shot very well, but the narration is just trying too hard...a little annoying actually, yes you're a serial killer AND you work for the cops, we get it, you're very very special and deranged...now shut the f*ck up already and kill someone! the captain's unnatural annoyance with him is over the top, borderline rediculous, and so is the very very forced use of spanish from the supporting cast.....

tis a shame really, it had potential....in theory...

[Austruck]

The more I'm reading the book, the more differences I'm seeing. The book itself is also shallow, BTW, taking a fascinating subject and treating it somewhat obviously. I think this story idea in the hands of someone like Thomas Harris ("Silence of the Lambs") would have turned out much differently.

However, I'm still having fun with the series despite the things that annoy me about it. Perhaps I'm just more forgiving because I do enjoy MCH so much. Or (and this is more likely) perhaps it's because there's nothing else on, on Sunday nights right now. If HBO put up one of its better series, I'd be watching that and perhaps catching Dexter on On Demand some other time.

Deb's character on the show is SO far off the one in the book that it makes me wonder who cast this thing. Carpenter is SO different from what you're given in the book. She's too goofy.

Adidass, the captain's not annoyed with Dexter. She actually is flirting with him. She *likes* him. It's Deb she doesn't like. And thankfully, the voiceovers seem a little sparser in later episodes. Oddly, at least half the stuff he's narrating hasn't been in the book. I think the narrating voice should show up only when he's musing on the darker side of himself -- the stuff a "normal" person wouldn't normally be thinking.

What I did like about this episode (as compared to others) was that you got more glimpses of more backgrounds. Not just LaGuerta's, but Dexter's (a quick shot of him as a toddler bathed in blood) too. And I laughed out loud (with feeling entertained) at seeing the elaborate walk-in freezer setup that the ITK has in his house. That was pretty funny (and sick).

I don't see how a Season 2 stays interesting once they wrap up this storyline, though. This is interesting enough for me for now, but what makes it fascinating is the ongoing interplay of the two killers.

[Holden Pike]

I think that one (episode #9, "Father Knows Best") was the worst episode yet. As I feared, the moment we knew who the Ice Truck Killer was all of the inherent tension and any bit of fun has been drained from the show like one of his vicitims' blood.

I know they've given Dexter some Daddy issues to deal with, but it's still ridiculous that as highly trained as his radar is that he's being so blind now, just because it fits in with the plotting to carry us a few more episodes. The stuff with Rita's ex-husband is getting more and more cliché-filled every week. Deb, who has always been the show's weakest character and the role filled by the most limited and annoying actress in the cast, is becoming unbearable now, especially seeing as how everything is building to her being used as a pawn. I don't believe the Ice Truck Killer, as smart as he's been, would risk going back to a place where he could be identified at any moment. The B-plot with Angel and Doakes was equally stupid. Doakes had to know that if he had taken Angel aside and told him the underlying reasons for the shooting that he would have happily backed him up, just like Laguerta did. All of that crap with his crisis of conscience and going to Internal Affairs was completely unnecessary and manufactured just for the sake of stretching out a storyline.

I'm hoping against hope that it will save itself the last upcoming episodes (and that Debra Morgan will be carved up and brutally killed), but I suspect more likely these last three episodes will be more and more disappointing.

http://www.epguides.com/dexter/cast.jpg http://www.thewebnewsroom.com/newsroom/media/1/showtime_wht.jpg

I've put enough time into now that I'll watch up through the finale in a few weeks, but there is zero chance I'll watch even ten minutes of next season. I can't believe Showtime cancelled "Huff" but is going ahead with this crap just because it has a spicy hook they can market. With "Weeds" thay have their first bonafide grade-A top of the line original program, but they've still got a lot to learn before they'll start challenging HBO in any real way.

[Austruck]

Agreed on almost all points. I might still watch season 2, especially if I keep reading the books. (I think there are three.) But this was a pretty lame, predictable episode. How did Dexter not sense that Rudy is the ITK? And how did he not put two and two together when he started asking the old lady about the cable guy? Suddenly, although we're all sitting there thinking, "Gee, sounds like a description of RUDY," Dexter's pulling a blank? Hardly.

The only good line of the episode: "How did a death turn into a couples weekend?" :D

I like Matsuoka the best now. :) And I still like Angel, although he looks like a total bonehead now. Idiot.

[Austruck]

Oh, I definitely agree that they're not close to comparing with HBO. I saw some back episodes of Entourage tonight. Fun show. And a new season of Rome starts in January. If you haven't caught the first season, Holden, I urge you to try. (Is it on On Demand still?) It's one of their better series, I think. Very gripping. Can't WAIT for season 2. Not feeling that excitement about season 2 of Dexter, I admit. I'll watch it but probably only for MCH. I think I have a middle-aged crush on him or something, especially now that he's heterosexual. ;)

[Austruck]

One thing to add: Just rewatched it (while crocheting). At least the previews for next week's episode look MUCH better. The ITK is back to his old tricks, and more. I hope it redeems itself a little. When I can crochet during the show, you know it's not all that good. In contrast, during most HBO series I watch, I stop everything and sit turned exactly toward the TV, all tensed up and focused on what's going on.

NOT how I was watching this epi of Dexter.

[Holden Pike]

And a new season of Rome starts in January. If you haven't caught the first season, Holden, I urge you to try. (Is it on On Demand still?) It's one of their better series, I think. Very gripping.

I watched the first three or four episodes of "Rome" and pieces of others and never got into it. At all.

"Curb Your Enthusiasm" is still my favorite HBO show, followed very closely by "Deadwood". Larry is coming back for a sixth season, though no date has been set yet - I suspect they'll hold it for late summer or early fall. And we'll get those last four hours of "Deadwood" sometime.

The second season of Ricky Gervais' "Extras" is coming the first few months of '07 here in the States (it already aired in the U.K.). Loved the first season, looking forward to more. I was surprised at how much I liked "Big Love" which given the premise I almost didn't give a chance, but I got drawn in very quickly. Its second season should air in the first half of '07. And the finale of "The Sopranos", of course.

"Homicide: Life on the Streets" was one of my favorite shows of the '90s, but though I've given it many chances "The Wire" has never interested me. I only mildly enjoy "Entourage", though its worst episode is better then "Dexter"'s best. I really hated "Lucky Louie". I know you dug it, but despite being a fan of C.K.'s stand-up beforehand I found the show insufferable, painfully dull and forced - didn't laugh once, even by accident. I think I wound up seeing about six or seven of twelve episodes from the first season, and I never want to watch even ten minutes of another. I tried so hard to like it, but I just couldn't.


But on balance, HBO still has far and away the greatest original programming and a tremedous track record.

[Austruck]

I didn't really dig Lucky Louie. We watched it because it came on after other stuff we were watching, and some elements of it were funny (I think part of it is funny if you're a spouse and parent and have ever been poor -- I've been all three, so some parts were funny just because of how *true* they felt). It was all right, but definitely on the near-bottom rung of the HBO ladder.

I've never gotten through more than five minutes of The Wire. No interest in it. I'm much pickier about my police-type dramas. Too many of them out there, IMHO.

I do like Curb Your Enthusiasm a lot. It doesn't feel repetitive, per se, but a lot of the humor is similar after a while. Kinda like Seinfeld (for obvious reasons): brilliant stuff, but after a certain number of seasons it might be best to pack it in before it starts to feel predictable. I have a feeling CYE might start feeling that way to me after maybe two more seasons.

Loved Big Love too, which also surprised me. One of my very first good online friends is a Mormon elder, so I went into the show with enough Mormon knowledge to get me by. We really got drawn in quickly too.

I'd watch Entourage just for Jeremy Piven.

Didn't watch much of Extras -- don't know why, exactly. The one or two episodes I saw, I thought were pretty funny.

I'm surprised you didn't like Rome. I actually started watching it in protest, usually HATING period pieces from that time period. Hate all the ancient Rome/ancient Greece stuff out there. Pleh. But, as usual, it was a Sunday night and HBO IS Sunday nights for us. Got hooked immediately, despite my best efforts to keep a 100% track record of hating Greco-Roman entertainment. ;)

And, just to pi$$ you off, Holds, I'm thoroughly enjoying Battlestar Galactica. And I usually hate science fiction, too.

Now, if Michael C. Hall could make some guest appearances on Lost, or 24, or BSG, or maybe even Rome (put him in a toga!!), then I could give up Dexter a lot more easily.

:D :D :D

[Holden Pike]

Again they're giving Dexter some natural distractions, but it's still absolutely ridiculous that he's being so blind for so long and probably isn't even going to put two and two together until most of the way through next week's episode.

I'm glad the abusive ex-husband storyline is finally done now. That went on about six weeks longer than it should have. The exact same resolution could have taken place the first week he was out of the joint. We the audience and Dexter already knew damn well he was a monster. Dragging it out for so long was lazy Soap Opera garbage.

[Austruck]

I have to admit I didn't see the "third strike rule" twist coming. Then again, I was watching it with hubby talking to me in the background, so....

I just think the ITK, who is supposed to be so smart and clever (at least, Dexter thinks so) pulls some pretty dumb stunts. Like, the fingernail polish on the prosthetic hand? Why would he leave a clue back to himself that obvious? And, stabbing Angel? What was that about? We don't get the sense that this guy is a rash killer, so why is he slipping up now? (the old lady last week, Angel this week) Unless we're supposed to think the guy is cracking under the pressure.... But I don't see enough pressure for this guy to suddenly switch from being so methodical and "good" at what he does to doing such stupid stuff.

I do want to see how they resolve all this in the next two episodes, but I still don't see how they're going to create another compelling storyline next year without the ITK around (I'm assuming he won't be)....

[Pyro Tramp]

I've given up with Dex, doesn't sound like i'm missing much. Still woulda liked Debs as the killer

[Austruck]

Finished reading the original book on which the series is based. There are SO many differences in plot between the show and the book -- but with the basic killer stuff the same -- that I am beginning to think they're tossing in side plots from the subsequent book. In any case, they have twisted the Ice Truck Killer story so much in the series that I am wondering if they'll get it back on track to match up with the book.

Holds, you read the end section of the book: What say you? They could still pull out that ending, I think, but it'll seem much more soap-opera-like doing things the way they're doing them.

I wasn't all that impressed with the writing in the book -- frankly, it's how I write in first draft form, not a polished, edited piece. I'm envious that a writing "voice" so similar to my own ends up with a frickin' TV series. Sheesh.

I'll be watching the final episodes of the season definitely to see how well it dovetails wtih the book, if at all.

[Holden Pike]

Holds, you read the end section of the book: What say you? They could still pull out that ending, I think, but it'll seem much more soap-opera-like doing things the way they're doing them.


No, I'm sure the ending of the series will be essentially the same - the ultimate identity of the Ice Truck Killer and his reasons for playing with Dexter, the final would-be victim will be the same, and the person who pulls the trigger will be the same too.

And yes, it's stupid, disappointing garbage that a sixth grader who saw Silence of the Lambs one night on the Superstation could have written.

[Holden Pike]

I really wish Deb would be killed in nasty ways. I hate her so much.

[Austruck]

I so agree with you there. Last night's episode felt like filler to me -- bridging us to get to the finale next week. And I can see they're going to try to mirror the book with its revelations -- but it's going to seem mighty forced, IMHO.

If I watch Season 2 (and I admit that it's now an "if"), it'll be because HBO isn't currently running a Sunday night series I want to watch. :)

[Austruck]

Yuck. Stuuuuuuuupid ending. Wait, so suddenly Rudy/Brian forgets everything about how not to get caught? He wasn't at all convincing as Dexter's brother. That is, I didn't believe for a minute that he would have thought Dexter would kill Deb. If he did that much research on Dexter and knew so much about him, he would have known better.

I'm rreeeeeeeeallllllyy tired of Rita's husband Paul, too. That's obviously supposed to be a loose end for season 2, but it feels entirely forced. What? A shoe means he's ... a serial killer? Or simply that he did her a favor? Heck, she should *thank* him.

Bummer that LaGuerta didn't die like in the book. ;) And a bit tidy that Rudy dies (unlike the book).

The only semi-interesting relationship now is between Dexter and Doakes. But not enough to sustain interest for very long. Yawn.

[OG-]

Meh, I still dig the show, so I'll stick around for Season 2. It's certainly fell quite a crest from its first few episodes, but its still entertaining.

[Holden Pike]

Yuck. Stuuuuuuuupid ending. Wait, so suddenly Rudy/Brian forgets everything about how not to get caught? He wasn't at all convincing as Dexter's brother. That is, I didn't believe for a minute that he would have thought Dexter would kill Deb. If he did that much research on Dexter and knew so much about him, he would have known better.

Yeah, the first few episodes were very promising, the middle few you could tell it wasn't going to hold up, and the last four or five were just plain bad. The inconsistency in the characters, especially Dexter's, just to make this laborious and ridiculous plot string along for a dozen episodes was insulting to any viewer who bothered to put the time into watching the series.


I'm rreeeeeeeeallllllyy tired of Rita's husband Paul, too. That's obviously supposed to be a loose end for season 2, but it feels entirely forced. What? A shoe means he's ... a serial killer? Or simply that he did her a favor? Heck, she should *thank* him.

Yeah, that's yet another reason I definitely will not be tuning in for any subsequent seasons. OK, sure you know he's a rapist and a chronic abuser, but he's in a program and he's the father of your children so now that he's finally secured far away from ever being able to actually hurt you or the kids let's now give creedence to ANYthing he has to say about anything, especially Dexter who other than not being able to open up emotionally has, from her perspective, been nothing short of a miraculous presence in her and her children's lives. But hey, the guy who even while supposedly clean and sober was going to rape you again and then lied and exaggerated to the cops and social welfare to take your kids away from you just because you had the audacity to finally fight back...let's give a ***** what he has to say.

Really badly written, and again just plotted and executed badly for the sake of keeping a storyline alive.


The only semi-interesting relationship now is between Dexter and Doakes. But not enough to sustain interest for very long. Yawn.

Yeah, that's mildly interesting compared to some of the out and out horsepucky they're peddling, but no, not anywhere close to being a reason to watch. I don't care what HBO does or doesn't program against the next season of "Dexter", there is zero chance I'll be watching. In the immortal words of our (cough) President, "There's an old saying in Tennessee — I know it's in Texas, probably in Tennessee — that says, fool me once, shame on...shame on you. Fool me...you can't get fooled again."


So long, Dexter. I'm glad Michael C. Hall got a Golden Globe nomination because he's a good actor and seems like a decent guy, but the show stinks.