Summer TV on DVD: Dexter
For all its beauty and fun, summer definitely has some downsides. Insects, for one. Oppressive, unbearable heat. Kids running free in the mall.
And nothing on TV.
Luckily, nowadays we are no longer slaves to the broadcast schedule. Thanks to DVD and all kinds of new 
media, we are now able to watch whatever we want, whenever we want.
But, you’ve got a hankering for new T.V. You’re sick of the same old, same old. That’s okay. I’ll introduce you to some fun shows that capture the spirit of summer.
Dexter takes place in Miami, the land of perpetual summer. It doesn’t get much more appropriate than that. There’s even a mosquito in the opening credits!
As you may have heard, Dexter Morgan is a serial killer. As a young psychopath, he was set upon the path of righteousness by his foster father. Sensing the boy’s need to kill, Harry Morgan, a cop, taught Dexter everything he knew about how to get away with murder. But most importantly: only kill people who deserve to die. Those who take life themselves.
Dexter lives by the “Code of Harry,” turning killing into an elegant art form covered in plastic wrap and commemorated by a box of blood slides. Dexter collects a single drop from every victim. He likes blood.
As a blood spatter analyst (surprise!) for the Miami PD, he is always close to murder and mayhem. None of his co-workers suspect a thing, but for the badass Sgt. James Doakes, who has sussed him out as “creepy.” His foster sister Deb, who works alongside him in Homicide, sees nothing but a slightly eccentric and very talented brother.
The first season deals with the Ice Truck Killer, a serial murderer who likes to drain all the blood from his victims and leave their dried bodies carved into neat packages for the police to find. But he also has special messages for Dexter - and it’s up to the renegade analyst to figure out how the Ice Truck Killer knows his true face.
While enjoyable, the first season can be somewhat predictable. If you don’t figure out who the Ice Truck Killer is before it’s revealed, then you weren’t paying attention to the heavy symbolism. There is a revelation that may surprise you, but to anyone who knows basic psychology, it doesn’t ring true. Sorry, Dex.
The second season is an improvement. Dexter’s sense of humor and his personal relationships have developed, and it’s a good thing too - because his stash of remains has been discovered. Dex spends most of the season running scared, and it’s a fun place to see the character try to cope with. This, coupled with Deb’s sweet and unorthodox love affair, make for a wonderful T.V. experience. The DVD release is planned for August 19th.
Carve out some time for Dexter this summer. You won’t be disappointed.
Tags: pop culture, trivia, recreation
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You know, I tried and tried to get into Dexter, but simply couldn’t get past the third episode. I have heard so many wonderful things about the show that I’m disappointed it didn’t “take” with me. While the concept seemed interesting, those early eps dragged on….