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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
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