DEXTER – THE FIRST SEASON

DEXTER – THE FIRST SEASON: It goes without saying that only a pay-cable network would have the courage to adapt author Jeff Lindsay’s books about a serial killer who channels his evil urges for the good of mankind...or at least the greater Miami area. Actor Michael C. Hall imbues the role with singularly sinister appeal as a forensic investigator who moonlights under the radar of his cop co-workers. But when his bragging rights are threatened by a flashy rival sociopath, Dexter’s secret life is threatened with catastrophic exposure. Using large chunks of the book’s first-person narrative verbatim, Dexter retains the same “man-fiction” appeal by stretching out the mystery over all 12 first season episodes. Some of the subplots are a bit contrived, but the core relationship between Dexter and his deceased father (James Remar...played in flashbacks, obviously) who trained his son to prey on the scum of society is fascinating stuff. Without a doubt one of the best seasons of television ever produced. Folks who held their breath for the Blu-ray release will be happy to hear it paid off; the hi-def image is quite a treat although many of the extras included on the previous standard-def version are crammed into the BD-Live functionality. The first episode of Season 3 and two episodes of the new Showtime series United States of Tara are thrown in to sweeten the deal.