The definition of an anti-hero according to Merriam-Webster is as thus: “a protagonist or notable figure who is conspicuously lacking in heroic qualities.” There aren’t many characters on either the big or small screens that personify that more than Dexter Morgan. Dexter witnesses the murder of his mother at the tender age of three, and is adopted by Miami Police officer Harry Morgan, who notices Dexter’s inclinations towards violence and teaches him how to use them for good—mainly, by hunting down and dispatching serial killers, thus becoming a serial killer himself. Based on the novels by Jeff Lindsay, the series shows how Dexter uses his traumatic past, as well as the lessons in being the perfect killer from his father, to try and make the world a better place. After all, isn’t ridding the world of murderers a good deed? Perhaps Dexter is a hero after all. However, the story is far more complicated than that.
Michael C. Hall’s Golden Globe-winning performance as the title character is key to making the entire premise believable and palatable. I doubt many viewers would be so drawn to the character dubbed ‘America’s favorite serial killer” if Hall didn’t possess the charisma that he has. He also has a rare talent for tiny nuances in every glance and word that articulate the obvious—Dexter is not normal. He’s just normal enough to survive in regular society, but he is also highly disturbed and just waiting for someone to see through the surface he has so carefully constructed for himself. Hall’s deadpan, hollow voice and deep-set eyes give him the aura of a man who has trouble understanding normal human emotions and must make attempts to imitate what he thinks is normal for the benefit of the other people in his life. One of these is his adoptive sister Debra (Jennifer Carpenter) a foul-mouthed detective for the Miami Police Department where Dexter also works as a blood-splatter analyst. Carpenter and Hall work well together as a sibling duo, which is even more impressive considering that the actors were married and then divorced in real life. Carpenter is loud, sassy, and very emotive as Debra, a great contrast to Halls’ slow-burning performance as Dexter. The rest of the ensemble surrounding them is great as well, and each character seems very realistic, though compared to the Morgan siblings not nearly as interesting.
The key storyline of season five of Dexter involves our protagonist trying to move past the brutal murder of his wife Rita (Julie Benz) by hunting down and killing even more killers. However, Dexter’s emotional side, so long either absent or suppressed, is becoming more and more evident now that his beloved Rita is gone, and it‘s putting his mission in jeopardy. Despite still following his dead father’s rules the best he can, he is more subject to small errors. This comes to a head in episode three after a messy escapade involving a dead animal disposal man who also has a penchant for killing women and putting their bodies in barrels of lime in a swamp. After successfully murdering the scumbag after a nail-biting failed attempt, he finds a still-living victim in his closet—a woman who has seen and heard everything that Dexter just did. This is Lumen, played by the always-reliable Julia Stiles, and her complicated relationship with Dexter is a big part of the next nine episodes. He longs for the human connection that he managed to find with Rita, yet how much will his nearly compulsive desire to kill prevent that?
The show does not skimp on gore, violence, sex, or cursing—after all, it is on Showtime. If you have a weak stomach in regards to any of those, you are far too delicate of a flower to appreciate Dexter. It is a program that definitely should not be watched before bed, as it is practically guaranteed to haunt your nightmares. However, the creepiness is worth it when paired with such a well-executed (like many of Dexter’s victims, no?) program. Everything from the casting to the shot style to even the theme song perfectly embodies the quirky, intense vibe of “darkly dreaming Dexter.”
DVD SPECIAL FEATURES
Those people who do not get Showtime will enjoy seeing the first two episodes of new series “The Borgias” and “Episodes,” as well as the first two episodes of season four of “Californication.” There are also interviews with the majority of the cast and production crew, including Hall, Carpenter, and Stiles.
"Dexter: The Fifth Season" is on sale August 16, 2011 and is not rated. Drama, Television. Directed by John Dahl, Keith Gordon, Marcos Siega. Written by Jeff Lindsay, James Manos Jr, et al. Starring Jennifer Carpenter, Julia Stiles, Michael C Hall.
