True story. This weekend I get an email from a Showtime marketing guy asking me, since I "seem like a reputable influencer" if I would write a review of their new series Dexter on the blog, and gave me access to the pilot to check out. Reputable influencer! Hee! That's probably one of my favorite things I've ever been called, although I don't believe it for a second seeing as you guys still won't watch Supernatural, no matter how much I talk up Jensen Ackles pecs..Now normally I don't take requests from random marketing lackeys, but I had actually seen a banner ad for the show on TWoP last week and I have to say it peaked my interest. Plus, I have warm fuzzies for Showtime since they attempted to revive Arrested Development. I guess Dexter actually premiered last night, so I don't know if I was supposed to be writing this before it aired, but I don't work weekends so tough shit. Here goes.
I loved this show. And no I'm not getting paid for this review. Here's the premise: Dexter, (pictured above) a functional sociopath not entirely unpleasant to look at, works as a blood-splatter forensics expert by day and moonlights as a serial killer. He was taught by his father, a detective, to channel his murderous impulses into vigilante killings, thus making the world a better place. Or something. I suppose that part is a little ethically muddy. Also starring is the always-wonderful Julie Benz, as Dexter's girlfriend Rita whom he keeps for appearances. Rita has a history of abuse and is therefore mutually uninterested in an intimate relationship, making her "the perfect woman" for Dex.
The show is pretty dark, as you might assume of a show about a functional serial killer, but has just the right amount humor to keep me interested. There were a few things that bugged me a bit, I thought the numerous references to Dexter being "empty inside" were a bit contrived. It's like, okay, he's completely devoid of human emotion. We get it. Although that was probably mostly due to it being the pilot episode, and I suspect will be ironed out in future episodes. The Hannibal Lecter-esque execution scenes (which were carried out very matter-of-factly) squicked me out a bit, and I imagine they will only become more graphic as the series progresses. But I'm not a huge fan of gore, so that's just me.
The bottom line is that I would watch this show again, and probably would also get hooked on it. There was a sweet little cliffhanger at the end of the episode I watched and I must see where it goes. But since I don't have Showtime, I probably won't be seeing it again until I can get the DVDs from Netflix. Unless of course, they decide to keep feeding me episodes... And if that should happen, well I can't help it if I want to continue writing about it, now can I? How 'bout it, marketing lackeys?
5 comments:
"Reputable Influencer" sounds like something from an old-timey newspaper headline. Like "Reputable Influencer Abuses Donkey in Town Thoroughfare." Bloggers are kickin' it ye olden school now!
As for "Dexter," I think I'd be innately prejudiced against it as nothing on Showtime ever looks good to me. I kinda consider them to be like the Zeppo Marx to HBO's Groucho, if you know what I mean. Michael C. Hall is a good actor though.
You could always search for web torrents of new episodes after they air. I could never figure out how to set up that particular bit of confounded technology on my computer, but you may have more know-how in such matters than I.
The premise is from that book called Darkly Dreaming Dexter which I read and thought was mildly interesting until the end. I never like disappointing lead-ups in books but it usually works for tv shows (see Veronica Mars, Six Feet Under, Buffy) because I fall harder for the characters. Plus, I love that guy from 6 ft. under with passion. Not enough to remember his name or anything but it's still passionate in a "how about we take off that pesky clothing?" way.
salted influences.
yeah, you rock.
get on the payroll with the marketing lackeys.
mk
Showtime...hmm...dont they still require you to pay "extra" to watch their crap? No thanks. If its a good show, then great and all, but one jewel in a sea of turds doesnt intrigue me enough to fork over the extra bills.
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