I find his sister (Jennifer Carpenter is it?) a bit annoying as the series goes on, but watching that first episode again tonight, she seems to be much better there.
DEXTER Page 3
Quote: Martin Holmes @ February 27, 2008, 11:40 PMI find his sister (Jennifer Carpenter is it?) a bit annoying as the series goes on, but watching that first episode again tonight, she seems to be much better there.
Quote: zooo @ February 27, 2008, 11:34 PMHe is so much more attractive as a serial killer than he is as a funeral home bloke.
The woman who plays his sister is a brilliant actor. Her 'nervous' acting when she suggested the refrigerated truck idea in front of all the cops was ace.
I would agree with both of you. Her acting is brilliant but she's so good at playing that unsure character she can be a tad annoying. But by second series when she gets her confidence I would say she's down right sexy, especially when she kicks some ass.
Liked the TV show, but hated the novels, really dull, and unconvincing.
I don't watch that much US TV, but I decided to watch this and liked it. I thought it had a similar feel to Nip/Tuck what with the dark humour and f**ked-up characters.
I liked it, but I wasn't quite as blown away as I hoped I would be. I mentioned The Sopranos and The Shield in my last post and they both seemed to be funnier, and actually make a point at the same time. Dexter was somewhat flashy and morally empty.
Ah stick with it, it takes a couple of episodes of getting used to, but once the main story kicks in and you get to know the characters a bit more it really becomes unmissable.
Quote: Martin Holmes @ February 28, 2008, 2:28 PMAh stick with it, it takes a couple of episodes of getting used to, but once the main story kicks in and you get to know the characters a bit more it really becomes unmissable.
Martin's right it's a show that needs a few episodes. If you can stick with the show for those first few episodes then you'll be rewarded. I'm glad I had the show for free on my OnDemand service otherwise I don't think I would have watched the whole series as I didn't care to much for the first few episodes and was put of by the violent character.
Quote: Martin Holmes @ February 28, 2008, 2:28 PMAh stick with it, it takes a couple of episodes of getting used to, but once the main story kicks in and you get to know the characters a bit more it really becomes unmissable.
Yep, stick with it; when the plot starts to kick in its just great.
I'm enjoying this a lot now, but I'm not sure that I find Dexter a particularly scary character, which is kind of worrying in that he's meant to be a serial killer. I'd contrast this with James Gandolfini's portrayal of Tony Soprano, which oozed menace that could explode any minute. Dexter, by contrast, is about as threatening as the Mily Bar KId. It's still a good show, though.
Quote: chipolata @ March 19, 2008, 10:22 AMI'm enjoying this a lot now, but I'm not sure that I find Dexter a particularly scary character, which is kind of worrying in that he's meant to be a serial killer.
I think that's the point of the show. To make you go "is it wrong that I am not totally disgusted by this guy?". Good point on the link between him and Tony Soprano.
I understand the moral ambiguity of the show, and I really like that. I just don't think the guy playing Dexter has sufficient oomph. Take for instance an equally morally ambiguous character: Travis Bickle. The young De Niro was very edgy and scary as Travis, and really did make you uncomfortable watching, because part of you was revolted by him, but part of you agreed with him, and even applauded his bizarre heroism at the end.
I don't watch Mafia stuff so you might have a point there I just wouldn't know. 
Taxi Driver wasn't about the mafia, it was about a man who drove a taxi.
I really don't think you're supposed to be scared by Dexter. Like Curt says, that's the point.
He's actually lovely, when he's not murdering. And becoming more human each episode, I reckon.
My point is that he lacks edge. The serial killer in Peeping Tom is both likeable and vulnerable, yet simultaneously quite edgy and dangeous. The same goes for Tom Ripley in Patricia Highsmith's Ripley novels. Dexter is too warm and fluffy, with no edge. No sense of danger under the surface.