Don’t read Dexter, Watch it.
TV March 23rd. 2008, 9:27pmA few months back, I borrowed “Darkly Dreaming Dexter” from a friend in a book swap. He highly recommended the title as a unique crime drama style novel. I don’t read crime drama, and other than The Shield, I don’t watch crime drama either.
I read Darkly Dreaming Dexter in a two day marathon session over a weekend. I thought the novel was interesting in theory, but ultimately unsatisfying in execution. The protagonist was not worthy of sympathy, and I didn’t find his version of vigilante justice admirable at all. The angst stuff was way overdone, and the glorification of murder left me off put. The potential was there for a lot more than what was done.
It was unique to read something from a “killers” point of view, but it didn’t seem real, but more of an excuse to write gore. It wasn’t my cup of tea. The ending of the novel was awful. I wouldn’t have read another in the series. I got all my “crime is solved with a vengeance” kicks out reading Batman as a kid. It doesn’t do too much for me now.
Today, a few of my plans fell through, so I didn’t have anything better to do other than check out the Dexter series on MegaTV. I had heard that the series was good from the same people that recommended the book, but the Totally Rad guys didn’t like it much. I watched the first two episodes today, and I’ll probably watch a few more.
It’s not a BAD show, but it’s not that impressive either. Is it better than a CSI or other procedural drama? Sure, but so is watching paint dry. This is more of a anti-hero story than a crime procedural anyway.
I almost wish I hadn’t read the book, because I know where the story will go at the end of the season, and it’s going to suck. The first two episodes made it through 50% or more of the book. There are some differences, like Dexter’s victim in the first episode NOT being a abusive priest, and a few “extra” kills to keep the episodes from dragging along. It’s interesting enough that I’ll watch a few more episodes to give it a chance.
It’s odd. For a show about death and murder, there weren’t any shocking things in the first two episodes. The Shield manages to shock me every single episode, but this dark and edgy show with a serial killer is more murder-porn than poinant and unsettling.
5 Responses to “Don’t read Dexter, Watch it.”
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March 23rd, 2008 at 11:21 pm
What’s unique is just how different it is. A killer who preys on killers himself while trying to fit into society and working for those out to catch and prosecute him to boot.
Nearly everyday in the news, we see and hear the nasty and gruesome details about the latest killer(s) and their victims. Then, there are always the interviews with the dumbstruck neighbors who can’t fathom how this pillar of society could have ever done such a thing. This show gives us a look into the mind and habits of their perfect neighbor, boyfriend, brother, and workmate before he/she has been unmasked. It begs the question, “Just how well do we know our neighbors, spouses, friends, and family members and should we be paying more attention to them and our surroundings?”
Right now I’m watching John Adams which is quite good, but vicious and brutal in its detailing’s of daily life during this time of rebellion against the British Empire. It is a seven part miniseries on HBO and The Tudors (season 2) is also back on Showtime. These are great for the history buff and lovers of great drama.
BTW, f you enjoy 24, I have Sleeper Cell: American Terror on DVD and can lend it to you. Also, two shows with on-going arcs that you might enjoy are Eureka and Burn Notice. Not as gritty as The Shield, but enjoyable on a different level nonetheless.
March 24th, 2008 at 8:18 pm
Nearly everyday in the news, we see and hear the nasty and gruesome details about the latest killer(s) and their victims. Then, there are always the interviews with the dumbstruck neighbors who can’t fathom how this pillar of society could have ever done such a thing. This show gives us a look into the mind and habits of their perfect neighbor, boyfriend, brother, and workmate before he/she has been unmasked. It begs the question, “Just how well do we know our neighbors, spouses, friends, and family members and should we be paying more attention to them and our surroundings?”
Yes, but the LAZY man’s way to tell a story is through narration. If this show was well written, or well done, it would NOT need the crutch of a narrator telling me “I don’t feel anything, wah, wah!” I should be able to GET everything a character is thinking or feeling without needing the character to tell me how they feel/don’t feel.
Also, Harry could have used that serial killer guilt trip to get Dexter to do ANYTHING. “You know, cops like me look out for killers that don’t wash their father’s car once a week. If you don’t wash my car once a week, someone will totally know you are a psychopath.”
March 24th, 2008 at 8:20 pm
Eureka bored me when I watched it. 24 is my anti-show. I can’t stand anything about it.
The actor in John Adams, Paul Giamatti, does nothing for me. Never heard of Burn Notice.
March 25th, 2008 at 12:36 am
The truth about Harry comes out in the second season. A perfect cop/father, he is not, and the second season finale is something to behold.
Here is some info. on Burn Notice:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0810788/
http://www.usanetwork.com/series/burnnotice/
Also, I was not a fan of Paul Giamatti until I saw his masterful performance here. All of the acting in this miniseries is of the highest caliber, and Laura Linney’s Abigail is absolutely amazing. She would have made a great president herself. Abigail that is.
March 25th, 2008 at 11:38 pm
Some famous people talk of their love for Battlestar Galactica in this special, “Battlestar Galactica: Phenomenon.” The final episodes begin on April 4th.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=IzW5ghnskDE
http://youtube.com/watch?v=vBlzJFuoqOw&feature=related
I don’t know if you’ve seen the film, “King Of Kong” yet, but it’s a must for any classic gamer. I was never a fan of Donkey Kong, but I played many of these first generation games when I was a child. It’s something else to see how these games really became a different kind of addiction to a whole generation of kids how didn’t have computers, cell phones, ipods, and blu-ray dvds. Watching this documentary was like stepping back into 1982; however, it seems that many of those documented in this film have yet to join us in the here and now of 2008. I was surprised to see that a few are married with some very understanding wives, but many are seem to still be occupying their parents basements.