A show revolving around a serial killer is nothing too groundbreaking. Oftentimes, these shows follow detectives or crime scene investigators as they work to track down various killers every week. However, one show stands out above the crowd in more ways than one. Dexter hit the airwaves in 2006 and ran for eight seasons before ending in 2013. Recently, the show received a sequel event series, Dexter: New Blood, that ended this past January. The show is based on a series of books by author Jeff Lindsey and is still known as one of the best original shows on Showtime.
The series follows Dexter Morgan, a blood-spatter analyst for the Miami Police Department. Dexter lives a normal life, but one that's carefully orchestrated. Dexter must fake this happy, mundane life in order to mask who he truly is. Dexter Morgan is a serial killer who targets other killers. The show is filled with drama and twists, and it is no surprise that it became as celebrated as it has. There are plenty of fantastic shows that have serial killers at the center, but many believe that they all pale in comparison to Dexter. So it sticks out among other serial killer shows, but why? Here, we will take a look at the elements that made Dexter a force to be reckoned with.
A Killer Focus
As stated before, shows that typically involve serial killers have them as the antagonists. More often than not, the main characters of these shows are detectives who work to take down serial killers. This usually allows the killers to remain mysterious and creepy. With Dexter, things are different. In this show, which helped antiheroes redefine the television protagonist, the serial killer is the primary character.
Dexter is the main focus of the series and narrates via his inner thoughts. This quite literally allows viewers to enter the main of a serial killer. While Dexter still has plenty of other killers that remain antagonists, they are seen through the eyes of another killer. What makes Dexter and its antagonists so interesting are that Dexter sees much of himself in them. In other shows, the heroes want to capture these killers because it is their job. They have a duty to justice, and they must take these killers off the streets. With Dexter, he understands that he is one bad day away from becoming these killers.
Dexter's mother was murdered in front of him as a child, which led to his murderous ways. He was fostered by Harry Morgan, a police officer that taught Dexter a code in an attempt to keep him from losing his humanity. Dexter views these killers as what he would be had he not had Harry's code. This makes most of the kills personal in some way. As Dexter kills these people, he kills the darkness inside him in some way.
However, Dexter doesn't see it this way. As far as Dexter is concerned, he has no humanity. He is no better than those he kills, and he is patiently waiting for the day he proves that to himself. Dexter views his kills as an addiction. When he goes so long without performing his ritual, he acts like a junkie desperate for a hit. Dexter names his darkness his Dark Passenger, an evil entity that is constantly trying to claw its way out, kept in check by the code.
This insight into the mind of a killer simply isn't present in other serial killer shows. Oftentimes the killer's motives are explained, and in some cases, they are even sympathetic. However, having the primary killer leading the show and giving viewers a peek into his subconscious is something unique to Dexter. On top of all this, Dexter is simply a likable character. Having someone like Dexter Morgan lead a show is sure to create fans thanks to the performance from Michael C. Hall. Dexter is shown to be, in his mind, a heartless monster. However, thanks to the insight the show provides, viewers know this isn't the case.
Internal Struggle
While Dexter himself claims that there is nothing resembling humanity inside him, fans know this isn't the case. While Dexter does have to mimic human emotion, especially in the early seasons, he is still capable of feeling them. One thing Dexter does feel, even if he is unwilling to admit it, is love. From his sister to his family, Dexter shows compassion to those few he lets his guard down around. Take Rita, for example. Dexter originally claimed to date her for show. He felt that having a significant other would make others believe he was as normal as them.
However, as the show progressed, Dexter could no longer kid himself. He was in love with Rita and her children. When Rita gave birth to Dexter's own child, Harrison, he realized that he would do anything for his family. However, Dexter's Dark Passenger has other plans. Dexter almost sabotages his home life more than once because he feels he doesn't deserve it. He may kill criminals, but he is still a killer. To Dexter, this means he is a monster.
When we first see Dexter, he truly is just mimicking human emotions. When he actually begins to understand them, he feels like he is losing his mind. Dexter didn't understand true emotion not because he was incapable, but because he was unwilling. Dexter's inner struggle is between his so-called Dark Passenger and the human side of him. The long-dormant human part begins to show itself, and Dexter is genuinely confused and even scared of it. In his mind, if he was to allow himself to love, he would only put them in danger.
A perfect piece of symbolism to this is in the third season finale. Dexter and Rita finally tie the knot. Before the wedding, Dexter breaks his hand escaping from one of his victims. When he does make it to the wedding, he has a dance with his new bride. This is a scene where Dexter is genuinely happy and feels human. The camera shows a single drop of blood dripping from his injured hand onto Rita's white dress. A reminder that even though things seem happy, there is a dark stain on Dexter's life. In other shows, this kind of insight is impossible. A killer may be sympathetic, but they can never truly reveal what they are going through in the way Dexter does, and few other works get serial killers right like it.
Miami's Finest
The driving force behind any show is the cast of characters. Dexter once again stands tall in this department, as the characters are some of the best in the genre. Outside of Dexter himself, one of the main characters is his foster sister Deb. Deb sticks to Dexter like glue and is willing to do anything for him. On top of this, Debra is also a broken person. Deb suffers from the desperate need to be accepted, which leads to her making bad choices at various points, but she usually learns from her mistakes and emerges a stronger person. She is the perfect sidekick to Dexter, as they are both damaged people who can depend on one another.
Some side characters are also heavy hitters, such as Bautista, LaGuerta, Rita, and Masuka, among others. These characters have their own arcs and issues that are dealt with without taking the spotlight away from the Morgans. No story is complete without good villains, and Dexter has plenty
Every season deals with a primary killer that Dexter must track down and take out. The main killers are interesting and scary for the most part. To many, the best two are the Ice Truck Killer and the Trinity Killer. The Ice Truck Killer (ITK) from season one has a personal connection to Dexter and tempts his dark side in a way no other character can. When the ITK's backstory is revealed, it is clear he is essentially the anti-Dexter. Having gone through a similar traumatic experience (those who have seen the show know just how similar), the ITK did not have the guidance Dexter received from Harry. This led to him killing whomever he pleased, and fully giving in to his own Dark Passenger.
Trinity was the fourth season's baddie and is one of the most infamous. Like Dexter, Trinity seems to have a picture-perfect home life. On the surface, Trinity is a loving father who regularly donates his time to charities and consistently attends church. Behind closed doors, he is an abusive man and one of the most brutal killers Dexter has encountered. Again, this man tested Dexter on a personal level and helps build Dexter as a character.
From psychological issues to spectacular characters, it is truly no secret why Dexter stands far above other serial killer shows. While the later seasons may not be as good to many, the show as a whole is fantastic. It isn't easy to make a show where a bloodthirsty serial killer is the main focus, but Dexter succeeds in multiple ways. With the revival having just finished its run, now is a great time for those who haven't watched the show to check it out. They are certainly in for a killer time.