Dexter: The First Season Blu-ray delivers great video and solid audio in this exceptional Blu-ray release
Dexter is a crime drama about Dexter Morgan, a man who leads a double life as an
incredibly likeable forensics expert for the Miami Police Department and as an
emotionless vigilante serial killer. Taught by his foster father to harness his lust for
blood and killing, Dexter lives by his own strict moral code - he only kills murderers
who can't otherwise be brought to justice. Dexter is a killer who grapples with fitting
into society while, at the same time, he struggles with his inability to feel emotion.
The irony of Dexter's life is that he works closely as a blood splatter analyst with the
very people who hunt his kind - the homicide department.
The television landscape has been littered with a number of outstanding shows over the
last several years. What used to be a medium of lesser offerings and lowered production
values has been transformed through the production, on a weekly basis, of programming
that rivals the best Hollywood films. One such outstanding program is Showtime's "Dexter."
It's a show that pushes the boundaries of television programming by telling a dark and
violent story that explores its main character's struggles with morality and identity.
"Dexter" pushes the boundaries of conventional storytelling and succeeds at being both
fascinating and deliciously entertaining.
Dexter is fascinated by the Ice Truck Killer's work.
Dexter Morgan (Michael C. Hall) isn't your average, every day forensics expert. From the
outside, everything about his life seems normal. He's got a loving girlfriend, Rita (Julie
Benz), a close relationship with his sister Debra (Jennifer Carpenter) and strong
relationships with his coworkers at the Miami Police Department. Only Sgt. James Doakes
(Erik King), a tough-talking homicide detective, seems to detect that something is a little
different about Dexter and is convinced that he's hiding something. He's the only person in
Dexter's life who hasn't been fooled
by Dexter's meticulously crafted public persona. Dexter is, in reality, a serial killer who
stalks his prey at
night; under the noses of his unsuspecting colleagues. As the story progresses, we
discover that Dexter was adopted at an early
age by a loving and honorable cop, Harry Morgan (James Remar). Harry recognized that his
young son had
an unnatural instinct to kill. Convinced that Dexter couldn't be cured of his bloodlust, Harry
dedicated his life to training Dexter to take out his killer aggressions on those who deserve
to die.
Dexter's career as a vengeful killer has been going on successfully for years. He works
during the day, puts in his time with Rita and then stalks his prey - - usually criminals who
have gone free on a technicality - - at night. Dexter's life is thrown into disarray, however,
when a new serial killer, the Ice Truck Killer, is discovered. The Ice Truck Killer drains the
blood of his victims before neatly dissecting their bodies and then displaying them in very
public places. Dexter is fascinated by the killer's skill and dedication, but is shocked when
he discovers that the Ice Truck Killer is very aware of his own murderous activities. How
could this mysterious murderer know about Dexter? Has he been lazy in covering his own
tracks, or do the two killers share an unexplained bond?
"Dexter" is a phenomenal show that succeeds through equal parts of exceptional
storytelling, acting, music and direction. In the acting category, the show enjoys one of the
finest casts on television. Michael C. Hall is nothing short of a revelation as Dexter. He has
the impossible job of making the audience sympathize and identify with a serial-killing
psychopath and does so by giving the character a sly sense of humor and a likable
demeanor. The transformation that Dexter undertakes in moving from his normal routine to
his true-self as a relentless killer is resoundingly intense. Dexter's likeable qualities are
instantly replaced by a savage demeanor that amplifies his unquenchable need to kill; as
well as the joy he feels in doing so. It's an amazing performance that is as unsettling as it
is enjoyable to watch.
The true masterstroke of "Dexter" lies in the way the story is told. Dexter narrates his own
life as he navigates each day. He gives the audience an insiders peek into his own troubled
psyche as he fakes his way through situations that confuse him. Dexter doesn't understand
human emotions and has developed a system of acted responses that serve him well when
his closest friends experience emotions. Dexter knows that he is a monster and his lack of
emotional response is an amusement to him. He just can't understand why people grieve,
feel sadness, pain or any other emotion that comes naturally to most everyone except for
him. Flashbacks to Dexter's childhood also serve as a fascinating back story to Dexter's
troubled origins and build over the course of the season. You may not like Dexter by the
time all is said and done, but you are sure to be intrigued by him.
"Dexter" is truly one of the finest shows on television today. It's a show that exists to
study the emotions of a man who has none and that isn't afraid to explore the darker
aspects of humanity. "Dexter" is essential television viewing and this Blu-ray edition earns
my highest recommendation.
The following episodes are included on the Blu-ray release of "Dexter: The Complete First
Season:
-Dexter
-Crocodile
-Popping Cherry
-Let's Give the Boy a Hand
-Love American Style
-Return to Sender
-Circle of Friends
-Shrink Wrap
-Father Knows Best
-Seeing Red
-Truth Be Told
-Born Free
"Dexter" arrives on Blu-ray via a fantastic 1080p transfer in the show's originally televised
aspect ratio of 1.78:1, using the AVC Mpeg-4 Compression codec. "Dexter" has always
looked great on Showtime's high definition broadcasts, but this Blu-ray edition elevates the
material considerably. The 1080p encode delivers outstanding clarity, detail and an
exceptional sense of depth while maintaining the film-like look that the show presents,
despite being shot on high definition cameras. To say that "Dexter" is a darkly shot show
would be an understatement. Much of the show takes place at night as Dexter stalks his
prey and this Blu-ray encode does a stellar job of delivering inky blacks and abundant
shadow detail. Colors are also nicely presented with plenty of saturation when the material
calls for it.
"Dexter" is shot utilizing varying styles to underscore the storytelling. Many of the flashback
scenes are washed-out in appearance and there is even the occasional bit of black and
white material. Outdoor scenes that take place during the day are typically bright and
crystal clear while the nighttime scenes take on a grittier look. Fortunately, all these
different shooting styles combine to form a compelling visual narrative that perfectly
accompanies the show's plot. As far as picture anomalies are concerned, there isn't
anything present in "Dexter" to distract the viewer. Edge enhancement isn't an issue and
excessive DNR doesn't creep in. It's a terrific looking disc that really offers an upgrade over
Showtime's normal HD transmissions. Highly recommended!
Being more of a dialogue-driven show, "Dexter" doesn't offer much in the way of action or
thunderous surround usage. Instead, this lossless 5.1 Dolby TrueHD track does a
remarkable job of delivering atmosphere and helping to up the tension of what is
transpiring on screen. As one would hope, dialogue is perfectly placed within the mix. It's
delivered crisply, never unintelligibly, and manages to serve the show well. The show's
sound design is heavily front loaded and offers a nice separation between the front three
channels. Music is key to the atmosphere of "Dexter" and this TrueHD track delivers the
show's unusual musical cues with aplomb. There's not much to report on with respect to
surround and direction activity. There are a few moments throughout the series that
feature a few panning effects, but the majority of the show builds through more
atmospheric elements in the soundtrack. All told, this is a nice and effective soundtrack
that, like the disc's video section, offers a tangible upgrade over what Showtime airs on
television. Recommended!
-Episode Audio commentary: "Return to Sender," with Jennifer Carpenter, David Zayas,
Lauren Velez and Erik King
-Episode Audio Commentary: "Born Free," With Series Executive Producers Sara Colleton,
Clyde Phillips, and Daniel Cerrone
-BD-Live Features:
-Academy of Blood, A Killer Course
-Witnessed in Blood, A True Murder Investigation
-Podcast with star Michael C. Hall
-"Dexter" Season Three, Episode 1.
-"The United States of Tara" Episode Sneak Peak
"Dexter" fans are bound to be a little disappointed by the extras included with this Blu-ray
release. Both commentary tracks are a nice addition, but do little to flesh out the material.
It would have been nice to at least hear from Michael C. Hall in a commentary. The
remainder of this set's special features are only accessible to those with BD-Live
connections. Again, there's not much to get excited about here with only two short
featurettes and a podcast. Fortunately, viewers can access the season premier episode of
"Dexter: Season Three" via BD-Live, but the quality is nothing to write home about. Those
interested in the new Showtime series "The United States of Tara" also have the ability to
watch the first two episodes of what could be a very entertaining show from Diablo Cody
and Steven Spielberg.
"Dexter" is, more than likely, one of those love it or hate it shows. It's violent, dark and
showcases a side of humanity that can prove to be unsettling. On the other hand, the
show is expertly crafted with outstanding performances and writing. It's a remarkable
achievement for televised drama and continually challenges its audience to think outside of
their comfort zone. This Blu-ray edition is a definite winner, with above-average audio and
stellar video. Supplements are a bit lacking, but the content of the show more than makes
up for any deficiencies where extras are concerned. Fans of crime films, serial killer movies
or those who just appreciate first-rate writing and acting will likely love "Dexter." It's a
show that I can't get enough of. Highly recommended!
In a special sale, Best Buy is offering the first, second and third seasons of the acclaimed television series Dexter on Blu-ray for only $26.99 each (over 50% off MSRP). A banner at the top of this offer says that it is valid today only (and only online), but ...
During the 60th Annual Academy Awards, it was almost unthinkable that an independently produced film would manhandle the top studio films of that year, but that is exactly what happened. Documenting the life of Pu Yi, 'The Last Emperor' won nine Oscars, winning ...
Paramount Home Entertainment has announced the technical specs and special features for the upcoming Blu-ray release of 'Dexter: The Complete First Season', which is due to hit store shelves on January 6th. For the three-disc set of this critically acclaimed show, ...
Paramount Home Entertainment has announced that they will bring 'Dexter - The First Season' to Blu-ray on January 6th. The box set of this critically acclaimed Showtime series will feature all 12 episodes of the first season in 1080p widescreen accompanied by a ...
All countries
