by rick grant rickgrant01@comcast.net
For Michael C. Hall, his new character Dexter Morgan was a unique challenge after his gay Six Feet Under role. His main acting problem was how to characterize a psychopath, who craves killing like a junkie carves smack, but he is a likeable guy. He feels no emotions and his sexual desires are repressed. His girlfriend Rita Bennett (Julie Benz) is damaged goods from being sexually abused. So far, their relationship is happily platonic. There is a scene that hints that Hall’s long slumbering libido may possibly be awakened by Rita.
Indeed, Hall succeeded brilliantly in imbuing Dexter with a charming persona, but as the pilot episode unfolded, viewers hear his thoughts through Hall’s narration. He is turned-on by blood and death, neatly folded into his moralistic rationalization of ridding the world of serial killers.
The irony, of course, is his expertise in finding these murderous offenders is based on his own twisted desire to kill, channeled into his extracurricular night job. In other words, it takes a serial killer to catch a serial killer–and as a pathologist and blood splatter expert working for the police, Dexter is in the perfect position to participate in his hobby of stalking, torturing, and killing these demons.
In the pilot episode, Dexter is introduced to a very advanced killer–an “artist” who Dexter admires. He drains the victims blood and chops them up into sections. Dexter is intrigued by this master carver. This association will be an ongoing subplot to the main story arc, as Dexter wins the viewers’ admiration, while simultaneously, grossing them out.
Dexter’s deep desire to kill stared in his boyhood, but his father, who had the same sick cravings, told him he could channel it for the good, and still satisfy his blood lust. This implies that serial killing is a genetic defect passed down from his father, which is only a theory. Nonetheless, it explains what motivates Dexter to do what he does–autopsy stiffs and do blood splatter analysis for the police during the day. By night, he hunts down serial killers so he can dispense his style of justice, carving them up while they are still alive.
Surrounding Dexter are his police colleagues and his foster sister, foul-mouthed Debra Morgan (Jennifer Carpenter) who leans on Dexter for advice and crime knowledge. She and Dexter are close and he tries to help her, but her abrasive personality puts people off especially her boss, Lieutenant Maria Laguerta (Lauren Velez). Lieutenant Lacerta has a crush on Dexter and regularly comes on to him. He politely rebuffs her advances, but she listens intently when Dexter gives his opinion and theories of a crime scene since more often that not he is right.
For some strange reason, Sergeant Doakes (Erik King) loathes Dexter and think he’s creepy. Dexter wonders why only Sergeant Doakes thinks he’s creepy. But Dexter doesn’t let Doakes get under his skin. In fact, Doakes is the only character in Dexter’s periphery who doesn’t like him. Dexter is admired and well liked by his colleagues. He brings them donuts and treats everyone with a smile and a positive attitude.
The series is set in Miami where the pilot was shot, but hurricane insurance was hard to come by, so the production moved back to L.A. Michael Cuesta created and adapted the series based on a novel titled Darkly Dreaming Dexter by Jeff Lindsay. Cuesta also directs and is co-executive producer along with Sara Colleton and Clyde Phillips.
As a tribute to Hall’s acting talent, his characterization of Dexter is multidimensional, complex, and completely convincing. His cover persona is so appealing, his dark side is well hidden, but when it comes out, pity the poor serial killer who meets him in the dark shadows. “You’re mine,” he tells them as he plunges a syringe into their neck, immobilizing them so he can strap them to a table and cut on them while they are still alive.
Clearly, this character is radically different from any leading character to ever play lead in a series. The moral ambiguity alone is stunning, as Dexter goes about his business with joyous rapture. Miami better hope it doesn’t run out of serial killers, because Dexter has a strong craving to cut into live bodies and see the rush of blood. To him, it’s intoxicating. To the viewers it’s quality television. Dexter runs on Showtime Sunday nights at 10:00 pm ET.
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