Topic: Dexter Episode Review Thread

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Episode Review Thread

Orphaned at the age of three, Dexter Morgan  is adopted by Miami police officer, Harry Morgan and his wife Doris. After discovering that young Dexter has been killing neighborhood pets, Harry believes that the boy is a psychopath  and teaches him "The Code" as a way to channel his violent urges towards people who "deserve it". In this code, Dexter's victims must be killers themselves who have murdered the undeserving and will likely do so again. Dexter must also have proof that the criminals are guilty. Most importantly, Dexter must never get caught. Flashbacks throughout the series show Harry, who died several years before, instructing Dexter in how to appear normal and cover his tracks.

Dexter has followed The Code religiously. Like many serial killers, he keeps trophies; before dispatching a wrongdoer, Dexter makes a small incision on their right cheek with a scalpel and collects a blood sample which he preserves on a blood slide. He stores his collection in a box concealed inside his air conditioner. Dexter is (with varying success) able to fake 'normal' emotions and maintain his appearance as an unremarkable friend and neighbor. He does maintain a few personal relationships, however. He is "fond" of Harry’s biological daughter Debra. She is unaware of Harry's training or Dexter's secret life, but harbors lingering jealousy of the perceived preferential treatment Harry gave Dexter. As part of his "disguise", Dexter dates a woman named Rita who is too traumatized from years of abuse at the hands of her ex-husband, Paul Bennett, to be intimate with Dexter. This suits Dexter, who is asexual. He is fond of (and good with) children in general, particularly Rita’s two children, Astor and Cody.

Stars:
Michael C. Hall as Dexter Morgan
Jennifer Carpenter as Debra Morgan
Julie Benz as Rita Bennett
Lauren Vélez as Maria LaGuerta
David Zayas as Angel Batista
James Remar as Harry Morgan
C.S. Lee as Vince Masuka

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Dexter: The First Season

Led by an amazing performance by Emmy®-nominated actor Michael C. Hall (Six Feet Under), Dexter is one of the most critically acclaimed, must-see television shows of the year! Like no other crime drama you've seen before, this horrifying and intoxicating DVD includes all 12 riveting Season One episodes and a host of delightfully twisted special features.

EPISODES:
1. Dexter
2. Crocodile
3. Popping Cherry
4. Let's Give the Boy a Hand
5. Love American Style
6. Return to Sender
7. Circle of Friends
8. Shrink Wrap
9. Father Knows Best
10. Seeing Red
11. Truth Be Told
12. Born Free

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Dexter: Season 1

1. Dexter
Air Date: 10/1/06
When blood spatter analyst Dexter Morgan is not out solving murders, he spends his time as a serial killer who eliminates those who do bad things. But his world is shaken when another serial killer commits a series of highly stylized murders in Miami.

Guest Stars:
Erik King as Sgt. Doakes
Jim Abele as Mike Donovan
Margo Martindale as Camilla
Dominic Janes as Young Dexter
Christina Robinson as Astor

My Thoughts:
This episode is a great introduction to the characters. I have liked this series since the first time I seen this pilot episode. The idea of a serial killer/vigilante working from within the police station is great. All the characters are likable and the ongoing season long storyline is more then interesting. Then of course each episode has the main story for the episode. In this case I was more interested in the starts of the season long arc then I was on the episode long story. But I still enjoyed every second of it.

My Rating:

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Dexter: Season 1

2. Crocodile
Air Date: 10/8/06
While trying to decide his next victim, Dexter’s world is thrust into turmoil when the other serial killer in town, dubbed the Ice Truck Killer, has secretly contacted Dexter to inform him that he knows what Dexter is up too.

Guest Stars:
Geoff Pierson as Capt. Tom Matthews
Sam Trammell as Matt Chambers
Rudolf Martin as Carlos Guerrero
Cristos as Norberto Cervantes
Richard Gunn as Sean

My Thoughts:
Another episode I enjoyed quite a bit. I liked how they continued on with the season long arc. And I enjoyed both of the other storylines for this episode. The continuation of the cop killer storyline was really good.

My Rating:

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Dexter: Season 1

3. Popping Cherry
Air Date: 10/15/06
While stalking a recently released convict who may kill again, Dexter has to deal with the latest crime of the Ice Truck Killer, a chopped up hooker in a pro-hockey ice rink.

Guest Stars:
Geoff Pierson as Capt. Tom Matthews
Rudolf Martin as Carlos Guerrero
Brad William Henke as Tony Tucci
Scott William Winters as Mac
Mark L. Young as Jeremy Downs
Denise Crosby as Killer Nurse

My Thoughts:
Another excellent episode. I really liked seeing Dexter's first kill via flashback. Especially since it had Denise Crosby in it. I also really enjoyed Dexter going after the teen boy and how he handled it once he found out the truth.

My Rating:

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Dexter: Season 1

4. Let's Give the Boy a Hand
Air Date: 10/22/06
Dexter is intrigued when the Ice truck Killer starts leaving pictures from Dexter’s childhood at the crime scenes. Are these horrific tableaus meant to tell Dexter something about his own past?

Guest Stars:
Geoff Pierson as Capt. Tom Matthews
Rudolf Martin as Carlos Guerrero
Gina Hecht as Mrs. Tucci
Brad William Henke as Tony Tucci
Scott William Winters as Mac

My Thoughts:
This one is a Halloween episode. Though Halloween really is pushed back into the background. But I must say... I loved Julie Benz in that Tomb Raider costume!  This one concentrated mostly on the season long arc.... which was good... but not quite as good as the few previous episodes.

My Rating:

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Dexter: Season 1

5. Love American Style
Air Date: 10/29/06
The Homicide division is abuzz after the Ice Truck Killer’s latest victim is found alive, while Dexter stalks a murderous human trafficker.

Guest Stars:
Christian Camargo as Rudy Cooper
Sam Witwer as Neil Perry
Brad William Henke as Tony Tucci
Jose Zuniga as Jorge Castillo
Angela Alvarado Rosa as Nina Batista

My Thoughts:
Another good episode. Though I don't remember ever seeing a bad one before. This one has a nice bit of advancements in the season long arc as well as an interesting storyline for the single episode story.

My Rating:

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Dexter: Season 1

6. Return to Sender
Air Date: 11/5/06
The Ice Truck Killer leaves Dexter a surprise at the scene of one of Dexter’s recent kills, putting Dexter firmly in the crosshairs of his own Homicide Division.

Guest Stars:
Valerie Dillman as Valerie Castillo
Vernée Watson Johnson as Doakes' Mother
Andi Chapman as Woman from Social Services
Jose Zuniga as Jorge Castillo
Christina Robinson as Astor

My Thoughts:
Enjoyed this one as well. This episode centers around Dexter believing he is all but caught and frantically trying to cover up and shift the evidence. I liked how they handled what the little boy saw and how it came out.

My Rating:

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Dexter: Season 1

7. Circle of Friends
Air Date: 11/12/06
The Ice Truck Killer’s identity is revealed, but something about him doesn’t sit right with Dexter.

Guest Stars:
Mark Pellegrino as Paul Bennett
Sam Witwer as Neil Perry
Christian Camargo as Rudy Cooper
Mark L. Young as Jeremy Downs
Lizette Carrion as Shanda

My Thoughts:
It really helps matters that I haven't seen the first season of this show in so many years. It is almost like watching it for the first time again... as I don't remember most of what is going on. That especially helped in this episode. Where the ending once again took me by surprise.

My Rating:

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Dexter: Season 1

8. Shrink Wrap
Air Date: 11/19/06
When the "suicide" of a powerful, high profile woman reveals a strange pattern of murders, Dexter stalks a killer unlike any he’s had to deal with before.

Guest Stars:
Mark Pellegrino as Paul Bennett
Christian Camargo as Rudy Cooper
Sam Witwer as Neil Perry
Tony Goldwyn as Dr. Emmett Meridian
Mark Matkevich as Mr. Gayle

My Thoughts:
Another very good episode. Liked both the episode storyline as well as the advancements of the season long arc. One thing I been meaning to say from the very start of this thread. I hate the opening credits for this series! Thankfully there is a chapter stop right after the credits so I can bypass them.

My Rating:

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Dexter: Season 1

9. Father Knows Best
Air Date: 11/26/06
Rita, Debra and Rudy join Dexter for a weekend away when Dexter finds out that his biological father, whom Dexter thought had died 30 years ago, has just recently passed away and left him all his belongings...and his house.

Guest Stars:
Christian Camargo as Rudy Cooper
Mark Pellegrino as Paul Bennett
Dominic Janes as Young Dexter
Dakin Matthews as Dr. Pittman
Joseph Lyle Taylor as Internal Affairs Officer

My Thoughts:
While not a bad episode... this one is pretty average. The story about Dexter's father is enjoyable.... but the storyline of the shooting back at the police department just didn't interest me at all.

My Rating:

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Dexter: Season 1

10. Seeing Red
Air Date: 12/3/06
The Ice Truck Killer leaves Dexter the most horrifying crime scene imaginable, forcing him to confront the demons from his past.

Guest Stars:
Mark Pellegrino as Paul Bennett
Christian Camargo as Rudy Cooper
Malcolm-Jamal Warner as Rita's Lawyer
Tomiko Martinez as Monique

My Thoughts:
This is a right good episode. I liked how Dexter handled Rita's ex-husband. And it ended well with Dexter remembering what happened to him and his mother. It was also pretty cool seeing Malcolm-Jamal Warner appearing in this episode as Rita's lawyer. He of course played the son... Theo... on The Cosby Show.

My Rating:

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Dexter: Season 1

11. Truth Be Told
Air Date: 12/10/06
The Ice Truck Killer kidnaps someone very close to Dexter, forcing Dexter to play a deadly game of hide-and-seek.

Guest Stars:
Mark Pellegrino as Paul Bennett
Christian Camargo as Rudy Cooper
Margo Martindale as Camilla
Tomiko Martinez as Monique
Angela Alvarado Rosa as Nina Batista

My Thoughts:
An excellent episode. Not surprising being so close to the season finale. I hate seeing Dexter's sister in trouble. Despite her obsessive cursing (something I never personally like to hear) she has always been on of my favorite characters. Her, Dexter and Rita being my top 3 favorite characters.

My Rating:

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Dexter: Season 1

12. Born Free
Air Date: 12/17/06
Dexter and the Ice Truck Killer have a final confrontation.

Guest Stars:
Mark Pellegrino as Paul Bennett
Christian Camargo as Rudy Cooper
Judith Scott as Esmee Pascal
Scott Atkinson as Bob Hicks
Christina Robinson as Astor

My Thoughts:
An excellent season finale! I enjoyed every second of it. It answered a lot of questions and gave us good closure for all the storylines. It was so much fun revisiting the first season again!

My Rating:

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Now that I finished season 1... I don't think I want to start season 2 until after my Weekend Movie Marathon. So now I just need to find something to keep me busy for the rest of the day.