Dexter (TV Series) - Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia

Dexter (TV series)

Dexter

Intertitle

Genre Crime drama, Suspense,

Mystery

Format Serial drama

Developed by James Manos, Jr.

Starring Michael C. Hall

Jennifer Carpenter

David Zayas

C.S. Lee

Lauren Vélez

James Remar

Julie Benz

Erik King

Keith Carradine

Desmond Harrington

Christian Camargo

Jaime Murray

Jimmy Smits

John Lithgow

Theme music

composer

Rolfe Kent

Country of origin United States

Language(s) English

No. of seasons 4

No. of episodes 48 (List of episodes)

Production

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Dexter is an American television drama series that airs on thepremium channel Showtime. Set in Miami, the series centerson Dexter Morgan (Michael C. Hall), a serial killer whoworks for the Miami Metro Police Department as a bloodsplatter analyst.

The show is based on characters created by Jeff Lindsay forhis series of Dexter novels. It was adapted for television byEmmy Award-winning screenwriter James Manos, Jr., whowrote the pilot episode.

On October 21, 2008, Showtime renewed the series for afourth and fifth season, each consisting of twelve episodes.Season 4 aired its season finale on December 13, 2009 to arecord-breaking audience of 2.6 million viewers, making it themost-watched original series episode ever on Showtime.[1]

Contents

1 Overview1.1 Title sequence

2 Cast and Crew2.1 Cast2.2 Crew

3 Plot3.1 Season 13.2 Season 23.3 Season 33.4 Season 43.5 Season 53.6 Early Cuts

3.6.1 Alex Timmons, October 20033.6.1.1 Chapter 13.6.1.2 Chapter 23.6.1.3 Chapter 33.6.1.4 Chapter 4

3.6.2 Gene Marshall, June 19933.6.2.1 Chapter 1

1/10/2010 Dexter (TV series) - Wikipedia, the free …

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dexter_(TV_series) 1/24

Executive

producer(s)

Michael C. Hall

Clyde Phillips

Sara Colleton

John Goldwyn

Daniel Cerone

Charles H. Eglee

Location(s) Miami, Florida

Running time 50 minutes

Broadcast

Original channel Showtime

Picture format 480i (SDTV)

1080i (HDTV)

Audio format Surround sound

Original run October 1, 2006 – present

External links

Official website

(http://www.sho.com/site/dexter/home.do)

3.6.2.2 Chapter 23.6.2.3 Chapter 33.6.2.4 Chapter 4

3.6.3 Cindy Landon, March 2004

4 Critical reception4.1 U.S. broadcast controversy4.2 Viral marketing controversy4.3 Missing person case4.4 Conner Conley murder

5 Differences from novel6 Other media

6.1 DVD/Blu-ray releases6.2 Video game6.3 Soundtrack

7 Awards7.1 Wins7.2 Nominations

8 References9 External links

Overview

The series follows the day to day events of Dexter Morgan's life, a forensic blood splatter analyst for the MiamiMetro Police Department, who also happens to be a serial killer in his free time. He was taught by his adoptivefather, Harry, only to kill those "who deserve it"; mainly, other killers who have escaped the traditional legal systemor were never suspected in the first place. It shows him balancing an everyday life with his secret identity all whilekeeping up a facade of normalcy.

Title sequence

Dexter's opening title sequence features an extended montage where ordinary day-to-day events such as shaving,flossing, dressing, preparing breakfast and eating are used visually to evoke Dexter's darker nature.[2] Per televisioncritic Jim Emerson, "The first time you see it... it tells you everything you need to know about the character."[2]

The series won an Emmy Award in 2007 for "Outstanding Main Title Design", while the title music was alsonominated for "Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music" in the same season. It was made by Digital Kitchen.

The title itself is a reference to the heraldic concept that each coat of arms has a right and left (i.e. dexter andsinister). The dexter side is the positive side.[3]

Cast and Crew

Cast



See also: List of Dexter characters

In addition to Michael C. Hall, the show's principal cast also includes Hall's real-life wife Jennifer Carpenter asDexter's sister, Detective Debra Morgan, Julie Benz played Dexter's girlfriend (and later wife) Rita BennettMorgan, and James Remar as Dexter's deceased father Harry. Dexter's co-workers include Lauren Vélez as Lt.Maria LaGuerta, Dexter and Debra's supervisor, David Zayas as the friendly Detective, Sergeant Angel Batista andC.S. Lee as the perverted lab tech Vince Masuka (promoted to title credits as of Season 2). Rita's children Astorand Cody are played by Christina Robinson and Preston Bailey (who replaced Daniel Goldman after the firstseason). Erik King portrayed the troubled Sgt. James Doakes for the first two seasons of the show. DesmondHarrington joined the cast in Season 3 as Detective Joey Quinn; his name was promoted to the title credits as ofSeason 4. Keith Carradine, as Special FBI Agent Frank Lundy and Jimmy Smits, as ADA Miguel Prado, eachappeared in season-long character arcs in seasons 2 and 3, respectively. John Lithgow joins the cast in season fouras the notorious "Trinity Killer". Carradine returns in Season 4, reprising his role as now retired FBI Special AgentFrank Lundy, who is hunting the Trinity Killer.

Notable appearances in Season 1 are Christian Camargo as Rudy Cooper, who woos Debra and has ties toDexter's past; and Mark Pellegrino, as Rita's paroled, abusive ex-husband Paul. Brad William Henke had a role asamputee victim Tony Tucci in the first season as well. Margo Martindale has a recurring role as Camilla, a recordsoffice worker who was close friends with Dexter's adoptive parents. Geoff Pierson plays Captain Tom Matthews ofMiami Metro Homicide. Jaime Murray portrayed Lila Tournay in Season 2, a British artist and recovering drugaddict who develops an infatuation for Dexter. Anne Ramsay portrayed defense attorney Ellen Wolf, Miguel's arch-nemesis. Valerie Cruz had a recurring role as Miguel's wife, Sylvia. David Ramsey, who plays confidential informantAnton Briggs in Season 3, returns in Season 4, now romantically involved with Debra. Courtney Ford was featuredan ambitious reporter who mixes business with pleasure, getting romantically involved with Det. Quinn whilesimultaneously fishing for sources and stories.

Crew

The main creative forces behind the series (Head Writers/showrunners) are executive producers Daniel Cerone,Clyde Phillips and Melissa Rosenberg; Cerone left the show after its second season. Coming off a record-settingSeason 4 finale, executive producer and showrunner Clyde Phillips is departing the series to spend more time withhis family. 24 co-executive producer Chip Johannessen will fill Phillips' post.[4]

James Manos Jr. (35 episodes, 2006–2008)Melissa Rosenberg (8 episodes, 2006–2008)Marcos Siega (7 episodes, 2007–2008)Lauren Gussis (7 episodes, 2006-2008)Scott Reynolds (7 episodes, 2007–2008)Timothy Schlattmann (6 episodes, 2006–2008)Scott Buck (5 episodes, 2007–2008)Keith Gordon (5 episodes, 2006–2008)Michael Cuesta (5 episodes, 2006)Steve Shill (4 episodes, 2006–2008)Tony Goldwyn (4 episodes, 2006–2007)Kevin Maynard (3 episodes, 2006)Robert Lieberman (2 episodes, 2006)Drew Z. Greenberg (2 episodes, 2006)



Nick Gomez (2 episodes, 2007)John Dahl (2 episodes, 2008)Charles H. Eglee (2 episodes, 2008)

Plot

Main article: List of Dexter episodes

Season 1

Main article: Dexter (season 1)

Season 1's plot was adapted from the first novel in Jeff Lindsay's "Dexter" series, Darkly Dreaming Dexter.Subsequent seasons have featured original storylines.

Orphaned at the age of three and harboring a traumatic secret, Dexter was adopted by a Miami police officernamed Harry Morgan, who recognized Dexter's sociopathic tendencies and taught him to channel his gruesomepassion for thrill killing by giving it a constructive direction: killing people who deserve it. Most have slipped throughthe justice system, due to loopholes and technicalities in the law or were never apprehended.

To hide in plain sight and to erase his own crimes, Dexter works as a blood spatter analyst for the Miami MetroPolice Department. Although his drive to kill is unflinching (otherwise overcome by a feeling of "emptiness") Dexteris, through extensive instruction from Harry, able to fake normal emotions and keep up his appearance as a socially-responsible human being. Flashbacks throughout the series show how Harry, who died several years before,instructed Dexter on the art of appearing normal, and he follows Harry's instructions as a sacred "Code of Harry".

In accordance with this code, most of Dexter's victims must be killers themselves; people who have killed multipletimes with no remorse. Dexter must also have proof that the criminals are definitely guilty before he takes action.

Despite not having any "real" feelings, Dexter dates a woman named Rita, to appear normal. Rita is psychologicallydamaged from past rape and abuse by her former husband (a violent felon and drug addict) and is too distraught towant to be in an intimate relationship. This suits Dexter, who believes he is unable to fake intimate emotions. Dexterhopes to keep up his façade of normality by distancing himself from Rita. At the same time, he feels genuineaffection for Rita and her two children, Astor and Cody. Dexter sets up Rita's ex-husband to look like he violatedhis parole. While back in prison proclaiming his innocence, he points Rita to a clue to the truth about Dexter.

The first season focuses mostly on "The Ice Truck Killer", a serial killer eluding the Miami PD who iscommunicating with Dexter through his crime scenes. Dexter's adoptive sister (and Harry's biological daughter),Debra, makes known her jealousy of the perceived preferential treatment Harry gave Dexter, but is unaware ofHarry's training or Dexter's tendencies.

Dexter uses his calculated charm to become well-liked by all of his colleagues, with the exception of Sgt. JamesDoakes (Erik King), who finds him odd (often calling him a "freak" or a "creep"), and openly accuses him of beingup to something, as well as harboring vague suspicions that Dexter has some connection to the Ice Truck Killer andeven keeping Dexter under some surveillance. The tension between the two is an ongoing plot motive.

Debra begins dating Rudy, who is later revealed to be the Ice Truck Killer at the end of the season. Rudy alsoreveals to Dexter that he is his biological brother, Brian Moser. He describes additional details of Dexter's early



childhood to him, complementing Dexter's vague memories as well as details he has been piecing together over thelength of the season. The formative event for the brothers was witnessing their mother and several other peoplebeing chainsaw-butchered by a drug dealer and being locked in a cargo container for two days with thedismembered corpses, the floor covered in blood. Brian spent much of his childhood institutionalized. Harrydeliberately hid the details about the crime from Dexter, as well as information about his biological family.

Brian kidnaps Debra, with the intention that he and Dexter would kill her together to cement their bond and severthe ties between Dexter and his adoptive family. Dexter instead turns against Brian and ultimately kills him, makingthe death look like a suicide. Everyone, including Debra, remains unaware of the exact connection between Dexterand Rudy/Brian. Dexter feels some regret over killing Brian, the one person who fully understood him, in order tosave Debra, whom he knows would turn away from him if she ever learned his true nature.

The season ends with Dexter and his sister arriving at a crime scene, with Dexter imagining a ticker tape parade forhimself, complete with confetti and an airplane pulling a congratulatory banner.

In the U.S., the complete first season of Dexter was released in a four-disc DVD package on August 21, 2007.On January 6, 2009, a three disc Blu-ray version was released.

Season 2


New cast members for this season include Jaime Murray as Lila, an artist who is a former meth addict and arsonistwho becomes Dexter's sponsor (and later his lover),[5] Keith Carradine as FBI Special Agent Frank Lundy andJoBeth Williams as Rita's mother Gail. The role of Rita's son Cody was re-cast, and in Season 2 was played bychild actor Preston Bailey.

Dexter begins the season unable to satisfy his urges for over a month, due to the constant surveillance by Sgt.Doakes. When the opportunity to kill arises, he has problems executing his victims after having killed his brother.

To further complicate matters, treasure hunters discover Dexter's underwater dumping ground for his victims. Asthe police extract body part after body part from the ocean, the media dubs the killer the "Bay Harbor Butcher",and FBI Special Agent Lundy is brought in to catch the "Butcher."

Rita's relationship with Dexter becomes more tense as she and her children are dealing with the death of her ex-husband Paul, who was killed in a prison fight. Paul's repeated suggestion that Dexter was to blame for hisimprisonment eats at Rita's conscience and eventually Rita accuses Dexter of setting up her ex-husband. Dexteradmits to setting up Paul, but Rita refuses to believe that Dexter premeditated the crime and assumes that Dexter isa heroin addict. He acquiesces to "having an addiction", though he characteristically allows her misinterpretation togo without clarification; in return, she vows to stay with him while he goes through the Narcotics Anonymousprogram. In this way, Dexter avoids responsibility for Paul's death (though he set the process in motion) andconsequently maintains the rationalization that he only (directly) kills people who are murderers. Doakes continuesto pursue Dexter until he encounters Dexter leaving a NA meeting. Doakes seems satisfied that Dexter's oddbehavior and apparent drug use can be explained by traumatic experiences from a career in law enforcement.

A cult following begins to form behind the "Butcher" when it is discovered that his victims were themselvesresponsible for deaths.[6] Dexter even finds that a comic-book character was created called, "The Dark Defender".

Debra continues to struggle with the trauma of her experience with the Ice Truck Killer combined with everyone



recognizing her as the "Ice Truck Killer's girl". For a sense of safety and comfort, she stays with her brother,another new source of stress in Dexter's life.

Throughout Season 2, Dexter is pursued by Special Agent Frank Lundy, while both Debra's affection for Lundyand her confidence in her own detective skills grow. Doakes' suspicions about Dexter are revived, and he ultimatelydiscovers Dexter's collection of glass slides containing blood sample souvenirs from all of his victims. The possibilityof matching the slides hidden in Dexter's air conditioner with the bodies of the Butcher's victims sets up a climacticshowdown in which Doakes confronts Dexter at a drug dealer's remote cabin. Despite receiving a gunshot woundin the leg, Dexter overpowers Doakes and keeps him locked in the cage inside the cabin. He begins to frameDoakes as the Butcher after the police discover Dexter's slide collection in Doakes' car while searching for him,making Doakes the prime suspect. Lieutenant LaGuerta, Doakes' former partner, is the only one who believes inDoakes. She finds evidence of Doakes' innocence and takes it to Lundy, but he tells her that the evidence is taintedby her previous failure to report Doakes' telephone conversation to the investigation team. Lundy rejects LaGuerta'scase files, though he believes she may be correct about Doakes.

Dexter struggles with his life as a serial killer, thanks to revelations throughout the season regarding Harry Morgan,his adoptive father. Dexter learns that Harry was sleeping with Dexter's biological mother, Laura Moser, before shedied and that Harry took his own life after walking in on Dexter in the middle of a murder, unable to deal with thereality of the monster he had created. With his confidence in the Code of Harry and himself destroyed andexhausted from having to maintain his "mask" for so long, Dexter plays out the possible resulting scenarios in hishead of turning himself in. Dexter's events on his last day of freedom include having Deb becoming the beneficiary ofhis will, having a final dinner with her, and taking Rita and the kids out on the boat. During the "last meal" with Deb,he realizes how much she depended on him to resolve her feelings about the murder attempt by the Ice Truck Killerand decides to continue with his original plan of framing Doakes as the "Bay Harbor Butcher."

Near the end of the season, Doakes escapes from the cage temporarily and is recaptured by Dexter. In the seasonfinale, Lila finds the cabin where Doakes is imprisoned and causes a propane tank explosion, blowing up bothDoakes and the corpse of one of Dexter's victims, preventing Dexter from being caught. Lila then meets withDexter, expecting him to accept her love now that she knows his 'dark secret'. She catches him preparing to kill herand seeks revenge by trying to kill Rita's children and Dexter. Dexter manages to save the children and escape andthen exacts his own revenge on her after she has fled to Paris. In the closing scenes, Doakes' memorial service goeslargely unattended, with the exception of LaGuerta, Dexter, and Doakes' immediate family. Expressing the logic ofDexter's mental world, the final words in the series are a voice-over of his thoughts on the recent events. We hearthat he now considers himself the master of the techniques his father taught him. Dexter believes this combined withthe fact that Harry knew himself to be wrong about the code gives Dexter the right to rewrite that code and to livehis life the way he wishes. He also states that he now needs those relationships that he originally cultivated asdisguises to fit into society, even though they make him vulnerable. He considers himself, "An idea transcended intolife."

Season 2 premiered on September 30, 2007. On July 17, the first two episodes of the season were leaked on theinternet, and on December 4, the last two episodes were also leaked.[7] On November 4, 2007, the Writer's Guildof America started a strike, but writer Daniel Cerone stated in the L.A. Times that Season 2 had already beencompleted in anticipation of the WGA's action.[8]

The complete second season of Dexter was released in the USA and Canada on August 19, 2008. It was releasedin Australia and New Zealand on August 21, 2008. The season 2 Blu Ray was on May 5, 2009.[9]

Season 3




Rita discovers she is pregnant and Dexter finds it hard to choose when she asks whether she should keep the babyor not. After some consideration, Rita informs Dexter that she will keep the baby and raise him either with orwithout his help. It also takes some time for Dexter himself to cope with the idea of actually having a child (anacceptance helped by the fact that he now sees Astor and Cody as his children and therefore to be protected), andhe ends up proposing marriage to Rita, which, after a couple of initial refusals due to Dexter's early ineptness, shehappily accepts.

While stalking a murderous drug dealer nicknamed "Freebo", Dexter stumbles upon a fight between Freebo andanother man, whom he is forced to kill in self defense. This victim turns out to be Oscar Prado, brother of ADAMiguel Prado (Jimmy Smits) a prominent assistant district attorney and old flame of Lt. LaGuerta. Dexter assists onthe case, and Miguel confides in him and grows to trust him. Dexter is able to track down Freebo and kills him, butas he leaves he encounters Miguel, who has followed a lead to the Drug Dealer's location. Dexter tells Miguel hehad discovered Freebo and killed him in self defense, but instead of reprimanding him, Miguel thanks him and offersto help him cover up the crime. However, Dexter refuses, knowing that his "kill room" would betray his story of selfdefense.

As Dexter and Miguel cooperate to conceal Freebo's true demise from everyone else, the duo end up becomingclose friends, as do Rita and Miguel's wife Sylvia. While the Prados assist Rita during a medical emergency, Miguelsearches for Dexter, who was on a cruise ship killing a murderer Miguel has complained about. Miguel realizes thatDexter committed the murder and praises Dexter for killing another murderer and offers his aid in the future. Tryingto discourage Miguel, Dexter proposes a risky operation to free an infamous Aryan Brotherhood leader, whocontinues to commit crimes while inside prison, to kill him. Miguel agrees with the idea and the plan succeeds(despite the alarm sounding during the escape), and Dexter starts to recognize Miguel as his first and only truefriend, to the point of inviting him to be his best man at his wedding.

Throughout Season 3, Debra starts working more seriously to earn her detective shield, but due to her untimelycomment about Oscar she is cut off from the Freebo case. She starts working with a new partner, Joey Quinn, toinvestigate a serial killer with the habit of skinning his victims while alive (labeled "The Skinner"). She also starts arelationship with Anton, one of Quinn's confidential informants who starts working with her. However, YukiAmado, a female Internal Affairs officer, starts pressuring Debra to give her information on Quinn, promising to helpher become a detective in return, but Debra refuses to cooperate, despite Yuki's claims that Quinn cannot betrusted.

A notable change from previous seasons is that instead of flashbacks involving Dexter's adoptive father, Harry,fantasy scenes are used. Harry instead offers guidance, ideas, and guilt; leading to revelations on Dexter's future.

Camilla Figg, an old friend of Dexter and his family, is dying of terminal lung cancer and asks him to end hersuffering, which he (who had never purposely killed an innocent before) reluctantly agrees to do. On the occasion,Camilla reveals to Dexter that she knew that his brother was the Ice Truck Killer and as she expires, congratulateshim when he confesses to her that it was he who killed Brian.

Miguel and Dexter's partnership takes a new step when Miguel offers to be the one to kill their next target, a formerfootball player turned gambler who to pay his bookie commits murders on the bookie's behalf. With somereluctance, Dexter accepts, and after preparing the trap and teaching him the basics of his "code", he witnessesMiguel killing the victim without hesitation. However, the next day, Ellen Wolf, a ruthless defense attorney and oldcourtroom adversary of Miguel's, goes missing, and Dexter, suspicious, discovers that Miguel has killed her. Aftersome investigation, Dexter also discovers that Miguel has been manipulating him since the beginning and never



trusted him at all.

While the relationship between Dexter and Miguel begins to unravel, so does Miguel's marriage when Sylvia beginsto suspect that Miguel is having an affair and confides her fears to Rita, who in turn confides in Dexter.

Dexter and Miguel then begin to dance around in a game of who has leverage over whom, whilst the policeinvestigate the death of Ellen Wolf. This game of leverage ends with Dexter realizing that Miguel cannot be allowedto run loose any longer (at which point Dexter decides to kill him using the Skinner's Modus Operandi) and withSylvia, convinced that Miguel is having an affair with Lt. LaGuerta after seeing them leaving LaGuerta's housetogether, ordering him out of the house. Miguel uses his position to help the Skinner escape and evade policecustody in return for his agreeing to kill Dexter.

Striving to discover the truth about Ellen Wolf's death, LaGuerta ends up obtaining evidence linking Miguel to thecrime, while Miguel himself discovers that LaGuerta was investigating him and decides to kill her, but Dexterdiscovers Miguel's plot beforehand and captures him when Miguel comes to LaGuerta's house looking for her.Before killing Miguel, Dexter confesses to him that he was the one who killed his younger brother Oscar (in self-defense when intending to murder Freebo instead).

After Miguel's body is discovered, he is immediately identified as a victim of the Skinner, just as Dexter planned.But Miguel's other brother Ramon is still suspicious of him. After pointing a gun on Dexter during a dinner with Rita,he is captured by Angel and Debra. During a visit to him in jail, Dexter helps Ramon put his demons to rest offeringadvice and personal relation to Ramon's life.

However, on the night before his wedding, Dexter is captured by the Skinner and manages to break free by takingadvantage of a moment when the Skinner is distracted, intentionally breaking his hand in the process to escape.After a short but vicious fight, Dexter manages to snap the Skinner's neck and make it look like suicide by throwinghis body before a running police car. Dexter gets his broken hand put in a cast and attends his wedding. He admitsto himself that his wedding vows, "to be the best husband and father [he could] be", were absolutely true. Theseason ends as a drop of blood from Dexter's cast falls upon Rita's wedding dress as they dance.

The complete third season of Dexter was released in the USA and Canada on DVD and Blu-ray on August 18,2009.

Season 4


Dexter is now a married family man, and Rita has given birth to a baby boy named Harrison. The family has movedto the suburbs, where Dexter struggles to reconcile his new life as a family man with his killing urges. Special AgentFrank Lundy returns, having recently retired from the FBI, and is hunting the "Trinity Killer" (John Lithgow) who hebelieves always murders three people in a very specific sequence: a young woman in a bathtub, an older mother oftwo falling to her death, and a father of two bludgeoned to death. Lundy also states that Trinity's pattern has beenrepeated in various cities across the country dating back over decades. The character of Christine Hill (CourtneyFord) is introduced, a journalist who begins a relationship with Detective Quinn.

Lundy begins working with Debra to capture Trinity before he completes his cycle. Debra renews her relationshipwith Lundy but shortly after an unseen assailant shoots them both, killing Lundy. Debra explains the idea of theTrinity Killer to the department, but she isn't allowed to work the case since she is one of his victims. WithMasuka's help, Debra discovers that Trinity did not shoot her. Since she is no longer considered a Trinity victim,



she is put in charge of the case.

While investigating Lundy's data about Trinity, Dexter determines Lundy was killed because Lundy had determinedwhen and where Trinity would claim his third victim. Dexter stakes out the building, and witnesses Trinitybludgeoning a man on a security camera (the third victim in a killing cycle). Dexter is unable to stop the murder, buthe does follow Trinity to his home where he is surprised to discover that Trinity is a family man named ArthurMitchell. Using the alias Kyle Butler, Dexter attends the same church as Trinity and eventually befriends him. Whileinvestigating the reasons behind Arthur's crimes, Dexter learns how he manages to consolidate his family life with hiskilling urges and utilizes that knowledge to deal with issues in his marriage with Rita.

Dexter visits Arthur at his home and discovers that Trinity will be traveling to Tampa on another building project,which could be the start of another cycle. Dexter decides to make the trip with Trinity to ensure this doesn't happen.In Tampa, Dexter and Arthur visit Trinity's childhood home. Arthur reveals that at the age of 10, he spied on hisolder sister in the shower out of innocent curiosity. His sister, who is startled when she sees him, falls and slips,shattering the glass shower door, cutting open her femoral artery, leading her to bleed to death. Arthur's parentsblame him for his sister's death. His mother committed suicide and his father died soon after his mother; Dexterassumes Arthur murdered him. Trinity's victims therefore die in the same manner as his family. During Thanksgiving,Dexter learns that Arthur has been terrorizing his family in their own home, locking his daughter away in herbedroom and physically abusing his son. Trinity's son snaps and begins destroying Arthur's trophies, finallydestroying the urn containing Trinity's sister's ashes, which provokes Trinity to nearly strangle his son. Dextergarrotes Trinity with a belt and drags him to the kitchen but is interrupted by Arthur's wife and daughter. Arthurgoes to see Christine Hill, who is then revealed to be his daughter.

Later Arthur kidnaps a boy while being pursued by Dexter. Dexter does some research and finds out that Trinity'spattern begins with an abduction first; the boys disappear days before the first bathtub death. Dexter locates whereArthur is holding the boy. He arrives late to confront him, but he deduces that Trinity is planning to bury the boyalive at the Four-Walls build site. Dexter arrives just in time to save the boy from the cement pool, but Arthurescapes.

Debra begins to investigate Christine in Lundy's murder, as she knows too many details. With the help of Qunin, shehas Christine's toothbrush analyzed at the lab by Masuka. The results dictate that Christine is related to the TrinityKiller. Christine is interrogated at the station regarding her involvement in Lundy's murder, and following a search ofher apartment, Batista and Debra surmise that she is the Trinity Killer's daughter. They let her go for lack ofevidence, but she eventually confesses to Debra. Christine secretly contacts Arthur Mitchell, but Arthur refuses tohelp her and instead disowns her for killing Frank Lundy without Arthur's prior knowledge. A distraught Christineseeks forgiveness from Debra, but after Debra refuses to forgive her, Christine pulls a gun and commits suicide infront of her.

LaGuerta and Batista have renewed their relationship and -- in danger of losing their jobs for lying -- decide tomarry. They confront the Deputy Chief, and say that if he files perjury charges against them, he will be seen as ananti-marriage, anti-family, and anti-love person. He is furious, but cannot file the charges because of the futureimplications against him.

Dexter decides that he must draw police attention away from Arthur, so he finds a man whom he can blame - StanBeaudry. Dexter sneaks into his home and plants a comb, toothbrush, and the framing hammer that Arthur used tobludgeon the man in the office building. He sneaks into Beaudry's truck, kills him, and plants Lundy's Trinity files onthe passenger seat.

Arthur begins to follow Dexter, and soon learns his true identity. After Dexter learns this, Dexter follows Arthur to a



bank but hits a car on the way. He captures Arthur and takes a large envelope off him containing money. When heleaves the van, he sees the other driver talking to the police. He quickly hides the envelope and confronts the man.Dexter -- irritated by the driver -- smashes his cellphone, and is detained by the police. By the time he is released,Arthur is gone.

Meanwhile, one of Harry's informants takes Deb to the house of the informant that Harry left her for. Debimmediately recognizes the house as the home of Brian Moser, the Ice Truck Killer. The informant says that thewoman's name was Laura Moser. Deb looks for information about Laura, and finds out that Dexter is her son, andthe brother of the Ice Truck Killer. Deb confronts Dexter about his true identity, and Dexter feigns surprise. Hesays that Brian must have tried to get to him through Deb.

Dexter tracks down Arthur and captures him. Arthur wakes up in the basement room where he held the missingboy. He kills Arthur with a framing hammer and dumps the body. He returns home and picks up a message fromRita on his cellphone. She had to come back home to get her ID. After listening to the message, he decides to callher back, only to hear Rita's phone ring from within the house. After finding Rita's phone, Dexter soon hearsHarrison crying, and rushes to the bathroom, where he finds Harrison sitting on the tile in a puddle of blood. Ritaappears to be dead in the bathtub, presumably murdered by Trinity. It was later confirmed by John Lithgow in aninterview with Michael C Hall that Rita's death was indeed Trinity's handiwork[10]

Season 5

Showtime has renewed Dexter through a fifth season, which will premiere on September 27th, 2010.

Early Cuts

Dexter: Early Cuts, is a twelve-part animated web series, that premiered on October 25th, 2009[11] andconcluded on January 3rd, 2010. Michael C. Hall reprises his role as the voice of Dexter.[12]

The web series precedes the current narrative of the show and revolves around Dexter hunting down the threevictims that he mentions in the sixth episode of season 1, "Return to Sender" on three separate occasions. Eachvictim has their own story and each one is split into four chapters with each one becoming available to watch on theShowtime website every subsequent Sunday.

Alex Timmons, October 2003

Chapter 1

The chapter starts with Dexter preparing a kill-room by covering it with plastic sheets. The room has many mountedanimal heads on the wall. Dexter then starts his internal monologue in which he says that when he hunted as a kid,Harry never let him bring home any trophies and that even with animals he was taught to always dispose of theevidence. Even now with Harry gone he still follows the "code" and doesn't bring back any trophies. The only thingshe kept from his hunting trips were the memories, etched in his damaged brain like a slide-show of photos in hisblood stained life. But no matter how many lives he takes "the need" never dies, it runs in his veins just like his bloodwhich is why he can't separate his hobby from his job; so he takes his work home with him. At his apartment heopens a police file with a man's photo in it and says "Alex Timmons, my next prey".

Chapter 2



This chapter opens with a young Alex Timmons hunting deer with his dad. Dexter's voice-over says that Timmonsstarted as a hunter just like him, but with dark desires he joined the Marines so that he could kill openly under thecover of law. Dexter proclaims that he would usually respect this tactic except that Timmons took advantage. Theimage moves to Timmons as a Marine sniper killing many enemy soldiers. Timmons then turns his rifle at a fleeingmother and child and deliberately kills the child, which he smiles about when a fellow soldier stares at him shocked.Dexter says that Timmons killed 3 civilian children and got off with a slap on the wrist, but also adds, as he reads anewspaper clipping of Timmons with the headline "Marine sniper acquitted of murder in Iraq", that he couldn'tescape his judgment. Timmons is seen in the prone position in his garden with his sniper rifle, taking aim with thescope at two tins cans on a nearby fence. He then moves the rifle to a playground to the right where a bunch of kidsare playing. Dexter, as he watches Timmons with a pair of binoculars from a nearby wood, says that Timmons islooking for his next target but now he's in his cross-hairs.

Chapter 3

Timmons is firing a gun at a target in a shooting range, Dexter, who is in the cubicle beside him loads a gun and saysthat even though he is a hunter himself, the guns are not really his, and that in wrong hands they are just toodangerous. Dexter notices the U.S.M.C (United States Marine Corps) and its symbol on Timmons biceps. Heapproaches him and asks in a fake southern accent "Marines, right?". When Timmons ignores him he continues totell him that his "Daddy" had U.S.M.C ink too and that he was in the first force recon out of Pendleton. When heasks Timmons if he's seen any action he replies that he just came back from Iraq. Dexter continues his lie and saysthat he'd love to shoot a raghead, and then adds that he used to hunt as a kid but they were just animals. Timmonstells him the people over there are animals and Dexter agrees saying that you should take out the kids first sincethere just going to grow into terrorists. Timmons says to tell that to his commanding officer who gave him a one wayticket back home. Dexter simply says "fuck that guy" and repeats it as he fires angrily at his target. Dexter thencontemplates that if Timmons wasn't following orders he was killing for sport, and as Timmons' target movestoward the front of the cubicle showing the child hostage in the picture on it has all the bullet holes, Dexter says thathe deserves more than a slap on the wrist, he deserves a knife in the chest. It's nighttime outside the range whenDexter says that now that he's stalked his prey it's time to set a trap. He opens the hood of the car and waits. WhenTimmons comes outside he calls out asking for help with the engine saying that he's as good with cars as he is withguns. As Timmons checks the engine Dexter takes out his needle and sticks it into Timmons' neck. As Timmonscollapses onto the engine Dexter says "Needles I can do".

Chapter 4

Dexter is in the kill room seen in part 1. He stares at a stuffed deer head on the wall and asked "kind of cruel isn'tit". Timmons is shown to behind him, gagged, naked, and lying strapped down to a table with plastic wrap. Dexterasked did he take a keepsake from the kids he killed in the Iraq before adding, sarcastically, "what, you didn't wantget them stuffed and hung on the wall?" He tells Timmons that he usually would provide a reminder of the killersvictims but because, in this case, the victims were anonymous and the animal heads will work. He then un-gagsTimmons who tries to plead with Dexter, saying that he's a marine just like his father. Dexter counters saying that hisfather wasn't really a marine but he did teach him his rules of combat: you can't go around killing innocent peopleeven if you want to. When Timmons tries to say that he was under orders he is cut off mid sentence by Dexter whotells him that he didn't kill those kids because he was under orders but that he did it because he thought he could getaway with it. Timmons then panics, apologizes and asks what does he want. When Dexter said he wants him totake responsibility, Timmons confesses and asks Dexter is that what he wants to hear. Dexter replies "actually, notreally" and then re-gags him. He tells Timmons that he should shoot him but he finds knives more intimate. He thenunsheathes a U.S.M.C knife and says in the fake Southern accent in relation to the knife, "United States Marine



Corps, genuine issue, from my daddy," then returns to his normal voice when he says he really got it at a swapmeet. He then uses the knife to cut Timmons right cheek. He stares as the blood flows down the knife and is struckwith an idea. He reaches into his back and takes out two glass slides. He lets a drop of blood from the knife fallonto one slide and then puts the other slide over it, sealing the two together the blood stain clearly visible. Heannounces to Timmons "a trophy, my first, Harry wouldn't approve but you inspired me." He then raises the knifeand stabs him in the chest, killing him. The chapter ends with Dexter putting his very first blood slide into the slidebox and hiding it behind the air conditioner in his apartment.

Gene Marshall, June 1993

Chapter 1

The chapter opens with a young Dexter striking a match and then lighting the candles in a dark burnt out room he'sin. In his mind he says that Harry always taught him to have a plan and to be prepared. So he makes sure he hascandles, a flashlight, and a project to keep him busy in the dark. He approaches an open police file on the tablewhich contains information on a man named Gene Marshall. Dexter starts to explain that Marshall is a millionairereal estate mogul and arsonist who purposely burned down one of his own apartment complexes. He says that itdidn't matter if he had no insurance or that there were 12 tenants inside and in the end Marshall lost $6,000,000and 7 innocent people lost their lives.

Chapter 2

As Marshall looks up at the burning building with loving satisfaction, Dexter said that Marshall's psychiatrist deemedhim too mentally unfit to stand trial and was instead sent to an institution for three months before returning to the lapof luxury. Dexter is suspicious that Marshall paid off the psychiatrist, Dr. Greenstein, and decides to check it out.Dexter goes to the dock where the doctor is selling his boat named Slice of Heaven. Dexter, under the alias HankMillcin, reminds the doctor that he called earlier about buying the boat and he invites him on board to look around.When on board, Greenstein notes all of the boat's features and says that he just got "her." When Dexter asks whyhe's selling, Greenstein replies that he came into some money recently and that he thought that he should upgradeand get the yacht he's always wanted. When Dexter jokingly asked if he won the lottery or something Greensteinreplies mysteriously "No, I make my own luck." Dexter said he checked the obituaries and since he didn't find anydead family members he concludes, "Marshall got off and doctor got rich." Dexter, now sure of Marshall's guilt,announces, "He may have played the system but he's about to get burned." At Marshall's mansion all the lights goout, and when he lights a candle with a match, Dexter appears behind him, and jams a needle into the side of hisneck.

Chapter 3

Dexter is holding a match in the dark burnt out room of the apartment complex that Marshall set fire to that's alsothe same room that Dexter's in in chapter 1. There are framed portraits of each of the 7 people that died in the fire,each with a lit candle underneath it and there is no plastic wrapping on the wall and floor like in Dexter's future killrooms. Marshall is naked, unconscious, strapped down to a table with plastic wrap with duct tape over his mouth.Dexter approaches him and blows the match out into his face and says " holy smokes right". The blown smokewakes him up and Dexter asks if he's scared. He continues saying that he bets Marshall's victims were scared andthat burning to death is a horrible way to die. Although he adds, as he takes out a Swiss army knife, that he's goingto kill him with its fireman's knife so that will suck too and that the Swiss army knife is like a whole set of kills toolsright in his pocket. When Dexter pulls off the duct tape off Marshall's mouth he tries to explain that he didn't mean



to kill anybody. Dexter taps him on the forehead with the fireman's knife saying " come on, you're a smart guy.What did you expect would happen? Marshall replies that he doesn't care, that all he knows he has to set that fireand he can't control his urges. Dexter tells him that he could have and that "he's managed to control his impulses andthat he always has a plan". Like now for instance, I'm going to slit your throat, chop you up into little pieces andburn whats left. Marshall asks him has he ever seen someone burn alive, and Dexter ends the conversation bysaying that now he's just creeping him out and then slitting his throat, which covers him in Marshall's blood. Justafter he's done he gets a calls from Debra asking where he's been and that she just got her driver's license. Dextercongratulates her but says he's in the middle of something. Deb says fuck you, its her god damn birthday, that shesnever asks him for anything, that she wants to take him for a drive and to get over here or she'll kick him in the nutsack. Dexter puts the naked and still intact body of Marshall into the trunk of his car along with his toolbox of toolshe uses for the killing and dismemberment of his victims. He tries to get a hold of things saying that its just a changeof plans and is no problem. but as he closes the trunk and drives off Marshall is shown to be alive as he opens hiseyes.

Chapter 4

As Dexter stops at a red traffic light he thinks to himself that if he misses Deb's "Sweet 16th" it will sour theirrelationship and that she's all the family he's got. He then reassures himself saying that he'll go for a quick drive, andthen get back to his business, saying that it's just a detour and no big deal. When the light goes green Dextercontinues to drive, but shortly comes to another stop in traffic. He calls Debra to say that he's stuck in traffic. Duringthe phone call he starts to hear a faint banging noise. He tells Debra that he'll be there ASAP and then hangs up. Hehears the banging noise getting louder and when realizing that it's coming from the trunk, he decides to pull over in adark alley. When he stops, he takes out a flashlight from the glove box, gets out, and walks to the rear of the car.He turns on the flashlight and as soon as he opens the trunk, Marshall lunges toward him with the same fireman'sknife that Dexter used to slit his throat. Dexter proves too quick for him however, and kicks the knife out of hishand before knocking him out by smashing the flashlight over his head. As Marshall lies naked and unconscious onthe ground Dexter internally says to Marshall that he can't put him back in the car and that he's a real pain in the ass.He leaves Marshall on the ground and gets back into the car saying that he hates killing by the seat of his pants.Then, as a way to dismembering Marshall, drives over parts of his body, although the images only show Dexterdriving over his head. After he's finished, he puts the pieces of Marshall in a barrel and covers them with gasolinesiphoned from his car. But after he throws a match on the pile in an attempt to burn the remains, it causes anexplosion that scatters the body parts around the ground of the alley which prompts Dexter to say that he has tofind a better way of doing this. The images then cut to Dexter at the docks, shaking hands with Dr. Greenstein, andbuying his boat. As Dexter drives the boat, which name he has changed to "Slice of Life", out to sea his voiceovercomments on how Harry's code frowns on snap decisions and impetuous behavior but that buying this boat was agreat idea. He then stops and drops the garbage bags full of Marshall's remains into the ocean and finishes hiscomment about the boat saying, "As long as I can control my other impulses."

Cindy Landon, March 2004

Chapter 1

The chapter opens with an overview shot of Miami which zooms onto a pier where a magician and his assistant areperforming a show on a stage in front of a crowd of spectators. As the magician finishing up a trick involving adove; Dexter, who is in the crowd, narrates "A sleight of hand, a bit of misdirection, people see want they want tosee" and that they want to be fooled. He then says that he (himself) disappears bodies, the magician disappearsflowers and his assistant, Cindy Landon, disappears husbands. There have been two deaths in three years and asthe image focuses on an elderly man applauding to the trick near the stage, Dexter adds that Cindy has recently re-



married. As Cindy winks to elderly man, Dexter says that "three may be her magic number, but that magic hasnothing to do with it". A flashback occurs showing Dexter stalk Cindy in a clothing store with her first husband andthen cuts to an image of her pushing him down the stairs as Dexter says that he "fell down the stairs". She thengrieves and then marries a man 30 years her senior. A diligent wife, Cindy picks up her new husband's heartmedication and lays it out from him daily. She then doubles the dose to deadly and watches him die. Back in thepresent, as Cindy climbs into a box for the "sawed in half trick" Dexter comments that "even though the magiciangets the glory but if you ask me Cindy the one doing the tricks". When Cindy lies down the lid of the box is closedDexter states that she's still in one piece, for now.

Chapter 2

As the magician bring the saw down to start the trick the voice over kicks in with Cindy talking instead. She beginsby saying that "I have a secret, in fact I have a few". First she says that there's a false compartment (under the box)where she puts her legs and that the legs coming out at the end are mechanical. Secondly she says, as the magiciansaws the box in half and pulls them apart, that people think that she's just eye candy but that really she's the one thatmake the tricks work. And lastly, as the box is put together and she gets out, she says "see that man in theaudience, my husband, I'm going to make sure he dies". She then finishes by saying that she likes to be center stagebut that glamour doesn't always pay so she had to find men that would and that her husbands always supported herdreams but they just didn't know they weren't part of them. The magician then calls out to the audience for avolunteer to check them out and make sure they're not hiding anything. Dexter volunteers and raises his hand.

Chapter 3

After the show is finished, Dexter thinks to himself that he feels magic in the air as waits behind a man taking apicture of a Cindy posing with another man. After the man with the camera is gone, Dexter approaches Cindy andcongratulates her on a great show. Cindy compliments him back, saying he wasn't to bad himself and flirts with him.Dexter keeps up this charade by casually refuting that he was just a prop and then introducing himself as Mike witha handshake. Cindy introduces herself, and when they let go Dexter notices that she has slipped her business cardwith her phone number into his hand. Dexter looks down at the card and compliments Cindy on her "neat trick" towhich Cindy flirts back saying that she has others. Dexter tells her that she can show him tonight if she's free. Cindyshows Dexter her weeding ring and Dexter tells her its okay, saying that he is also married. However, Cindy saysthat she can keep a secret if he can and then leaves with her husband, who has just appeared behind her. As shewalks away she turns her head towards Dexter and makes, with her finger to her lips, a flirtatious shush sound. Thatnight, as he waits in his car in an isolated carpark, Dexter thinks about the anticipation of a evening tryst and that hehas a few tricks of his own. At that moment Cindy drives into the carpark, stops beside Dexter's car and gets in.She greets him with a "hi handsome" and Dexter asks her if anyone knows that she's come here. Cindy assures himthat no one does and that she has to keep up appearances. Dexter says that she shouldn't be meeting strange men inabandoned parking lots. Cindy agrees joking, that she could get into a lot of trouble. She calls him sweet, kisses himand puts her hand on his leg. Dexter, on the other hand, calls her stupid, knocks her out by sticking his needle intoher neck and then stares out of the car window.

Chapter 4

When the chapter opens Cindy is shown to gagged by duck tape and is placed in the "sawed in half magic box".She, along with Dexter, are in a abandoned theater, on top of a large square of plastic wrap placed on the stage.Dexter, who is next to a small draped table where he has placed 3 obituaries next to 3 corresponding framedphoto's of Cindy with her victims on their wedding day's, hears an awoken Cindy trying to speak though the ducktape and tells her that its good that shes awake and that he was just about to start the show. He approaches the boxand moves the big toe of Cindy's bare feet. He asks her if she can wiggle them, saying that the tranquilizers will



keep her paralyzed her for another 15 minutes but assures her that there's no secret compartment (in the box) and,as he waves a scalpel in front of her face, adds that this trick is for real. He then collects his trademark trophy bycutting Cindy's left cheek with the scalpel, collecting the blood with a pipette and then sealing a drop of it betweentwo microscope slides. After that he explains to her on how that when you get to to this part of the show what yousee is what you get, unlike her. In an attempt to clarify he remark he turns the table Cindy is lying on towards thetable with her victims obituaries and pictures. He, before taking over the duck tape on Cindy's mouth, that she usedthem (her victims) and then threw them away. Cindy retorts with frustration that they were old and were going todie anyway. To which Dexter replies, as he lifts and revs up a chainsaw, "now so are you". Cindy then tries pleadingwith multiple pleases and then offer's to "fuck" him if he lets her go. But Dexter then grins and says that this is morefun. Cindy tries to Goad him into her deal again, saying that she won't deal his wife. Dexter corrects by informingher that he lied and that he has no wife, no girlfriend and that he can't let anyone get too close, saying it's dangerous.Cindy goes back on the offensive, asking who is he to judge her. He's the one who lied to her, brought her here andis the one holding the "fucking" chainsaw. Dexter then finishes the conversation by saying that she's right, he is andthat it's time to make her disappear. The chapter closes with Dexter using the chainsaw to cut the box and ascreaming ungagged Cindy in half with the final image including the 2 box halves separated with blood and gutsdripping from either end.

Critical reception

The initial response to Dexter was positive. The website Metacritic calculated a score of 77 from a possible 100based on 27 reviews, making it the third-best reviewed show of the 2006 fall season. This score includes four100% scores from the New York Daily News, San Francisco Chronicle, Chicago Sun-Times and PeopleWeekly.[13] Brian Lowry, who had written one of the three poor reviews Metacritic tallied for the show, recantedhis negative review in a year-end column for the trade magazine Variety after watching the full season.[14] On theCNET Networks website TV.com, Dexter has an overall rating of 9.2/10.[15]

On December 14, 2006, Michael C. Hall was nominated for a Golden Globe Award in the category Best Actor ina Television Drama Series for playing Dexter.

The show was nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series for its second season (Showtime's first everdrama to be nominated for the award), and its star for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series. It won neither,losing to Mad Men and to Breaking Bad actor Bryan Cranston.[16]

The third season finale on December 14, 2008 was watched by 1.51 million viewers, giving Showtime its highestratings for any of its original series since 2004, when Nielsen started including original shows on premium channelsin its ratings.[17]

In 2008, it won a Scream Award For Best TV Show.

The fourth season finale aired on December 13, 2009 and was watched by 2.6 million viewers. It broke records forall of Showtime's original series and was their highest rated telecast in over a decade.[18]

U.S. broadcast controversy

When CBS announced in December 2007 it was considering Dexter for broadcast over the public airwaves,Parents Television Council (PTC) publicly protested the decision.[19][20]

In preparation for the broadcast premiere of Dexter on CBS, on January 29, 2008 the network posted



promotional videos on YouTube.[21] The next day, the PTC for a second time called upon CBS to withdraw plansto broadcast the show. PTC President Timothy F. Winter issued a news release stating "We are formally askingCBS to cancel its plan to air the first season of Dexter on its television network. This show is not suitable for airingon broadcast television; it should remain on a premium subscription cable network. The biggest problem with theseries is something that no amount of editing can get around: the series compels viewers to empathize with a serialkiller, to root for him to prevail, to hope he doesn't get discovered." Winter went on to quote CBS President LeslieMoonves' post-Columbine comment: 'Anyone who thinks the media has nothing to do with [increasing violence insociety] is an idiot.' Winter called on the public to demand local affiliates preempt Dexter, and warned advertisersthe PTC would take action against any that sponsored the show.[22]

Following Winter's release, CBS added Parental Discretion advisories to its broadcast promotions. CBS ratedDexter TV-14 for broadcast.[23] The show premiered on February 17, 2008 with minor edits, primarily forlanguage, and with scenes involving dismemberment of live victims cut away.[24] Scenes involving sex were alsotaken out of the broadcasts. The PTC also objected to CBS broadcasting the final two episodes of the season in atwo-hour block starting as early as 8 p.m. in some time zones.[25]

Viral marketing controversy

In preparation for the UK launch of the series, FX experimented with an SMS-based viral marketing campaign.Created by digital advertising agency Ralph & Co, unsuspecting mobile phone owners received unsolicited SMSmessages identified as being from "Dexter", with no other identification or originating phone number. The SMSmessages contain the following text, referring to the phone owner by name:

"Hello (name). I'm heading to the UK sooner than you might think. Dexter."

Some time later, an email is received directing the user to an online video "news report" about a recent spree ofkillings. Using on-the-fly video manipulation, the user's name and a personalized message are worked into thereport – the former written in blood on a wall by the crime scene, the latter added to a note in an evidence bagcarried past the camera.

While the marketing campaign had succeeded in raising the profile of the show, it proved unpopular with manymobile owners who saw this as spam advertising aimed at mobile phones. In response to complaints about theSMS element of the campaign, FX issued the following statement:

"The text message you received was part of an internet viral campaign for our newest show Dexter.However it was not us who sent you the text but one of your friends. We do not have a database of viewerphone numbers. The text message went along with a piece on the net that you can then send on to otherpeople you know. If you go to www.icetruck.tv (http://www.icetruck.tv) you will see the page that one ofyour friends has filled in to send you that message. Therefore I suggest you have a word with anyone whoknows your mobile number and see who sent you this message. For the record we did not make a record ofany phone numbers used in this campaign."[26]

Missing person case

Connections have been suggested between the TV show Dexter and an ongoing murder charge against filmmakerMark Twitchell in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. On December 3, 2008 Twitchell pled not guilty to the charge offirst degree murder of 38-year-old John Altinger, whose body is still missing. Twitchell filmed footage for a



production of House of Cards, that a horror-romance similar to Dexter's clandestine murders.[27] With which heallegedly snuffed Altinger.

Det. Mark Anstey of the Edmonton Police Service was quoted as saying "We have a lot of information to suggesthe definitely idolizes Dexter." The Summer of 2008, Twitchell had posted a series of ominous Facebook statuseswhich he "believed he had a lot in common with Dexter Morgan".[28][29] On July 24, 2009, Court of Queen'sBench Justice Michell Crighton refused to grant Twitchell bail. He is represented by veteran Edmonton defenselawyer David Cunningham. Crown prosecutors Avril Herron and Lawrence Van Dyke are prosecuting him.

ABC 20/20 researched the case in Edmonton during the summer of 2009, for an upcoming coverage of the case.[30][31] However due to legal issues of the Twitchell's trial, there is a temporary publication ban.[32]

Conner Conley murder

In November 2009, Andrew Conley, 17, was arrested in Rising Sun, Indiana, in connection with the death of his10-year-old brother, Conner. In an affidavit filed in Ohio County court, police said that Andrew told investigatorsthat he identified with the character. "Andrew stated that he watches a show called 'Dexter' on Showtime, about aserial killer," prosecutors said in an affidavit. "He stated, 'I feel just like him.'"[33]

Differences from novel

The first season of Dexter is based on the novel Darkly Dreaming Dexter by Jeff Lindsay. However, there arenumerous differences, ranging from extra subplots to rearrangements and modifications of elements from the sourcematerial. The biggest change is the lead-up to and revelation of the identity of the "Ice Truck Killer", called the"Tamiami Butcher" in the novel. In the novel, Dexter is led to believe that he might be the one committing themurders, due to a series of strange dreams that connect him to the murder. The final clue is a blurry photo, takenfrom surveillance footage, of a man who resembles Dexter at a crime scene. After the "Tamiami Butcher" kidnapsDebra, Dexter finds and confronts him. It is subsequently revealed that the killer is actually Dexter's nearly identicallong-lost brother, Brian, who, like Dexter, witnessed their mother's brutal murder. In the television series, Brian isintroduced under the fake name Rudy, a prosthetist who becomes Debra's boyfriend. Dexter hesitantly kills Brianinstead of letting him escape, Debra does not discover her brother's secret, and LaGuerta is not present at all in theconfrontation. In the novel, Brian escapes, Debra discovers her brother's secret (and in future novels does notexpose him), and LaGuerta is killed in the climactic confrontation.[34]

In the novel Darkly Dreaming Dexter, Dexter references his urge to kill as being controlled by a "DarkPassenger", and when in his killer trances he tends to refer to himself as "we" or "us". In the first season, only onereference is made to the "Passenger", as Dexter stands at the scene of Angel's stabbing by Brian, an event absent inthe book. In the second season, the writers explain Dexter's urge to kill as his "Dark Passenger", and make multiplereferences to it throughout the season, the first reference being in episode three. The third novel of Dexter almostentirely focuses on the "Dark Passenger" as a separate entity living inside Dexter and all other killers, it is likened todemonic possession.[35]

Much of the second season had little to do with the second novel, Dearly Devoted Dexter, although they bothshared a subplot concerning a suspicious Doakes following Dexter, both concluding in Doakes being "taken careof" by another killer to prevent Dexter from breaking his moral code. In Dearly Devoted Dexter, Doakes istortured and dismembered (his hands, feet and tongue are removed) by Dr. Danco, an ex-militaryinterrogator/torturer, and returns in the third novel albeit in a much different state; he is unable to speak coherently



and is fitted with prosthetic limbs. The Showtime series has Doakes being blown up by Lila, Dexter's psychopathicex-girlfriend. She appears in none of the books.Agent Lundy is not in the books, however "Chutsky" plays the same role and Debra and he form a relationshipwhich goes beyond the first book (partly because Chutsky has a similar fate to Doakes and is not fit for work).[36]

In Dearly Devoted Dexter, Dexter discovers that Cody and Astor share Dexter's need to kill and he helps them byteaching them the code of Harry. Their need to kill was brought on by their abusive father, Paul Bennett (he is onlygiven a name in the TV series). Paul Bennett himself isn't featured much and in the books gave his children a lot ofpsychological abuse as well as beating them which causes him to end up in prison. This all happens before Dexterand Rita's relationship begins. In the TV show he is shown to be a doting father but a sexually and physicallyabusive husband. In the show he is knocked out and then framed for drug use by Dexter after Paul threatens himand tries to get custody of Cody and Astor by suing Rita - who had previously attacked him in self defense. He isthen sent back to jail on his third strike where, due to his anger of being framed by Dexter and the fact that no onebelieves him, he gets into a fight with another inmate and is killed.

Dexter's disposition is somewhat more detached in the books, although he is still very "fond" of Debra, Cody andAstor. He does not seem to have any real affection for Rita other than her being his "disguise", although he does seeher as the perfect person for him, both in terms of convenience and otherwise. He also proposes by accident.

Angel does not feature much in the books either and does not have his own subplots. Dexter only seems to befriends with Masuka at work, who has a much more important role in the books than in the show. Although mainlybecause of their shared job of bringing donuts to work and because Dexter recognizes that Masuka is another "fakehuman" (although not a killer) in that he seems to fake everything he does. Masuka also becomes Dexter's best manfor the wedding.

Other media

DVD/Blu-ray releases

DVD Name Release DateEp#

Additional Content

The CompleteFirst Season

Region 1: August21, 2007Region 2: May19, 2008Region 4: Feb 14,2008[37]

12

2 Audio Commentaries by the CastThe Academy of Blood: A Killer Course!Witnessed in Blood: A True Murder InvestigationN Technology2 episodes of Showtime's Brotherhood

The CompleteSecond Season

Region 1: August19, 2008Region 2: March30, 2009Region 4: August21, 2008

12

2 episodes of Showtime's Brotherhood (second season)

Via E-Bridge Technology2 episodes from The Tudors (second season) &Californication

Region 1: August Cast Interviews with Michael C. Hall, Lauren Velez, C.SL D id Z J if C t J li B



The CompleteThird Season

18, 2009Region 2:UnknownRegion 4: August20, 2009[38]

12

Lee, David Zayas, Jennifer Carpenter, Julie BenzVictims MatchInside the Writers RoomBringing Miami to LAMiami's FinestPhoto Gallery

Blu-ray Name Release DateEp#

Additional Content

The CompleteFirst Season

Region A: January6, 2009[39] 12

The Academy of Blood: A Killer Course!Witnessed in Blood: A True Murder InvestigationOne free HD episode download of Dexter season 2The first 2 episodes of the new Showtime series UnitedStates of Tara

The CompleteSecond Season

Region A: May 5,2009[9] 12

PodcastsFeaturette: "Blood Fountains"Featurette: "Dark Defender"One episode of the upcoming Showtime series Nurse JackieOne episode of the new Showtime series United States ofTara

The CompleteThird Season

Region A: August18, 2009[40] 12

Dexter by Design - Book ExcerptsFirst two Episodes of United States of Tara, Season 1First two Episodes of The Tudors, Season 3Interviews with Michael C. Hall, Julie Benz, JenniferCarpenter, Lauren Velez & David Zeyes

Video game

A video game based on Dexter was announced on March 4, 2008, to be developed by Marc Ecko's gamedevelopment company, which previously developed the urban graffiti game Getting Up.[41] "Dexter is theextremely rare TV show with enough layers of action and tension to translate perfectly into a compelling videogame," said Marc Fernandez, Vice President of Marc Ecko Entertainment.

More info was released at the San Diego Comic-Con, revealing that the games would be released exclusively onthe iPhone OS, via iTunes, and that the games would be episodic. The first game, based on the events of SeasonOne, was released on September 18, 2009.

Later on, it was revealed that the game would also be released on PC, and that if the game was successful, aconsole release was possible.

Soundtrack



Main article: Dexter: Music from the Showtime Original Series

The music from the Dexter TV series was released August 28, 2007 on the album Dexter: Music from theShowtime Original Series. It is produced by Showtime, and distributed by Milan Records. The album is alsoavailable online on the iTunes store. The iTunes release includes five additional bonus tracks from Seasons 1 and 2.Most notable is the recurring theme from the end credits, which features artificial harmonics on bowed stringinstruments (violins, violas and cellos), reminiscent of Bernard Hermann's pivotal "black and white", strings-onlyscore for Hitchcock's 1960 masterpiece, Psycho. Hermann utilized artificial harmonics for the music to the famousshower scene, where the staccato harmonic glissandos, in Stravinsky-like dissonant tonalities, represent the knifestabbings of that film's title serial killer. Also notable is the fact that the score[s] seem to use live instruments, notsynthesized sounds, as is common in most of today's television programs.

Awards

Main article: List of Dexter awards and nominations

Wins

2006

AFI Awards: TV Program of the Year—Official SelectionIGN: Best New Show[42]

IGN: Best Actor—Michael C. Hall[43]

IGN: Best Villain—The Ice Truck Killer[44]

IGN: Best Character—Dexter Morgan[45]

Satellite Awards: Outstanding Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series—Julie Benz

2007

Emmy: Outstanding Main Title DesignEmmy: Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing for a Drama SeriesIGN: Best Storyline[46]

IGN: Best Television Program[47]

Satellite Awards: Outstanding Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series—David ZayasSatellite Awards: Outstanding Actor in a Series, Drama—Michael C. HallSatellite Awards: Outstanding Television Series, DramaSaturn Awards: Best Actor in a Television Program—Michael C. HallTelevision Critics Association: Individual Achievement in Drama—Michael C. Hall

2008

Saturn Awards: Best Syndicated/Cable Television Series[48]

Scream Awards: Best TV Show

Nominations



2006

Golden Globe: Nomination for Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series: Drama—Michael C.HallIGN: Best Television Program[49]

Satellite Awards: Outstanding Actor in a Series, Drama—Michael C. HallSatellite Awards: Outstanding Television Series, Drama

2007

Emmy: Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing, DramaEmmy: Outstanding Original Main Title Theme MusicGolden Globe: Nomination for Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series—Drama—Michael C.Hall[50]

Saturn Awards: Best Supporting Actor in a Television Program—James RemarSaturn Awards: Best Supporting Actress in a Television Program—Jennifer CarpenterSaturn Awards: Best Syndicated/Cable Television SeriesSAG: Male Actor in a Drama Series—Michael C. HallTelevision Critics Association: New Program of the YearWGA: Episodic Drama—any length—one airing time Dark DefenderWGA: Best Dramatic Series[51][52][53]

Peabody Award: Announced April 2, 2008[54]

2008

Emmy: Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series—Michael C. HallEmmy: Outstanding Drama SeriesEmmy: Outstanding Art Direction—Tony Cowley, Linda SpheerisEmmy: Outstanding Cinematography—Romeo TironeGolden Globe: Best Television Series—DramaGolden Globe: Nomination for Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series—Drama—Michael C.HallWGA: Best Dramatic Series[55]

2009

Emmy: Outstanding Drama SeriesEmmy: Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series—Michael C. HallEmmy: Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series—Jimmy SmitsCrime Thriller Awards: The International TV Dagger[56]

Golden Globe: Best Television Series - Drama[57]

Golden Globe: Best Performance by an Actor In A Television Series - Drama (Michael C. Hall)[58]

Golden Globe: Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or MotionPicture Made for Television (John Lithgow)[59]



References

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Departs-1013123.aspx) . TVGuide.com. http://www.tvguide.com/News/Dexter-Showrunner-Departs-1013123.aspx.

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shows-piracy-or-promotion/) . TorrentFreak. 2007-07-24. http://torrentfreak.com/massive-leak-of-pre-air-tv-shows-piracy-or-promotion/. Retrieved 2007-07-24.

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(http://www.sho.com/site/announcements/20080717Emmy.do)17. ^ Multichannel News 12/16/2008: Dexter's Third Season Finale's A Killer - Series Delivers Best Original Series

Viewership Since 2004 (http://www.multichannel.com/article/160932-_Dexter_Third_Season_Finale_s_A_Killer.php)

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19. ^ "Parents Television Council Denounces CBS's 'Dexter' Plan" (http://adage.com/hibberd/post?article_id=122424)20. ^ "PTC to CBS: Do Not Air Dexter on Broadcast TV"

(http://parentstv.org/PTC/publications/release/2008/0130.asp)21. ^ "Good Dexter / Bad Dexter" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oVMndUqtttU) at YouTube (requires Adobe Flash)

22. ^ "Dexter, Decency and DVRs" (http://www.time-blog.com/tuned_in/2008/01/dexter_decency_and_dvrs.html?xid=rss-tunein)

23. ^ "In an Unprecedented Move, a Premium Cable Drama To Air On Network Television"(http://www.sho.com/site/announcements/20080107Dexter.do)

24. ^ "Showtime's Serial Killer Moves to CBS, to a Not Entirely Warm Welcome"(http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/16/arts/television/16dext.html?ex=1360818000&en=1a985ba93161796f&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss)

25. ^ Eggerton, John (2008-05-01). "PTC Pushes CBS Affiliates to Drop Dexter"(http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6556811.html) . Broadcasting & Cable.http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6556811.html. Retrieved 2008-05-01.



26. ^ "Dexter Text Message discussion" (http://www.designateonline.com/discussions/comments.php?DiscussionID=2733&page=1) . Designate Online. http://www.designateonline.com/discussions/comments.php?DiscussionID=2733&page=1. Retrieved 2007-08-15.

27. ^ http://fancinematoday.com/2008/12/03/fan-film-murder-suspect-mark-twitchells-house-of-cards-footage-released/

28. ^ http://www.lastlinkontheleft.com/e2008altingermark1.html29. ^ Would-be victim sought in case of filmmaker charged with murder

(http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2008/11/03/twitchell-film.html)30. ^ http://www.lastlinkontheleft.com/e2008altinger.html31. ^ http://www.calgarysun.com/news/alberta/2009/08/20/10526986-sun.html32. ^ http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Crime/2009/10/24/11512361-sun.html33. ^ Prosecutors: Ind. Teen Felt Hunger To Kill (http://www.wlwt.com/news/21799757/detail.html)34. ^ Lindsay, Jeff (July 2004). Darkly Dreaming Dexter. Doubleday. ISBN 038551123X.35. ^ Lindsay, Jeff (2008). Dexter in the Dark. Orion Publishing Co (United Kingdom). ISBN 9780752881607.36. ^ Lindsay, Jeff (2006). Dearly Devoted Dexter. [Orion Publishing Co (United Kingdom)]. ISBN 9780752877884.37. ^ "Play.com (UK) Dexter: Season 1: DVD" (http://www.play.com/DVD/DVD/4-/3305130/-/Product.html?

searchstring=Dexter+season+1&searchsource=0) . play.com. http://www.play.com/DVD/DVD/4-/3305130/-/Product.html?searchstring=Dexter+season+1&searchsource=0. Retrieved 2008-02-29.

38. ^ http://dstore.com.au/dvd/Dexter---Season-3/10690068.html39. ^ Dexter The Complete First Season on Blu-Ray Disc Release Information

(http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/releases/Dexter-Complete-1st-Season-Blu-ray/8279)40. ^ Dexter The Complete Third and fourth Seasons on Blu-Ray Disc Release Information

(http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Dexter-Season-3/11948)41. ^ "Marc Ecko, Showtime Partnering For Dexter Game" (http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?

story=17721) . 2008-03-04. http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=17721. Retrieved 2008-03-05.

42. ^ "IGN.com presents The Best of 2006" (http://bestof.ign.com/2006/tv/9.html) . IGN. 2006.http://bestof.ign.com/2006/tv/9.html. Retrieved 2008-04-13.




46. ^ "IGN Best of 2007" (http://bestof.ign.com/2007/tv/11.html) . IGN. 2006. http://bestof.ign.com/2007/tv/11.html.Retrieved 2008-04-13.

47. ^ "IGN Best of 2007" (http://bestof.ign.com/2007/tv/20.html) . IGN. 2006. http://bestof.ign.com/2007/tv/20.html.Retrieved 2008-04-13.

48. ^ Cohen, David S. (2008-06-24). "Saturn Awards are 'Enchanted'"(http://www.variety.com/awardcentral_article/VR1117988041.html?nav=news&categoryid=1983&cs=1) . Variety(Reed Elsevier). http://www.variety.com/awardcentral_article/VR1117988041.html?nav=news&categoryid=1983&cs=1. Retrieved 2008-06-25.


50. ^ "Hollywood Foreign Press Association 2008 Golden Globe Awards For The Year Ended December 31, 2007"(http://www.goldenglobes.org/news/id/81) . HFPA. 2007. http://www.goldenglobes.org/news/id/81. Retrieved2007-12-13.

51. ^ "2008 Writers Guild Awards Television & Radio Nominees Announced"(http://wga.org/subpage_newsevents.aspx?id=2653#TheWireHBO) . WGA. 2007.http://wga.org/subpage_newsevents.aspx?id=2653#TheWireHBO. Retrieved 2007-12-13.

52. ^ "WGA announce TV, radio nominees"(http://www.variety.com/awardcentral_article/VR1117977607.html#TheWireHBO) . Variety. 2007.



This page was last modified on 10 January 2010 at 23:41.Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional terms may apply.See Terms of Use for details.Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization.Contact us

http://www.variety.com/awardcentral_article/VR1117977607.html#TheWireHBO. Retrieved 2007-12-13.53. ^ "HBO tops WGA awards list with five noms"

(http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3i51057e90b0ae537411989f7513cd3991#TheWireHBO) . The Hollywood Reporter. 2007.http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3i51057e90b0ae537411989f7513cd3991#TheWireHBO. Retrieved 2007-12-13.

54. ^ 67th Annual Peabody Awards (http://128.192.29.189/news/pressrelease.asp?ID=151)55. ^ "2009 Writers Guild Awards Television, Radio, News, Promotional Writing, and Graphic Animation Nominees

Announced" (http://wga.org/content/default.aspx?id=3410) . WGA. 2008. http://wga.org/content/default.aspx?id=3410. Retrieved 2008-12-12.

56. ^ Allen, Kate (2009-09-07). "Coben, Cole, Atkinson vie for crime awards"(http://www.thebookseller.com/news/96297-coben-cole-atkinson-vie-for-crime-awards.html) . The Bookseller.http://www.thebookseller.com/news/96297-coben-cole-atkinson-vie-for-crime-awards.html. Retrieved 2009-09-07.

57. ^ 2009 Golden Globe NomineesHFPA Nominations and Winners (http://www.goldenglobes.org/nominations/)58. ^ 2009 Golden Globe NomineesHFPA Nominations and Winners (http://www.goldenglobes.org/nominations/)59. ^ 2009 Golden Globe NomineesHFPA Nominations and Winners (http://www.goldenglobes.org/nominations/)

External links

Official website (http://www.sho.com/site/dexter/home.do)Dexter (http://www.metacritic.com/tv/shows/dexter) at MetacriticDexter (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0773262/) at the Internet Movie DatabaseDexter (http://www.tv.com/show/62683/summary.html) at TV.comSlate.com December 12, 2008 - Killer Serial: It's really time you started watching Dexter.(http://www.slate.com/id/2206519/pagenum/all)

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dexter_(TV_series)"Categories: Serial drama television series | 2000s American television series | 2006 American television seriesdebuts | Showtime network shows | Television shows set in Florida | Television programs based on novels |Peabody Award winners | Black comedy | Dexter (TV series) | Television series by CBS Paramount Television |Dexter (series)



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