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Title: Born Free (17 Dec 2006)
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| Episode cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Michael C. Hall | ... | Dexter Morgan | |
| Julie Benz | ... | Rita Bennett | |
| Jennifer Carpenter | ... | Debra Morgan | |
| Erik King | ... | Sgt. James Doakes | |
| Luna Lauren Velez | ... | Det. Maria LaGuerta (as Lauren Velez) | |
| David Zayas | ... | Det. Angel Batista | |
| James Remar | ... | Harry Morgan | |
| Geoff Pierson | ... | Capt. Tom Matthews | |
| C.S. Lee | ... | Vince Masuka | |
| Mark Pellegrino | ... | Paul Bennett | |
| Christian Camargo | ... | Brian Moser | |
| Judith Scott | ... | Lt. Esme Pascal | |
| Scott Atkinson | ... | Bob Hicks | |
| Christina Robinson | ... | Astor Bennett | |
 |
Daniel Goldman | ... | Cody Bennett |
Doakes and LaGuerta begin to suspect that Rudy is the Ice Truck Killer, while Dexter finds a suspicious picture of the shipping container where his mother was killed. Doakes begins tailing Dexter, convinced that he is somehow connected to the Ice Truck Killer. A call from her ex-husband makes Rita suspicious of Dexter and his behavior. LaGuerta's replacement, Lt. Esme Pascal (Judith Scott) arrives and takes over the Ice Truck Killer investigation. Dexter recalls that Rudy is in fact his biological brother, whose real name is Brian Moser. Brian intends to kill Debra with Dexter in a reunion with his true family, but Dexter stops him. As the police close in, Brian escapes and Dexter is left with Debra, appearing to have saved her. The same night, Brian breaks into Dexter's apartment and attempts to stab Debra, but Dexter captures him. After an emotionally charged conversation, Dexter slices his brother's throat and leaves him upside down to drain, staging it as a suicide, while ...
When Dexter came out a few years ago I decided not to give it a try. I'm not sure what subscription channel had it in the UK, but that did play a part in my decision as well as the subject matter and the fact that it had not been too long for me since I had just finished Six Feet Under and felt I would struggle seeing Hall play such a different character from David. Recently someone put season 1 in my hands and suggested I try it and, after a few months delay, I did.
I was glad I did. From the very first episode I was hooked by the factors that the show managed to repeat for the remainder of season 1. Although Hall has rightly been picked out for praise, this is not a show that relies on its star to work (in the way Shark, for example, relied on James Woods) but rather one that has strength across the board. It starts with the writing initially. The narrative produces an engaging and quite thrilling season long story which will appeal to those of us who do not like the "case a week" type structures of CSI etc. At the same time though we have cases within this that do lend itself to making each episode enjoyable on its own terms while also moving us along the main thread of the Ice Truck Killer. Not that this is the "big picture" though, because that is the development of Dexter as a character in terms of his struggles, his memories, his "code", his desires etc and in this way the show also engages.
I do not think that Dexter is the most complexly written character as some do, but he is certainly a very interesting creation and he is very well delivered by Hall. His performance is a big part of it working because he manages to be a monster bound by an artificial code so that he can be seen as "good" or "moral" but yet also be a dark character who is no different than those we see as "bad" in the plots. He links in very well in his narration with the overall "weird" air the show has in the tone, shot framing and general "feel" of the show.
Normally with TV shows, we get the supporting characters opened out and utilised in the second and third seasons as the show tries to grow and keep things varied, however here we have the supporting characters very well used in terms of narrative and performances. Although we never move far from Dexter as the focus, there is plenty of interest in the threads involving Rita and her ex, Dexter's sister, Debra and the other characters in the squad room. Again I'm not suggesting they are the most engaging or well-written characters ever, but their stories and characters do create more of interest within the show and when they are the focus it never feels like the show "dips" or is filling time with them. The supporting cast are all very good aside from the distraction of having so many Oz actors in there (or even HBO generally) – at one point I counted four in one episode. To their credit this is only distracting for a minute or two but then you forget who they played before and focus on who they are. Carpenter was initially a bit annoying but she grew on me as a character as I accepted her for who she was playing. Vélez started out as an obvious turn but got more interesting as her material did while King is engagingly tough and Zayas adds a comic air to things without undermining his character. Remar is impressive considering what he manages to do with limited time and flashbacks only.
Season 1 of Dexter is great television. The subject matter will put some off and that is fine but it is not unnecessarily unpleasant and it doesn't revel in the violence and the blood in the way some other shows would. The season long narrative threads are engaging and thrilling, while the more episodic material adds layers and feeds the main flow well. I wasn't sure I would like it but I really did and, while the US may be about to start season 4, I am very much looking forward to borrowing season 2 later this year.