Dexter

Indeed, it is on Youtube... and it gave me those lovely chills of anticipation!

A warning to everyone who's interested in Dexter season 5 on DVD: At least on the blu-ray version, it makes you sit through an at least 5 minute showtime ad every single time you put it in. Very annoying, and I would reccomend trying to find another way to watch it.

^ Season 4 DVD you mean, right?

But I was under the impression that the whole "5 minutes of unskipable ads" was on every DVD sold for the past 3 years or so... one of the few reasons why i stopped buying DV Ds and started recording the Tivo'd shows/movies on the DVR.

Yeah, season 4. I wish I had season 5 on DVD. :P

No, there's always a few ads, but they're almost always skippable, and most premium channels, HBO thankfully included, avoids them all together. The HBO shows I have just show the logo and then, bam! menu. The only thing the earlier dexters had were small ads for shows they were promoting at the time, but this one has a gargantuan marketing orgy.

Tonight's the night...

After spending nearly a month doing nothing but school work, I'm more than ready for some Dexter.

Every series has the moment when the quality goes downhill - and sadly, I feel it happened for Dexter today. I doubt that anything decent can come out of the dead Rita arc.

Funny, a lot of people have been craving a "dead Rita arc" since the show began.

It's a little too early to suggest that the show has jumped the shark just yet. The first episode in each season is often a little off as they transition the plots, and often that's indicative of how "off" Dexter is; it takes him awhile to process changes in his life and reconfigure his "special needs."

The only part I didn't like about the episode tonight was the boat gas station scene. It didn't make very much sense.

That said... Dexter has seen 67 people die? I wonder if he's counting just his official victims, or people he's had to kill in self defense, like the skinner in Season 3 or the drug runners in Season 2.

I couldn't imagine any possible season opening that wouldn't result in some people crying jumptheshark.

Having watched the premier, I would definitely say it felt a little "off." There was the bit already mentioned about that gas station scene, and for me, there was the completely pointless sex scene between Quinn and Deb. I mean What the FUCK?.

I also felt that this episode was going through leaps and bounds to make Dexter look like more of a prick than we know him to be. OK, OK, his first date with Rita was actually a stakeout for a potential victim but Dexter does have a heart. Even if it's a seriously f-ed up one.

That said, season 4 had its problems, including two of the worst episodes in the series' history. Nevertheless, it ended up being the best season IMHO.

Led Walrus: Which two Season 4 episodes were the worst in the series history? Now I'm curious.

I think the flashbacks actually show how much better Dexter is now, for having known Rita. Yes, their first date was screwy, but that's how Dexter was then (and still is sometimes, see the camping trip last season).

As for the Quinn/Deb sex, they always have a secondary character subplot like that. Look at what happened with Angel/LaGuerta last season.

edited 28th Sep '10 7:49:02 AM by Dracomicron

I wouldn't want to have to rewatch the whole season just to find two [shitty] episodes, but the one where Dexter needs Rita to drive him to work was particularly grating. Also the one where Dexter was trying to find the neighborhood watch "villain."

Actually, that may be the same episode.

I know I shouldn't be watching this not having really seen the show fully up til now, but is this the first time Dexter killed some random person?

^ No. But it is the first time he's done it while not on the job. (By that I mean, not having the tools to cover his tracks and leave no real trace of his involvement) Technically Prado's brother was random.

Astor's breakdown is a Tear Jerker? Call me a jerk, but to me it was a sign that the girl seriously needs acting lessons.

Well, as much as it sucks for Dexter to have the kids go with grandma, it does free him up to do a lot more Murder Therapy.

Also, damn you, Dexter with your propensity to give Deb Les Yay, only to drag her back into dysfunctional hetero relationships! That latina beat cop is far too cute to be a one-shot character. She's going to be the next Yuki Amato, I can tell. My guess is that Angel is going to be tempted by her because of stress in his marriage to LaGuerta.

Bah! I tell you. Bah!

For the Bautista/LaGuerta thing, I'm more interested in what LaGuerta's reaction to her being a step-mom is.

Although, while Bautista probably loves his daughter like the sun, the fact that it hasn't come up since season 1, I'm not thinking that it's much of an issue. Which disappoints me.

edited 4th Oct '10 8:45:47 PM by Swish

While I didn't hate the kids, I am glad they are gone. It wouldn't make sense to me for them to stay with Dexter instead of their grandparents.

So, we're all in agreement that the new cop is behind the murders?

No. I think it's just coincidence.

New people in Dexter's life tend to be trouble... new people in Debra's tend to be hit or miss. I think this is a "miss" year.

New cop? You mean the latina patrolwoman? She's almost certainly not behind the murders. She probably knows more about it than has been currently revealed, but the murderer? Doesn't fit the profile.

I'm pleased that they did away with the excessive bloom effects whenever Harry appears. They didn't use those for Rudy; why should it be present for him?

I don't hate the kids, but if Astor is going to be a frozen-faced scenery chewer whose acting skills wouldn't pass muster for day-time soap opera, I'd rather they not be around. (The actor for Cody is far more natural).

For those in the know, Michael C. Hall struggled with brain cancer earlier this year, so right now Dexter's hair is a wig. Makeup did a pretty good job; I didn't even notice at first.

I think she's up to something. It's weird to introduce a brand new character all of a sudden with a name and a backstory and pointout she was there twice. I guess it depends on whether she is in the next episode.

It can be sketchy. But keep in mind that we kinda met Quinn (and Prado) in a similar fashion.

I think this cop is just a herring for the viewers. But only because I saw a promo that had Julia Stiles in it, indicating she's a new member of the show... and I just don't see Stiles being a "good guy."

Note, that spoiler has nothing to do with anything in the actual show, save for mentioning a new member of the cast we haven't seen this season yet... Thus the spoiler.

Introducing a brand new character at the start of a season isn't "sudden," it's normal. Each season is written seperately (unless by John Michael Straczynski), so showing any new character that you need in the first episode is to be expected.

It's when you introduce a new recurring character halfway through the season (as this show did in season 1) that you should be suspicious.

"I also felt that this episode was going through leaps and bounds to make Dexter look like more of a prick than we know him to be. "

I interpreted that as Dexter himself feeling like more of a prick than we know him to be.

Anyway, saw ep 3 last night, had a moment of Fridge Logic — At the end, we're in Boyd's house. Boyd hears a noise like a door closing or bumping against the frame, and immediately gets suspicious. Later but presumably in the same building, after Dexter subdues and kills Boyd, he hears a similar noise and finds the girl. So why did Boyd get suspicious and grab his gun when he heard the noise, when he knew the girl was also in the house and it could've come from her?