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Dexter Survives Long Enough to Wear Thin

And Then Some / Dustin Rowles

Trade News | October 22, 2008 | Comments (28)

Because Seth is up to his neck in billable hours this week — women and blow don’t pay for themselves, you know - it’s fallen on me to make this announcement regarding one of The TV Whore’s favorite shows. Showtime’s “Dexter” has been picked up for two more seasons, 12 episodes apiece. And since Seth is not around to refute this, allow me to also note: “Dexter” is boring me to tears this year. I heart the first season (and it even got some consideration for the 20 of 20), but Season 2 was just OK, and even though Jimmy Smits has been solid in Season 3, it’s still starting to seriously wear out its premise.

That might be a sacrilegious thing to say, especially in Seth’s stead, but man: (spoilers) When Dexter decided to give up the code for Season 3, I was expecting and hoping for a lot more folks with puncture wounds. But so far, it’s nothing but relationship melodrama with that crazy boring girlfriend of his and unless Dexter has to snuff her out in the finale, I don’t this season can redeem itself. Indeed, it seems like it’s a slightly more complicated version of Season 2, and - unless they shake it up, “Weeds”-style — I’m not sure five seasons wouldn’t be enough to completely outstay its welcome.

But, even at its very worst, it’s infinitely better than Knight Rider, which — for reasons beyond mere mortal’s comprehension — has been picked up for a full season order. This despite the fact that it’s ratings have been terrible so far. But, it’s on NBC. What the hell else are they gonna show? Another “Law and Order” spin-off? At least this bodes well for “Chuck.” If NBC will give “Knight Rider” a full season order, surely it’ll give “Chuck” one. But then again, the networks have never been fond of common sense or logic.


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Comments

Hm. I thought last season was a total stinker, but I'm enjoying this season a lot more. It might not be as flashy, but I do like where the story is going.

Talk about melodrama! Last season was the worst, full of hysterical women, and love triangles and god-knows what-all. Though I agree that Rita is too saccharine for my taste - no wonder her first husband beat her - I do think she makes an interesting foil for Dexter.

Posted by: bibliophile at October 22, 2008 11:19 AM

Dexter is only slightly off its top form of seasons one and two. I think things will get more stabby soon.

Posted by: Ed Newman at October 22, 2008 11:34 AM

I feel that this season is just taking a little long to set up the story and characters. I have a feeling shit will hit the fan very soon and Dexter will be back the way he used to be.

Posted by: schrome at October 22, 2008 11:41 AM

Agreed. The writing has never been the show's strong point, but was passable in Season 1. I find myself cringing an awful lot due to the dialogue in recent episodes. Showtime seems to have a knack for developing shows with neat premises that are impossbile to sustain over multiple seasons. I felt that Weeds had run its course after a little over one season, and Dexter is turning into the same thing. It's hard to listen to squad room banter with The Wire off the air. Everything comes off as Haggis-esque - shitty caricatured dialogue with some awkward profanity thrown in to make it "gritty and authentic." So it goes.

Posted by: Sasha at October 22, 2008 11:42 AM

BLASPHEMER! BLASHPEMER!

ok, i kinda agree. But you're not supposed to say it, ya know, out loud.

Prediction: Rita will miscarry, Dexter starts the killin'.

Posted by: wsapnin at October 22, 2008 11:45 AM

BLASPHEMER! BLASPHEMER!

ok, i kinda agree. But you're not supposed to say it, ya know, out loud.

Prediction: Rita will miscarry, Dexter starts the killin'.

Posted by: wsapnin at October 22, 2008 11:46 AM

Nothing to do with Dexter (we don't have Showtime), but I'm wondering who is still pissing away their money with the "Over for Obama" ad that keeps popping up and making me grin on the right hand side of the screen. You'd think anyone who still cared about McCain would be throwing their money into the wind in Pennsyltucky and not here. But hey, I love when the ad-men waste their dollars here so run baby run.

Posted by: PaddyDog at October 22, 2008 11:55 AM

I thought Chuck already got picked up for a full season?

Posted by: chad at October 22, 2008 11:55 AM

Why is it that the Brits can do a "full season" of just 6 episodes and have everything run up to a full blown, planned conclusion at the end of season 2, and everyone is happy? It ends on a high. You want more? Rent the DVD and rewatch it.

Certain ideas and storylines just don't lend themselves to a show that goes on forever.

(Dr. Who gets special dispensation.)

Posted by: BWeaves at October 22, 2008 12:08 PM

I watched Dexter's first season and some of season 2 on DVD after reading the books and I can't see how they even got three seasons out of those stories. It's a strained premise anyway (that a true sociopath would have enough compassion or appreciation for someone to honor something like Harry's Code) so I can only imagine what the TV writers are going to have to come up with to keep it going.

Posted by: Genny (also Rusty) at October 22, 2008 12:10 PM

Dexter is one of the only shows I actually make time to watch. I think this season has had a slow start but I get the feeling that we're picking up momentum for something big. I refuse to believe the show will start to go downhill. I think the writers did a good job of building up the plot in seasons 1&2. Things could start to get really interesting now if they move in the right direction.

Posted by: Allingsworth at October 22, 2008 12:10 PM

I agree completely, Dustin. I loved the first season, was entertained by the second (the very best part was the interactions between Dexter and Doakes once Doakes figured out who Dexter really was - the conversations were intense, interesting, real, and had chemistry, and then they go and kill him. GAH. Anyway.), but I can't even sit down and watch the third.

Posted by: dsbs at October 22, 2008 12:19 PM

I loved Season 2, but I am also finding myself bored with this year. I think Jimmy Smits and his storyline are the weak links. I also feel pretty certain Dex will end up having to take him out - at some point he'll realize it's crazy having anyone on the loose with such a big secret. So unless something really unpredictable comes along, I'm calling Season 3 a bust.

And I really miss Doakes! He was Dexter's yang.

Posted by: Cindy at October 22, 2008 12:19 PM

I've only seen the first episode from the third season so far, but from what I know the relationship story line comes from one of the books. I read the first Dexter book and it was GOD. AWFUL. So when the show sucks, I say blame the crappy book it came from. How anyone tapped the book to become a tv show I'll never understand (don't get me wrong, I'm glad they did. Michael Hall has the best face for television i have ever seen and I loved season one).

Posted by: snarla at October 22, 2008 12:22 PM

Yeah, the books are pretty bad, although that has nothing to do with the quality of the show, since the first season was the only one that really followed a book all that closely. Doesn't surprise me that they made a show from it though. It's a pretty great premise and had (potentially) interesting characters, Lindsay is just a really bad writer. Not a single character besides Dexter himself was anything close to three-dimensional.

So far, I'm enjoying this season. Slow yes, but I think they're making some interesting moves for character development, I love the Miguel Prado character/idea, and based on the preview for next week's episode, it looks like shit will indeed hit the fan. hard.

Posted by: Joe at October 22, 2008 12:44 PM

Not a single character besides Dexter himself was anything close to three-dimensional.

See, Joe, that's where I kind of think the books did a good job. If Dexter's a true sociopath (which we're expected to believe he is) he wouldn't view anyone as a fully formed individual. And since the books are narrated from his perspective, it's an instance of unreliable narrator where we only see people the way Dexter sees them. And since Dexter sees them as distractions or necessary interferences, there's not going to be any sort of deeper insight. Frankly, Dexter's incapable of that kind of insight.

Or it could be shoddy writing. But since sociopaths have no empathy or sympathy for other living things, I'll give Lindsey the benefit of the doubt.

Posted by: Genny (also Rusty) at October 22, 2008 1:13 PM

I like how they pick up Knight Rider for another season, but they dump Friday Night Lights on DirecTV. Lame.

Posted by: Lucas at October 22, 2008 1:54 PM

As the Mister and I do not have Showtime, I have to wait for the Dexter full-season DVDs and I've gotta say, that's the only way to go. It is a wonderful and dangerous weekend when I can just sit down and gorge on a Dexter marathon. A lot of the weaker stuff just gets pushed aside and the conclusions are completely satisfying. I think if it's boring or annoying you, maybe just wait and give the glutton's view a try when S3 comes out on DVD.

Posted by: clarence boddicker at October 22, 2008 6:05 PM

Yeah, the whole 'I don't know how to feel so I don't know how to react to this' monotone narration is getting a little old. What happened to sideplots? The ONLY thing with any semblance of suspense is Dexter and Jimmy Smitts. Everybody else is just coasting along, adding no suspense to the show. Whatever happened to the police chief driving her predecessor crazy by sleeping with her boyfriend? Or the sister dating the other crazy guy? Or someone actually chasing Dexter rather than an ominous 'he could get caught' thing? It's still one of the best shows on TV, though.

Posted by: LB at October 22, 2008 7:14 PM

As much as I like the show I have to agree, it's all starting to feel a wee bit repetitive. I feel like they've reached the limits of the character and are out of ways to surprise me. Unless they do something drastic with the character this could start getting old very soon.

Posted by: Jigsy Q. at October 22, 2008 8:20 PM

Why in God's name would you pick on Dexter? There are so many MUCH worse shows on TV right now. Pretty much every other show actually. Pick on something that actually really sucks now and has worn completely thin like The Office.

May I also add that Chuck is just an OK show. The only possible reason for praising Chuck is because it isn't popular yet so I guess that makes it cooler. I guess Dexter's gotten too main stream to be acceptable now.

Posted by: becks at October 22, 2008 9:33 PM

I disagree completely.

Season Two was considerably weaker than the first, but I'm loving this season so far. However, I will concede that a little more stabby-stabby wouldn't be a bad idea.

And for the record, this plot is not from any of the books.

Posted by: Leaf at October 22, 2008 9:54 PM

There are loads of bothersome issues on this season: Masuka has NOTHING to do, Deb goes headfirst into a terrible love sandwich with that CI and Quinn, Angel is looooonely, Dex takes his act as normal upstanding boyfriend thing too far. Yet the interactions with Miguel I like. He won't make into the next season, probably, unless he goes psycho himself.

As for the books, I recently read the third, and I was having quite a problem with

spoiler for a book you might have not read

Dex training the kids to be future psychopaths

end of spoiler

Posted by: Adere at October 23, 2008 3:16 AM

Have to say I don't think anything could beat the first season. And (motherfucking) Brian/Rudy. The second season really began to grate on me with the whole 'LOOK IT'S SEX THEY'RE HAVING SEX A LOT SEX SEX SEX' and FUCKING Lila, bitch drove me insane. Then two thirds of the way through when Dex headbutts Doakes it's like the writers quit smoking peyote and got their shit together for the finale.

This season is working for me so far. It doesn't have the splendour of the first season, but it also doesn't have Lila. Waiting to see where it goes - I'm definitely enjoying it so far, and as many have said, it's a hell of a lot better than most of the other shit on TV right now.

Posted by: Lola at October 23, 2008 1:01 PM

I agree about the whole Rita being pregnant/will they get married storyline being a borefest.

But I have seriously enjoyed Jimmy Smits and watching how he fits in.

Posted by: EricD at October 23, 2008 6:15 PM

Dexter is one of my absolutely favorite shows and I own the first two seasons. I kinda felt that Dexter was a bit neutered in the second season, but then he redeemed himself and I was pleased. And Lila can suck it! Glad he killed her. This season is quickly losing me, though... I'm bored with the entire storyline!! I really don't care that he offed Prado's brother. Even Rita is grating my nerves, and I really had no problem with her before. I HATE criticizing one of the only shows I actually make it a point to watch, but...it's losing me quickly. Even Debra's storyline is lame. I really don't care if she sells out to the D.A. or not. I REALLY hope it gets better as the season goes on... As for the books, I've only read one of them and it kinda sucked. The show is much better!

Posted by: Mistress Violet at October 23, 2008 6:53 PM

clarence bodiker up there has a great point. i've been noticing that i enjoy television shows a lot more when i'm not having to digest them one week at a time. when you watch them on dvd, the lesser storylines and slow points feel less like slow points and more like the necessary break in the action they are.

Posted by: dan at October 23, 2008 8:31 PM

I dunno. I dug Season 2 more than season one, cause it had impotent Dexter.

Posted by: john darc at October 27, 2008 12:07 PM





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