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Finally... => General Discussion => Topic started by: JoshuaFH on July 22, 2009, 10:28:41 am

Title: Dexter
Post by: JoshuaFH on July 22, 2009, 10:28:41 am

This morning, I took to doing something I don't usually do, and I watched TV. TV's exceptionally dull however, so I turned to the on-demand menu that my Charter Service offers me.

Going to the showtime section, I see an advertised show called "Dexter" that looks interesting. It's already has 3 seasons, and each episode is over 50 minutes in length.

Apparently, this show is about a crime scene blood splatter analyst type person that is also a vigilante serial killer that makes it his job to kill those that he personally deems unworthy of life. He targets people that are responsible for the deaths of others mainly.

The show parades him around as this very intellectual, hannibal lector-level murderer, but the show's pace seems hectic to say the least. The focus changes from Dexter's murders, to his personal life, to him trying to capture a murderer that apparently puts him to shame. Then we occasionally focus on background characters that I could care less about.

I'm very disappointed at how the actual "murders" are handled. The show leads us to believe that Dexter has everything planned out, but glazes over all the details as Dexter jabs his victim in the neck with a syringe (knocking them out instantly of course, despite that's not how anesthetics work) and we spontaneously segway into his 'judgement' portion, with his victim strapped to a table (with cellophane wrap, oddly enough), and he delivers some one liners before delivering the killing blow.

This is VERY awkward, for example, he somehow abducts someone from the public restroom of a crowded restaurant without anyone noticing, especially odd since his police officer sister was with him at the time...

Then, after he finishes with his murder, how he disposes of the bodies is apparently done through magical means, as he does it without leaving a shred of evidence, and despite the fact that he works in a police station, no one ever files reports for these missing people, nor does anyone ever look for them...

What I'm saying is that the show is throwing in the murders to try to seem interesting as the producers really want to spend all the show's time GUSHING over our main character's past and personal life, which I could care less about, especially the amount of time spent focusing on Dexter's feeble, insecure girlfriend who has no real relevance whatsoever.

I also don't like how, in true American style, NO ONE behaves like normal people. Everyone is a Jerkass that delivers shitty threats and incredibly offensive little speeches whenever someone tries to act civil and humane with them. I could be wrong, of course, if this is how everyone acts in Miami, where the show takes place. That doesn't excuse the frequent flashbacks however, where his father, a respected policeman, treats his son as some sort of murderous monster just because he killed a dog once, and then seems to use this as an excuse to deem his son a hopeless sociopath, and teaches him that killing criminals is perfectly fine...

I'm not sure what to think of this show, it really caught my interest at the start, but it seems to just be faltering inexcusably. Take to mind I've only watched 4 episodes so far, and there's 3 seasons...

Anyone else ever encounter this show?

Title: Re: Dexter
Post by: Captain Mayday on July 22, 2009, 10:38:28 am

Yeah, actually, I really enjoy this show. I hope you're watching from the start because otherwise it'll make very little sense.

Title: Re: Dexter
Post by: JoshuaFH on July 22, 2009, 11:00:40 am

I am watching from the start, and it still doesn't make any sense.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

He's supposed to be the one the ice truck killer is threatening, and Dexter's supposed to be the one that's supposed to be chasing him, but all of his friends are the ones that are actually making any progress.

Also, what the hell was up with that black guy? The show barely mentions him, and then we get this entire scene where all his friends backstab him, and I get the feeling that it's supposed to be significant, but it's not, because it doesn't amount to ANYTHING!

Title: Re: Dexter
Post by: Cthulhu on July 22, 2009, 11:49:05 am

Crime dramas are the second worst fad in TV.  The only thing worse is the reality show craze.

Title: Re: Dexter
Post by: Ampersand on July 23, 2009, 10:26:12 am

If you want to see something more than prolefeed on TV, watch PBS.

Title: Re: Dexter
Post by: Nilocy on July 23, 2009, 07:51:57 pm

A really good show to watch is The Wire.

Title: Re: Dexter
Post by: DennyTom on July 23, 2009, 08:17:23 pm

I really enjoyed Dexter. And yeah, you are right, it is a bit confusing, but everything becomes clear by time.

If you like motive but do not like storytelling style of show, try the original book (Darkly Dreaming Dexter by Jeff Lindsay).

Title: Re: Dexter
Post by: Jack_Bread on July 23, 2009, 08:24:47 pm

My brother used to have parties to watch Dexter. That made two parties a week. :(
Luckily, now he only has parties for UFC fights.
Dexter was never that interesting to me.

Title: Re: Dexter
Post by: Zironic on July 23, 2009, 09:34:06 pm

Quote from: DennyTom on July 23, 2009, 08:17:23 pm

I really enjoyed Dexter. And yeah, you are right, it is a bit confusing, but everything becomes clear by time.

If you like motive but do not like storytelling style of show, try the original book (Darkly Dreaming Dexter by Jeff Lindsay).

I heard he starts phoning them in around number 3.
It's the same way I feel  about Nix on the 6th book of the Keys to the Kingdom series.

Title: Re: Dexter
Post by: JoshuaFH on July 24, 2009, 03:25:38 pm

The show IS interesting enough to continue watching, I'll admit. I'm up to episode 8 now.

Still sappy as hell though.

Title: Re: Dexter
Post by: Granite26 on July 24, 2009, 03:49:46 pm

I like it... haven't found it that confusing either...

Title: Re: Dexter
Post by: ChairmanPoo on July 24, 2009, 03:59:50 pm

My favorite episode is that one in which he sends his sister back in time to prevent himself from opening a dimension gate.

Title: Re: Dexter
Post by: JoshuaFH on July 24, 2009, 06:22:10 pm

What a weird coincidence:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BxEOmoWi2Gk

I just start watching Dexter, and they announce they're making a videogame. It looks to be something along the lines of Hitman, a series I enjoyed (except for the ones where you couldn't save...), so I hope it doesn't suck.

That is, if I play it at all.

Title: Re: Dexter
Post by: JoshuaFH on July 29, 2009, 11:45:19 pm

I just finished the first season of Dexter, and I liked it. I still get the feeling that Dex is WAY out of his league though.

Will watch the second season, maybe.

Title: Re: Dexter
Post by: Techhead on August 01, 2009, 08:39:33 am

Quote from: ChairmanPoo on July 24, 2009, 03:59:50 pm

My favorite episode is that one in which he sends his sister back in time to prevent himself from opening a dimension gate.

Wrong Dexter.

Title: Re: Dexter
Post by: Cthulhu on August 01, 2009, 08:43:41 am

My favorite is the one where Deedee joins Action Hank's secret fan club.

Really, anything with Action Hank.

Title: Re: Dexter
Post by: Labs on August 01, 2009, 10:06:08 am

I personally have never seen the show but a show I really enjoyed was Rome on HBO. Too bad it ended.

Title: Re: Dexter
Post by: JoshuaFH on August 01, 2009, 10:43:16 pm

Season two is nice, kinda sorta. Spoilers ahead:

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

What REALLY bothers me though is that the Calm, cool, confident Dexter from Season 1 has been replaced by an edgy, angsty, unconfident imposter that worries about WAY too much emotional shit.

"Oh no! My girlfriend that I don't care about because I have no emotions is getting angry at me! She could find out my dirty secrets! I should bend over backwards to please her dumb, insignificant ass instead of just breaking up with her!"
"Oh NO! I'm having trouble killing people because I'm so shaken up over my dark, dangerous past, even though I have no emotions!"
"OH NO! People are getting ever so much closer to finding out it was me who killed all those people! I'm supposed to be smart, I'm angsting so much I can't think of how to throw everyone off, EVEN THOUGH I HAVE NO EMOTIONS!"

Of course, all that is NOTHING compared to the wallbangers. Oh yes, there are wallbangers, there's wallbanger after wallbanger after wallbanger and wallbanger.

Deb (A character that was nothing but bitchy through all of season 1, now has a legitimate reason to complain because of OHMYGOD emotional trauma) is pressured into a very high stress position EVEN THOUGH SHE'S AN EMOTIONAL WRECK AND SHOULD BE SUSPENDED AND MADE TO SEE A PSYCHIATRIST! NOT FUCKING ASSIGNED TO CHASE SERIAL KILLERS! IT'S OBVIOUS SHE COULD BREAK DOWN AT ANY MOMENT! It's like everyone in charge subscribe to the "walk it off" style of psychological treatment.

Then Dex outright lies and says he's a HEROIN addict in order to draw his suspicious girlfriend away from the real truth, even though this is a BLATANT LIE, and firmly cements Rita (Dex's girlfriend) as the dumbest person in the show. DEXTER IS OBVIOUSLY NOT A HEROIN ADDICT! HE HAS NO NEEDLE MARKS ANYWHERE ON HIS BODY AND POSSESSES NO OTHER TRAITS OF AN ADDICT! Rita should know this, her ex-husband was a REAL drug addict!

Lilah, a new character on the show, is Dex's AA sponsor for whatever reason. I say "for whatever reason" because Lilah is FUCKING CRAZY! She constantly speaks as though she's reading out of a bad poetry book, drives around town and steals shit out of people's lawns, and is OH-S0-VERY haughty and all around retarded. This wouldn't be such a big problem if Dex realized this and dismissed her as the crazy lunatic that she is, but NO! HE'S LIKE "OH! SHE'S SO SPECIAL! SHE'S JUST LIKE ME! SHE'S THE ONLY ONE THAT CAN UNDERSTAND ME AND I'M MORE THAN WILLING TO PUT UP WITH HER SHIT BECAUSE OF IT!". I'm dumbfounded...

Also, that one scene where Deb is crying and punching a speed bag, while I understand that the show is trying to make us sympathize with her, this is quite possibly the funniest moment on the show thus far. It's supposed to pull our heartstrings but she just looks so wimpy and pathetic, I'm surprised that she isn't ejected from the show altogether.

Finally, the Rita dilemma (which is retarded, JUST DUMP HER DUMBASS!) is magnified by her overbearing, overcritical mother coming to visit, who's only purpose in life is apparently to cast unfounded suspicion on Dexter...

Pray for me folks, I might die of brain hemorrhaging before I finish this show.

Title: Re: Dexter
Post by: umiman on August 02, 2009, 12:03:09 am

I liked the first few episodes. Then it started to want Dexter to be human, and that was so boring. I preferred it when there weren't any of the boring moral issues to deal with.

Title: Re: Dexter
Post by: Makrond on August 04, 2009, 02:13:15 am

You seem to be trying to judge each season halfway through.

Keep watching, everything clears up in the end.

Title: Re: Dexter
Post by: JoshuaFH on August 12, 2009, 10:14:17 pm

So I finally sat down and watched the rest of the second series, and all I can say is:

ALL IS FORGIVEN!

Really, the only thing wrong with it was that it's not the end, there's a season right after it demanding my attention!

The ending was really the best through:

Spoilers, of course.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

LILA DIES! YES! WHOOPEE! WORST CHARACTER EVER DYING IS THE VERY LAST THING WE SEE HAPPENING!

She was about to exceed Debra in sheer aggravating-bitchiness as well, now Dex just needs to kill Debra and the show'll be perfect!

The whole "Dex killing Lila" thing WAS a bit of an asspull though, seeing as how he had to travel to another country, kill her, somehow dispose of the evidence, and travel all the way back to America without anyone raising an eyebrow, all of which isn't explained at all, BUT WHO CARES? LILA'S DEAD! DEAD DEAD DEAD!

Title: Re: Dexter
Post by: Makrond on August 13, 2009, 02:47:02 am

The next season introduces another really fucking annoying character.

Spoiler: spoiler spoiler spoiler (click to show/hide)

The plot is resolved similarly.

Title: Re: Dexter
Post by: JoshuaFH on August 15, 2009, 09:24:40 am

I just finished watching season 3, the last season availalble. It's REALLY disappointing, in many ways:

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

For one, I LIKED Miguel Prado, he was an intelligent megalomaniancal two-faced SCHEMER and was a worthy foe for Dexter. He covered his tracks, could produce magnificent lies at a moment's notice, and was very dedicated to becoming the power fantasy he dreamed himself to be. It's just a shame he went down like a bitch.

Then there was King, who was more of a side-character, but was the very last person to die, and was a significant threat. Too bad the final battle between him and Dex just results in Dex getting a chokehold (like he does with EVERYONE!) and King going down like a btich...

See, that's the biggest complaint I have about season 3, even though Dex is MUCH more involved in the scheming and plotting than he was in the previous two seasons, and he actually RESOLVES his own problems rather than relying on his friends, sheer chance, or, fuck, deus ex machina to solve all his problems, it's very clear that Dex has finally grown the pair necessary to finish what he starts, but... but... the intensity just ISN'T THERE! The faceoff with Dex and Doakse in Season 2 had me at the edge of my seat, and the confrontation between Dex and Brian had me atleast somewhat sympathizing wtih his troubles, but compared to those, this finale just doesn't measure up. It's a very poor way to end this season, just to announce that another is on the way. I mean, fuck, the show should have just ENDED at the end of season 2, and that would have been PERFECT! It went out with a BANG! It had the best ending that tied everything up and it gave the audience all the closure it needed. WHY continue from there? I guess Showtime can't let go of it's one good original show, seeing as how Nurse Jacky seems like a steaming pile of shit from afar. Jesus Christ those nonstop commercials for it piss me off.

Oh yeah, and the whole "Dexter and Rita getting Married" thing is really played up, like I care. He should have just dumped her ass in season 2.

Also, the WILD HALLUCINATIONS that Dexter has of his dad are REALLY off-putting. I mean, jesus tapdancing christ Dex, is your psychology so shattered after Season 2 that you need to imagine your Dad giving you advice every episode? An imaginary figure you talk and respond to? Where the hell did this come from? You didn't have problems like this earlier in the show.

Also, Debra is dumber, more aggravating, more overly emotional, and bitchier than ever before, and I seriously can't comprehend why someone just doesn't beat her face in, then leave her in the hospital for the remainder of show, with only the occasional scene showing her to remind us that noone is visiting her, and that she's all alone because everyone hates her guts.

I seriously hope the fourth season is cancelled before it's finished. I can't stand to bear seeing such a good show go down the shitter so slowly and painfully.

Title: Re: Dexter
Post by: JoshuaFH on August 20, 2009, 08:30:39 am

Alright, this last one's a treat. I just got finished watching the movie "Quarantine", a movie about a zombies or something, and the main character of this movie is the same actress that plays Debra from Dexter.

The movie itself sucks. In fact, it could be renamed "The movie where full grown men get beaten to death by disoriented, malnourished old ladies" and it wouldn't lose any meaning whatsoever. The best part of the movie though is:

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Deb dies! YAY! This was great, especially since her character in this movie, and her role in Dexter are EXACTLY THE SAME in the sense that she's just as annoying, bitchy, and helpless. I have a feeling these are the only things she's good at.

To comment on the movie some more, it makes exclusive use of the "shaky cam" to give us the perspective of the cameraman that refuses to put the camera down, even when it's obviously weighing him down when he's trying to run for his life. Shaky cam does give the movie some suspense, just like in Blair Witch before it, but goddamn do they get carried away with it. Whenever something exciting is happening, it's waving back and forth so fast it's impossible to tell whats going on. Sometimes the camera inexplicably turns off for seemingly no reason, only for it to turn on at an apparently later time. In another scene, the camera is used to VERY SLOWLY bludgeon one of the zombies to death, and then the cameraman spends 30-40 seconds wiping the blood off the lens, and we have to wait for him to finish before the movie can continue. Also, it would seem that Deb and the Cameraman are tethered together by an invisible rope, as they never leave eachother's side, ever, as if they're compelled to stay within a certain radius of eachother and it gets sort of awkward when Deb tries to go one direction and then the cameraman goes "Oh, I can't go that way." and then they both go in a different direction.

Also, the zombies are particularly unthreatening. I mean, sure, they scream and attack people, and a single bite is certain death, but they seem so... docile for unholy abominations of both man and god. When seeing a human, a zombie WON'T attack for some mysterious reason, preferring to wait until their victim gets close first rather than waste the energy chasing after them. They're also deterred very easily, just closing a door behind you will lead to them pounding on it a few times, and then wandering off. Also, when they attack you, it's very obvious that whatever is diseasing their minds has effected their sense of balance, as they seem constantly disoriented, they fall over easily, and have a hard time getting back up, leading to one scene where an attacking zombie is successfully fought by simply pushing it over. Also, despite biting being their best attack by far, it doesn't occur to them to actually bite people, as there's a couple scenes where the zombies tackle and pin people down and just go "Man, where do I go from here?" and then just wait for them to get pushed off.

All this is exacerbated by how utterly and completely WIMPY the characters are though. It's embarrassing to see all these strong, fit, perfectly competent firemen, police officers, and etcetera characters get COMPLETELY OVERPOWERED by what amounts to some drunken, disgruntled, anemic old ladies. And this isn't even factoring in the usual horror movie induced stupidity (what? YOU HAD AN AXE AT THE BEGINNING! WHERE DID THAT AXE GO YOU RETARD?!), makes the immediately likeable characters become absolutely unbearable to watch.

Also, it appears the the government somehow had prior knowledge of the zombie outbreak and made overly drastic efforts to contain it without telling anyone about it beforehand. It really gives the movie this "OH MAN! You can't trust the government cause they don't give a shit about you and will lie their asses off to protect themselves" type feel. So this entire movie feels like the result of a botched conspiracy of some sort, so much so that it feels like a more exciting story is happening OUTSIDE the building that all the characters are confined in, but we're only given a few brief glimpses, and left wanting more.

Well, it looks like I got carried away, but it's a pretty bad movie, don't watch it.

Title: Re: Dexter
Post by: GruffyBears on August 20, 2009, 10:50:54 am

Quote from: ChairmanPoo on July 24, 2009, 03:59:50 pm

My favorite episode is that one in which he sends his sister back in time to prevent himself from opening a dimension gate.

I like the one where him and Mandark have a competition to get a cat ot of a tree.