Dexter (Season 4)

[CMH]

Re: Dexter (Season 4)

It also feeds on the possible guilt.

The show does a good job of not supporting Dexter's need to kill. Yes, he kills murderers, but he is constantly balancing his needs with the needs of his family and friends.

Without the drama of Dexter seeing how his actions do affect the people around him, the show wouldn't have lasted long enough and I would bet that most people wouldn't enjoy it.

I know people hate the love stories, but when they aren't overdone, it's what makes Dexter the series as good as it is. Otherwise, it's just a show about a man killing people and that's not engaging enough. It would get boring rather quickly.

[JayBee74]

Re: Dexter (Season 4)

I dont think its even close to the most popular series on TV. Its Showtime's most popular series but it still brings in less people then HBO's shows and most shows on national TV.

Pay Cable Channels will never get the numbers of cable or network shows because of the viewership limitations. Formula=Network>Cable>PayCable.
For example an episode of 2 1/2 Men will bring in 16 million+, while the season finale of Sons Of Anarchy garnered 4.3 million and the Dexter finale 2.6 million.

[ODogg]

Re: Dexter (Season 4)

Oh i dunno, a man just going around killing people would actually probably be pretty popular, lol

[aholbert32]

Re: Dexter (Season 4)

Pay Cable Channels will never get the numbers of cable or network shows because of the viewership limitations. Formula=Network>Cable>PayCable.
For example an episode of 2 1/2 Men will bring in 16 million+, while the season finale of Sons Of Anarchy garnered 4.3 million and the Dexter finale 2.6 million.

Exactly. Thats why Dexter isnt the most popular show on TV. Not enough people get a chance to see the program because they dont have Showtime. Also, people may not remember this but Dexter's first season was shown on CBS after it premeired on Showtime and it didnt do well.

[ODogg]

Re: Dexter (Season 4)

but not because people didn't like dexter, it's because it's like when they put goodfellas on tv or when they play 2live crew on the radio, it makes no sense when the central elemtents are removed or neutered..

[ZB9]

Re: Dexter (Season 4)

You and me both, I didn't think it would last past season one and honestly I thought i was the only one watching it.

But as for it being sick/twisted...um have you ever seen The Shield? That's a pretty sick show, probably more sick than this show in every way except for the murdering aspect.

Both were/are sick,twisted and brilliant. I remember Lem's death being as shocking and gut wrenching as Rita's if not more so.

yes true, the Shield had some extreme violence also....However, dont show any nudity or sex. That would be far too extreme

I dont think its even close to the most popular series on TV. Its Showtime's most popular series but it still brings in less people then HBO's shows and most shows on national TV.

good point. Although it gets the highest ratings Showtime has ever had, and increases it's ratings every season, it still doesnt get the highest ratings on TV. However, it's probably the most "critically acclaimed"

I think people find themselves rooting for Dexter because his killings are somewhat justified since his victims usually have done something bad. Is it vigilante justice, of course, but I also think a lot of people have had a thought about whether or not they could get away with murder.

It also feeds on the possible guilt.

The show does a good job of not supporting Dexter's need to kill. Yes, he kills murderers, but he is constantly balancing his needs with the needs of his family and friends.

Without the drama of Dexter seeing how his actions do affect the people around him, the show wouldn't have lasted long enough and I would bet that most people wouldn't enjoy it.

I know people hate the love stories, but when they aren't overdone, it's what makes Dexter the series as good as it is. Otherwise, it's just a show about a man killing people and that's not engaging enough. It would get boring rather quickly.

Having a serial killer as the main character, it allows them to explore things that other series would not...and that subject matter is so different and unique than any series on TV. It seems to have gotten more and more popular every season and that is a credit to the entire production. The show is so good, once someone watches it once, it's hard not to stay with it. I agree it's much more than just a show about a serial killer.

[aholbert32]

Re: Dexter (Season 4)

but not because people didn't like dexter, it's because it's like when they put goodfellas on tv or when they play 2live crew on the radio, it makes no sense when the central elemtents are removed or neutered..

It wasnt that neutered on CBS. Maybe you didnt see a knife sticking out of a guys chest but you got the point Dexter was killing people.

[Stumbleweed]

Re: Dexter (Season 4)

Hmm, bad news here (most likely)... the executive producer Clyde Phillips is leaving the show to spend more time with his family:

http://tv.ign.com/articles/105/1055468p1.html

"December 15, 2009 - A big change is occurring behind the scenes at Dexter. In the wake of Sunday night's acclaimed finale, which also broke ratings records for Showtime, the show's main creative force -- executive producer and showrunner, Clyde Phillips -- is departing the series, says the Hollywood Reporter.

A replacement has been found for Phillips - 24 co-executive producer Chip Johannessen, whose previous credits include Moonlight, Millennium, Dark Angel and Beverly Hills, 90210. Johannessen will take over for the upcoming Season 5 of the series.

Phillips explains to the Reporter he is leaving for personal reasons, to spend more time with his wife and daughter, who live in Connecticut – Phillips has been spending the majority of the year in Los Angeles, where Dexter is filmed, since the show began four years ago.

Phillips, who previously created Suddenly Susan (surprised?) and the awesome FOX cult series Parker Lewis Can't Lose tells the Reporter it was a "hugely difficult decision" leaving Dexter, noting, "I had complicated feelings about it. I lived with the people on the show for four years that were the high point of my career. But I was missing out on my family."

Dexter will presumably return next September, when each season has begun."

[Beantown]

Re: Dexter (Season 4)

Hopefully that doesn't change the show too much. Good for him, though, if he wants to spend more time with his family.

[bill2451]

Re: Dexter (Season 4)

wow, I just watched the series finale... wow... and I knew there was going to be some kind of big twist and it was still shocking lol

absolutely amazing show/finale

John Lithgow was obviously amazing this entire season, but I think Michael C. Hall should be given some major credit too... besides the entire last 10 minutes, which was some of the best TV I have ever sean, the scene about halfway through the season finale, when Dexters at home and starts apoligizing to Rita, really captures Michael C. Hall at his best

First Dexter starts out and just seems a little awkward, while theres no voice over you can just tell he's thinking in his head "I don't know what to say, will this make everything better?"... that out of touch with human emotions side of Dexter, where he always seems to be acting, trying to imitate what he thinks other people feel...

then Rita says something along the lines of "you don't have to be a slave to your demons" and Dexter replies, "I wish that were true."

and in that one line you see him transform and let his guard down and open up... just the way Michael says it, and his facial expressions, you can hear and see the longing in Dexter to let it all out and be done with it. For that one moment, Dexter isn't faking it and Michael C Hall nails it

idk, from an acting standpoint that scene really stood out to me

[ODogg]

Re: Dexter (Season 4)

That scene of Rita in the bathtub will never leave my brain. It's such a heartbreaking scene. As much as I disliked Rita in the context of the show, she seemed like a good person overall. And it's even more heartbreaking since we know the kids too. It means so much more to see someone you know in a show end up like this than some of Trinity's other victims doesn't it?

[Seymour Scagnetti]

Re: Dexter (Season 4)

I'm suprised nobody here or from reading any media reviews mentioned how the ending pretty much referenced the ending of the movie Seven, even down to the cryptic hints that Lithgow gave Dexter much like how Kevin Spacey gave those same type of hints to Brad Pitt in the back of the police car.

Since I found the ending of Seven to be unforgettable and one of the all time classic climaxes then it's a good thing as I didn't see Rita's death coming and even though I found her highly annoying it did feel like a personal friend died in real life. Interesting to see what they do next season.

To me this has been the best season ever and leaps above that wretched 3rd season. I don't know how they are going to top it for Season 5 but I think Dexter the series has hit it's apex with that unforgettable finale.

[CMH]

Re: Dexter (Season 4)

There will be a bigger finale and whenever it is it'll be when Deb finds out about Dex.

I have forgotten. Does Dexter know who his real dad is?

[Mo]

Re: Dexter (Season 4)

There will be a bigger finale and whenever it is it'll be when Deb finds out about Dex.

I have forgotten. Does Dexter know who his real dad is?

Spoiler

yeah he discovered it in the first season

[CMH]

Re: Dexter (Season 4)

Spoiler

yeah he discovered it in the first season

That's right. I remember now. He just doesn't know anything about him.