First off, WOW. This show is awesome. To all the people that told me I needed to watch it, I am sorry I didn't do it sooner. For a show with such a dark subject matter, it really has a lot of depth and heart. The characters are all every-evolving, and the stories always find a way of keeping up momentum, even when it seems they can't build any higher. Sure, like most shows, there's an episode now and again that really doesn't hold it's own, and some characters continue to piss you off (all the while, you just keep hoping they get killed at some point), but even his sister, Debra, has moments when she shines. :)
Season one was a great introduction to the cast and it shows Dexter struggle with his humanity in a way that is both interesting and relate-able (you know, for a serial killer). As he struggles with his "Dark Passenger" you see how desperate he is to find some normalcy in his life, and how much his girlfriend Rita helps him see how things could be if he was just like everyone else. He learns secrets about his past, and he learns just what family really means to him, and uses it to solidify his grasp on his moral code and cherish what he holds close.
In season two, he starts to falter under the pressure and gets sloppy, coming dangerously close to losing everything he's fought so hard to protect. Though he still lives by his code, he sees how others reacting to his special brand of justice, and has to learn to strengthen his own character and in turn become a little more human in the process.
Season three introduces him to a sort of kindred spirit, and he becomes more comfortable living a double life, but at what cost? He realizes that bringing other people into his world can be more dangerous than anything, and that even though others may seem to be like him, he is still alone in the world and has to put his code above all else before he loses all that he's built for himself.
Season four was the most exciting for me. In it, he became the student and began studying another killer, who seemed to have a healthy balance between his family life and the darker side he kept hidden. But, like usual, once he gets too close, he makes himself vulnerable and in the end pays a major price which changes his life forever.
The most recent season (five) sees him being more selfless than ever when he discovers a girl who was almost too badly damaged to be helped after she was tortured and locked up by her captors. Dexter takes her in and helps her bring her captors to justice, but his past mistakes also come back to haunt him when someone else inside Miami Metro starts to take a special interest in him, and nearly uncovers the truth.
The writing on this show is great, and his little inner monologues and talks with the spirit of his father are great devices to see inside his mind and understand how Dexter views the world and other people in it. His relationships are also very important, and even though he keeps people at a distance, you see how he values them, and the lengths he would go to keep them safe. It's already been picked up for another year, and I can't wait to watch this one as it airs. As long as they keep the core values there and be mindful of 'the code' then I see a very bright future for Dexter... eventually.
I give Dexter (Seasons 1-5) a 5 outta 5
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