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Maniac Grade: A+
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- TV Series: Dexter
- Episode: Living the Dream
- Starring: Michael C, Hall, Julie Benz, Jennifer Carpenter, C.S. Lee, Lauren Velez, David Zayas
- Written By: Clyde Philips
- Directed By: Marcus Siega
- Network: Showtime
- Series:
Dexter: Living the Dream Review
Dexter’s dark passenger takes a backseat to diapers. By
Stephen Lackey
September 28, 2009
Michael C. Hall as Dexter
© Showtime
There are shows that make light of dead bodies and sometimes that works and other times it doesn’t. There are some shows on currently that are hard drama but then suddenly the detectives break out jokes that feel out of place. The interesting thing about Dexter is that the macabre humor that the show is based on doesn’t take any weight from the fact that people are dead. In fact, often in this show Dexter, the constant murderer, handles dead bodies of those that didn’t deserve it with reverence. If the dead person is a criminal, well that’s another story all together. Dexter has been evolving each season as a character slipping further and further from the stereotypical serial killer. He even jokes about that in his internal monologue in this episode. He’s not a loner that disappears in the crowd. He’s a family man with lots of friends and a job that puts him as close to the ones that could catch him as any murderer has ever been. He is a weird guy, but so is Masuka and other employees in the police station.
In traditional dramas and comedies, the nail in the coffin comes when a baby is brought in to add some cute to the series. This is nearly always the reason a baby or toddler is added to a show. It actually works on Dexter when it has failed so many times on other shows. The reason it works is because the baby is actually added to make Dexter even more miserable rather than just to bring some extra cute to the show. The baby is there for the cuteness factor too but the cuteness stands in stark contrast to the darkness that exists inside Dexter. At one point when Dexter and the baby have some alone time, Dexter looks into his new son’s face and tells him that his father is a serial killer. There’s one scene in particular that’s a riff on the opening credits of the series that does a great job of defining how Dexter’s life has changed, and it quite humorous.
As is the case with every season of Dexter this first episode is focused on setting up the story arc for the season. The main story involves the introduction of Dexter’s newest nemesis. It’s no spoiler that the “evil” serial killer of this season of Dexter is played by John Lithgow. Lithgow is a brilliant pick for this sort of role. It’s not a foreign place for him as he’s played crazed villains in Raising Cane, Ricochet, and to a lesser degree Cliffhanger. There are a few actors that really no how to bring something unique to crazy characters and John Lithgow is at the top of that short list. All of Dexter’s previous challengers were nuts but in a more subtle and precise way. Lithgow’s character is more of a Joker or green Goblin type of character in that he’s just barely able to hold back the crazy in his day to day activities. He has to go through a process to bring it down that even involves causing himself a bit of pain.
Some time has passed between last season and this one some of the characters have gone through changes. Some relationships have ended leading to some surprising new connections that are sure to play out this season in some unfortunate way. Frank Lundy shows up again this season to stir up old feelings for Dexter’s sister who is currently in a relationship. Lundy is in a new position forcing him to handle investigations with a much different approach than he once used. As much as he’s an old ghost for Morgan, he actually has returned to deal with an old ghost of his own.
The opening for Dexter doesn’t innovate on the concept of the series at all but it feels comfortable for it. There’s great dark humor, solid drama, and most importantly successful suspense. The episode ends with the main story line and the secondary ones all set up and ready to go. The build up to the inevitable cliffhanger was fantastic as was the cliffhanger itself. Watching Dexter may have you laughing at things that you feel you shouldn’t find humor in and that’s one of the things that make the show so entertaining. The new villain looks to be thrilling and the cliffhanger of an ending makes the next episode of the show feel way too far away.
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This is one of the best series on the air right now, if not hands down the best. I'm always amazed at the quality of the show.
And you know what? Even though it is about a serial killer, it still takes matters of life and death very seriously. I've never felt the show was just a splatter or gore fest, and the times the series does use dark humor, it's not in a really disrespectful way.
Based on some comments Lithgow made at Comic-Con, I think I know where the season is going. Should be a heck of a doozie reveal, when it comes!