What a great show. The premise is brilliant! Jeff Lindsay, thank you for your great book which sparked the series. Seriously, who comes up with a serial killer killing serial killer? (Yes, you read right). The show is centered on Dexter who is “empty” and feels an unquenchable need to kill. He tries to fill this void by killing people he believes deserves it: other serial killers. But by day, he’s a blood spatter analyst with the Miami P.D. He acts like a caring brother to his sister Debra, a loving boyfriend to Rita, and a good cop to his coworkers, none of who know his true nature. Over the course of the first season, a murderer finds out his secret and Dexter has to work hard to catch the mysterious Ice Truck Killer and keep his bloody hobby a secret. Full of intrigue, character development, reminiscent flashbacks, and suspense, the first season is truly captivating and addictive. Too bad it was only 12 episodes. Though, truly, that was the beauty of it. Because since it was so short, every episode mattered to the overall story of the season. Absolutely all of them. From the first episode, with the introduction of Dexter and his life, we’re shown the first two brutal kills of the Ice Truck Killer, to the seventh episode in which Dexter mainly faces other personal problems and tries to stay on track while looking for the Ice Truck Killer, to the final episode with the final confrontation between the two serial killers.

As the show goes on, the minor characters are developed as well. Debra, Rita, Sgt. Doakes, and Angel all have their respective problems. Debra tries to further her career by catching the Ice Truck Killer, though she mostly tends to get into Dexter’s way. Rita’s abusive ex-husband shows up and threatens Dexter. Sgt. Doakes, Dexter’s boss, burdened with his intuitive sense of Dexter’s true self, tries to find evidence to support his suspicion. All of these problems, along with Dexter’s nighttime hobby, make his life pretty damn difficult. And all of these problems, along with Dexter’s nighttime hobby, are the reasons why we keep coming back every week.

The show does have its faults, and the main one is its redundancy. The identity of the Ice Truck Killer is revealed dramatically and perfectly at the end of the eighth episode, yet, the writers decided to dramatically reveal it several more times throughout the remaining episodes. By Episode 10, I was ready to scream “I know it’s him! Get on with the SHOW!” If there was any doubt about who it was, there was none by the end of episode 10. Of course, there was no doubt after episode 8, so the rest was just useless.

So plot-wise, that’s how I feel. Great story, but a little redundant.

But Acting-wise? That’s even better. You see, there’s this voice over, Dexter’s voice shares his thoughts, and things make a little more sense. In the first episode, as Dexter sees the first victim of the Ice Truck Killer, his inner monologue lets the watcher know that he’s intrigued. But Michael C. Hall acts so wonderfully, that the words aren’t needed. He looks intrigued, but reserved, because he’s trying not to show his interest to his coworkers. But that was the moment the show had me captured: Dexter’s reaction to the body. Hall is the most amazing part of this show. Every moment, every action, you truly believe he is this Serial Killer Killing Serial Killer. You truly believe he is dark and damaged and tragic. And that is what sets this show apart.

*Waits not-so-patiently for Season 2 to come out on DVD*

Coming soon: a critique of Season 1 of “Six Feet Under” because I just can’t get enough of Michael C. Hall.

I don’t think I’ve ever understood the term “Splitting Headache” before this past year. Because lately, when I get my migraines, I feels like my head literally is split open. There’s a sharp line starting at my right ear, and cutting up and over my head to my left ear. It’s killer. It’s all I can think about, which is why I’m blogging about it and not working.

Sometimes, when I’m wearing my hat, it’s not as bad. I know it’s still there, but my hat contains it. As in, my head can’t open up that widely, because there’s a hat keeping it in place. And that must be psychological, but it’s what I feel.

But why do these bursts of headaches come in bursts? For two weeks straight, I’m in constant pain, with my head literally splitting open (unless I’m wearing my hat), and then for two months, I’m completely fine! I think 1 headache every two weeks would be fine, I could live with that. But it’s hard to live with two weeks of constant pressure on (in? around?) your head.

• 1 day until I get paid again
• 9 days until my Dad's Birthday
• 10 days until Matt Good
• 15 days until Stars
• 16 days until I get to watch Doctor Who (finally!)
• 19 days until Summer School Starts
• 21 days until Countryfest
• 45 days until My brother's Birthday
• 57 days until Coldplay
• 58 days until Montreal!
• 59 days until The Killers!
• 62 days until Radiohead
• 65 days until my Exam
• 87 days until Work ends
• 104 days until Heroes Season 3!
• 130 days until my sister's wedding!

• Buffy the Vampire Slayer
• The Prestige
• Pi
• Clockwork Orange
• The Life Aquatic with Steve Zulu
• Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
• The Sting
• Office Space
• Superman
• Breakfast at Tiffany's
• Gone with the Wind
• No Country for Old Men
• 3:10 to Yuma
• The Italian Job

• Forward the Foundation
• Foundation's Edge
• Foundation and Earth
• Robot Series
• David Starr/Lucky Starr series
• Ender's Series
• Bean Series
• The Kite Runner
• Sara Douglas Triology
• Gaunt's Ghosts
• Brave New World
• Shakesphere
• David Copperfield
• JPod
• Rest of James Bond novels
• Sherlock Holmes Novels
• Gardens of the Moon Series

• Lost
• Supernatural
• How I Met Your Mother
• Wonderfalls (not good)
  
• Cowboy Beebop
• Old Doctor Who
• Firefly (again) (always)
• Robin Hood
• Dexter

• 1 day until my Stats assignment is due
• 4 days until 'Exit Wounds', the new Torchwood is aired
• 5 days until the beginning of Doctor Who Series 4
• 11 days until my Comp Sci Assignment is Due
• 16 days until my Stats Exam
• 18 days until my Comp Sci Exam
• 19 days until my Thermals Exam
• 21 days until my Math Exam
• 33 days until I leave for Orlando
• 63 days until Summer School Starts
• 170 days until Heroes Volume 3 starts!

• 7 days until x-mas
• 13 days until the New Year
• 15 days until school starts
• 31 days until the presentation/scholarship is due
• 43 days until my speeding ticket is due
• 53 days until Spring Break
• 63 days until February 19th
• 73 days until my birthday
• 104 days until school's out for summer!