Dexter

Dexter: The Complete Second Season
$39.98
The second season of "Dexter" is arguably even stronger than the first. In particular, it avoids the three main debits of the debut season by (1) making Deb a much stronger character, (2) including fewer flashbacks with Dexter's father, and (3) avoiding a melodramatic season ending. The season focuses mostly on Dexter's attempts to avoid capture. Unfortunately for him, the remains of his victims have been found, and he's been dubbed the Bay Harbor Butcher (a sobriquet he hates). The FBI is asked to assist the Miami police in the investigation, and Sergeant Doakes becomes even more suspicious of our favorite serial killer. Everyone seems to be nipping at Dexter's heels. Plus, in an amusing sideplot, he's having problems with Rita which leads him to start attending NA(!) and picking up a sponsor, the very creepy and overly sexual Lila (Jaime Murray).

As in Season 1, the plots and situations are not always wholly believable and rely on quite a bit of luck. However, the writing continues to be very strong, and the characters really gel together in this season. The series continues to use its dark humor very effectively, especially as things spin out of control for Dexter. I especially loved the brewing hatred between Deb and Lila. Season 1 was a bit of a slow burner for me; it took me awhile to get into the series. In contrast, Season 2 starts off exceedingly strong and remains of high quality. I definitely want to dig into the Season 3 episodes on DVD and see what happens next.

Dexter: Seasons 1-3 [Blu-ray]
$175.97
Can anyone say what I'm paying for besides packaging, if anything? Since Amazon will probably never get around to listing audio options, could someone please put 'em; I stll gave this 5 stars even though I don't own it; it's Dexter man. It could be an abused CBS FOX VHS and I'd still put 5. This only for those people who always go to audio options before they start a Blu-Ray or DVD (unless they check the back and there's only one). I think it's our responsibility to put these specs in our reviews (unless it's already been done). Now I have to wait 'cause I'd rather buy 'em by sigle season; cheaper and it will look better when season 4 is sitting next to it.
I promise to update it once I find what I need, and again if I decide to purchase.

Dexter by Design: A Novel
$25.00
Dexter Morgan is, as many already know, a serial killer who lives to kill other serial killers. And he so enjoys his work. He returns in his fourth appearance in this new novel by Jeff Lindsay.

This author's use of alliteration and plays on words has already been well-documented, as have Dexter's homicidal proclivities. To call the series an example of dark humor at its best is to state the obvious, as fans of the books and the even more popular tv series can attest. To the uninitiated, Dexter is a man who needs to rehearse "normal" behavior, coming to none of it naturally. His "day job" is as a blood spatter analyst with the Miami, Florida PD. He has his own code, carefully taught to him and rigidly adhered to, as to who needs to be killed by him to restore balance to the world by what he calls "my small and harmless hobby of tracking down the bad guys who slip through the cracks in the justice system and turning them into a few nice and tidy garbage bags full of spare parts."

As the book opens, Dexter has just returned from a Paris honeymoon with his bride, Rita [part of his plan to present a normal face to the world]. His first case after he gets home to "the malice and mayhem of Miami" involves a series of killings where the bodies have been posed in what Dexter dubs "die-oramas," where the victims' body parts and innards have been replaced with gruesome ostensibly artistic designs in carefully composed settings.

As he gets closer to finding the killer, the current case becomes much more personal than usual for Dexter, as those nearest and dearest to him [to the extent that such is possible for Dexter] are threatened, and his usual 'mission' becomes defensive as much as anything else.

Dexter being who and what he is, I find the enormous fun [and slight thrill of horror] derived from the series somewhat of a guilty pleasure, but pleasure it undoubtedly is, and the book, as its predecessors, is recommended.

Dexter: The Second Season [Blu-ray]
$59.99
The second season of "Dexter" is arguably even stronger than the first. In particular, it avoids the three main debits of the debut season by (1) making Deb a much stronger character, (2) including fewer flashbacks with Dexter's father, and (3) avoiding a melodramatic season ending. The season focuses mostly on Dexter's attempts to avoid capture. Unfortunately for him, the remains of his victims have been found, and he's been dubbed the Bay Harbor Butcher (a sobriquet he hates). The FBI is asked to assist the Miami police in the investigation, and Sergeant Doakes becomes even more suspicious of our favorite serial killer. Everyone seems to be nipping at Dexter's heels. Plus, in an amusing sideplot, he's having problems with Rita which leads him to start attending NA(!) and picking up a sponsor, the very creepy and overly sexual Lila (Jaime Murray).

As in Season 1, the plots and situations are not always wholly believable and rely on quite a bit of luck. However, the writing continues to be very strong, and the characters really gel together in this season. The series continues to use its dark humor very effectively, especially as things spin out of control for Dexter. I especially loved the brewing hatred between Deb and Lila. Season 1 was a bit of a slow burner for me; it took me awhile to get into the series. In contrast, Season 2 starts off exceedingly strong and remains of high quality. I definitely want to dig into the Season 3 episodes on DVD and see what happens next.