Dexter: Season 4

For me DEXTER is without a doubt the best show on television. Its acting, writing, directing and producing are so above anything else on tv. The mere fact that the main character is a serial killer we root for is the first thing to tell you how great the show is. Episodes are shown and stories told all with the voice-over of Dexter, who is so expertly played by Michael C. Hall. We hear all his feelings and thoughts as he chooses the actionsd he must take. Through these voice-overs and flashbacks to his father we learn all about how he developed as a person and why he has such a difficult time with emotions and needs to take the actions he does. This season is by far the best thus far. We are introduced to the Trinity Killer, aka Arthur Mitchell, right away in the first episode. This character is superbly played by John Lithgow and the cat and mouse game that takes place between the Trinity killer and Dexter is at the edge of your seat tv at its best. Dexter puts himself into Arthur's personal life and the results are spellbinding. All other main characters are fully fleshed out and loose no substancce while this major story line takes place. Rita, Debra and all are given great plots as well. This season is so full of twists and turns that to give away any more of the plot would be a sin for viewers who have not seen it. And as for the blu ray. Wow, wow, wow. DEXTER is the only series that I buy on blu ray. Many shows are now on blu ray but the quality is often not much better than that of the dvd. With DEXTER it far surpasses the dvd and takes full advantage of all blu ray has to offer. Much of the audio is front speaker driven but all audio works perfectly. Dexter's voice-overs are strong and clear. They possess a very haunting quality and you feel as if you are truly in Dexter's mind. All music and action noise fully uses all other speakers for full effect. Back speakers will often have you jumping out of your skin. And the picture - if you love DEXTER you owe it to yourself to see it on blu ray. Colors, clarity and black/white ratio are all amazing. The Miami shots are so crystal clear. Ripples in water, facial close-ups, everything is better than you can imagine. This is blu ray video at its best. DEXTER is a series that has definitely grown with each season. Cable series have only 12 episodes and DEXTER manages to provide awe inspiring plots each season while character development never misses a step. I highly recommend DEXTER, particularly on blu ray and particularly this season. A +++

After three seasons of compelling and surprising stories, and just when you think they couldn't possibly come up with anything as exciting as what's come before, the creative team behind "Dexter" outdoes itself by carefully crafting an unendingly surprising and multi-dimensional story arc that has no extraneous moments -- EVERY piece of it fits carefully into the whole. They keep leading you in one direction only to whip you around to an entirely different and exciting path and the circumstances keep shifting on many fronts. During broadcast, I kept thinking to myself, "I have to wait another WEEK to find out what happens next?!" And on top of all the carefully plotted and supremely acted story lines, they manage to ask and explore really deep questions about identity and fate and human nature. Absolutely brilliant, and while I'm delighted that John Lithgow was recognized for his fearlessly fantastic performance as Arthur Mitchell, and I appreciate both Bryan Cranston and Mad Men, I gotta say that I felt that the Emmys should have gone to Michael C. Hall and Dexter. Anxiously awaiting Season Five.

Great show

"Dexter: The Fourth Season" came in last week. I wanted to watch one episode at a time, but sooner than one per week as TV viewers must do to get their fix of Dexter. I lost. I watched the four-set DVD series in two days. That's how enticing/intriguing/thrilling/demanding the series is. The viewer HAS to know what happens next. Anyone reading reviews of any season of Dexter knows how fanatic Dexter's fans are. The episode in Season Four which ends with a car crash was just about the cruelest cut of all for those fans! Who in their sane mind (among Dexter fans) could live an entire week not knowing what happens next? So, of course, I hit the play button. Had to know!! And good ol' Frank Lundy, the FBI-serial-killer hunter returns to this season and adds such a rich dimension to the story. The episode which ends with Lundy and Deb (Dexter's sister) forces another must-know, must-watch next episode. From that point on, NOT watching the series was no longer an option. So we had a Dexter marathon at my house in those two days. I even dreamed about Dexter (the series, not the man--although, let it be said, Michael C. Hall is an attractive man). A prominent feature of this fourth season is Dexter's devoted wife. However, with the advent of a crying baby, she develops into a control freak--or perhaps this trait of control has always been present, providing proof positive that Dexter loves this woman and his family, that he is, indeed, connected despite his Dark Passenger, Perhaps with time he can boot DP, but, of course, the season finale precludes any such event. In fact, the finale perhaps foreshadows a partner in some future day. After all, many serial killers are successful for years and years. Thus enters Arthur (John Lithgow), hiding behind the schoolteacher/deacon facade. Other reviewers strongly praise Lithgow's performance. I will, as well, but won't single him out. He joins a cast of equally powerful actors portraying equally evil killers. He does skilfully portray the chameleon facade of the psychopathic killer, even showing us the origin and root cause of his behavior. Unlike Dexter, Arthur does not have a benevolent father instructing him in ways of discovery avoidance. In fact, his drunken, destructive, abusive father pounds Arthur literally and figuratively into the makings of a serial killer. The season finale is catastrophic and so unexpected, showing that history CAN repeat itself. I'm thinking maybe I will add Showtime to my television programming. I'm not sure I want to wait another year just to get the entire season in one package. Maybe the serial wait is not so bad.

I am not a fan of CSI or medical shows, per se. I don't like dark cinematography, moody music and gruesome body parts. Dexter is so different. It has some of this but does it the way it should be done; i.e., artfully and without insulting the intended audience. When I read about how great John Lithgow was in season 4, I was excited. Then, as the season began, I thought, 'well, he's ok....' But boy does he surprise. He just gets better and better and actually makes a serial killer somehow more humane. There are so many great scenes. I am on a pretty tight budget but I bought all four seasons. Season 4 is probably the best. The scenes with John Lithgow, from every detail, right down to him getting upset at the chatting girls at the library to the horrific, vile vitriol he spews at his family, are so engrossing and enjoyable, I believe he earned several awards for the portrayal. This is simply the best show on television right now.

So, let me begin by stating that if I'm rating this show in relation to most of the nonsense and "reality" shows on TV right now this show would get the full 5 stars, not the 4 I rated it. That being said, the Season begins with a pretty graphic and slightly disturbing scene with Lithgow's character killing his victim in the tub and making her watch herself die.....and this ends up being foreshadowing for what is to come in a very creepy and fascinating study of human nature. Lithgow is very strong in this season and creates a pretty complex, nuanced character that really showcases some of his abilities. I'm sure as an actor he was pretty grateful to be afforded the opportunity to work with such strong material. Bringing Carradine's character back for the Trinity killer arc was nice and set up some pretty interesting TV, though one begins to wonder if Debra is going to make it through a season without finding 2-3 people to sleep with. Not that I'm opposed to women who like to spread the love, or anything like that, just that season after season it gets a little one note. Also very interesting was Dexter's fascination with Arthur and even more so when the truth about Arthur and his family starts to emerge. All in all, the main arc was very satisfying. The rest of arc involving Rita in the kids was hit and miss for me. I loved the relationship and the complexities that came with Dexter having to face what it takes to be in a relationship and watching Dexter grow just a little bit and learn to embrace a bit more of his humanity was interesting. It also sets up the surprise ending that really hits both Dexter and the audience right between the eyes so all in all, very well planned. The Angel/Bautista romance I could have done without. The police detective suspecting Dexter thing has already been there done that with Doakes....why repeat it exactly with Quinn? The astor storyline was a bit tedious. However, even with those less than interesting arcs, I found the season as a whole to be very strong and would recommend it anyone, after they watched the first 3 seasons of course. ;)

Season 4 is the best Dexter yet. Nearly every episode is a cliff-hanger. How they managed that over and over is genius. Poor Dexter finds himself in more and more situations requiring him to act "normal". Having a family is taking its toll, and nearly costs him everything. There's tension between Dexter and Rita, Dexter and Quinn. He's making enemies right and left. This season's bad guy was sheer genius as well, first for being cast, as well as his acting (which is no great surprise - he's just amazing). His first scene involves no dialogue at all, and is absolutely chilling. I can't recommend this season highly enough. But if you haven't experienced Dexter before, do yourself a favor. Start from Season 1 and watch them all in order. You'll see the evolution of one of the greatest characters ever written (which I think far surpasses any of the Dexter books) and experience one of the best shows on TV. Ever.

I not only loved Dexter 4, I LOVED THEM ALL AND THEIR RATINGS are ALL 5, and if I could, I would give them all a 10. I have watched the series from Season One, on up to six! Now I am patiently waiting, for Season 7. Michael has captured many of my friends and sibling, that we buy seasons for each other and trade off the ones we have already watched, and turn someone else on to so that they too can see what I am talking about. Michael makes the show so interesting and so OUTLANDISH, and still the reason for what he is doing is a true blessing to the society. It's a series but a series you can't hate, or be sick or mad at, it makes you love the character all that much more, that you love to watch because it captures your whole inner self! Yes, it is just a TV series, but not too many can match the energy Michael and the cast members, gives out to their true fans! I LOVE DEXTER!!!! <3 Keep up the good work and the story lines are awesome!!! Thanks to all who have put their time and effort into this great series! I am a true fan of DEXTER! Hope it never ceases!!!