DexterSeason3

Dexter Season 3

Okay if you haven’t been watching the Showtime series Dexter then you have really been missing out on one of the best T.V. shows going. The basic premise is that Dexter is a serial killer and can’t really connect with the world like the rest of us. But his father, recognizing what Dexter was, created a set of rules for him to follow when it came to his need to kill. Dexter carefully chooses his victims from the criminal underworld of Miami, making sure that each victim meets the “code” and deserves his or her fate. The code is very effective considering that Dexter’s father was a police detective. It is also easy for Dexter to identify his victims because he is a blood splatter expert for the Miami Dade police department and has access to their resources.

So what is new with season 3? Well there are a couple of connected storylines that run thru the 12 episodes that make up season 3. While trying to kill a drug dealer responsible for the deaths of a couple of girls Dexter is attacked by the man trying to kill his target. Dexter kills him, but things get complicated when it turns out to be the brother of a respected District Attorney, Miguel Prado (played nicely by Jimmy Smits). That and his target gets away after seeing Dexter’s face. If this weren’t bad enough a new killer is in town skinning his victims, and it also seems to connect with the dealer that got away from Dexter. The police, the District Attorney, the skinner, and Dexter are all after the same target; only Dexter needs to get there first. Toss in an unexpected twist with the respected Miguel Prado and that Dexter gets engaged after getting his girlfriend pregnant and you have the makings of another great season.

And it really is another great season for Dexter. As they have in the previous 2 seasons the writers have created 12 great hour long episodes that all tie together with a couple of interconnected storylines that build up over the season before satisfactorily tying up at the end. Here you have Dexter getting involved in the Prado family and their many secrets, another killer terrorizing Miami (the skinner) and Dexter’s sister Deb getting in over her head again. These stories are very engaging to the point that I found myself staying up way too late (on a school night no less!) to watch just one more episode. But it isn’t just the great writing that makes this a cool show, but a wonderful cast as well. Michael C. Hall is killer in the role of Dexter (pun intended) as he turns in another performance that will have you sympathizing with some one that can kill without a conscience. That is a neat trick. Also very good as the women in his life are Julie Benz and Jennifer Carpenter, as his girlfriend and sister. Genre favorite James Remar is also really good in his flashbacks as Dexter’s dead father. And I also have to say that the series isn’t afraid to go out and get wonderful guest stars each season. This time around it is Jimmy Smits as the ambitious District Attorney Miguel Prado. As good as the regular cast is, and in fact probably because of how good they are, the story needed a talent like Smits to hold his own with the regulars. His fiery portrayal of Miguel Prado is a perfect opposite to the character of Dexter and makes that story work.

I could go on and on about this show, but I won’t. I also have been as vague as I can about the story that runs throughout the season. But what I am going to say is that Dexter season 3 is awesome and I can’t recommend it enough to everyone. You all need to go out on Tuesday the 18th and pick up your copy. It is worth every penny. How often can you say that?

4 out of 4

reviewed by John Shatzer