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So, any Hatrackers watching this show? At the advice of Olivet, I started up on it and I've enjoyed it a great deal.
I've always been someone who focuses more on the story than on the acting, so I'm not so much the best person to comment on performances. However, I do think that in the first season in particular, the performances are pretty darn good, most especially Dexter, Rita, and Deb.
The story is also quite interesting, focusing almost entirely on a man named Dexter Morgan. Dexter is a sociopathic serial killer whose favored targets are other serial killers...or perhaps more appropriately 'mass murderers'.
If that were the story alone, it perhaps wouldn't be very interesting, because while I don't know much about serial killers, I do know that they don't tend to involve themselves in human society in normal ways. Dexter doesn't kill killers out of civic duty or some proactive protection of human life. I won't go into it further because that is spoiler territory, but suffice it to say he targets killers because that's how he was raised.
The best thing about the first season was, in my opinion, that from the show's (Dexter's) perspective, he was never a hero. He's never someone to be admired or respected, except perhaps for intelligence and dedication, and Dexter knows it. He's just doing it to survive. He may flirt occassionally with the notion that he's some sort of hero, but it's only ever flirtation and idle fantasy: he's quite self-aware for most of the show.
Anyway, I was looking to gab about the show with other Hatrackers who might've seen it. This thread might become a mayfly if there isn't much interest, or it might grow into a spoiler-filled thread if there are enough regular viewers.
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I've been enjoying it a lot. It's too creepy/violent/explicit for my wife though, so I have to watch it alone. Posts: 3275 | Registered: May 2007
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What do you think, MattP? Personally, I'm increasingly unhappy with the second season...most particularly with the way Dexter himself is changing. If you're up to the current episode, you probably know what I mean. It feels like it's coming off the rails a bit...
Posts: 17164 | Registered: Jun 2001
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I'm liking the second season about as much as I did the first, and that's a whole heck of a lot. I don't mind Dexter's transformation, as I don't think he's really changing very much. I never bought into his claims to be dispassionate and emotionless, as he often showed a subtle compassion that went beyond facade in the first season. I'm also intrigued by recent developments, and how they'll affect Dexter's outlook, particularly how he'll now view the code that defined his actions, but I can't really say more without spoilers.
Also, Vince Masuka is one of the funniest characters on television today. I love how just about everything out of his mouth is wildly inappropriate.
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I like the second season okay. The first was compelling fr its newness and the bizarre nature of Dexter's relationship with the Ice truck killer. This season has more to do with the aftermath of the discoveries made last season, of Dexter toying with his nascent (or perhaps re-emerging) humanity.
My husband enjoys watching it with me but always skips the opening, which is the most disturbing bit of the show for him. Dexter eating breakfast, etc. Sooooo creepy, because they know you're not seeing ham and blood oranges... *shudder*
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Dexter, Damages, Battlestar Galactica and Firefly are the four best television shows I've seen for years.
Each one makes me go "Wow..." when the episode ends. There are other shows I like, but these are shows I love,
Olivet, the opening is one of two show openings I don't skip. This and The 4400. Everything else is a waste of time for me.
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quote:I never bought into his claims to be dispassionate and emotionless, as he often showed a subtle compassion that went beyond facade in the first season.
Well, I don't know about that...personally, in the first season at least, I think it was more about Dexter not being compassionate so much as wanting things kept on an even keel, and being as he said 'fond' of just a very few people. There really isn't much compassion evident in the things he did in the first season: he certainly doesn't seem upset at all when Rita and the kids are so unhappy, for example. When Deb is upset, he seems to know he should do something about it, but not out of any sort of feeling. When good old James constantly berates and stalks him, he doesn't seem to get angry, just with detachment makes allowances.
With the second season, I'm just concerned that they'll go too far too fast with the whole proto-humanity bit. Now, I can certainly understand that happening, and I'm not bothered by Dexter having feelings relating to his mother's death. After all, that was the last time he had feelings. Anyway.
I also don't like Lilah. Even though she's in way over her head, she took calculated advantage of someone coming to her for help. I also wonder if that's the only pair of panties she has. *snicker*
And yes, the introduction is delightfully creepy!
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I'm not sure if the TV people are completely doing their own thing or what, because I'm pretty into the second book and it doesn't relate at all to what's going on in the second season of the show.
Does anybody know if it's the third book their pulling from? I think I read the summary for it and I think I remember it sounding like what's going on the series now.
Speaking of the book, if you're a fan of the show and haven't read Darkly Dreaming Dexter pick it up as soon as you can. It's a different thing, seeing the show first won't "ruin" the experience.
Posts: 299 | Registered: Jan 2007
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You may be right, Rakeesh. It's been a long time since I've seen season one, having watched it during its original run on showtime, so I can't really cite any specific examples I noticed of Dexter's compassionate side. In any case, I've just always got the sense that Dexter did have emotions, and maybe just didn't know how to identify them, or was in denial.
Maybe the emotion I sensed in season one was coming through in Michael C. Hall's performance. I felt the creepy, emotionless vibe a lot more strongly from the actor who plays teenage Dexter.
[SPOILERS FOR SEASON ONE]
Didn't Dexter get pretty upset in the season finale, when he found out that Deb was with the Ice Truck Killer?
Posts: 1855 | Registered: Mar 2003
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I love Dexter to the point of distraction (actually, it's the main thing that's distracting me from my anxiety).
I'll be posting more later (when Aerin is asleep and I have some time).
The Flying Dracula Hair, the writers pulled material from the first book for the first season only. They're now on their own, story-wise. They've stated that they will not be following the second or third books at all. I have very mixed feelings about that.
I adored the first season - I though it was just about perfect. I'm loving this season, but not as much. Mostly because I loathe Lila with a burning passion and because I hate what they seem to be doing to Harry. I also hated the Pascal storyline.
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hehe, I'm no fan of Lila's either. She oozes "I'm so sophisticated and deep" it's just irritating. Ohh! She steals junk to make her artwork, edgy!
Personally, I think there's a lot more than she's telling about her unpleasant background (general to avoid spoilers), and I think it's going to bring her into conflict with Dexter.
Posts: 17164 | Registered: Jun 2001
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Haven't been following this thread in depth as I hope my eyes will just glance over possible spoilers and just not digest them...
But yeah, I got my hands on Season One this week. I had been meaning to watch it and as it went with Avatar and Firefly, Hatrack has once again convinced me that its worth a shot.
The very first episode hooked me. I've always been intrigued by the idea of a story that sets up what should be an unsympathetic, villianous character as the protagonist. And so far, the rest of the cast ensemble is giving me good vibes which is a bonus.
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But the premise is that the guy's a serial killer. And I don't get the sense so far that he's in it because he wants to save the world from guys and gals more evil than himself. In a law-and-order society, there's really no way to spin it to make the guy come out looking like a model citizen.
Maybe that'll change but it seems like he had these sociopathic, murdering urges and his father just gave him the tools and focus to manage it. And that's the way its been described to be by others.
Posts: 1733 | Registered: Apr 2005
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It seems to me that you are associating moral action with the classical view of intention, whereas I am associating it with the end. He is killing murderers, therefore he is, if not good, not bad.
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quote:It seems to me that you are associating moral action with the classical view of intention, whereas I am associating it with the end. He is killing murderers, therefore he is, if not good, not bad.
It's a bit disturbing that you feel murdering murders is a morally neutral action.
Well, anyway, how can someone as thoroughly broken as Dexter be either moral or immoral? He's freakin' crazy.
Even Dexter recognizes this about himself, JonHect. He never thinks he's good, he thinks he's...got these irresistable urgers that must be satisfied, and he's got an outlet. That's all. He, at least, is under no illusions about the murder of murderers being a neutral thing. He does it because he wants to.
Posts: 17164 | Registered: Jun 2001
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"It's a bit disturbing that you feel murdering murders is a morally neutral action."
Yeah, it kind of is. Eh, It'll wear off. I just read Nietzsche yesterday and usually I think in the philosopher I reads method for a day or so after I read them.
Posts: 2705 | Registered: Sep 2006
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I relate to Dexter in a way that I suspect many would find disturbing. Which is to say, we're both analytical to the point of being nearly emotionless. That's not to say I don't HAVE emotions, just that I control them tightly. I think that Dexter is an exaggerated example of a certain type of people in who's category I fit.
I used to consider myself a nice guy, but lately, I'm more and more coming to the realization that many of my self-less seeming moments were calculated to get a certain reaction from the people involved.
I don't drink, smoke, do drugs, lie excessively, or sleep around. None of this is due to any moral qualms, but because logically, I've decided that the likelihood/severity of the consequences of said actions outweigh the benefits.
If I had a reason to commit some crime, and knew that I had a good chance to get away with it, then I wouldn't lose any sleep over doing it.
I'm also very polite to the people that I work with/commute with on a daily basis; not because it makes me feel warm and cuddly inside, but because I have to deal with these people every day, and I don't want needless complications. For this same reason, I avoid confrontation (never been in a fight), and I don't let my eyes wander amongst women around me. I also avoid flirtatious chatter unless I know how the person is going to react (which is to say, I only joke around with my platonic female friends, as I'm never sure how any other women would react).
I also tip well and am willing to help anyone who asks for it (or is in obvious need of a small service that I can readily provide, such as reaching stuff, lifting/moving stuff, etc.), but not through any sense of altruism, but because I believe that Karma is not anything mystical in the least, but is logical probability. Favors are like investments to me. The less you try to collect on them (read: never remind someone of it, but rather let them remember it themselves), the more they are worth when you finally do.
In short, I seem like a model citizen, only emptier.
Yes... Dexter is my kind of character.
Posts: 636 | Registered: Apr 2002
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So, I devoured the first season. Onto the second!
I can't believe I had to look on IMDB to figure out why Rita looks so familiar. She's Darla from Buffy. Soft voice and all.
I was wondering if anyone has read the book series the show is based on? As a recent Barnes and Noble hiree, I'm itching to use my new discounts and special ordering privileges. Are they any good? How much does the story vary?
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" That's not to say I don't HAVE emotions, just that I control them tightly"
What I found MOST interesting about that whole schpiel is that you still have the desire to post here, even though we cannot positively affect you in any way. Not that I am saying you should leave, just something to note.
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I've always felt when I hear people saying they liken themselves in some way, to some degree, to someone such as Dexter that...well, it's a little bit arrogant. The truth is, if you're not a sociopath or a murderer, then you're just nothing like Dexter at all.
quote:Which is to say, we're both analytical to the point of being nearly emotionless. That's not to say I don't HAVE emotions, just that I control them tightly.
And this is what I'm talking about. Setting the second season aside, where Dexter is dealing with lots of stuff from childhood (when he was still normal), Dexter doesn't have emotions. All of his actions and reactions on an 'emotional' level are calculated to achieve a certain end, not just 'some'.
quote:If I had a reason to commit some crime, and knew that I had a good chance to get away with it, then I wouldn't lose any sleep over doing it.
Not only does Dexter not 'lose sleep' over his crimes, he wouldn't 'lose sleep' (except for concern about being caught and thrown into a cage) if he switched to a sniper in a belltower.
quote:Yes... Dexter is my kind of character.
No...he's really not.
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I enjoyed last week's episode. Thankfully Lilah is beginning to show her true colors. I knew I was right about her!
Posts: 17164 | Registered: Jun 2001
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What? You aren't going to correct my grammar or spelling while you're at it?
Don't cherry pick. You left out the line that put it into context:
"I think that Dexter is an exaggerated example of a certain type of people in who's category I fit."
I also fit into many OTHER categories.
As for why I posted that in the first place. I was in the mood to self-analyze myself, and I see no point in making a journal. This happened to be the forum I was looking at when the feeling hit me, and to stay within the thread subject, I related to the character in the show. I could have just as easily related to characters in other shows I watch such as House or Heroes. This was the one at hand.
Before anyone else can attempt to psychoanalyze it further, I'll do it for you. I probably posted it to feed some prideful urge to want people to think that I'm "Cold" and "Antisocial". Which isn't untrue-- I DO want people to think that about me; as I interpret those traits as meaning "Objective", which, in my opinion, is a virtue in the intellectual world.
Why is it taboo to point out the traits in a fictional character that you relate to (or THINK you relate to, before someone else says it)? Obviously I'm not JUST like Dexter or, as was stated, I would be a serial killer, but I see things in his character that I recognize in myself. ________________________ Now... to un-derail the thread... I find it tragic how Dexter's "Manifesto" ended up tightening the noose rather than loosening it. I predict that Dexter will realize that Lundy is his biggest threat and find a way to "deal" with him.
Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go fake up an alibi for Thursday night and clean my trunk.
Posts: 636 | Registered: Apr 2002
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I think the reason Dexter's character appeals to a lot of us is that we all have some similarities to him, although hopefully none of us ARE killers.
We all consider selfish motives when we interact with other people, but most of us have no idea what a complete emotional disconnect with the rest of human society would feel like.
It is that mix of familiar/alien in his character that makes his story so compelling, and makes the acting in this so great. I BELIEVE he is Dexter, because his internal narration is so spot on.
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*shrug* A sociopath isn't just an exagerrated example of a cold and antisocial person, sylvrdragon.
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Actually, as for Dexter's 'Manifesto'-and I was really annoyed, looking on my DVR, that it was referred to as simply 'manifest' (I couldn't guess what the hell that episode would be about!)-I knew as soon as it was revealed that it would come back to bite him on the ass.
Not just for dramatic tension purposes, either. But because Dexter does his best 'work' when he's utilizing the Code of Harry, and he's been off the reservation for awhile now.
Posts: 17164 | Registered: Jun 2001
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Sociopath, no, but Psychopath , I think better fits, both as an "exaggeration" and as Dexter's malady. (to your credit though, they are often confused with one another.) This is not to say that they are exact, but "Cold" (lack of empathy/conscience) and "antisocial" are both major points in the definition of said condition. Sorry if I'm nitpicking, but I like debate
_____________________
Yeah, Dex is definitely off his game lately.
Posts: 636 | Registered: Apr 2002
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I'm no psychiatrist, but Dexter certainly doesn't have poor impulse control. He's controlling his impulses on a nearly constant. You're certainly nitpicking, since neither of us are experts, and the reference you cited says that the two terms are frequently interchanged!
Anyway, this argument is pretty silly.
Posts: 17164 | Registered: Jun 2001
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Well dang! I was convinced Doakes would find Dexter's true secret pretty soon, but not necessarily an episode later.
It's nice to see Dexter realizing just how much screwing up he's been doing...even though it's looking like it will be too little, too late. Particularly that he's finally seen through Rita: pleasing also to find out that the first concrete evidence he finds puts his hair up about her.
I'm very, very interested to see what Doakes will do. He's shown himself perfectly willing to kill someone if he thinks they've got it coming (that Haitian mass murderer from the first season), but will he think Dexter has it coming-beyond his own antagonism for the man? And if he does, will Doakes take lethal action again? Does Lundy truly suspect Dexter, or was that interview just a routine interrogation?
Posts: 17164 | Registered: Jun 2001
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I don't think Lundy suspects Dexter as he only has one anomaly on only one of eighteen victims, and someone as objective as Lundy probably wouldn't read too much more into it than Dexter's explanation (not that he'll discount it entirely, I just don't think Dex is suspected any more than anyone else.)
I'm also glad that Lila seems to be out of the picture. I haven't liked her since she started playing psychiatrist on every little thing that Dexter said or did. I hate when people try to read too deeply into other people's actions, like the whole "Oh, he's trying to take control" or what-have-you. It's annoying. Their isn't always a motive to every action or phrase.
I heard somewhere that they already had the green-light for Season3 (I don't THINK that was here, but it could be), but I'm not sure the plot line can take another narrow escape and still remain in the range of reason.
I think Doakes is gonna get pegged with being the Bay Harbor Butcher. It's the only way I can see for him to get out of this without breaking the Code of Harry. It probably won't even be all that hard.
Posts: 636 | Registered: Apr 2002
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Is it Lilah, or Lilah? I think I've seen both spellings, but I could be wrong.
I agree that at the start of things, Lundy is objective. But that objectivity decreases as his focus narrows. He's got a strange 'accident' happening right at that police station, he's got solid instincts leading him to believe it's a cop, and he's got a solid portion of the dead linked to that particular station. He may be no more suspicious of Dexter than he is of the other area cops, but I think he is suspicious of him.
I don't think for a moment Lila is out of the picture. Someone as twisted and screwy as her (I'm convinced she deliberately murdered her old boyfriend, and far from convinced he had it coming to any extent) won't back off of a 'prize' just because of a threat, no matter how scary that threat is. Remember, she thinks she's got a solid read on Dexter. I didn't like her from the first time we saw her...because I got the vibe that she was exactly what she is being shown to be. I think the actress really did a good job with her.
I'm not sure how Doakes might be pegged as the BHB. For that to happen, I can't imagine it going down without Dexter actively helping to frame him...and he's already shown that he's not willing to put an innocent man behind bars for his own benefit. The Code of Harry would not seem to allow that, or else why would it focus so much on venting homicidal urges on the homicidal?
I'm interested to see what happens with Lila, but not in what she'll do. I know what she'll do: stay involved. Hell, she was willing to throw the man who murdered his mother in Dexter's face just to keep him close to her, there's no WAY she's backing off. I'm way more interested to see what Doakes will do. Doakes is not so dissimilar to Dexter in precisely one sense: he's perfectly willing to murder someone who 'has it coming' (that Haitian war criminal). What will his antagonism towards Dexter lead him to do, seeing as how he's essentially guilty of almost exactly the same crime, just to a smaller degree?
Posts: 17164 | Registered: Jun 2001
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Oh! Heh, I didn't realize I'd made that typo. I thought you were correcting my spelling of CrazyB#@%*!'s name. -------------
Well, tonight's episode was surprising to say the least. I didn't imagine the Doakes situation would resolve itself (or move towards resolving itself) so quickly. I am pleased, however, to note that Dexter is not (initially, at least-the teaser for next week is uncertain) willing to just frame Doakes as he could no doubt easily do.
The situation with Lila took a turn that was surprising, but in fact shouldn't have been. I forgot that Lila has Dexter's "addiction" to hold over his head as blackmail. I'm not surprised she's still trying to be a part of his life, though. I do wonder how that will wrap up. For the time being, at least, Dexter remains unwilling to kill anyone outside the Code of Harry, so Lila is safe.
The flashback to Dexter&Harry's execution field trip was fascinating and disturbing.
Posts: 17164 | Registered: Jun 2001
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Dexter: "I snook out to see my girlfriend and got ambushed by Doakes. He drove me out to the Everglades, presumably to kill me, but I got an opening and choked him out."
Up in the air whether he'll leave Menendez (or whatever his name is) out there to sweeten the deal. Probably not though, cause if Lila finds out about his body, then she'll likely jump straight to the answer, and who knows how THAT would end... Though that WOULD provide enough tension to finish out the season.
Also, I foresee this season (or at least this story line) ending with Dexter looking in on another execution (probably Doakes') almost exactly the same as the flashback.
Posts: 636 | Registered: Apr 2002
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So.. this topic has obviously been dead for quite some time, but I just watched both seasons and need to rant about it a bit, and figured and old thread was just as good as a new.
Overall the second season was a lot less satisfying than the first. You can't help but come to identify with a main character, and the first season had something approaching a "happy" ending - the "good brother" won. Dexter obviously wasn't a model citizen but there was never a point where I felt he made a genuinely bad decision, all things considered. He did his best, and since I was identifying with him I got to end the season feeling... I dunno, good about myself?
Whereas the second season has him making mistakes all over the place. While I can't blame him for making those mistakes (seriously, if you were in his position, what would you have done?) I certainly wouldn't be proud of myself.
I did really like Doakes. I'm not sure whether I was more sad to see him go or to see Dexter come so close to making the right choice and then fail.
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Dexter clearly isn't your average serial killer. For one thing, he wanted to please Harry. He really did. He might not have felt emotions in the normal way, but living up to Harry's expectations was very important to him. (Even taking into account the fact that Harry explained things to Dexter in terms of Dexter's self-interest - how not to get caught, etc. "Harry's code" is only partly about not getting caught, it's mostly about being the best kind of monster you can be*.)
He's also longing to end his isolation - he's genuinely regretful that he can't join forces with his brother.
And when the mental wall he put up between his present self and his pre-Harry self starts to break down, he starts feeling grief and horror in a quite conventional way.
It's a great series.
I have a few quibbles with it.
1. I would agree that the Esme Pasquale sub plot was dumb. She was hardly a character at all, just a crazy straw woman of female insecurity. The fact that they tied a neat little bow around the ultimate reasons for her breakdown just kind of bugged me. (But I see a glimmer of potential there. There are echoes of elements of Dexter's personality in the characters all around him. The vulnerability of Deb is hidden deep down in Dexter somewhere. The cold manipulation of LaGuerta. The double life of Batista. The willingness to kill in Doakes. Even the hints of sociopathy in Masuka. If they can expand and enhance this theme satisfyingly in the 3rd season then I'll forgive the pat resolution to the annoying Pasquale sub plot.)
2. Frank Lundy. Just didn't buy the character, or Deb's attraction to him. (Harry's neglect of Deb does set the stage for seeking a relationship with an older male authority figure I guess. I just think there's zero chemistry there, and Deb's sudden insight that she needs tranquility seems trite.)
3. Dexter's perpetual 2 days worth of stubble. The intro to the show has him using a razor, but when he leaves the apartment at the end of the intro, there's the stubble! He's never without it, it's length never varies, even when they go to pains to show how Dexter had to stay out all night and barely had time to drag into work on time. They should be honest and show how much attention with a beard trimmer would be required to maintain that precise facial fuzz at all times.
I do like the gradual ratcheting up of tension that has occurred in both seasons. I like that Rita is becoming more sophisticated, more in tune that Dexter's not normal, but increasingly accepting of Dexter's peculiarly selective morality all the same. I really like that I'm picking up on subtle aspects of characterization and underlying themes but not being beat over the head with them. (I wouldn't even mind if I was imagining these things and they weren't intended - the important thing is not being beat over the head with them, a la "Special Victims Unit.")
The 2nd season closer was really quite well done. I admire the writers restraint in not leaving Lila out there to wrench future plots as needed. (Some of the things the writers of "Nip/Tuck" just left hanging out there for entire seasons were unforgivable. Actually that whole series bites; it's a soap opera with different production techniques.)
I'm hoping the 3rd season shows us how Dexter decides to become a human.
*and I'm aching to see them explore how Harry's fatalism was so deeply and horribly mistaken.
Posts: 4287 | Registered: Mar 2005
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quote:Originally posted by scifibum: I'm hoping the 3rd season shows us how Dexter decides to become a human.
Isn't that what the 2nd season was about? Having Dexter explore his emotions more deeply? Didn't seem to work out for him.
I think the later books explore Dexter dealing with the sociopathic tendencies of Rita's children, although there's not a whole lot of hint of such in the series.
Posts: 339 | Registered: Apr 2008
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haven't read the books, and I think while Dexter of the TV series has had a couple of false starts toward acting more normal, I think they're leaving open the idea that he's got the potential to actually quit being a serial killer. (Though I can enjoy the series either way, it'd be more meaningful to me if Dexter has to REALLY struggle to reinvent himself, which he's only toyed with so far.)
Posts: 4287 | Registered: Mar 2005
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quote:What would the right decision have been, in your view?
Turning himself in. He explains to himself (and Doakes) why it makes sense, and only backs down out of a combination of selfishness and a shortsighted desire to make his family happy. Eventually he will be caught and Deb/Rita will be crushed, probably in worse circumstances than they are now. Ending it then was the best way and he chickened out.
My understanding (I haven't read any books but looked 'em up on wkipedia) is the third book takes a wild veer to the left, suddenly incorporating supernatural themes, with an actual demonic power turning out to be the cause of a lot of plot elements. While I'm sure that could make an interesting story in its own right, it totally destroys everything the first two books (and seasons) set up.
Posts: 4136 | Registered: Aug 2008
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quote:Turning himself in. He explains to himself (and Doakes) why it makes sense, and only backs down out of a combination of selfishness and a shortsighted desire to make his family happy. Eventually he will be caught and Deb/Rita will be crushed, probably in worse circumstances than they are now. Ending it then was the best way and he chickened out.
Why must he eventually be caught, though? Serious question-only a total fluke chance of blind luck led him to being nearly caught this time. Other than that, he had being going for years without being caught, preying on those who had been going for years (often without being caught or even suspected).
Posts: 17164 | Registered: Jun 2001
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Well, he relies a LOT on people not walking in on wherever he happens to be. Eventually odds are that someone is going to stumble in on him, or call the police when he's loading bags into his car or boat. Also, someone else like Doakes may take an interest but turn out to be better at subtle surveillance. And, like Harry told Dexter and Dexter painfully observed, nothing stays buried. The Atlantic current might not be enough to keep the bodies from being found. There would be a chance that he'd eventually get caught.
Not to mention Dexter has made some big mistakes and might make others.
I think turning himself in would be the "right thing" because however careful Dexter is, he's eventually going to kill someone who doesn't deserve it (after all, our justice system does that while demanding a higher standard of proof than Dexter does). And of course what Dexter does is wrong, even though the show is very effective at getting us to keep asking the question.
Posts: 4287 | Registered: Mar 2005
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I'm not sure I agree the justice system requires a higher standard of proof. I think it requires about the same amount of proof, but with a lot of extra bureaucracy thrown in that makes it take longer and makes things easier for wealthy people than for poor.
I'm also not sure I think what Dexter does is inherently wrong. (I know I'm somewhat flipflopping here). He's so delicately poised on the edge of morality that I can't say it's right or wrong. But honestly the question is kind of irrelevant.
Dexter has a compulsion that's never going away, so he's going to keep killing. He's also highly intelligent and instilled with enough of a sense of morality to do the job well. He's gonna keep doing it no matter what, and the world is probably, overall, a better place because of it. Is it "right?" I dunno, but does it matter?
On the flipside, if the police just let every vigilante do there thing, a bunch of idiots who didn't know what they're doing would kill the wrong people and cause a panic. So the police should do everything in their power to stop vigilante-ism (is that a word?), including Dexter.
Posts: 4136 | Registered: Aug 2008
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quote:Originally posted by scifibum: And of course what Dexter does is wrong, even though the show is very effective at getting us to keep asking the question.
posted
I should have said "in my opinion." I was trying to expand upon the weak point with a stronger point, from my POV, on why I think it would be right for Dexter to knock it off or turn himself in if he can't control his compulsions. I didn't mean that "of course everyone will agree...".
Posts: 4287 | Registered: Mar 2005
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quote:Why must he eventually be caught, though? Serious question-only a total fluke chance of blind luck led him to being nearly caught this time. Other than that, he had being going for years without being caught, preying on those who had been going for years (often without being caught or even suspected).
Assuming Dexter was going to frame Doakes, the chances of him getting caught would actually be pretty high. Doakes would spend the entire trial (and likely appeals) pointing the finger at Dexter. Even if no evidence pointed to Dexter at the time, now he'd be on everyone's radar, and at the very least LaGuerta would probably do some checking. The only alternative would be to kill Doakes, which would be completely immoral even by Dexter's mindset.
Posts: 4136 | Registered: Aug 2008
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posted
Seeing as how Dexter explicitly only targets people for whom there is no cure*, I'm not sure that just killing them is wrong either.
*Within the show, that is; in the show, there is not a cure for the kind of wrongness Dexter has, as well as the people he targets.
Given those assumptions I'm not sure I see the morality in dealing with such people as though they were ordinary criminals.
Posts: 17164 | Registered: Jun 2001
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