http://www.criticsrant.com/archive/2007/10/01/DEXTER----Its-Alive.aspx Season one of DEXTER was easily the best thing on TV last year. The groundwork that HBO pioneered with THE SOPRANOS, SIX FEET UNDER and THE WIRE was furthered by Showtime’s effort with this show. It was serial television writing at its best with a perfectly conceived and executed 12 episodes. The story arc was brilliant, the humor dark, the action crisp and harrowing and there was not one single wasted moment. The story last season was of forensic analysis/ avenging angel/ serial killer Dexter Morgan’s pursuit and gamesmanship with fellow murderer The Ice Truck Killer. As Dexter struggled to discover who he was (an ongoing act for a sociopath with a code) he also discovered how he was created. The Ice Truck Killer turned out to be his biological older brother, bent on freeing Dexter from the rules imposed by his adoptive father. Dexter was offered the choice of fully embracing his nature and living a free life with a brother who he might actually come to love- a feeling, like all of them, that Dexter has heretofore been incapable of. All he had to do was kill his adoptive sister Sergeant Debra Morgan (Jennifer Carpenter). Dexter killed his brother instead. He chose his “fake family” over his real one and turned his back on the chance to finally live, as the season finale was aptly named, “Born Free.” Why would he do this? The closing montage of season one was Dexter imaging a heroes welcome, people cheering and confetti flying as the city of Miami acknowledged his acts as those of a vindicator and savior. Could it be that with all his talk of finding a true connection in the world, of wanting to shake off the shackles and emerge from the darkness all Dexter really wants is a pat on the back? Mix in a little Christ complex and I think so. Season one was so well written, so evenly conceived and built for the exact number of episodes, so perfectly tied together I was almost dreading season 2. There is nowhere to go but down, right? Can you have a long lost relative come out of the woodwork each season? en-US Critics Rant info@criticsrant.com Subtext Version 1.9.4.0 http://www.criticsrant.com/images/default_gravatar_bullhorn.png http://www.criticsrant.com/archive/2007/10/01/DEXTER----Its-Alive.aspx 77 60