"DEXTER: THE THIRD SEASON"
Blu-Ray Review
by Kevin Carr
| MOVIE: ****1/2 (out of 5 stars)
DVD EXPERIENCE: ** (out of 5 stars) STARRING Michael C. Hall as DEXTER MORGAN Julie Benz as RITA BENNETT Jennifer Carpenter as DEBRA MORGAN Lauren Velez as LT. MARIA LAGUERTA David Zayas as ANGEL BATISTA James Remar as HARRY MORGAN Jimmy Smits as MIGUEL PRADO Not Rated Studio: Showtime Back to DVD Review Home |  |
WHAT IT’S ABOUT
In the third season of Showtime’s hit series about a sociopath serial killer who targets the dregs of society, Dexter Morgan (Michael C. Hall) has dispatched his serial killer brother and the investigation into his own hobby. However, he’s facing his greatest challenge yet: his pretty but dysfunctional girlfriend Rita (Julie Benz) is pregnant, and they are planning on getting married. Meanwhile, at work, an investigation has started on one of Dexter’s botched hits, who happened to be the brother of Assistant District Attorney Miguel Prado (Jimmy Smits). Soon, Dexter finds himself in a tight friendship with Miguel, and he considered letting him in on his biggest secret.
WHAT I LIKED
Normally, it’s a sign that a show is in the process of jumping the shark when one of the main characters is about to have a baby. However, this breathes new life into the story of “Dexter.” This happens because it opens up some new issues that have not yet been dealt with in the show. Not only does Dexter have to manage his emotions to become a husband to Rita and relate to her kids, whom he loves dearly, but he also has to wonder what his own child will become.
We see Dexter wrestling with his emotions even more in this season simply because he is being touched deeper by the people around him – not just with a bun in Rita’s oven and his soon-to-be family, but also with a new best friend in Miguel Prado.
I will admit that I wasn’t entirely sold on Jimmy Smits in this season. I just haven’t been able to take him serious since “L.A. Law” bit the dust in the 90s. However, Smits tears into his character and gives us a look at an ethical chameleon that can match wits and will with Dexter.
The side stories in the show are also pretty interesting. Debra Morgan (Jennifer Carpenter) is trying to keep her own demons under control as she goes for a detective’s shield. Angel (David Zayas) finds a new relationship in the most unlikely of places. LaGuerta (Lauren Velez) has some interesting turns that are similar, but very different, from those we saw in her storyline last year with Doakes. And even Masuka (C.S. Lee) gets a tiny arc for himself.
I have really enjoyed “Dexter” as a show since I saw my first episode. The show allows us to live vicariously through a sociopath with a heart of gold, as we are constantly frustrated with the evil in the world. And the storylines and characters are extremely well written as well.
WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE
My biggest complaints from season two were the B- and C- story arcs along with the character of Debra Morgan. Both of these elements to the series have been improved quite a bit. So aside from a short season (with only a dozen episodes, which is par for the course for a cable series), “Dexter” is a hit in my book.
DVD FEATURES
The biggest disappointment I felt in this Blu-ray set was with the special features. Previous releases have included some features embedded into the disc itself, but for this season, all the features are only available through BD-Live.
If you have your player set up with the proper memory requirements and the internet connection, you can access book excerpts and interviews with the cast and crew, most of which you can get on your computer via the internet.
The BD-Live feature does allow you to download episodes from other Showtime series like “The United States of Tara” and “The Tutors,” so it is a way to taste-test these other shows before committing to a rent or buy on DVD or Blu-ray.
WHO’S GOING TO LIKE THIS MOVIE
Those in touch with – but not too much –their dark side.
