Dexter - The Complete Third Season (DVD, 2009)

So Dexter puts down his scalpel for the Summer and we are left reeling after another typically tense, nerve wracking season. Since the second series dealt with Dexter himself being hunted, viewers might have worried the show would have peaked. After seeing our titular serial killer in the cross hairs, a return to just another mystery antagonist might have seemed decidedly old hat.

The writers are wise enough to know that Dexter's internal struggle is what's gripping and while the cases are interesting and entertaining; if they don't directly comment on our anti-hero our minds may wander. Enter Jimmy Smits and his force of nature performance as Assistant District Attorney Miguel Prado, Dexter's first true friend and surprise confidante, to shake up the formula. The Doakes character of the first two years provided a healthy conflict, here was someone who saw past the Boy Scout veneer of Dexter but the loss of that character last season could have wounded the dynamic of the show. Thankfully Smits inherits this mantle and while their relationship is different flashes of the same battle can be seen throughout. There is an initial shaky start when establishing this necessary if slightly improbable friendship between a lowly forensics specialist and a high profile DA.

The writers struggle to convince us the viewers that someone as obsessively secretive as Dexter could let someone new into his world. Death has always been Dexter's way of life so it is fitting that an initial murder (Dexter kills Miguel's brother in self defence) first brings them together and a second more justified (I.e. adhering to Dexter's code) locks the two characters together.

Miguel finds out that Dexter has killed a drug dealer named Freebo who Miguel assumes was his brother's killer and surprisingly he sees the justice in Dexter's extra curricular activities. This gives the show a brand new colour as we've grown so accustomed to Dexter the lone dark defender so adding a sidekick, a slightly unstable one at that is fantastic fodder.





There is a background mystery involving yet another serial Killer "the Skinner" who is also looking for Freebo. This is the procedural dressing that gives the side characters something to investigate and while it does take a while to properly dovetail with the main story arc, when it does it is wonderful. This is essentially a two header however between Smits Miguel and Halls Dexter and their shifting, constantly evolving dynamic is a master class of good Television. In particular the scenes they share in later episodes crackle with an undeniable chemistry.

Shows like Prison Break and 24 pride themselves on twists and turns but Dexter is one of a select few of shows that genuinely surprises me and while the end destination is never entirely in doubt it does challenge the viewer by placing characters in very awkward situations. Every time I think they've written themselves into a corner there's a swerve left and the whole nature of the show can be uprooted. In a good way, though I promise! There is a danger that too many close scrapes for Dex and the tension will be removed, a network crying a type of "serial killer wolf" but for the time being it works. I always think the show is at its best when Dexter is under pressure and racing against the clock. This season however gives us both sides of the character, the desperate self interested "hero" and that of the master manipulator.

As much as I enjoyed it the show

I love Dexter, and definitely enjoyed watching this season, but I was not glued to my seat this time. This is the least enjoyable of the 5 seasons, but I still enjoyed certain episodes. My biggest issues stem from the fact that I was born and raised in Miami and my husband is Cuban, so I know a lot about Cuban culture. Being from Miami, I was disappointed by Jimmy Smitts' performance as a Cuban. I would assume they had a consultant for the show regarding Cuban culture, but whomever it was, they missed the mark. His accent went in and out, and his Brooklyn accent comes out frequently. Also, in the Cuban culture, many people add "-ito" to the end of someone's name when referring to them affectionately. I only heard that once, by Ramon in one of the later episodes, referring to their dead younger brother "Oscar-ito." Smitts' just fell flat for me, and his character did not ring true. Unfortunately, this really put a damper on how I felt about the entire season. If you are not from Miami or another area that embodies a lot of Cuban culture, you may not notice and feel just fine, but his performance was just a huge disappointment for me. Also, the story line throughout the season fell flat, and the way the season ended, I felt no need to go on to season 4. Luckily, I had heard so much about season 4, I gave it a chance any way, and that was the right decision. Season 4 brings the series back to life, and so far, season 5 is continuing to carry on the legacy that is Dexter. Season 3 isn't bad, it's just not that great in comparison to all the other seasons.

In the third season of Showtime's hit series Dexter the action and drama pick up where seasons 1 and 2 left off and never miss a beat. Although Season 3 starts off a bit slow, the pace picks up after the first few episodes until you are locked into the plot. The ongoing web of intrigue surrounding Dexter's personal life and his "dark passenger" takes a surprising twist as Dexter befriends Miami ADA Miguel Prado (played by Jimmy Smits) as his "blood brother". The intensity builds until the climactic finale but if you want to know how it ends, you'll have to watch it for yourself.

Dexter is a great TV series from Showtime. I don't bother getting Showtime, but I bought the Dexter series DVD's. Dexter Season 3 continues the great theme of the show. The acting of supporting characters could use some improvement at times, but the acting of Michael C. Hall (Dexter) is top notch. The introduction of Jimmy Smits (Miguel) as the ADA in season 3 adds another top notch actor to the mix. Looking forward to season 4.

Anyone that hasn't seen Dexter from season 1 through season 3 is missing out ! Showtime gets turned on every year for Dexter at my house and when its done for the season, its turned off. Dexter is a blood splatter patholigist for the Miami police dept. and I guess you could call him kind of a bounty hunter or a "cleaner". He rids the world of the "garbage" killers after he finds out (through his employment) who they are. Don't get me wrong, Dexter is a good guy but has grown up with the need to kill. His dad Harry (1st season) who also was a cop, turned his need to kill into something that would benefit the world, getting rid of the "garbage" that get away with everything they do, and then do it again. I can watch the season over and over. Dexter never gets tiring or boring. Can't wait for season 4 to begin.