Dexter Evaluation

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America’s attraction to crime and drama can be credited to the viewers desire to see good defeating evil: “In popular media, law enforcement is oftentimes presented being insufficient in upholding justice, calling for the intervention of a hero; a figure capable of recognizing and punishing evil without the restrictions of the law”(Dexter). “Dexter” is an hour-long American physiological thriller on Showtime TV. Created by Jeff Lindsay and James Manos, “Dexter” first aired in 2009 and has been the spotlight of Showtime since then. The show depicts Michael C Hall as Dexter Morgan, a blood spatter analyst for the local Miami Metro Police Department. If Dexter isn’t at a crime scene, he is cleaning his own one up. In his spare time he is a cautious serial killer who kills other murderers who have escaped the judicial system. Dexter’s layers of personality, ability to problem solve and his ability to balance both sides of himself are what makes him an enthralling character. Although most people aren’t serial killers the general viewing audience can relate to Dexter: Everyone has different layers of personality and everyone to a certain degree has a dark side.

One of Dexter’s enchanting qualities is his multi-layered character: “Dexter is like an onion; His layers of personality are impossible to find, unless you slowly peel them back one by one until you get to the core”(Why). Initially, Dexter seems like the average Joe with a steady job, a wife and a nice home. Quickly viewers discover that Dexter is not all that he seems to say; he is a serial killer. The different layers are not pulled back by anyone, but rather himself. During a kill, Dexter becomes a vicious assassin, first explaining to his victim why they deserve to ...

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...to blur when Dexter is on screen. While he brutally kills people, he seems to be doing it for good intentions and does not hurt innocent people. However if Dexter is ever caught, no matter whom he is killing he will hurt his friends and family around him, thus inadvertently hurting innocent people.

Dexter has been able to fly under the radar, and could undoubtedly do so until he “retires” from his serial killings. If he continues to stick to his “code” he will be able to fulfill his duty to wipe the scum of Miami off the streets. Dexter’s layered personality, ability to balance himself and intellectual thinking is something that keeps viewers coming back for more.Is it possible that Dexter’s actions would ever be accepted in the modern world? Regardless, his addicting personality makes show viewer’s reconsider the line between what is good and what is evil.

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