Morality is something that everyone has but no one has a clear understanding of. In the Television Series Dexter, you are constantly put in a moral dilemma. The anti-hero Dexter Morgan will make you question everything; he is a serial killer that you fall in love with because he is killing other killers who slipped through the cracks in the justice system. Throughout the series there is always one reoccurring question of morality, is Dexter Morgan, the psychopathic killer, a hero or a villain
Dexter is a crime drama that was broadcast on the premium cable channel Showtime in 2006 and is almost an hour long. It tells the story of Dexter Morgan, the series protagonist, who can be considered an anti—hero who also happens to work for the Miami
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Metro Police Department as a blood-spatter analysis. Although he works full time for Miami Metro, he lives another life as a serial killer. In the pilot episode of Dexter his father, who is a police officer, profiles Dexter as a psychopath after he discovers that Dexter has been killing the neighborhood animals; and instead of helping him get over his mental disorder he decides to help shape him into the serial killer he is today. His father, Harry Morgan, gives him “The Code”, which is what Dexter refers to when he is killing someone. Dexter doesn’t just kill anyone; he murders serial killers who escaped through the bars of the justice system so in a way he is doing something good. “The Code” that was given to Dexter by his father directors him to never harm a child and to never kill an innocent person, he needs actual proof that the person he is killing is a serial killer, and to never work off of a hunch. His dad, being a cop, talks to Dexter one night after he found bloody knives, about how he should be killing the people he cannot catch. His dad tells him that he will teach him everything to do to insure that he will not be caught while reassuring him that he will always be loved. For this paper, I decided to watch episodes 1-4 of season one because I believe it lays the ground for the series, as most first seasons do.
The director for the first three episodes is Michael Cuesta but the director for the fourth episode is Robert Lieberman. Michael Cuesta is also well known for directing the pilot episodes for some well-known series such as Blue Bloods and he also directed other crime genres like Homeland and Elementary. Robert Lieberman is no stranger to the crime genre either, as he directed an episode of both Criminal Minds and the X-Files. Daniel Cerone wrote the first four episodes of Dexter but James Manos Jr developed them for television. Daniel Cerone is a very well known writer for the crime genre television series; some of his other successful series are The Blacklist, The Mentalist, Charmed and Constantine. According to IMDB there were two executive producers who were there for the entire series and they are Sara Colleton and John Goldwyn, who were not really well known before or even after the series. Robert Lloyd Lewis was listed as a producer for the entire series and he was also not very well known before or after the series ended. According to the courses text written by Victoria O’Donnell, a show runner is the producer who oversees a television program; negotiates with the television executives, counsels actors, and defines the creative vision of a television series. That being said the top five listed show runners are Daniel Cerone, …show more content…
Sara Colleton, Charles H. Eglee, John Goldwyn and Michael C. Hall. Dexter Morgan as a character is a very multi dimensional, meaning that he has many different sides to him, which is abundantly clear in the pilot episode. His one side is a hard working, blood spatter analysis that is employed by the Miami Metro Police department who helps solve crimes and put killers in jail. His other facet is the psychopath serial killer vigilante who is out to do what the justice system isn’t doing. Dexter fits into the psychopath box perfectly, the psychopath in Dexter came through when he was younger and saw his own mother be murdered in front of him. Psychopaths can be angry but most of the time to get their way they can also be very charming and deceiving. You can see an example of his psychopath ways in the pilot episode when he flirts with one of the secretaries to get a confidential file. In their exchange the Secretary says, “You should find a pretty girl.” And Dexter replies “I found you” and then the secretary says what we were all thinking, “Charming, like your father, don’t get me fired.” Serial killers also show no sign or remorse or guilt, and this is very evident when after he kills. The show itself was a very popular crime drama while being broadcast and a weekly moral dilemma for those who were watching it. The television series Dexter put the viewers on a moral rollercoaster every week; on one hand you love and support Dexter in the killings of killers who are uncatchable but on the other half of you hate to love him because he is killing people, all though they are not innocent. It is pretty clear in the pilot episode that Dexter Morgan had no other path of life to go down, he was killing dogs when he was little and then even told by his dad it was okay to kill people who kill. Which leads to my argument and the moral question of, Is Dexter Morgan, a villain or a hero? The way the show is written and produce takes you through your morals every week because during the first season you find out so much about Dexter and you feel bad for his past but can quite but yourself in his shoes. Dexter Morgan would be considered an anti-hero because he is our main character, protagonist, but he lacks the heroic and relatable attributes.
You cannot morally relate to him because as the average viewer you don not think the way he does because you didn’t have the same early trauma that he had. Although the writers of Dexter do an amazing job with making you fall in love. For example, in the second episode of the first season, Dexter is at his girlfriend’s house singing her two children to sleep, which makes you forget that he has already killed someone. After Dexter’s first season on Showtime, the series intrigues tons of views including the popular network CBS whom wanted to air reruns of the popular series but was denied by the Parent Television Council (PTC). The PTC put out a newsletter as to why they CBS should not be able to air reruns of this new show and it had to do with their morals. The PTC claimed “CBS and its affiliates used any excuse to rationalize Dexter’s grotesque, graphic and gratuitous violence and dark, disturbing themes. Clearly, CBS and its stations do not care about viewers, children, community standards or the law of the land.” In the article it bashes both CBS and Dexter, It said that Dexter is a “highly disturbing and ultra-violent show where a serial killer is the
hero” Since there was so much controversy around this television series and all the moral issues it brings, why was it such a successful show?
The final episode occurs seven years after the war. Dexter is now a very successful businessperson in New York City. Devlin, a business acquaintance from Detroit, makes small talk by remarking that one of his best friends in Detroit, at whose wedding Devlin ushered, was married to a woman from
Dexter is the lead character of famous crime, drama and mystery TV series, “Dexter”. The TV series is a treat for the psychologically minded
When Dexter Haven came back into his ex-wife’s home unannounced would very much compare to the Anomie theory. As stated by Jack Levin, “a social situation in which the traditional rules of everyday life have broken down and individuals became confused as to how to behave.” (Levin, 54) I believe this is very noticeable in Dexter’s behavior when he comes back into Traci’s home attempting to introduce Macaulay Connor and Liz Imbrie as family friends of the family so they can report on the wedding for their tabloid Spy Magazine. Dexter became confused as the person who he is when he learned about Traci’s wedding. He was an old employee for Spy, and that is when he decided to intrude into the wedding with his plot. `
Dexter denies his background as coming from the middle class and wanting to have more in life. He started as a fourteen year old golf caddie and was the best one around. Dexter one day while working thought to himself that he could have so much more than just being a golf caddie. Then and there he decided to quit his job and move on with his life. As Dexter grows up and moves out west to fulfill his dream, there is a duality inside of him that ultimately is his own downfall.
Little did Dexter know that Judy was going to play him like she has played every other man in town, dinner, dates, and get booted to the curb when she got bored. Judy preyed on Dexter’s so-called love throughout his childhood, adulthood, and his engagement with Irene. Dexter and Judy’s relationship was based off Dexter’s dream to have the prettiest girl even if she couldn’t be
The job of a criminal lawyer is quite difficult. Whether on the defense or the prosecution, you must work diligently and swiftly in order to persuade the jury. Some lawyers play dirty and try to get their client off of the hook even though they are guilty without a doubt. Even though the evidence is all there, the prosecution sometimes just can’t get the one last piece of the puzzle to make the case stick and lock the criminal up. Such is the case Orenthal James Simpson.
The similarities between Jay and Dexter are quite apparent when reading each story. They both come from the Midwest and although Dexter’s family has some money, both are similar in the fact that they did not start out as wealthy, upper class men from rich families. Their hard work and determination to make their own wealth and acquire the luxuries and social status that come with it are completely by their own doing. Both men achieve their goals of the American dream at a relatively young age and are able to be a part of the high society they once observed from a distance. Their desire to amass wealth and the perks associated with it come with an ulterior motive, to win back the girls they desire that will only be with them if they have the wealth and status to bring to the table.
O.J. Simpson, a great football hero, made the mistake of his lifetime that becomes the most notorious criminal case ever. Growing up on the West Coast wasn’t serene for Simpson because he was surrounded by gangs. In his high school and college years he quickly rose to be a great football player. During his time he played football in college, he was awarded the Heisman Trophy. After he became an elite athlete in college, he was drafted by the Buffalo Bills. He stayed with them for eight years, then transferred to the San Francisco 49ers (Knapp 1). Simpson met Nicole Brown at Daisy, an upscale Beverly Hills club. The two fell head over heels for each other and got married on February 2, 1985. During their marriage, Simpson inflicted many
Do you think O.J. Simpson should have been found guilty of the murders of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ronald Goldman? Orenthal James Simpson, also known as O.J. or the Juice, used to be known as a running back in the NFL, until he was accused of murdering Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman in June of 1994. Nicole and Ron were found murdered outside of Nicole’s condominium in Los Angeles, California. The trial that attempted to seek justice for Nicole and Ron’s families gained attention across the nation. Many people followed the O.J. Simpson trial to see if the Pro Football Hall of Famer would be found guilty or not guilty of the murders of his ex-wife and her friend. At the end of the trial in October of 1995, Orenthal
During the summers, Dexter works hard at being the best caddie at the Sherry Island Country Club. This is foretelling of the hard work he will do to change his socioeconomic status. We are shown how dedicated Dexter is by the tears in Mr. Jones' eyes on the day he decides to quit (Fitzgerald, 120). After meeting Judy Jones, Dexter developed a stronger sense of urgency to change his status. Dexter is so determined to fulfill his dream that he opts to go to a "more famous university in the East" rather than the state university that was more affordable (Fitzgerald, 122). This is an example of his determination to lift his status in the eyes of others. While speaking with Judy, he uses his prestigious university as the starting point of his life. Unfortunately for Dexter, he cannot conquer Judy Jones as he has every
Sadly, the story doesn’t end that way. The story had many similarities and differences considering the plot, atmosphere, tone and characteristics, to a fairy tale. The plot of “Winter Dreams” is similar to a fairy tale. The story begins with a middle class young boy dreaming of fame and fortune. Dexter always wants more in life than he already does.
These people are usually murderers. His sister, a police officer is a very brave and curious person who works very hard to earn her detective shield, just like her father(tv.com). Through a series of events and commentary of the thoughts of Dexter, the author and director attempt to highlight the risks in life, and use Dexter’s thoughts and memories to try to question one’s intentions and actions by using the extreme scale of Dexter’s
The main character Dexter Green is a young man at the start he was just a caddy for a golf course and was only there for pocket money since his dad had
With Dexter’s loss of Judy the ideal women, he lost the aspect of the ideal lifestyle. Dexter always aimed for the best and when he couldn’t have it he didn’t want to settle for less. Throughout the story he is chasing after a women named Judy Jones. She represents the American dream, and the best there is. Dexter couldn’t seem to grasp the thought of Judy. He fell in love with another girl named Irene but still couldn’t resist the urge to chase after Judy. In the end he couldn’t get either, he was stuck between the perfect women and reality. He losses Judy and the ideal of the American dream, he no longer wants it. “Long ago there was something in me, but now that thin...
This is the first sign that Dexter desires to achieve more out of life. He