"Paul Levinson's It's Real Life is a page-turning exploration into that multiverse known as rock and roll. But it is much more than a marvelous adventure narrated by a master storyteller...it is also an exquisite meditation on the very nature of alternate history." -- Jack Dann, The Fiction Writer's Guide to Alternate History

Thursday, September 18, 2008

Dexter 3: Sneak Preview Review

The third season of Dexter will premier on Showtime September 28. I thought the first two seasons made it one of the best series ever on television - a unique combination of cop show, murder, self-reflection and unremitting moral dilemmas. I just saw the first four episodes of the new, third season, and so far it's shaping up to be the best season so far.

I promise there will be no spoilers in this review.

First, Jimmy Smits is on the show as an Assistant DA with a complex psyche and family including brothers. He plays great against Michael C. Hall's Dexter Morgan, who in this season also begins thinking more of family - not his father's and his, which is never far from his mind, but his own.

As in the first two seasons, Dexter is challenged about what to do with sleazes who don't deserve to live, for one reason or another, and tempt Dexter's killing instinct. Also as in the first two seasons, Dexter kills people outside of his code, and/or from whom he derives no pleasure killing, and which lead him into deeper dangers.

Doakes is gone, but there is a new guy in the precinct, Quinn, who has a way (well played by Desmond Harrington - hey, he grew up in the Bronx and went to Fordham Prep), and will no doubt have some kind of relationship with Dex's sister Debra (not really a spoiler - you'll get that the first time you see them in the precinct), who still curses with the best of them. LaGuerta and Batista are also enjoyably on hand, and Masuka is funnier than ever.

Plenty of sex, actually not that much gore, and above all the same great Dexter voice-over commentaries on his life and evolution as a serial killer with a badge and a conscience and an exquisite existential self-awareness (sorry, I couldn't resist that last one - but it is true).

My only regret is that I'll have to wait a good month before I see episode 5 - but I'll be back here with reviews of each episode, starting September 28.

See also: Dexter 3.5: The True Nature of Miguel




And here's a treat for Infinite Regress readers
- click here to see the first episode of Dexter Season 3, on Showtime's special VIP insider site. You'll need a password. It's Lady Killers -enjoy!

And from the second season: Dexter's Back: A Preview and Dexter Meets Heroes and 6. Dexter and De-Lila-h and 7. Best Line About Dexter - from Lila and 8. How Will Dexter Get Out of This? and The Plot Gets Tighter and Sharper and Dex, Doakes, and Harry and Deb's Belief Saves Dex and Dexter 2 Superb Finale









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3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hello Paul,
Last year you put up the link and password for the 1st episode of Dexter available online before the season started.

Any chance you could do that again?

On the sho.com website it says if you sign up as a Dexter Vip insider they will send you the password and link, but I tried and haven't recieved them yet.

Patience is not one of my virtues, especially when it comes to incredible TV shows.
I just can't wait. Can you help?

Sincerely,
Denise in TX
a.k.a lucky winner of your Dexter poster giveaway last year.
Thanks again!

Paul Levinson said...

Hey Denise - Last year the Showtime people sent me the link and password, and said I should make it available to my readers.

I'll contact them on Monday, and see if I can get them for this new season.

Glad you you won and are enjoying the Dexter poster!

Paul

Paul Levinson said...

Hi again Denise - see my Dexter post - I just put in the link to the first episode. Enjoy!

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