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| Dexter - The First Season | 
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| Directors: Michael Cuesta, Tony Goldwyn
Actors: Michael C. Hall, Erik King, James Remar, Julie Benz, Rita Bennett
Studio: Showtime Ent. / Paramount
Category: DVD
List Price: $39.98
Buy New: $24.98
You Save: $15.00 (38%)
New (46) Used (10) Collectible (3) from $24.98
Avg. Customer Rating:  363 reviews
Sales Rank: 134
Format: Ac-3, Box Set, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Dvd-video, Widescreen, Ntsc
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Unknown)
Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Number Of Items: 4
Running Time: 650
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 7.6 x 5.4 x 0.7
MPN: PARD851364D
UPC: 097368513648
EAN: 0097368513648
ASIN: B000Q6GUW0
Theatrical Release Date: November 2006
Release Date: August 21, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: BRAND NEW and factory sealed. Ships same or next day WITH DELIVERY CONFIRMATION AND TRACKING.
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Product Description
Studio: Paramount Home Video Release Date: 08/21/2007 Run time: 655 minutes
Amazon.com
An interesting and original idea that's very skillfully executed, Showtime's Dexter is never less than watchable, often quite compelling, and sometimes thoroughly riveting. As the 12 episodes from the show's first season (packaged here in a four disc set) reveal, it's also the epitome of "high concept," a kind of Silence of the Lambs for the C.S.I. generation. Creator-executive producer James Manos Jr.'s title character, one Dexter Morgan (played by Michael C. Hall of Six Feet Under renown), works for the Miami Police Department as an blood spatter analyst, visiting crime scenes and helping figure out what happened. He has an avocation, too: during his off hours, he tracks down some very, very bad people who for various reasons have eluded the proper authorities. Seems his adoptive father, a cop himself, taught the kid how to channel his dark side in a "positive" direction; and so, having captured these evildoers (including a child molester-murderer and a recidivist drunk driver with a trail of bodies in his wake), Dex dispatches them with clinical precision, thus making him a serial killer who snuffs serial killers. But there's more--much more, as it turns out. By his own description, Dexter is "a monster," an empty shell who fakes all human interactions and admits to no real feelings for anything or anyone, including his foster sister (Jennifer Carter) and his nominal girlfriend (Julie Benz), a former crack addict and battered spouse who's as uninterested in sex as he is. There's an explanation for Dexter's weirdness, of course, one so deep and traumatic that even he isn't aware of it. It's gradually revealed over the course of the season as he and the cops (who include Erik King, Lauren Velez, and David Zayas, all first-rate) track down the so-called "Ice Truck Killer," a fellow monster whose grisly m.o. both fascinates and taunts our hero, leading to a genuinely shocking and squirm-inducing finale. Dexter can be a bit arch, with an ironic, too-hip-for-the-room tone that get a little old. Still, it's a safe bet that anyone who views this first season will be salivating for the second. Extras include audio commentary on two episodes, a featurette about real-life blood spatter analysis, and a variety of DVD-ROM items. --Sam Graham Beyond Dexter 
More TV Head-cases on DVD | 
The Book that Started It All | 
More from Showtime | Stills from Dexter: The First Season (click for larger image)
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| Customer Reviews: Read 358 more reviews...
Bugwatching May 17, 2007
250 out of 259 found this review helpful
The most disturbing movie I ever saw was "Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer". In its portrayal of a man who lived physically among his fellow human beings while existing completely outside the orbit of human emotional interface, I thought I had seen the definitive screen rendition of a serial killer's psyche.
Then along comes Dexter who, with 12 episodes and a carefully-crafted life of friends, family, and career at his disposal for telling his tale, paints a portrait of sociopathic existence far more detailed and more disturbing than anything attempted by "Henry". That's accomplishment enough. But to do it with the droll wit and endearing demeanor of Dexter is downright amazing. TV seldom gets odder than this . . . and never more profound.
The real horror of each episode lies not in the killings by Dexter or by his victims. It lies in the horror of watching a man having to tread his way among his fellows in full knowledge that he is a hollow shell -- a body and brain devoid of a soul, with the only emotions being a fascination with blood and the driving hunger to kill. None of the means by which other people assuage their physical or emotional needs are available to Dexter, at least in the context in which others pursue them. Sex is a threat to Dexter, an act which can open cracks in the facade of humanity he has crafted and through which people can peer into the inner void. Friendly gatherings are obstacle courses, full of little bumps that could cause Dexter to trip and let his mask momentarily slip. Even eating, from which most people derive some emotional pleasure, is simply a necessity to which Dexter submits, preferrably combined with another necessary task, such as driving.
Clever. Interesting. But 12 episodes of this, no matter how well done, would soon get boring. So what sustains "Dexter"? Well, it turns out Dexter is neither who nor what he thinks he is. It takes him some time to figure this out, and it takes some help from rather interesting quarters. But Dexter has depths below the depths, voids within the voids, and substance where he was certain there was only nothingness.
But does it matter? Well, that's why I'm already pacing for the second season to start. It could go either way. Or, given this show's creativity and skewed viewpoint . . . neither, or both. Dexter -- and "Dexter" -- simply defy prediction.
One of the most original shows in years May 12, 2007
80 out of 88 found this review helpful
Dexter does not disappoint. Based on the novels of Jeff Lindsay, Dexter is the story of a serial killer who murders other serial killers. While yes he is a sociopath, I find that one of the most fascinating parts of both the novels and the Showtime series is that slowly Dexter is starting to show that he may even be developing emotions. Could be a distinct possibility since he has had to wear a mask of humanity ever since he was three years old.
The surprising thing about this show to me is that it is very different in many ways to the novels. I think that Jeff Lindsay has to be both pleased and upset over what Showtime has done with Dexter. And in my humble opinion, I think that the series is actually much better than the books. The characters are much more developed and Deborah is no wear near as annoying in the series as she is in the novels. Plus I like how Angel "No Relation" Batista is a full on Homicide detective instead of just working for the M.E.'s office. In short, Showtime improved vastly on the novels and developed a much more diverse and rich world that Lindsay had created.
The part that ends up really getting to the viewer the most is that Dexter becomes a hero of sorts that even though his actions are quite immoral, you begin to view them as justifiable vegence for the victims of the people he kills. Maybe admitting that means I have a problem myself LOL but seriously, you can't help but like the guy. He is the nicest serial killer you could ever meet. And make sure you do meet him and buy this DVD. The replay value is outstanding.
Wow, wow, wow! Holy Cow! September 5, 2007
54 out of 58 found this review helpful
If I could give 6 stars I would, and I've never said that before. Love this show. LOVE IT! (Pissy at showtime but that's just because they don't let people - even US people serving their country - outside the US look at stuff on their website, but their product is awesome... )
Ok, so Dexter, he's a little different, right? He works for the police, he's charming and geeky, he kills people for fun after work. Just bad people, of course. It would be no fun otherwise...
This is a strange story - more than half revenge fantasy but also part personal growth drama, part romance, lots of humor, and some good old fashioned thriller thrown in for spice. It makes you ache a little inside and then giggle in horror. It invokes a lot of emotion in it's viewers, as you watch someone without emotion begin to feel things and not know what's going on... not understand that these are feelings he's having. I'm sure a lot of people are pursing their lips over it and going "tsk!". I mean, a comedy/drama where the hero is a sociopathic serial killer? And a very good one at that?
The acting is AMAZING. This is TV done right, TV that makes you sing with delight, that catches you with it's beauty and writing and the way it perfectly catches the atmosphere of a place. I cannot rave enough - it goes in with the other perfect shows like the new Battlestar Galactica (somewhat less funny but just as perfect) and Wire in the Blood, Buffy, Firefly and Touching Evil. It's vastly better than CSI Miami (really, what isn't?) but it will draw comparisons, or parallels, because both take place in Miami and involve forensics (from weirdly skewed angles mentally, when you look at it - he's both catching killers forensically and keeping from being caught himself...) This show catchs the flavor of Miami in such a lovely way that you want to visit, even if - like me - you absolutely hate humid heat and bugs and all that sort of crap. It makes it seem alive and vibrant, dead hookers and all...
Can't wait for season 2. Can't wait can't wait... couldn't wait for this season either but man oh man, now I know exactly how good it is? Yes!
 The show is 5 stars. The DVD? Not so much. August 29, 2007
32 out of 38 found this review helpful
It appears that most reviewers are focusing on the show itself, but if you're thinking of buying the entire first season on DVD you probably already know how great it is. In short, the show is amazing and Michael C. Hall is one of the most underrated dramatic actors.
On to the DVD...this set is not a very good treatment of this fantastic show. The video quality is subpar and one can only hope that an HD-DVD/Blu Ray release is on the horizon. The show was broadcast in HD...why was this not released in that format? And it may be nitpicking, but the menus are atrocious and give the production a cheap feel.
If one believes what they read, it would appear from the packaging that there are ample special features. On further inspection, the "special features" are heavily padded with filler and largely underproduced. The first one listed is "The Academy of Blood - a Killer course"...I have no idea what this is as I was unable to find it on any of the discs. The featurette is only tenuously connected to the show in that it involves murder investigation. Most of the other features are cross-promos for other Showtime programs (episodes of Brotherhood, etc.).
It also appears that some studios have not caught on that good commentaries are excellent incentive for purchasing a DVD set of a show, ESPECIALLY if it has a cultish following. You could probably get away with little or no commentary on a Will and Grace DVD, but on a show like Dexter the fans want as much depth as possible. On this set we get two commentaries out of 12 episodes: the first is with several cast members (NO MICHAEL C. HALL!) and the second is with producers. The producer commentary is decent and offers some insight, but the cast commentary is largely rambling and suffers greatly from the absence of Michael C. Hall. I respect all of the actors on the show, but I'm sure I'm not alone in wanting to hear mostly from the main character. In a laughable oversight the studio does not list which episodes have commentary on any of the packaging or menus, which lead to a somewhat annoying search. You basically have to put in each disc and drill down to each episode to see if there is commentary or not. Here's a tip for those that have not yet purchased...the commentaries are on Episode 6 on disc 2 and on the finale on disc 4. It is puzzling that they chose to ignore the convention of having commentary on the first episode so that cast and crew could introduce the show and speak to its beginnings and main themes.
Bottom line is if you love the show you'll buy this, but don't get your hopes up about the extras or overall quality of the presentation. Here's hoping for an HD release with better extras down the road.
What's Wrong With Me??? August 30, 2007
21 out of 74 found this review helpful
I bought the DVD set of the 1st Season of this show due primarily to the glowing comments of Amazon reviewers. I watched the first two episodes of last night and must confess to being a bit bewildered. What is so entertaining about a sociopath mass murderer who brutally tortures his victims as he decapitates them alive or chops off their limbs? What on earth is entertaining about a protagonist who nearly has an orgasm over the idea of another serial killer who is even more clever and sadistic than he? I really tried to give this series a chance, but I found it mind-numbingly sick!! I can't find much of socially redeeming value in this work. it really doesn't matter to me if the victims of Dexter are bad guys - his way of killing them is so barbaric that I find my sympathies leaning solidly toward his victims. But, of course, the problem could just be with me - maybe I have too soft a stomach.
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