Loaded Couch Potatoes

Season 4 of Dexter kicks off tonight on Showtime.  This season promises to deliver just as much heart stopping entertainment as the previous years.

“Talk about your blood bath!”  – Vince Masuka

The first episode of Dexter delivered no more and no less than what I have come to expect from this Showtime series.  And that is meant as a good thing.  Many shows change with time, and it doesn’t even feel like any time has passed since season 3.  The writing, directing, and style are all what makes this show so unique.

All our favorite characters are back as well.  Michael C. Hall reprises his role as the lovable serial killer Dexter.  The show starts off with a classic “predator” scene of Dexter driving.  Usually he is driving to find that perfect guilty victim, but tonight it turns out he is just trying to get little “dex” to sleep, his 3 month old son Harrison. 

Meanwhile, a new murder is unfolding else where.  John Lithgow shows up this season as the ultra creepy “trinity” killer.  Lithgow is just the sort of high caliber actor this show should and does attract (like Jimmy Smitts of Season 3), and I can’t wait to see his performance unfold through out the season.  The little bit we saw of him this episode was creepy and down right disturbing.  And in my opinion, Dexter is always balanced best by a more disturbing killer. 

As always there was plenty of humor in the episode, more humor than any serial killer based show should be able to pull off.  My favorite scene was in the beginning of the episode, when Dexter is going through the same scenes in the opening credits, only nothing is going right.  He misses when he slaps at the mosquito, his shirt has a baby barf stain, and his shoe lace snaps.  Not to mention that he doesn’t look like a high alert killer, but a over worked father of three.  Poor Dexter!

The poor sleep deprived dad does eventually pull off a “by the code” kill.  He plays it safe as always, or as he says he’s “killing for two” now.  After screwing up on the witness stand (because he’s over worked), Dexter tracks down his prey and finds a abandoned boxing ring for the deed.  We see more of the “clean-up” scene in this episode than we ever have before.  But after leaving the scene, and going to the all-night pharmacy for Rita and the baby, he falls asleep at the wheel!  The car flips and it is obvious Dexter is not walking away from this one. 

So, for the preview of next week?  Although it’s not totally clear in the episode, we do find out that Dexter’s body bags where in the car.  Uh-oh.  Despite his slasher habits I’m always completely on the edge of my seat hoping he doesn’t get caught or killed along the way.  Season 4 is off to a very thrilling start!