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  • Dexter = favourite "death" serial :)

    10
    "Perfect"
    Yesterday I finished watching first season "Dexter" so It`s time to write my second review about that serial. When I writing first review Dexter for me was something new , drama serial but "little" different from all serial`s. Now I defienietly can say my first review was wrong , really wrong . I wrote some untrue things and now when I am after all first season I give back honour this serial. He`s full of drama, full of great scenes and full of "dead". On start I think too much bodies , too much blood but now I am sure that everything is nicely fit in this serial.



    Michael C. Hall I don`t know this guy before "Dexter", now after "Dexter" I think he is brilliant in that what he doing in this serial. Respect



    From 8 after my first review now it`s for one hundred percent only note ten and more, more, more....



    Ave Dexter
  • One of the best hours of television that I have watched in awhile

    10
    "Perfect"
    This show is a little to creepy for me; the first couple of episodes were very hard to watch and the dead bodies and the blood are so hard to watch. But the story lines and the characters make me keep watching. This episode was so perfect. It made me both sympathetic and angry at all of the characters. Deb's story was heart wrenching as she had to deal with a proposal and then a life and death experience. I have hated Rudy up until now but his attempts to connect with Dexter were so genuine in their creepiness. It was so hard to watch the two brothers together. Angel was great in this episode as well as he remains to be the most human and unflawed character on the show. Overall I was shocked and just loved this episode.
  • Amazing end for first season

    9.2
    "Superb"
    So, this is the big game but to be honest, after all that setup and those previous, really thrilling episodes, I expected more. Do not get me wrong, for sure, I am not disappointed. It was stunning episode. The whole brother concept and the hunt (I mean Dexter trying to figure out where Ruby has taken Deb). The memories coming back - I think the only think that little disappointed me was the answer why Ruby has been doing it. I think the brother concept (both seria killers) were good, but the family thing. He spent so much time to get to know Dexter and he did not figured that he did not much cared for the connection and he was able to kill him, turn against him? Ok, but that's probably something writers wanted and in some way, it does make a lot of sense - I mean, Ruby (Brian) had no family for years and he probably wanted Dexter back, look after him. That would have been interesting turn, if they had kept him around.



    More worries me, after really stunning first season, what is here to come. Rita becoming suspicious? Doakes looking for the connection? I hope they have as good idea, has they had for this season, for next one.
  • I killed the one person I didn't have to hide from and I'm the only one who mourns him.

    10
    "Perfect"
    Through all of season 1 the ice truck killer was captivating to both the audience and Dexter. From his unique and creepy way of killing to his preferences and game playing with Dexter. They formed an almost friendship, a bond if such a thing can exist between two serial killers. I mean it's not as if there's a club but they made good play maters. But like all relationships they had their bumpy patches. The ice truck killer had to manuver Dexter right where he needed him, pulling out memories and showing Dexter is real truth. The real monster within like only another monster could. It was all I could do to wait for their first meeting, the first reveal. But as we discovered who the ice truck killer was, the amazing insight he had into Dexter's personna both in terms of his dark passenger and his past with Harry, and his choice of Debra it became clear that there was still much to reveal. There was as Dexter might say one piece of the puzzle that he didn't leave us. Brian Moser. The last piece, the real piece. The truth that Dexter had needed for so longer was bigger then I could even imagine. Dexter and Brian Moser, brothers in birth and death. Blood brothers. The connection Dexter made with his alter ego Brian was cute but the instant connection he had with Brian was so compelling. Though they had few scenes together as brothers the ones we get are amazing. I can't describe how well they cast Brian, I wish we could have gotten to see more of him earlier in the season and with Dexter, but I digress. The fact that Dex had a brother that was like him, that was with him at his darkest moment of his young life, and was just as affected and haunted by what happened to them was I think the most amazing choice the show could have made. The impact it has in such a small amount of time is just brilliant. Killers, both of them. But as I said all relationships have their rough patches and Brian though connected to his brother forever is different. Both monsters but there's more then one kind of monster. Monsters that kill without remorse or regret are what Dexter does best, he may not be what society would see as righteous but he has a code and he's not like Brian. He is, at least in comparison, a good person. And that's why he had no choice but to kill his big brother and set him free. In the first scene where we see Dexter get really emotional for the first time it achieves maximum impact.



    They manage to make Brian both a monsterous murderer and a character you empathize with especially from Dexter's perspective who is now alone in the dark with only his dark passenger to accompany him.
  • "BORN FREE"

    10
    "Perfect"
    Born free is my favorite Dexter episode, It had so many great moments that i will never forget, The Ice truck Killer aka Brian Moser will be dearly missed, but his role as Dexter's biological brother was priceless and won't soon be forgotten, in my opinion he is easily the best villain that Dexter has crossed paths with. Chris Camargo take a bow you gave Dexter a run for his money which is not easy to do which you made look easy, but in the end there could only be one winner and that is Dexter Morgan. I really hope i can enjoy this series for many years to come and i hope it provides us with many more magical moments.
  • One of the lamest shows ever. I couldn't believe the plot ended up with this silly turn of events. SPOILER

    5.5
    "Mediocre"
    I had great expectations from Dexter, I really liked the main subject of the show: a serial-killer of criminals you couldn't charge or arrest.

    I was really curious to find out who the real ice-truck killer was in the very first episode, but then I understood who he was two or three episode in advance.

    I wasn't expecting Dexter to be Ice Truck killer brother, just because I think that's probably the lamest thing to do on a show (probably lamer than Prison Break guys able to run free just because the girl leaves the door unlocked, I mean: please!). I was really expecting something more interesting, not a soap-opera turn of events, with Dexter's brother having an affair with Dexter's stepsister, which I really hate, probably because I don't like the actress.

    Has this show turned into a one hour soap opera?

    The season finale not only has ZERO cliffhangers and tension (everything is already written, nothing original or unexpected), but it also has the weirdest final scene.



    I seriously doubt I'll be able to watch the second season of Dexter...and that's a pity, they could have really made one hell of a show, but they just filmed a lame product.
  • Amazing.

    10
    "Perfect"
    I rarely write reviews for shows but this one was too good to just leave alone. Finally, a season finale that lives up to the tension built up by the other episodes...wow, I'm still a little floored. SPOILERS!!





    The emotion you see in Dexter is so touching, the conflict is so...painful!; the camaraderie between Doakes, La Guerta, Masuka, Angel; the irony! It's all so AMAZING! I think that scene where he is about to kill Brian was the most absorbing, the most painful to watch because of the conflict that you see play across Dexter's character. He is so torn between what to do but he follows Harry's code in the end. I mean, what a complex character. He even admits that Deb probably would not stand by him if she ever really knew what he was but he saved her anyways - because he's "very fond of her". There's just this tinge of sadness and irony in this whole episode because he killed the only person who ever embraced his inner-killer, instead following the ethics of someone he felt betrayed him! I don't even know what to say anymore. Just that this was one of the best seasons of any television series I've ever watched.
  • Dexter is at its best in this first season finale.

    10
    "Perfect"
    After reading the first two books in the Dexter series and enjoying every moment of the corresponding television program, I feel right in asserting that this story is at its best in the television format. The characters are better developed than their written counterparts, the story arcs beautifully, and this final episode of the first season is the best television I've ever seen in my life. I couldn't stop thinking - or talking - about the episode for days following, and couldn't wait to turn friends on to the series to vicariously live through it all over again. Dexter is probably best watched as a rental because waiting a week between episodes is exhausting, however, "Born Free" is an outstanding reward.
  • This episode cleared everything up, and still left me wanting more.

    10
    "Perfect"
    I loved this episode it was a great twist making the other killer Dexter's brother. I wish they didn't have to kill him off I liked him in the show. I can't help but wonder what this whole thing is going to do to deb. I kinda feel sorry for her. I liked how Dexter killed him it was quite poetic. I hope that Dexter's girlfriend doesn't freak out about the shoe. Dexter only did it to help her and to get the guy to stop annoying him. I don't like the cop that is now following Dexter I think that he has a thing for Dexter's sister and to focus more on that that messing with Dexter.
  • Dexter = favourite "death" serial :)

    10
    "Perfect"
    Yesterday I finished watching first season "Dexter" so It`s time to write my second review about that serial. When I writing first review Dexter for me was something new , drama serial but "little" different from all serial`s. Now I defienietly can say my first review was wrong , really wrong . I wrote some untrue things and now when I am after all first season I give back honour this serial. He`s full of drama, full of great scenes and full of "dead". On start I think too much bodies , too much blood but now I am sure that everything is nicely fit in this serial.



    Michael C. Hall I don`t know this guy before "Dexter", now after "Dexter" I think he is brilliant in that what he doing in this serial. Respect



    From 8 after my first review now it`s for one hundred percent only note ten and more, more, more....



    Ave Dexter
  • Betrayal

    9.0
    "Superb"
    Esta sí la vi venir: Rudy resultó ser el hermano de Dexter, y todo su trabajo serviría para que éste lo acepte y entienda que entre hermanos (y colegas) podían ser amigitos. Pero Dexter, como era de esperar, salva a su step sister en un acto de... traición. Que feo Dex. Al fin alguien que te entiende, te acompaña, te escucha y lo dejás de lado, lo decartás, lo matas. Pero de eso se trata la vida de un asesino serial, no? La soledad, el no compartir con el mundo exterior y en de alguna forma, creo, sentirse un héroe de la humanidad... pregúntenle a Hitler si no...
  • Great end to the First Season...

    10
    "Perfect"
    The Ice Truck Killer is finally Apprehended, well actually delt with by Dexter.



    Dexter's loyalties are tested as he follows clues that the Ice Truck Killer leaves for him.



    Meanwhile Doakes still suspects Dexter is the Ice Truck killer. As Dexter remains unavailable to Rita, her ex-husband, Paul, tries to convince her that Dexter is a very dangerous man to have around their children. He may be right...



    As Dexter goes on the hunt, he wonders just how far he will have to go down the Ice Truck Killer's demented path. After finding Rudy, Dexter finds out that he was his brother. Rudy tells him to finish Debbie off, but the cops get make it in the nick of time but Rudy escapes, Dexter leaves a trap for him at his appartment; Rudy soon strikes thinking that Debbie's with Dexter, Rudy falls into the trap and Dexter finishes him off at his flat making it look like he committed suicide
  • Dexter discovers his "birth place" and the chase for Rudy is on! Meanwhile back at the station a new regime is "starting" And Dexter gets his "Hero's" Welcome, in only in his mind!

    9.6
    "Superb"
    This episode was great, and I would have rated it higher, but the whole "this is your new lieutenant" what crap and ruined the first half of the episode for me, but I soon loved her.

    Dexter discovers the trail Rudy has laid for him to where he was found by Harry as a child, Doakes begins to ride him about what he knows and why he hasn't told anybody, and they come to blows, at an awful time as Dexter is working on Rudy.

    And Bob the NA pal of Paul that knows him very well but if he did, didn't care that he was on a drug, is a loser, and theres no way Paul is that smart..

    And the "Could have been team" is revealed to us, it seems a little out of character that it would have come about this way, I figured there would have been some self preservation involved.

    It appears that the Deb/Dex bond is growing into what Deb has always wanted, but because of something Dex would have never wanted her to go through.

    And when each had the chance, the one with the "conscience" was the winner because he didn't allow for a second chance.
  • Great end to a great, and different, series.

    10
    "Perfect"
    Great end to the season, with tension, drama and shocks aswell. I think that the identity of the man who was seemingly stalking Dexter for the entire season was a genius play, and the extent to his identity really came through in this episode. This episode was pivotal to the show, as it showed that Dexter is most definitely at some times vulnerable, but also shows that there is no-one else out there who can do things like he can do. Dexter overcoming Rudy was vital to showing us that Dexter is still the best, and that the fact that this man was older than him, and more wise (probably), took nothing away from the fact that Dexter was the better one. The death of Rudy was needed to show that Dexter still lived by Harry's rules, even despite how warped his view on them had become because of the ice-tuck killer case. The fact that he saved Deb instead of taking up a life with his brother shows that he does have feelings for the people he protects, and this rises above his own family.
  • I knew this episode would be climax and then leave us wanting more!

    9.1
    "Superb"
    I can't believe that it is the the last episode of season 1 and everything is going to be out in the open...well almost everything.

    Dexter has discovered his brother is really the killer and in order to keep the code of Harry and to make sure Deb is safe..Dexter has to do the unthinkable and kill his own brother.

    Rita's scum of the earth husband is safely behind bars ..but he has picked up on Dex's scent and desparately tries to convince Rita not to trust Dexter.

    It is ironic that Rita trusts Dexter so much and Paul so little as they are almost as evil as each other.

    I love the Born free music... it added to the intrigue.

    Just enough tension...jsut enough angst and still room for more next season...brilliant.
  • The pieces finally come into place! This episode was amazing. It was unexpected and just overall outstanding!

    10
    "Perfect"
    I started watching this show with no expectations, and once i started i just couldn't stop... the season finale is a perfect example of why. This episode was AWESOME!



    As i mentioned above, the pieces fall into place... we understand why the ice truck killer painted those nails, we understand why he chopped up the victims, and we understand why he connects to Dexter... but was anybody expecting it to turn out to be like this??? Not me... it was gooooddd. I don't want to go into to much detail, in case someone reads this, I don't want to spoil the surprises, because it is so worth the wait. All i can say is poor Deb... she just can't pick the right guy... and worst of all is she doesn't realize why she was chosen. Watch it if you haven't!!! It is one of the best finales I have ever seen.
  • Best season finale ever!

    10
    "Perfect"
    would've been very disappointed if the last episode of Season One failed to measure up to the standards set by the best of the previous episodes, and I'm happy to say that I wasn't let down at all!!! Directed and acted to a fare-thee-well (literally), it was everything I was hoping for and more.



    Best of all, it answered a question that has lingered in the background throughout the series: if tempted to stray outside the dictates of "the Code of Harry," would Dexter give into the temptation, or would he still remain a "monster with a set of standards?" I'm not telling what I know, but I can guarantee you this: if you stuck around this long waiting for a satisfying payoff, your patience will be richly rewarded. I just can't wait to see what new challenges and perils he'll have to face in Season Two!
  • Shrink Wrap > Born Free

    9.6
    "Superb"
    Shrink Wrap survives the brutal final three episodes of Season One to remain my favorite episode of the season, but nothing came closer then this episode from dethrowning it. Season finales will ultimately define your entire season. If the conclusion isn't a good one from the writing perspective then all the thirteen episode build up is really for nothing in the grand scheme of things. The Ice Truck Killer, now revealed through repressed memories to be the brother of Dexter, was a great story to follow all year and the writers have really made an interesting relationship (or made an interesting relationship) between Dexter and his brother. I like how the brother connection didn't feel to be included as a shock factor. They included it because they knew it was going to be that way all along and I think Micheal Hall and the Ice Truck actor did a fantastic job as far as chemistry goes ever since Shrink Wrap. Other then the Ice Truck conclusion, the rest of the epsiode was solid too. Rita and Dexter share a moment where Dexter wnats to be more with the family, but Rita finds the show that Paul described which is sure going to led to something once season two begins again. Debra seems to be a little shaky at the moment, but its going to take her a few episodes to get over everything that has happened. I loved Dexters fake out with Rudy there at the end - made me feel a better conclusion then simply Rudy running away. Doakes has become a more itneresting character since he began trailing Dexter and I wonder if that will spill over a little bit into season two. Cant wait for the DVD to be realeased and very happy with the overall greatness of the first season of this show.
  • Dexter v. Doakes and Dexter v. Rudy

    9.7
    "Superb"
    Wow this was an excellent season finale. I can't wait for the Season Two DVD to come out so I can find out how Dexter is going to handle Doakes watching him all the time. Their confrontation at the cargo was trailer was very intense especially since Doakes had to deal with Dexter fighting back for once. It was a great setup for season Two.



    Dexter and his brother was a very interesting closure. I can't believe how sorry I felt for Dexter having to kill his own brother. But his brother never understood that even though Dexter has probably with feelings Debra is the one constant in Dexter's life and he isn't going to let go of one of the few things that makes him feel normal.
  • This is the best finalie episode i have ever seen

    9.8
    "Superb"
    This is the best finalie episode of any TV show I have ever watched. I liked that they didnt leave "Everything" hanging but I felt so sorry for Dexter at the end but he knew he couldn't have The Ice Truck Killer around because he would have killed Debra.But i think it was because of harry's code that he did that rather than that he wanted to let him live. It was a definetlt thrilling episode and it was so delightfully exciting to watch. Definitely one of the most original shows I have ever watched and cannot wait for the next season and I can't wait to find out what happens with Rita and her ex Paul after she saw his shoe in the garden
  • I normally avoid obvious reviews like season finales... but this one's too good to miss.

    10
    "Perfect"
    I chose "pivotal" up there, not in the sense of "pivotal" for the series, but pivotal for the medium. Might be the adrenaline rush of having just watched the ending of series one... but this might be the best piece of fiction on any medium I've seen this year.



    This is perfect TV in that it's perfectly cast, directed and written. As I've been hinting at in previous reviews, the work of the writers on this season takes Lidnsay's below-average thriller and turns it into an artistic achievement of the highest kind: the one that legitimates an entire medium. In an age when TV fiction has easily outgrown feature films as the most advanced, well crafted pieces of drama available, Dexter's cohesive, spotless first season is the peak of a golden age -as remarkable as a bloodless killing-.



    Let me repeat my statement of my last review of Dexter here: it is a JOKE that the Emmys completely missed this one in favor of the same old a-listers. Desperate Housewives was extremely well crafted fun, Lost is whodunit taken to the next level, Heroes is nice geeky fluff and Grey's Anatomy is soap opera 2.0. Dexter is a work of art. There's no reason why it shouldn't be studied alongside Silence of the Lambs as an example of how to craft something that's creepy, entertaining and insightful all at the same time. Only House comes to mind as reaching similar heights of writing and acting, and its formulaic nature keeps it a notch below. This episode punctuates about eight hours of a story that makes sense, rings true and surprises at every turn, all growing out of a novella that was deservedly unknown.



    It's hard for me to consider this episode as an unit. I keep seeing the whole season as a whole and comparing it to its source material, as you can see. I can't see how it'd make sense to judge just this little piece of it in isolation. I mean, could you review the last five minutes of Star Wars? Sure, they're great, but they depend a lot on what came before them. The same happens here, which, on a more mundane note, makes this the perfect DVD package for a gift to an unsuspecting victim who hasn't been following the show. Finally, let me indulge on my pride for reading the mistakes of the novel just like the screenwriters did (some spoilers from here on, I guess). They fixed the dreams. No more Dexter thinking stupidly that he was the Ice Truck Killer himself. They fixed the evil twin... as much as they could. The history of the two brothers now makes more sense. They fixed the mechanics of the ending. Originally, Dexter kept considering the option of killing Deb while she shouted at him to release her, stood idly in the middle of a shootout and everybody just ignored his weird behaviour afterwards. The chain of events works like a charm now. No random killing of a character at the end, like in the book. Instead, a very appropriate killing of a character, superior to the original, kinda muffled, kinda rushed version. This time it's poignant, sad and satisfying.



    In short, way to go. We love you Dexter, indeed. Ads in my country for the series have been calling it a "modern cult classic". That feels... accurate.
  • Absolutely amazing!!

    10
    "Perfect"
    This is probably the best final episode of any TV show I have ever watched. I felt so sorry for Dexter at the end but he knew he couldn't have The Ice Truck Killer around because he would destroy the only family he had ever known i.e. Debra. Dexter was too programmed by Harry to allow him to live. I was on edge all episode as it was so exciting to watch. Definitely one of the most original shows I have ever watched and cannot wait for the next season and I can't wait to find out what happens with Rita and her ex Paul after she saw his shoe in the garden!
  • I did not see that coming.

    10
    "Perfect"
    Dexter continues to be one of the best shows on and possible of all times. This episode is no exception. All of the pieces fall right into their bloody places. I know that one of my favorite parts is finally finding out why the Ice Truck Killer has known so much about Dexter, even more than he knew himself. Also to see what Dexter might be like if it wasn't for "the code of Harry". To see that the one tragic event can create two very different but two very similar people. Dexter made a decision that was not easy, he had to choose a family. Because of his choice he actually became much more human than he ever imagine. The season wrapped up very neatly, it was kind of weird and steril. I guess its just the way he likes it.
  • After laughing at my wife when she cries at films, I actually shed a tear during this episode.

    9.8
    "Superb"
    What can I say ? The season built up to this episode, to all the reveals. Truth be told, I kind of guessed how they were connected. But the way it was revealed was excellent. Bits here, bits there.



    The bit with his brother at the end, I wasn't sure if he would do it. The whole season was about how distant he felt from everyone else, how he longed for someone who would accept him for who he was, who would understand. Someone he could have an emotional connection with.



    And then he finds out he has a brother, who is just like him, who welcomes him with open arms and a bottle of beer. Someone who he can share his hobby, his passion with. Then, the scene where he realises that Brian just cannot be allowed to live...



    It was so emotional. It was so brilliant. I rarely cry at tv shows or films. But that scene... Excellent.
  • Brotherhood Written by Daniel Cerone And Melissa Rosenberg Directed by Michael Cuesta

    9.0
    "Superb"
    Doakes (to Dexter): "Well here are the facts. He kills her, it's your fault. Now what else do you know?"



    Here is another fact – this is how you go about resolving a mystery like the Ice Truck Killer that is both satisfactory and probable because while there may be things you can predict, this is without a doubt an excellent episode.



    Rudy was clever enough to lure Deb into a false sense of security over the past weeks by being the kind, gentle boyfriend and eventually persuading her to accept a speedy proposal before admitting who he really was and knocking the woman out. Hot and cold would be an understatement for a guy like Rudy.



    One of the first things Rudy managed to do when Deb regained her consciousness was to admit she wasn't the only one who bought his act. Rudy has a point. Although he did appear initially creepy in his debut episode, I didn't consider him a candidate for the Ice Truck Killer and even when he started acting people like Dexter and Doakes didn't think there was something sinister about him.



    Finding out about Rudy is humiliating enough for Deb but she's got every reason to be terrified of the guy and if can decimate hookers without a flicker of remorse, then she stands no chance. Sure she might be a cop and her death might be arguably more newsworthy but Rudy's been clever so far and if the cops have gotten breaks about him, it's mostly because he wants to found.



    It was amazing how Rudy initially made a vague effort for Deb not to feel so bad about being when at the end of the previous episode he took great pleasure in criticising her skills as an officer and then has her bound and gagged in a car he's probably stolen to take her to an old house. For a moment you are actually convinced that Rudy might actually succeed in killing her but then again, Deb is really just a means to an ends as such.



    Then it comes to Rudy's thing with Dexter. All season long as the Ice Truck Killer, Rudy's been leaving not just bodies but little clues about himself and when Dexter defied the ITK's hopes that he would kill Tony Tucci, there was that little test with Valerie Castillo's body. In a weird way Rudy's has been trying to mould Dexter into not making his bloodlust mutually exclusive.



    I think the most obvious connection between Dexter and Rudy could be a biological link and far enough, that's exactly the revelation we get here. It's soapy and as old as the hills but it's also incredibly effective and somewhat plausible as well as actually being handled well. Times like this, clichés don't have to royally suck or insult the audience intelligent. This show hasn't been guilty of either trait so far and isn't so here either.



    It also makes sense too that Rudy and Dexter are brothers. Aside from being the opposite sides of a coin, Rudy's also acted incredibly close towards someone under normal circumstances he wouldn't know that well. Rudy was the one who had Dexter scatter Joe Driscoll's ashes and also encouraged Dexter to unlock his repressed memories about Laura Moser's death.



    Rudy also happens to be a fake name as well as flashbacks with a young set of siblings has him identified as Biney or Brian. The flashbacks in the episode draw the dots between both brothers before their separation as Harry chose to keep Dexter and have Brian sectioned. Rudy's quick to vent his own anger about the Harry situation but he's inventive when it comes to leaving clues for Dexter to locate him.



    The family home was a good spot to keep Deb and also for Rudy to restrain Dexter long enough to try and make a connection with his younger brother. Rudy's attempts of connecting with Dexter are sweet in a rather twisted way but his jealousy towards Dexter's bond with Deb is ultimately what dents this family reunion.



    The last possibility of Rudy having genuine feelings for Deb are eradicated when he lured Dexter into the garage and tried to get him to murder Deb as an incentive to also ignore Harry's code. Rudy touches on the anger Dexter feels for being lied to but it's Harry's code that has kept Dexter from being an actual bad guy and it's the same one that Rudy thinks is stifling his brother's true nature.



    Rudy could possibly have a point there but his fondness for Deb is certainly what kept him from getting sucked into Rudy's trap and when Dexter chose adopted over biological family, Rudy escaped and did try to get his own back by attacking Deb again. Too bad for him that Dexter is also so good that even Rudy can mistake a prosthetics mannequin for an actual person.



    A deliberate thing on the writers part was to have Rudy get Dexter to kill Deb in the same way that Dexter has killed his scumbag victims so it's not so surprising that Dexter then decides to kill Rudy in the same way the psychotic Moser lad has slain dozens of prostitutes.



    For a scene with a gruesome ending, there's a rather poignant send off for Rudy as Dexter takes no pleasure in having to kill the only living piece of biological family he had left. That being said, Dexter knows Rudy will never stop killing and jail isn't exactly much of a deterrent so killing him and making it look like a suicide is his best option.



    Even though he chose Deb over Rudy, Dexter still cries for his brother and even admits that he'll be the only one who'll ever grieve for him as he attempts to put the reveal behind him along with Deb as they ended the episode by returning to work and facing the public scrutiny that Rudy's rampage and death has managed to cause.



    Having Rudy killed made sense. There's no way him going to jail would've been a satisfying end and it's not like Dexter has actually been slaying a lot. Well not since "Shrink Wrap" anyway. It's just a pity that with the great chemistry between Michael C. Hall and Christian Camargo that we'll never get a round two with Dexter and Rudy.



    Dexter may have won the battle regarding the Ice Truck Killer/Rudy saga but his problems are far from being actually over. Aside from the emotional consequences that will have an impact on both him and Deb next season, there's also the fact that Dexter's perfect little pretence about himself is now really at risk of unravelling.



    For instance Doakes has hated Dexter from the very first episode and over the past few weeks, that's intensified and due to Dexter openly lying about having secret blood tests done on Angel's collar and Rudy's cotton ball, Doakes did have a point to be furious with Dexter for not passing on about both blood stained items having Rudy' DNA. Even Maria looked like she couldn't argue with that.



    Then there's Dexter cargo tracking antics which was another thing he done behind the police's back. With Doakes being on red alert, Dexter should've been more vigilant and trying to pass off his snooping as mundane before getting into an actual physical fight with Doakes was the last straw, which again was something that Doakes must have loved. If Deb hadn't emotionally blasted Doakes, then Dexter would've gotten a suspension. Deb saved his ass without trying which was kinda ironic. Dexter saved her for a second time without her actually knowing anything about.



    It still didn't stop this episode with Doakes openly spying on Dexter outside of Rita's and letting him know that he's being watched. Professionally Doakes could be the nail in Dexter's coffin if Dexter doesn't wise up a bit more but personally the person who thinks the sun shines out of Dexter's backside could also be his undoing.



    Rita has spent all of this season thinking that Dexter is the perfect guy for her and aside from the occasional cadavers, she's been pretty justified in that assessment but even since that gnat of an ex-husband has re-entered her life, things between Dexter and Rita have become problematic.



    Dexter framed the wife-beating rapist Paul with drugs and got him locked up but made a bit of an ass of himself by trying to get Rita to tell Cody and Astor about their father's abusive ways. It may have gotten the kids to not want to see their father but unfortunately Paul also remembers being drugged by Dexter and is only too happy to play on Rita's insecurities about her relationship to try and get his point across.



    If I didn't know Paul's history, I would actually feel bad for the guy and be a bit sad that even getting his narcotics sponsor to try and get through to Rita would've failed but because Paul is worse than Dexter, I just kept hoping Rita would remain in the dark but thanks to Paul's shoe being found, Dexter is going to have to do some major explaining in order to keep Rita as naïve as she's been.



    Getting back to the Ice Truck Killer the roles by Angel and Masuka seemed to have been resumed once again. Masuka made the odd joke but aside from him differing comment on Rudy's suicide, he really had nothing else to do. If I have one complaint about this season, it's Masuka still being rather underdeveloped so that's definitely one thing worthy of addressing in Season Two.



    Angel despite being hospital bound and having a yappy roommate was still able to be useful by working out that Rudy was in a mental hospital for Anti-Social Personality Disorder and even discharged himself to bring everyone else up to speed on that little factoid. Angel could've possibly have had more to do in the finale but thanks to him, the police did get the break with Rudy and finding Deb.



    Last but not least, there's Maria who definitely isn't thrilled when her replacement Esme Pascal starting making her impact on the team and one of Esme's tactics of doing that is to undermine Maria a little in front of everyone else. Maria even notes during a private discussion that it's one way of identifying yourself. Doesn't make it the most effective way.



    Fortunately instead of coming across as a cold one dimensional **** like Maria did in the first few episode, Esme not only has her own plans to nail the ITK and save Deb but she's also savvy enough to figure that her Captain is the incompetent one and not LaGuerta. It'll be interesting to see how these two will work out together in the next season.



    Also in "Born Free"



    The episode ended with Dexter imagining people learned his secret and that they appreciated it. He really does care what people think about him.



    Rudy/Brian: "I'm just checking supplies, okay? Things are moving pretty faster than I expected"

    Deb: "This isn't you"

    Rudy/Brian: "I'm pretty sure it is".



    It turns out that Laura Moser painted her nails in a multi-coloured fashion. Is what Rudy did with the hooker a bit Oedipal as a result?



    Rita: "Yeah it's called a blackout, Paul"

    Paul: "It's called a set up".



    Doakes: "Surprise ****

    Dexter: "You following me now?"



    If Dexter's records have been destroyed then what happened with Rudy/Brian's when he was sectioned? Did Harry have them forged/edited?



    Karen (re Dexter): "Is he in charge?"

    Masuka: "I guess he is now".



    Dexter: "I have a brother"

    Rudy/Brian: "A real brother. None of this foster ****



    Rudy Cooper happened to be the name of a plumber Brian killed back in 1998. However the guy in the boot with Deb was the poor sod who Rudy/Brian stole the car from.



    Esme (to LaGuerta): You don't know me that well but luckily for Officer Morgan, neither does the Captain".



    Rudy/Brian: "Who am I?"

    Dexter: "A killer without reason or regret. Free".



    Although he featured here, Harry's contribution is all too brief and Cody and Astor aren't here.



    Rudy/Brian (to Dexter): "You can't be a killer and a hero. It doesn't work that way".



    Dexter (to Rudy/Brian): "You're not a trophy but you need to be put down".



    Standout music: Andy Williams oh so appropriate "Born Free". No need to wonder what inspired the title of this episode then.



    Rita (re Deb): "She must be a mess falling in love with a serial killer"

    Dexter: "What are the odds?"



    Dexter (voiceover): "Yeah they see me. I'm one of them, in their darkest dreams".



    Chronology: Six hours after "Truth Be Told".



    I had no doubt in my mind that "Born Free" was going to be an amazing finale but I am truly impressed with how satisfying every plot strand regarding the Ice Truck Killer was resolved and now that Season Two isn't planning to adhere to the book series, it'll be interesting to see what the writers can come up with to enhance the series.
  • Dexter discovers how Rudy knows so much about him.

    9.6
    "Superb"
    What a totally convincing yet surprising season finale. All the storylines came together, the actors did a fabulus job and this was just a perfect ending to a magnificent first season.



    The discovery who Rudy really was, was incredibly shocking and so very sad. A happy ending would have been nice, a reunion of the two brothers, but, of course, in Dexter's world that is not possible. A happy ending would've cost Debs her life and I am very glad and a bit relieved that this did not happen. I was hoping that Dexter would never kill Debs, not even after finding out about Rudy/Brian.



    It will be interesting to see what happens with Rita, now that Paul's prediction about the shoe came true. Will she suspect anything ???
  • Way Way Way above average!

    10
    "Perfect"
    So, Dexter has really got himself in a situation. His sister is being held hostage by the Ice Truck Killer and Doakes is suspecting Dexter of being a serial killer. Which one is worse? Dexter is having a REALLY bad day. This show concluded its first season wonderfully. It was action packed and well written. As if the show didn't have enough twists and turns, this finale had quite a good one. With intensity of 24 and the "I can stop watching this"-ness of the end of Red Eye, the finale was really good. Showtime has served up another great hit!
  • I would've been very disappointed if the last episode of Season One failed to measure up to the standards set by the best of the previous episodes, and I'm happy to say that I wasn't let down at all! **may contain spoilers**

    10
    "Perfect"
    Directed and acted to a fare-thee-well (literally), it was everything I was hoping for and more.



    Best of all, it answered a question that has lingered in the background throughout the series: if tempted to stray outside the dictates of "the Code of Harry," would Dexter give into the temptation, or would he still remain a "monster with a set of standards?" I'm not telling what I know, but I can guarantee you this: if you stuck around this long waiting for a satisfying payoff, your patience will be richly rewarded. I just can't wait to see what new challenges and perils he'll have to face in Season Two!
  • A perfect ending of season one. Dex killed the "Ice Truck Killer", that was predictable, but beside that, some really unexpected things happened.

    9.8
    "Superb"
    A perfect ending of season one. Dex killed the "Ice Truck Killer", that was predictable, but beside that, some really unexpected things happened.

    He finally finds out that Rudy is actually the killer that he was looking for, and Dexter is desperate to find him before he kills his sister. The people around him are starting to notice his strange behavior, and I was afraid that someone will find out about his secret. When hi finds Rudy, it turns out that things are much more complicated. The fact that Rudy is actually his brother confused Dexter and he almost did what he asked him to do- kill Debra, but in the end, Dexter did the right thing... Or not? Killing somebody is never the right thing to do, killing your own brother is the worst thing that you could do, but killing a murderer and save an innocent life, that's another thing... Dexter is one really disturbed and confused guy and I wonder what will happen when someone finds out who he really is. All in all, Dexter is an excellent show and I can't wait to see season2!
  • Wow! That was an incredible ending to the first season!

    10
    "Perfect"
    My heart just breaks everytime they show that flash of young Dexter in that pool of blood crying. What a horrible horrible thing for a small child to go through (I have one close to what his age would have been).



    But what happened to him explains why he shut his emotions down and has a fascination with blood, killing and chopping his victims up into smaller pieces. But what now that he knows what happened to him and where he came from? It looked as though he was coming into contact with his feelings, when he found that picture of his mother, and then when he found the house he grew up in.



    AND THEN! To find out Rudy (Brian) was his brother! WOW! Did not see that coming. My husband and I were speculating all season who the ice truck killer was. It had to be someone who knew him well, knew details about his life. Turns out to be a brother that was put into an institution and basically given up on. with out Harry, Dexter would have been the same. He is almost the same, but he wont kill someone who doesnt' deserve it.



    I couldn't believe he killed his own brother. The only person who understands him truly. But some part of Dexter wants the normal life, to be accepted. Some part of him does love his foster sister, and rita. And he doesn't want to give that up. I wonder if he'll hide his emotions from this or if they will start bubbling up to the surface now that he knows his past.



    As for Rita and Paul, I think he wont kill paul because he truly loves his own children. And I hope Dexter manages to maintain his relationship with Rita. I think that Rita will forgive him for setting up Paul to go back to jail, because in her heart that was what she wanted.



    I cannot wait for next season. This show is just wonderful.
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