DVDpedia : TV Series : Title : D

Theatrical: 2006

Studio: Showtime Ent. / Paramount

Genre: TV Series / Drama

Duration: 650

Summary: 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)

Theatrical: 2006

Studio: Showtime Ent. / Paramount

Genre: TV Series / Drama

Duration: 636

Summary: The dead bodies of 18 victims are accidentally found in an underwater graveyard. The killer, who becomes known as The Bay Harbor Butcher, has dismembered his victims' bodies and wrapped all the pieces in plastic bags. Soon a task force of FBI agents and police officers is assembled to investigate the case and one of their first discoveries is that The Bay Harbor Butcher only kills other killers. If you watched season 1, then you already know who the Butcher is: Dexter Morgan. And you might also be able to tell that this story is really tense. Special Agent Lundy, leader of the task force, is brilliant and usually able to outsmart Dexter. Sergeant Doakes becomes Dexter's archenemy. He is sure that Dexter is hiding a secret and won't give up until he finds out what it is. In a Narcotics Anonymous meeting, Dexter meets a beautiful and unconventional woman, Lila, who has a dark side of her own and makes Dexter feel good about himself, because she believes no one is all evil. Rita, on the other hand, isn't very happy about Dexter's new friend. New relevations about Harry will make Dexter even more uncomfortable, as if he didn't have troubles enough.



In my opinion, this season managed to be even better than season 1. Under federal investigation, Dexter's cool facade cracks and he becomes much more human. He makes a lot of mistakes and in a sense becomes a worse person. In season 1, the Ice Truck Killer was the bad guy, but in season 2, Dexter is "the root of all evil," as he himself said. When compared to honest police officers, Dexter's criminal activities look more criminal than ever. This was a nice change of perspective. Yes, Dexter only kills other killers, but it turns out that when his survival is at stake, all his masks fall and we can finally see the monster.

Theatrical: 1967

Studio: Tango Entertainment

Genre: TV Series / Comedy

Duration: 280

Summary: Monty Python completists will especially appreciate "Do Not Adjust Your Set", a precursor to "Monty Python's Flying Circus" starring Terry Jones, Michael Palin, and Eric Idle, along with fellow writer-performers David Jason and Denise Coffey. Ostensibly a children's show, "Do Not Adjust Your Set" also includes the then-future Python Terry Gilliam lurking off-camera as an occasional animator, and the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band with Neil Innes, an important collaborator on several Idle projects that lay ahead. A freewheeling sketch show from the late 1960s, originally broadcast on the Rediffusion network before switching to Thames Television, it's impossible not to see "Do Not Adjust Your Set" as a blueprint for "Flying Circus". The two hours' worth of material in this DVD set includes early versions of Palin's familiar role as an incompetent shopkeeper, in one instance selling shoe polish to a man who asks for bananas. The entire cast stars in a vignette about a classical music quartet whose instruments produce the sounds of an auto accident and an air raid. Terry Jones plays an insurance agent who wrecks Palin's house, and Idle essays his soon-to-be signature performance as a pleasant-sounding, BBC news reader spouting surreal headlines. This is a gold mine of Pythonesque comedy in an embryonic state, plus the Bonzo Dog Band performing "Death Cab for Cutie." "--Tom Keogh"

Theatrical: 2009

Studio: Twentieth Century Fox

Genre: TV Series / Sci-Fi

Duration: 694

Summary: Well I'm writing this on April 14th 2009 and there are still a few episodes of Dollhouse left to air. Unfortunately I can't tell you about the special features on this DVD, because it's not out. Instead I would like to take a minute to discuss the show and encourage you to check this out.



It's pretty much universally acknowledged that Dollhouse's first episodes are uneven and a little weak. While many critics have different opinions on this, I'm going to cheerfully give you mine (this is my review after all!) The first reason is that Eliza Dushku, while a very attractive and talented young lady, simply does not have the range to support the premise. Dushku's voice, mannerisms, and stature are so unique that they leave an indelible imprint on every character she is supposed to be playing and make them all seem similar. So when her character "Echo" plays a "hostage negotiator" she seems to be a tough, spunky gal who takes charge. Which is exactly like her "extreme sports girlfriend" and her "singer/bodyguard". Even when she plays a character that is initially very passive, when the chips are down she becomes a...you guessed it...spunky, tough gal who takes charge.



Not only that, but the first five episodes of the show seem to waffle and go nowhere - Echo gets an assignment, puts herself in danger, succeeds at the assignment, and has her memory erased. Oh sure there are a few subplots going on, but for the most part the show seems to be coasting during those early episodes. The assignments are not particularly exciting, and in some cases border on being ludicrous. The show is watchable, but it's fairly mediocre television.



I stuck with the show due to Whedon's past writing, however, and I am glad I did. About six episodes in something magical happened that grabbed me and wouldn't let go. Now, I don't want to get too specific here, but there is a critical episode that demonstrates fundemental assumptions that you, the viewer, have made about the show are false. And suddenly things get a lot more interesting. At that point, the show picks up steam, things that have only been hinted at before start coming into focus, the show stops being structured around the assigments, and more importantly: the show becomes much more of an ensemble drama that focuses on a bunch of interesting characters, rather than on just Echo who is not compelling enough to sustain the show on her own - but works great as the element of a larger cast.



As I am writing this there are a few more episodes coming down the pipe. Maybe it all falls apart and three weeks from now I'll be mad that I stuck with the show. But I doubt it. I feel that Dollhouse has turned the corner and is now a show I can recommend to friends. We'll just skip or summarize the first 5 episodes and go from there.



I'm giving it 2 stars for the first five episodes, 4 stars for the last nine, so round it up to 3 stars. And if it keeps it's momentum, I thnk we'll be looking at a 5 star season two.

Theatrical: 2007

Studio: FOX Broadcasting

Genre: TV Series / Action

Duration: 250

Summary: