When it airs on Showtime, it's rated TV-MA. The streamed ones are TV-14. One assumes the snips were content-related, and probably involved the occasional four-letter word.

kli | October 21, 22:52 CET

"...probably involved the occasional four-letter world."

I haven't seen the 2nd ep yet, but I would've thought it more likely involves the dead victims or scenes of murder. I've only seen the streamed pilot -- which I assume is also TV-14 -- but I wouldn't have let family members under the age of 18 see that. Can't imagine how much better the original airing was. Isn't the DVD out yet?

cabri | October 21, 23:53 CET

Nope. The show just premiered this season, and I think it's only up to the fourth aired episode this weekend.

I too saw the pilot, and it is tre disturbing, and I like it a lot. It's twisted and wrong, and I'm totally rooting for Dexter-the-serial-killer to pull through. Julie Benz plays a character opposite of Darla: sweet, victimized and meek, and she's great in it.

dottikin | October 22, 00:05 CET

Julie Benz is great in this series. Michael C. Hall is, no surprise to anyone who watched Six Feet Under, flat-out amazing. I also love that this series is giving three (so far) Oz actors work in something I enjoy.

I orginally watched the pilot on Showtime's site as well, but I didn't notice any differences when the show premiered on TV a couple weeks later. There was swearing and some violence (more implied than shown) in the streamed preview, but it all seemed the same on air.

cabri, the series just premiered at the beginning of the month and will run for twelve (or maybe thirteen?) episodes. Or was that meant to imply anxiety, like you wish the Dexter DVD was out already ?

We might not have to wait long. When Brotherhood** ended last month, the Season 1 DVDs were out a week later. I'm not sure what the track record for The L Word and Weeds has been in terms of turnaround time for disc release (and Splinter Cell, for that matter, which I've started recording as it repeats and need to start watching soon).


**Brotherhood, another excellent new Showtime drama. An Irish-American variation of The Sopranos to some folks at first glance (was guilty of making that snap judgement too), but it evolved into something pretty unique within its genre after several episodes. The writing and acting is outstanding and the last two or three episodes were some of the best TV I've seen all year (sorry Deadwood).

Kris | October 22, 00:10 CET

Kris, I agree with your review of Ms. Benz and Mr. Hall. They just *rock*, and they are so different than in previous roles. Great show, even though it's not pleasant subject matter, to say the least.

billz | October 22, 00:41 CET

"We at Showtime Online express our apologies; however, these pages are intended for access only from within the United States."
Yes, it is US only.

I think it was picked up in Canada, but I don't remember by which network.

Brisco | October 22, 01:29 CET

Really enjoying this. I was wondering if they'd show Dexter's 'process' so early (one potential future plotline that occurs to me is him being wrong about one of his victims and how he deals with that) but it was cool to see. It's hilarious (and sometimes sort of sad at the same time) watching him try to do the things we do as a matter of course and the deadpan (largely inadvertant on his part) humour of his internal narration is excellent.

I wonder how nasty they'll be willing to make his killings (i.e. how far they'll try to push it and still keep him sympathetic) ? The mostly implied gore is disturbing but, to me, not as bad as when you take a step back and realise you're rooting for this emotionless psychopath, that you're right inside his head and that you sort of like it there.

(and yep, Julie Benz is great in a role which is a bit like Darla at her most vulnerable - say when she asked Angel to re-vamp her - only all the time but that she still manages to not make one note)

Saje | October 22, 01:33 CET

Kris said:

I hope showtime will stream every single episode but kinda doubt it, so yes to the implying of anxiety. Or they could make $2 off me each and every week if they would just offer it on iTunes. Streaming, iTunes, DVD -- I'll take this show any way I can get it. It's like some sick and twisted alternate Whedon dimension...

cabri | October 22, 03:23 CET

I was going to post this tomorrow, but since this thread has already been posted, I'll mention it here. Drew Greenburg is a writer/producer on this show, and his first episode airs Sunday night.

electricspacegirl | October 22, 06:38 CET

Cabri wrote: I haven't seen the 2nd ep yet, but I would've thought it more likely involves the dead victims or scenes of murder.

I would have thought so, too, but given the weirdness of ratings, and how off-screen and non-graphic the violence tends to be, I went for language as a guess. I really don't wanna prove I have no life by doing a parallel viewing. :)

I also have to say that the title sequence they came up with for this show is a masterpiece of suggestiveness. Best use of a blood orange ever.

kli | October 22, 07:30 CET

I can't wait to watch this!! I've become a big fan -- I ordered both books within days of one another and devoured them.

YellowBear | October 22, 07:34 CET

I was going to post this tomorrow, but since this thread has already been posted, I'll mention it here. Drew Greenburg is a writer/producer on this show, and his first episode airs Sunday night.

Assuming it's not against the rules, it'd be great if you could post that today anyway. I don't think most readers regularly read the thread comments (at least I usually don't), and this show deserves all the attention it can get.

Dym | October 22, 22:43 CET

I can't wait to watch this!! I've become a big fan -- I ordered both books within days of one another and devoured them.

Browncoat, I'd love to know your thoughts after you do get a chance to see the series. I love the books, but find the show quite bland and uninspired in comparison. I probably would have been better off seeing the show and then reading the books.

MindPieces | October 23, 00:55 CET

I just watched the first two episodes and have to say, "Wow." Good stuff.

Is E1 the pilot you guys are talking about?

Oh, and I forgot to say that Julie Benz is wonderful. I guess I forgot because we all know that already, but she really does give an especially layered performance in this.

[ edited by newcj on 2006-10-23 03:30 ]

newcj | October 23, 01:12 CET

A very twisted show. I know that I am raining on everyones parade but when a murderer is regarded as goood....well..I can't but help to feel a bit disturbed. Great acting though...

I personally feel I have seen enough of the dark side of the human maind this is not a show for me.

Jonas | October 23, 05:53 CET

Yeah but he only murders bad people Jonas ;).

I know what you mean but for me that's part of the point. How far can they go and still make him the 'goodie' ? Can two wrongs make a right, or at least prevent further wrongs ? It's a whole can of moral worms.

(and I also like the sort of dark side of liberalism it touches on. Cos be honest, deep down where we don't let the light in, I think it's a kind of evil wish fulfilment for a lot of people. Sure, murder is wrong and personally i'm also against the death penalty but if you could just wave your hand and make bad people disappear wouldn't you be tempted ? That's kind of what Dexter does only the hand he waves has a bonesaw in it and he uses more bin-bags ;)

Saje | October 23, 12:38 CET

Saje - Eventhough I decided not to watch it I acctually agree with what you wrote to 98%.
Both you and I have people who think about things like this. We try not just to watch TV to kill time, we actually contemplate on what we watch.
Were I live in Central Virginia most people do not do that. Most people see the world in black & white. Most people think captital punishment is not only right but uses the Bible to back this up.
I can see how a lot of these folks would find Dexter a fantastic show...all for the wrong reasons.

And now something completely different (said in a posh English accent):
Back when Garth Ennis started writing the Punisher he said that to him Punisher was NOt a hero but a serial killer whos MO is criminals.
Similar approach???

Jonas | October 23, 16:45 CET

Yeah, I'm two episodes in and I think this is great drama. As my girlfriend said, it's different to anything else on TV this season, which is a good thing.

There's quite a variety of story here. What if he kills somebody who turns out innocent? What if he simply gets the wrong person by accident? What if his thirst for the kill goes outside of 'bad' people?

Also, Julie Benz rocks the house in this.

gossi | October 23, 17:32 CET

"I know that I am raining on everyones parade but when a murderer is regarded as goood....well..I can't but help to feel a bit disturbed."

Agreed. I think part of what works here is that he is not being presented as a good guy or as a hero. He recognizes that he is a monster and is constantly reminding the audience. What he is doing is a way to make the horrible things he feels compelled to do more justifiable to himself and to the moral code he was raised with. ...So what does that say about the moral code he was raised with?

I'm sure there will be people who will ignore that aspect. Personally, I would have liked to see less of what he does to his victims but I also realized that it is needed to keep him from being seen as a hero and try to make sure the audience remembers that this guy is a monster. I also found myself chilled to the bone at the idea that his father would unleash that kind of human being into society.

newcj | October 23, 18:15 CET