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Running Head: DEXTER

Dexter the Serial Killer

Jordan A. Thayer
Madonna University

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Abstract

When is the last time that you watched a TV show that had blown you away?
What were some of the qualities of that show that made it so exceptional? To me, a show
must have excitement and moral arguments. You need to be at the edge of your seat with
nervousness and also wondering why the characters made that life choice. Showtimes
TV series Dexter has that all. One episode is about blood, guts, and gore and the next is
an in depth hour inside the mind of a serial killer. A rollercoaster of emotions that won
four straight Primetime Emmy nominations for Best Drama.

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Dexter the Serial Killer

Thrilling, nail-biting, suspenseful All adjectives needed to describe the Netflix

series aired by Showtime, called Dexter. The main character, Dexter, was adopted by a
police officer, Harry Morgan. Harry was called to the scene of a bloody crime where
Dexters mother was brutally murdered in front of him. Dexter now works for a police
department in Miami, Florida as a blood spatter pattern analyst helping to solve crimes.
Although he may seem like a normal citizen, Dexter himself is a vigilante serial killer
who murders the lowlife people who slip through the cracks of the justice department.
Harry realized at a young age that Dexter had a passion for killing and helped channel
Dexters urges in a constructive way that would only hurt the lowest people in his
community.
When thinking of great TV shows, they all have two common criteria that make
them exceptional. The first criterion is that the show must be exciting. To me, something
exciting must be interesting and an attention grabber. I need to be enthused about the
show and eager to watch it. Meaning you should care what happens next and are excited
to see. There also has to be some aspect of the program that you like or can relate to. For
Dexter, the murder and mystery is appealing to me. A great show has me sitting on the
edge of my seat, taking in every aspect of the situation at hand. Also, every episode is
grabbing my attention. There should never be a point in the show that I get bored or want
to turn it off other than complete exhaustion. Excitement is one aspect that a great TV
show must have.
The second criterion that makes a TV show exceptional is a moral argument.
Morals are defined by Merriam-Webster (2015) as what you think is right or wrong

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human behavior. When there is attention paid to the morals or ethics in a TV show, it
allows for the audience to relate to the show better. This shows that the characters arent
perfect and even in a scripted TV show, people make mistakes. Also, moral arguments
are made towards a higher power; whether someone believes in the existence of a God.
The Christian faith believes in the 10 Commandments, or the Laws of God. These laws
are set up so people can follow them and live a morally correct life. Moral arguments and
excitement are two criteria that an exceptional TV show must possess to be considered
great.
The Netflix episode, Dexter, has all the qualities of an exciting TV show. First,
it is about a police department, blood spatter pattern analyst, and a serial killer. There are
many exciting aspects that people can relate to like crime and drama. Dexter has many
plot twists throughout each season and episode also. For example, Dexter almost gets
caught by his own police department or he figures out a serial killer is his brother.
Murder is in every episode, but who gets murdered is what keeps the audience at the edge
of their seats. The episodes also never seem to become boring. As soon as you think you
know what will happen, something goes terribly wrong. For example, a serial killer that
Dexter was tracking and trying to kill murders Dexters wife. Something completely
unexpected and a gut wrenching. These are just some examples of what makes Dexter
an exciting TV episode.
A moral argument is going on every single episode in Dexter. As Dexter started
to grow up, Harry noticed that Dexter was not normal. He would experiment on
neighborhood animals and was very socially awkward. Dexter didnt know how to blend
into society because he didnt know what correct behavior was. The traumatic event that

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Dexter witnessed at such a young age scarred him in ways that couldnt be fixed. So
Harry decided to implement his own type of 10 Commandments. Dexters adopted father
taught him Harrys Code. This code taught Dexter how to be a serial killer without
getting caught. Harry taught Dexter to only kill the worst of criminals that would slip
through the justice system such as child molesters, mob assassins, and serial killers who
hurt innocent people. As the seasons go on, you can witness Dexter change as a serial
killer. He no longer gets the enjoyment from the kill that he use to. Dexter starts to
become more human and develops actual feelings that he has to learn how to control and
use.
One major battle that Dexter experiences throughout the seasons is his own moral
blindnesss. Because he had such a traumatic event as a young child, this affected his
emotional development and he does not know how to apply morals or ethics unless he
was taught them by Harrys Code. The only family that Dexter has left is his sister,
Deborah. With her help, Dexter learns to stop lying in ways that hurt his family and put
them in danger. These moral blindnesss help the audience experience the flaws that
Dexter has. It also helps the audience to experience the battle that Dexter has to become a
better version of himself for his family. These moral arguments that are experienced in
Dexter make this TV show great.
From murder to love, the TV series Dexter is a great show. It is great because of
the excitement and moral arguments that set it apart from all other TV shows. You may
be crying on minute, to screaming at your TV the next. A great show that you can witness
actual changes in the characters and even give insight into your own life.

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Reference Page

Merriam-Webster. (2015). Moral. Retrieved 4 February 2016 from http://www.merriamwebster.com/dictionary/morals