Born Free

What a season, no matter how many times I've seen this season (3rd or 4th time) it just keeps my eyes glued to the screen, one of the best opening season to any show.

To begin the season Dexter takes us on one of his kills grabbing our attention immediately. Then we learn that he's a Blood Spatter Analyst for the police and a killer killer by night.

This whole seasons main focus is the Ice Truck Killer case, which has some crazy twist and turns that would keep anyone watching.

This season teaches us everything we need to know about Dexter for years to come, he only kills people who deserve to die.

Ep 11 set impossible expectations, and Ep 12 "Born Free" doesn't quite reach those heights - but it's still exceptional television. 8.5/10

Hall and Camargo's confrontation scenes carry genuine emotional weight, their chemistry making the brother dynamic utterly compelling. The death scene proves strangely intimate and touching - unexpected pathos in brutal circumstances.

Cuesta's direction maintains tension throughout whilst allowing quieter character moments to breathe. That shipping container sequence with Doakes demonstrates the show's ability to mix physical action with psychological warfare brilliantly.

The resolution feels slightly rushed compared to the season's careful build-up - perhaps inevitable given the ambitions here. Yet the emotional beats land solidly, particularly Hall's breakdown demonstrating Dexter's humanity beneath the monster.

The finale plants seeds for future conflicts effectively without feeling overly calculated. Solid conclusion to a remarkable first season.

This episode is about as close to perfect as you can get. Almost Mizumono and Felina level. The episode is complete, and treats every subject you'd think it would, but also leaves space for imagination and things you wouldn't expect. Dexter's character development is absolutely insane in this first season, and I am absolutely thrilled about what will happen in season 2. Never boring. Never "filling." Crazy characters developments, crazy dynamics. Great acting and E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G you could think of. This show is THAT good. I have never given it a chance till now. I actually don't regret it, because watching other shows first gave me the chance to understand this perfectly. I believe Dexter S1 is better than Breaking Bad S1, not by much, but still a little. This is high level Cinema. Bravo to everybody who's been working on this.

The twelfth and final episode of the first season of Dexter is about perfect in every way. The events leading to this episode is all worth the waiting because this is one final epic showdown. We learn many surprising things here including a connection between Rudy and Dexter that I certainly did not see coming. From start to finish, this episode is just amazing and will truly hold your attention like no other.

In this episode, "Born Free," Debra has been kidnapped by Rudy, whose identity has been known now as he truly is. Dexter races against the clock to find Debra. Meanwhile, his feud with Sgt. Doakes becomes physical. Also, Paul calls Rita saying that Dexter framed him and that's why he is in jail.

Overall, this is such an amazing episode. It took eleven episodes of build-up, but we have come to the utmost satisfying conclusion there could be. I'll be eagerly awaiting the second season of this fantastic series. I rate this episode 10/10.

I really enjoyed the first season of Dexter. It introduces us to Dexter Morgan, a forensic blood spatter expert working for the Miami police, who also happens to be a serial killer. But not just any killer: Dexter follows a strict code, targeting only those who, in his eyes, truly deserve to die. This moral twist earns him the nickname The Bay Harbor Butcher.

While he tries to maintain a seemingly normal relationship with Rita, a kind but emotionally scarred single mother of two, the city is gripped by a chilling new threat: the Ice Truck Killer. This mysterious second killer is not just out there committing crimes, he's also watching Dexter. This cat-and-mouse dynamic adds a psychological tension that lifts the show beyond your typical crime drama.

The acting is solid throughout, especially Michael C. Hall, who masterfully balances Dexter's deadpan public face with his inner monologue and darker urges. One thing that bothered me, though, was the constant use of foreign languages by certain characters, often Spanish, without subtitles. It felt forced, as if the show wanted to highlight diversity, but didn't consider non-Spanish-speaking viewers. It reminded me of how some Afro-Caribbean characters in Dutch films suddenly speak fluently in their native tongue for realism's sake, even when it's not contextually believable. This took me out of the experience and made some conversations hard to follow.

That said, I was impressed, in a disturbingly admiring way, by the creativity and preparation behind the murders, especially those committed by the Ice Truck Killer. The level of detail, the methodical nature, the visual elements... sick, yes, but beautifully executed. It wasn't just about killing; it was about sending a message, creating a pattern, drawing Dexter into a deeper game.

Overall, Season 1 of Dexter is a strong introduction to a deeply conflicted character and a morally ambiguous world. It raises questions about justice, identity, and control and it does so with style, suspense, and more than a few genuinely shocking moments.