Rhapsodizing about Dexter

[shah_of_blah]

Well, this is fortuitous.  My answers for Days 18 and 19 are the same.  I think Bad Horse is an appropriate icon for a show about a serial killer, don't you?

Day 18. Favorite title sequence

When I think of other sequences that I like, it's mostly because I like the song (Firefly, Wonderfalls).  Dexter's sequence, though, is more than that.  It is the epitome of him as a character, with his "dark passenger" lurking behind every action as he puts on his mask.  Plus, they've made breakfast look terrifying and vaguely gross.  I want to have breakfast with Michael C. Hall.  I bet it would be freaky.

Day 19. Best TV show cast

My respect for each of these actors only grows with each season (not pictured: C.S. Lee as Vince Masuka).  Michael C. Hall is brilliant--that's sort of a given.  But these guys, they never falter, they never over do it.  It's like every moment is exactly the way it ought to be.  Jennifer Carpenter makes me fall in love with her (and Deb) again on a weekly basis (and oh my god how she made me hurt in season 4).  Lauren Vélez turned Maria LaGuerta--who was a very one-note character in the book--into one of my favorites.  She is so incredibly smart and driven and almost ruthless when she needs to be, but she makes me love her for it.  I want an Angel of my very own.  And I want to give Doakes a hug, even though he would never, ever accept such a thing.  Masuka...okay, I don't know.  Maybe I want him to teach me science.  Well, I would go to his presentation.  Probably. 

And then there's Rita.  Julie Benz astonished me in her turn as Rita, since I had never really liked her/Darla that much on Angel.  But after just a few episodes, I could watch the show and completely forget that she had ever been Darla, she was so completely this other person.  And I love Rita.  I'm not in the Dexter fandom (don't even know where it is) but I've heard that she's not a very popular character.  Maybe she gets a bad rap because she's firmly wrapped in her roles as mother and girlfriend/wife.  But she's all the stronger for it, I think.  And I'm sort of losing the train of what I wanted to say about Rita, but it all boils down to her strength.  She's not physically strong like some of the other characters--she's not a cop and she doesn't carry a gun.  But she's survived years of abuse and emerged whole and healthy.  If that's not strength, I don't know what is.  

There was a time I would have said BSG for this.  Alas, a certain actor who is often referred to with three initials--begins with an E, ends with JO--kind of ruined that for me.

Comments

[rayruz.livejournal.com]

I have seen another person do the Dexter opening for Day 18. I probably will too. So good.

[shah-of-blah.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I've seen other flisters use it too. Just can't resist.

[cosetteferaud.livejournal.com]

I never thought I'd end up liking Rita... But I do, for the same reasons you point out. And yeah, Dexter opening is amazing, probably my favorite too.

[shah-of-blah.livejournal.com]

At first glance, Rita didn't seem like a particularly interesting character, but I loved how she grew and made so much personal progress.

[olaf47.livejournal.com]

DEBBBBBBBBBBBBB.

I have such love for her.

[shah-of-blah.livejournal.com]

I know! I fucking love her. So fucking much. I feel the need to swear a lot whenever I'm talking about her.

[olaf47.livejournal.com]

She is just...guh. So much love. It's completely fucking understandable to feel the fucking need to fucking swear. :P

[rdave1.livejournal.com]

I really want to watch this show but can never find the time to just sit and catch up. From little I've seen and heard, it's a great show and a great cast!

[shah-of-blah.livejournal.com]

I hope you do find the time eventually! I love it so much, even when it is breaking my heart.

[somethingusual.livejournal.com]

You really have to, it's such a good show! I'm really interested to see where they're going to go this season.

[shah-of-blah.livejournal.com]

I'm a little terrified of the next season, to be honest! I don't want to spoil anyone, but it's gonna be an intense ride.

[orangerful.livejournal.com]

I'm waiting for Season 3 to come onto Netflix Instant view - my DVR crashed in the middle of the season and I lost it all! I know that season was supposed to be amazing.

[shah-of-blah.livejournal.com]

I actually thought the third season was the weakest...not that it was bad, just that it wasn't quite as excellent as the others. Still really intense though. I hope it comes onto Instant soon too.