We can all agree cable TV has dished out some of the greatest shows ever. Whether it’s past comedies like FRIENDS and Seinfeld to present suspense/drama shows like Lost and Heroes respectively, the list of television shows continue to grow. But if you want to see really good shows, they all lie in the hands of premium channels like HBO and Showtime. That brings us to Dexter, a crime/drama too controversial for cable TV, and one I just happened to stumble upon while shopping for DVDs.

Dexter Morgan is not your average person. By day, he is a blood spatter analyst for the Miami Metro Police Department. By night, he is a serial killer that preys on criminals that escape the justice system  or are never suspected in the first place. While killing someone is wrong in it’s own right, Dexter follows the ‘Code of Harry’ by which he chooses his victims. The ‘Code’ is a set of rules and standards his foster father Harry Morgan, an accomplished Detective for the same PD Dexter works for, taught him when he discovered Dexter has sociopathic tendencies upon adopting him as a child. Instead of waiting around for the inevitable to happen, Harry Morgan realized he can use Dexter’s murderous intent to bring justice to criminals that constantly escape the law. In addition to having a ‘code’, Harry also teaches Dexter to blend in with the real world due to his inability to experience “emotion”. The series centers on Dexter of course, as he continues to channel his lust for killing all the while juggling time between his job, social life and romantic life with his girlfriend Rita, whom he’s using to appear ‘normal’. The first season focuses on Dexter’s encounters with a fellow serial killer dubbed as the Ice Truck Killer, who leaves clues for Dexter at his crime scenes about his past. Dexter uses these clues to discover a secret that will change his life forever.

Dexter in many ways is more than controversial. The ability to sell the idea that a serial killer is the ‘good guy’ is near impossible, but Emmy Award Winning screenwriter James Manos Jr pulls it off brilliantly. While many will find the idea of sympathizing with a serial killer outrageous, Michael C. Hall convinces us with a top-notch performance. Although he is as cold-blooded as his victims, Hall shows Dexter is more than a monster by his constant questioning of human emotion. Hall gives you the sense that Dexter desperately wants to be ‘normal’ at times, but accepts his true nature. Add the excellent supporting cast of Jennifer Carpenter and Julie Benz to name a few, and you have one of the best crime/dramas in recent memory. If you enjoy engaging drama with a fair balance of suspense and dark comedy, Dexter is the perfect slice of entertainment.