In recent days I have become hopelessly addicted to Dexter. I’m really not one for suspense, gore or even glamorizing serial killers. I mean Charles Manson, Ted Bundy, Son of Sam, the Zodiac Killer, the Boston Strangler and Jack the Ripper are/were all crazy guys who needed to be removed from the gene pool. And those that I just mentioned that didn’t get caught. . .it is sad to me that there are some people are just that dementedly intelligent that they escape justice.

My mother, though, she loves that 80s TV movie about Ted Bundy, The Deliberate Stranger. I think that’s more because she’s got a thing for Mark Harmon rather than harboring a perverse love of sociopaths. And thinking about Ted Bundy. . .some of those guys are charming and know how to function and fool the world into thinking that they’re decent guys.

But back to Dexter. If you haven’t watched it, or heard of it, it’s based off of the book Darkly Dreaming Dexter by Jeff Lindsay. I know that Connie loves these books, but I don’t think I’d ever read one (there are two sequels, Dearly Devoted Dexter and Dexter in the Dark). Dexter is a serial killer. But his nature was noted and channeled by his foster father Harry, a cop, so that he wouldn’t get caught and he’d have a more moral compass to his dark nature. Dexter only targets and kills people who slip through justice or who think they’re not going to get caught doing dastardly deeds.

The whole concept is morally ambiguous and hard to swallow but the show is amazing. . . It’s very well made, well acted and well put together. Except for one of the cops that Dexter works with. Yeah, the guy, he’s a serial killer, but he works as a blood splatter expert for the Miami PD. It’s twisted, twisted stuff.

And I’m so addicted.

Though Dexter does these horrific crimes, keeps trophies and is an FBI profiler’s dream, the character still has some humanity, even though he claims to be separate from the rest of the people. He cares for his sister Deborah, who is a homicide detective. He’s got a girlfriend named Rita (played by Julie Benz, who I have loved since she tried to kill Buffy in the first episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer) who is damaged because of a brutal ex-husband. Though these relationships are a cover, he really does care and want the best for them.

But great moments so far: Dexter is killing a husband and wife, but asks how their relationship has lasted for 12 years (sharing the same dreams). Dexter knowing he’s gotta kill this shrink, but goes for some therapy first, has a breakthrough, then admits he’s a serial killer before getting the guy in a sleeper hold. And any scene with Deborah or Rita. Season one is over, but season two starts up pretty soon. If you want something different to watch, give it a try.