Damn, guys. I just caught the three aired episodes of Dexter, and I am all about this show. I don't know what it is about crazy serial killers, but I am so right there with this in whatever direction it goes. I think it hits a lot of show-things that click for me--interior monologue, The Pretender-like focus, Criminal Minds/Profiler-interest in specialized murder scenarios, that splash of dark humour. A compelling, more than a little crazy main character, like Jarod (Pretender) or Johnny (The Dead Zone), who still manages to take the piss out of themselves. Add in a compelling season-long mystery, and you've got a recipe for SA-approved success.

Plus, Julie Benz is in it. I mean, she's playing to type--the fragile, broken blonde--but never let it be said that she doesn't play it very well. I wish I had more episodes to watch. Except Dexter keeps *eating* throughout each episode (which is a quirk a la Rusty in Ocean's Eleven, and thus endearing to me) which keeps making me hungry.

Except Dexter keeps *eating* throughout each episode (which is a quirk a la Rusty in Ocean's Eleven, and thus endearing to me)

I think my need/desire to see this show, which was already significant, just jumped exponentially.

Tonight's episode of The Wire was unbelievable. This one may be the single best episode from the entire series, but I'm going to have to calm down a bit before bestowing that particular honor upon it.

I think my need/desire to see this show, which was already significant, just jumped exponentially.

Watch it watch it watch it! Not just so I can talk about it with you! Because it's really good and I was still thinking about it all this morning as I was getting read to be late for work!

Still need to start watching the Wire, but I suspect it will have to wait until we hit the December lull for new tv.

I think Michael C. Hall may be doing a little too good a job of making Dexter likeable and charming, though. On other message boards I've already seen some responses along the lines of "But he really seems fond of Rita's kids and sweet to her. It's too sincere to be an act. He's just misunderstood, and no one else can see to his gooey kind center LIKE I CAN!"

Ah well, at least if they're writing love letters to Hall rather than the Ted Bundys of the world, they won't be finding out what the inside of a closed car trunk looks like...

He's just misunderstood, and no one else can see to his gooey kind center LIKE I CAN!"

Yeah, but you get that for Angelus too. Hell, there's probably a Voldemort apologist. Which is not to compare Dexter to either of those works--but generally I ignore that branch of fan-frenzy anyway. I just keep remembering what he said in the pilot, about being really good at faking social interactions, which makes watching him play with Rita's kids so much more layered. How much of that is the act, and how much of it is the Code of Harry telling him he needs to have something like that to keep up appearances?

I'd been trying to remember where I saw MCH from, and then when I IMDB'ed him I did a forehead-thwack. Six Feet Under, of course and unsurprising. But somehow it didn't ping me at all.

Haven't seen the third episode of Dexter yet, but the first two episodes? Oh my GOD, so good.

And I need to watch The Wire more quickly. I'm almost done with season two. A few things of note:

a) I want to marry Lester Freamon. I have since episode 3.

b) Stringer Bell is hot like burning.

c) My love for Omar cannot be textually rendered.

I want to marry Lester Freamon. I have since episode 3.

Smooth Lester Cool!

Stringer Bell is hot like burning.

What, you love String but not Frank Sobatka?

My love for Omar cannot be textually rendered.

I can't wait for you to catch up. I was one of those who found Spike more and more annoying for staying alive lost past his sell-by date. Omar has walked that same line, but stayed on the right side of it.

I guess I just don't understand the need to fixate on ruthless characters and then construct imaginary scenarios where they'd be really nice people if someone would just give them some understanding.

Then again, watching Joss' and Tim's shows has prepared me to have an appreciation of destructive and unrepentantly evil characters, like Angelus, Darla, Drusilla, Jaye Tyler...

What, you love String but not Frank Sobatka?

Dude, Frank Sobatka is a pretty awesome character. He's smart and dedicated, and it's not fair that he has Zig for a son, but he just does not look like Idris Elba does in a suit and glasses.

On occasion, I can be very, very shallow. And he makes Macroeconomics hot.

I can't wait for you to catch up.

Neither can I! It has such a huge cast and a complicated storyline, and yet I know who everyone is, and... and... Jesus, we are in a golden age of TV.