DVDs in Review -#12: Dexter Season 1
This came out on region 2 this month and I picked it up while Play were having the new release price cut. Frankly I don't like the way that DVDs are sold cut price when they first come out then go up and finally depreciate slowly towards the sales. It essentially means that you either purchase a DVD immediately or avoid buying it until it's more than half it's original price.
Oh well, I'm not in charge of the rubbish pricing strategies used. What do I know?
Dexter: The Complete Season 1.
Rated: 18
Show:"The only real question I have is why in a building full of cops, all supposedly with a keen insight to the human soul, is Doakes the only one who gets the creep from me." - Dexter Morgan
Michael is utterly fantastic as Dexter, he's almost unrecognisable from his previous work as David Fisher (Six Feet Under); looking rugged, tanned, confident and unshaven instead of pale, insecure and smartly dressed. Michael is such a fantastic actor that I still have some difficulty accepting it's him in both roles. As Dexter he gives us an exceptionally likable character, one who has a dry wit about life, someone who is still - despite what he is - trying to understand and fit in with society. It's an exceptionally strong portrayal of a sociopath. Very accurate, especially in the narration which helps show how he doesn't fit in. The rest of the cast are also phenomenal. Providing a wonderful counterpoint to Dexters obvious abnormality with their own ordinary lives and personalities.
Dexter is one of the finest shows ever.
10/10
Packaging:
"No blood. No sticky, hot, messy, awful blood; no blood at all. Why hadn't I thought of that? No blood. What a beautiful idea!" - Dexter Morgan
Dexter's packaging is an exercise in 'How to do it right' and should be looked at by every manufacturer as an example to emulate. It comes in a tidy and small cardboard sleeve (see top picture), that has one of two alternate artworks and inside that is a pair of slim-line DVD cases; each of which contains 2 DVDs.
Just look at that. It's efficient, clean, well produced and has everything you could possibly want in packaging. All wrapped up in a box that has a tiny profile on the shelf. This is the best packaged DVD product so far. Additionally the menus are clean, precise and beautiful. With no pointless details to them. Just fantastic.
10/10
Extras:
"I chose Rita because she is, in her own way, as damaged as me." - Dexter
There's a price to all of this slimline packaging though, the DVD set distinctly lacks Extras. In fact, so far I've only found a single extra on any of the four DVDs and that's commentary from the producers on the final episode. Honestly, I'm never that interested in hearing what the producers have to say, throw in a writer and some of the actors please. They're far more interesting.
But, that said it's not a bad bit of commentary. They manage to provide some interesting insights, especially into the choices behind the creation of the brilliantly chilling title sequence.
2/10
Price:
"So then he must have already had the head with him in the front seat. Huh, that's weird. Why would he keep it there?" - Lt Maria Laguerta
"I don't know. So he could use a carpool lane" - Dexter
Price:
"So then he must have already had the head with him in the front seat. Huh, that's weird. Why would he keep it there?" - Lt Maria Laguerta
"I don't know. So he could use a carpool lane" - Dexter
I was fortunate enough to get the set in play.com's release 'sale' and got it for the low, low price of £18. But it's now £26.99 from them, £27 in HMV and Zavvi and sendit.com have it for £25.89. At 720 minutes of quality programming it works out at a rather expensive 3.56p per minute. So it might be worth hanging on until the price drops a little before you get this. But it is worth the price.
7/10
Overall
Show: 10
Packaging: 10
Extras: 2
Price: 7
Final Score: 72.5%
Overall
Show: 10
Packaging: 10
Extras: 2
Price: 7
Final Score: 72.5%
That's not an amazing score, but because I figure in the quality and quantity of Extras into the score Dexter loses out hard. Despite this score I'd still recommend this to anyone without hesitation. But I can't go fixing my scoring style just to bump up one of my favourite shows...
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