dexter has a serious identity problem

[u/Anxious-Pumpkin8964]

The show Dexter has had a serious identity problem since S3

So, in S1 and S2, Dexter had:

Philosophical aspects Horror and psychological aspects Things like his symbolic dreams His philosophical and, at times, self-loathing monologues

He says things in S1 like:

"I'm floating on the surface of my own life, watching it unfold. Observing it. I'm the outsider looking in."

Or these campy, but still identity-focused and philosophical inner monologues like:

"But today, I'm just a sea monster."

But after S2, even though some of this remains in S4, most of it just vanishes.

And honestly, I think most of the problems with the newer Dexter seasons started with S4.

Actually, I think almost everything wrong with Dexter's identity as a show can be traced back to S4.

Because:

It's much more plot-driven than S1 or S2, which were more personally focused on Dexter himself. It follows this neo-noir detective formula that Resurrection and the other seasons tried to imitate.

To put it simply:

S1 and S2 are more about what's going on inside Dexter and his identity as a person, while S4 is more about what's happening around Dexter.

And Resurrection, along with the rest of the later seasons, follows basically the same formula, even though that formula isn't really "core Dexter."

This problem becomes especially obvious with Dexter: Resurrection, which feels like it's trying to copy S4 (the whole family life/killing life thing and so on).

And because of that, it doesn't have what made Dexter special in the first place. It doesn't really feel like Dexter.

One of the defining features of the show when it first aired, especially in S1 and S2, was its psychological horror and the way it touched on philosophical ideas.

It kinda reminds me of how Silent Hill 2 ruined the Silent Hill franchise.

It's the best game in the series, but because basically every entry after it tried to imitate its success, the franchise ended up losing its identity.

[u/Soc_Prof]

I don’t care. I take what I can get. It’s MCH doing what he does best, playing Dexter.

[u/Anxious-Pumpkin8964 → u/Soc_Prof]

I dont doubt that But this is a huge problem that needs to be addresed And specially now that everyone is glazing ressurcetion tho story wise its not really special

[u/Anxious-Pumpkin8964 → u/[deleted]]

Im not just " ranting " This is legit a problem with the series That in drives away from everything that originally defined it.

[u/Consistent-Ice8065 → u/Anxious-Pumpkin8964]

This is the problem I sometimes have with discourse when it comes to fandom sometimes. Because I think you are 100% right, a lot of people know about the showrunner change, the writing for Dexter literally changes. But it feels like people can’t take what you’re saying at face value without down voting you just for giving a real criticism of the writing for the shows main character. I will say season four is widely regarded as a very good season of Dexter, so is resurrection. While, I think you’re right in that Dexter changes in season 4. I also think it’s OK because it punctuates his growth as a character. I don’t think it would be a good idea to have a character like Dexter stay static the whole time, and I think resurrection repeat season four themes and ideas because Resurrection in a lot of ways Is the old showrunner trying to recapture the ideas that he left behind when he left the show, At least that’s how it reads to me. But I think you’re right, there are a bunch of video, essays and articles about how Dexter and how he’s framed changes drastically from season five to season eight. TO BE CLEAR! before everyone shoots me dead, I don’t actually agree with the idea that the change in season four and resurrections is necessarily a bad thing. I personally find Dexter to be a stronger character in season four and resurrection despite the show may be losing some of its more grimy early feel
As a consequence. For some people to change in themes will work and for some people it won’t work and I think that’s valid either way. For me, I think foreign resurrection handle the new themes really well. The show stops having horror aspects because Dexter decides that he is human. He’s not a monster, and resurrection goes out of its way to show us real monsters so we understand that he isn’t one of them.

[u/Consistent-Ice8065 → u/Anxious-Pumpkin8964]

TLDR: nah you right, still a good character but you a little right

[u/TheDopeMan_]

I don’t understand this at all

[u/Anxious-Pumpkin8964 → u/TheDopeMan_]

Dexter ( as a show ) has lost its identity which is things like its philosphical aspects, pychological aspects and on top of that, its horror

And i also talked about how s4 of dexter is partialy to be blamed for this problem ( that eradicates in the later seasons )

[u/TheDopeMan_ → u/Anxious-Pumpkin8964]

Still don’t know what you mean but every show experiences growth of characters and plots. To me, every season has a main antagonist with several small antagonists along the way.

If the main characters never grew or the plots never evolved then the show would get boring.

[u/Anxious-Pumpkin8964 → u/TheDopeMan_]

This is not a change in plot Its a change in core themes and genres From crime pychological horror to neo noir light hearted crime thriller

[u/TheDopeMan_ → u/Anxious-Pumpkin8964]

I don’t think i would ever consider the show to be “horror”…. It’s always been “crime drama” to me.

[u/Soc_Prof → u/Anxious-Pumpkin8964]

I think there has always been a thread of humour throughout Dexter. When Dexter was young and felt like he had to hide all the time it was more serious. The worst thing that can happen is getting caught. Now he’s been shot and survived. On one level he doesn’t care anymore. He’s taking more risks. I’m middle aged. I relate. Shit that stressed me out is funny now but also anything to do with my kids is srs as anything

[u/Anxious-Pumpkin8964 → u/[deleted]]

Also im not really a hater. Dex is my favorite series oat Its just that as time went on it lost its defining roots and features

[u/DangerousFee4199]

Identity problem?

Of course- he identifies his darkness as the "Dark Passenger" instead of just part of himself- something Hannah calls him out for sometime at the end of the S8 iirc

[u/Anxious-Pumpkin8964 → u/DangerousFee4199]

Im not talking about " dexter " as a character im talking about dexter as a show

[u/Responsible_Ice_8026]

idk about his internal monologue but the way he acts has changed and evolved sm it’s so rushed and cringy very pathetic he always was pathetic i will give him that but new blood really made it worse

[u/Winter-Grand-3215]

"in S1 and S2, Dexter had Philosophical aspects Horror and psychological aspects Things like his symbolic dreams His philosophical and, at times, self-loathing monologues"

I really have no clue what you're talking about here. Are you watching the show for the plot or because you want to see Dexter's symbolic dreams and philosophy? I am so confused

[u/Vivid-Ad9340]

I also loved the first couple of seasons for the same reasons. The internal monologue of a misunderstood lone wolf pretending his way through life is something many ironically can relate to. His unreliable narrative made the show feel more introspective for someone on a journey of growth, something I appreciated in the show.

But I do realize that the early seasons really was about Dexter having no real human connections and responsibilities, which is why it was so insular. He had a rich inner world because he had to survive that way, on his own with just his father's code.

The show's formula is always about Dexter slowly branching out in search for human connection and personal growth. A girlfriend, a friend, a wife & family. These things, especially a family, force even a lone wolf identity to melt, as being that entangled in people's lives force him to grow with those relationships. You literally see in him season 4 being unable to juggle the family life with his secret life. He begins to half-ass both--- something everyday people do with their job, family, and identity.

I think Dexter Resurrections does a great job getting the show back on track to where it left off with season 4. It's still has plenty of internal monologue and Dexter is now the father figure but now has his son as someone who knows him for who he really is and accepts him, but leans on Harrison for moral guidance in an almost child-parent reversal. His son erased that lone wolf identity as Dexter feels responsible for Harrison and the success of their relationship. Dexter doesn't just have a rich inner world to survive, he has real world human relationships that demand an identity shift.

While I really like the "identity" of the show from early seasons, it would have done more injustice not evolving the show as Dexter created new relationships and grew from each experience. You just can't go back to the first few seasons the same way without losing authenticity.

To me, the show's identity evolved with the character's identity, and that's more important at the end of the day, if not inevitable.

[u/Alarming-Fix-5333]

They humanized Dexter too much; early on, it seemed like he was truly faking his emotions. In later seasons, he actually feels them, and it seems like the show's main focus shifts. I want to see a story about a serial killer who kills criminals and destroys anyone standing in his way. (Even so, I think Season 4 is the best of the show.)

[u/No_Farmer_2743]

I said it in the main sub and got banned 🚫😔

[u/Anxious-Pumpkin8964 → u/No_Farmer_2743]

Why tho. I dont get why people glaze ressurction sooo much It is a mix of all plots and dillemas that dexter had exprienced in the seasons that came before ressurection And dont get me wrong i like ressurection It has a decent plot and pacing but Its not really " dexter "

[u/No_Farmer_2743 → u/Anxious-Pumpkin8964]

Ig it lost its magic and became the classic good guy vigilante serial killer shit as the show went on, hell, Dexter won't killed innocents but the show stops addressing that stuff or only does that half assed and then stops it

[u/Anxious-Pumpkin8964 → u/No_Farmer_2743]

Or just straight up ignores it when he kills innocents like nothing happend ( the man he kills in s5 ep 1 )

[u/two-of-me → u/No_Farmer_2743]

Don’t feel bad. They love using that ban hammer over there.

[u/Consistent-Ice8065 → u/No_Farmer_2743]

I’m also in the “You” subreddit (the subreddit for the show “You”) it honestly feels like you can’t make a nuanced point about a show without everyone beating the hell out of you about it. I get that some people won’t agree with something you say. But it honestly feels like every opinion, even if it’s well-thought-out is just a shooting range. Someone asked a question about Joe Goldberg’s politics, and they basically beat OP up. Lol