breakone

breaktwo

THE STUDIO GATE

I wish most television was this good.

"Dexter: The Complete Second Season" is now available on Blu-ray.

I gave up watching television, at least on a regular basis, years ago. Most shows just aren't very good. Watching a show with commercial breaks didn't help matters. And perhaps the most frustrating thing was watching shows that had gone beyond their prime to become mediocre. "Dexter" is a perfect example of gripping television. I couldn't wait to see the next episode to see where things were going.

Not having the Showtime network, I had heard about "Dexter." I didn't see it until I reviewed the First Season Blu-ray. The Second Season picks up where the first ended and remains just as gripping.

The show takes its audience back into the mind of Dexter, and now he's starting to get sloppy on his killing method. Ever since the first season's final episode, he finds himself not able to carry out a clean kill. This leads him into some scary situations.

Michael C. Hall is instantly likable as Dexter. Often secretive and a bit weird, his character grows on you quickly. There's something sincere about this guy, even though he's sort of a Robin Hood meets Jack the Ripper hero. Julie Benz and Jennifer Carpenter continue to expand their character arcs. One of the things that makes this show so compelling is the script writing. The writers have kept the previous season's intricate plot details and character arcs intact.  

The Blu-ray picture quality is excellent. The show was shot digitally and the Blu-ray shows how clean and crisp the original cinematography is. There are occasional scenes that take place in the dark where one can see digital grain. It's minimal and doesn't detract from the picture quality.

The Dolby TrueHD soundtrack is also excellent. Music and dialogue are well recorded and mixed, providing for a nice audio soundstage. The great music score rings through loud and clear. The sound quality is consistent through this second season series.

Intriguing plots, characters we love, and some gruesome killings make "Dexter: The Complete Second Season" a worthwhile addition to your Blu-ray collection. 
 
Bill Kallay

Special thanks to Click Communications

Photos: © CBS/Showtime. All rights reserved.