So I just finished watching all four seasons of Dexter in a one-week marathon.

What are your thoughts on this series? I personally liked season one and four a lot. 2 and 3 not so much: very mediocre storytelling at times, couldn't really enjoy it.

Quite a dramatic ending at the end of season 4, wonder what they'll follow up with... Any ideas about what'll be next in season 5?

Warning: SPOILERS below

I keep retrying this show because people profess how amazing it is, but I can't help but see second rate porno-level actors and the slowest dredging pacing manageable. Something about the way the show is shot also distracts me a lot, but besides feeling cheap or generic I can't figure out why. The inner monologue is tedious and makes things funny instead of brooding or insightful. I think the "emotionless" character device is what kills the show for me.

People always compare it to American Psycho but I think that's an insult to a masterpiece. It wants to be that, and almost relies on that movie's artful human satire to reassure you that this isn't just violence porn with forced drama weaved in.

But what do I know: I only like the space battles in BSG.

I agree with pretty much all of that. The basic idea could've been fertile ground for an introspective and tormented main character, but characters seem kind of fake to me. Entertaining show, but far from gripping.

I'll still be watching season 5 though

From what I hear the books are a world better than the tv series. But I'm pretty sure the inner monologues are meant to be funny. At least thats what I hear about the books themselves.

I've yet had a chance to pick it up though.

From what I hear the third book turned the whole thing into Yu-Gi-Oh and the fourth book is supposed to fix that.

I liked the series even though I haven't arsed myself to watch more of it (from Season 3 finale onwards).

Waaaay incorrect. I read the first two, and the wiki entry on the third. The first was... okay. It was very different, and I think it's hard to compare the two but I enjoyed the TV series more.

The second one just got strange, and I didn't enjoy it at all.

The third one is more like a Cthulhu book. The "Dark Passenger" ends up being a manifestation of an ancient god of chaos and evil, and a cult based around that god pops up and starts harassing Dexter. He ends up confronting the god and killing it. wtf?

Well truth be told it never seemed like my cup of tea, but yea, I can see how that's going off track.

I've watched all four and am looking forward to season 5. I liked one and two the best; season four was OK and season three was sub-par.

The Ice-Truck killer arc was good, the Doakes/Bay Harbor Butcher arc was good, the Miguel Prado arc was weak. The Trinity killer arc was ok.

I hear Julie Benz is on the cast list for season 5.. I wonder if she'll be a ghostly character

I god damn loved Julie Benz. She had this amazing way of moaning every time she hugged Dexter. Holy **** !

In my opinion, 4 >> 2 > 1 > 3.

Also, they've confirmed she'll be returning occasionally, but NOT as a ghost/Harry type character. So to me that says they'll be using her at her funeral and for occasional flashbacks.

I absolutely love Dexter. Because of this I'm refusing to watch, listen to, or read anything about the next season.
I don't want to ruin any potential fun or excitement.