Reviewed by Allie Schembra
For fans new and old, Dexter’s most shocking moments are available in one killer collection, including the unforgettable pilot episode that started it all, his devastating confrontation with the Trinity Killer in The Getaway, and eight more chilling episodes. Dexter – Most Shocking Episodes… it’s a collection to die for.
Series (4 out of 5 stars)
I loved "Dexter." The show ranks highly on my list of favorite shows. By the end of the series, it lost a bit of its initial luster. It’s like the writers lost their way. It got to be too convoluted and muddled and by the end, while I still loved it, I was disappointed. That said, this compilation of episodes was really good. These were some of my favorite episodes in the series, so whoever chose the episodes did a really good job.
I have seen every single episode of "Dexter" – multiple times. This is what made this compilation that much better. However, if you are brand new to the series, I do not recommend starting with this group. Start from the beginning, otherwise, so many things are going to be majorly spoiled for you.
Starting with the pilot episode, all 10 episodes touch on the major story-lines of each season. From the revelation of who the Ice Truck Killer was, to the Trinity Killer, to the final season where it all falls apart, this 10 episode compilation is really good. It had been a while since I’d seen the show and these episodes were good reminders.
Michael C. Hall is perfect as Dexter Morgan, the serial killer with a heart. He is perfectly emotionless, but loves his family. Jennifer Carpenter plays Dexter’s foul-mouthed sister, Debra. It was interesting to watch her evolve from vice cop to homicide lieutenant, but I was reminded that I liked her character better in earlier seasons. I am a big fan of the show and during the show's run, I watched every episode with friends every Sunday night and even had Dexter-themed dinners. For a fan like me, this is a great compilation, but for someone who has never seen the show or who doesn’t know what happens, this is not the group of episodes to start with. There are too many spoilers. I, however, am glad to have this in my collection. When I don’t want to watch the whole series, these are great episodes to watch and get a "Dexter" fix.
Video (3 out of 5 stars)
The widescreen presentation of Dexter – Most Shocking Episodes was good. I thought that the video should have been a little better. Since I saw all the episodes on television, I actually thought that the TV video was a little better. Colors were good, the red of the blood wasn’t too bright or unrealistic, but sometimes the picture seemed a little pixilated. I think this transfer could have been done better.
Audio (3 1/2 out of 5 stars)
The Dolby Digital English 5.1 surround sound was pretty good. The volume was even and intelligible and I didn’t have a hard time hearing anything. Background sounds were appropriate and not overwhelming. Spanish 2.0 stereo is also available if needed.
Extras (2 1/2 out of 5 stars)
I was disappointed in the special features. The “Dissecting Dexter” features could have been combined into one feature. It really didn’t need to be three separate features. The first chapters of the book were weird and I’d already seen the Penny Dreadful pilot. That especially didn’t seem like a special feature since it had nothing to do with Dexter.
- Dissecting Dexter Part 1: Dexter’s Origins – A behind-the-scenes look at Dexter’s code, and how season one shaped the character.
- Dissecting Dexter Part 2: Dexter’s Awakening – Dexter’s season two self-realization into what he is.
- Dissecting Dexter Part 3: Dexter’s Coming of Age – Season three thoughts on Dexter and his evolvement into who he because the rest of the series.
- The Kill Room – Setting up Dexter’s kill rooms and the meaning behind them.
- The First Two Chapters of “Dexter in the Dark” – Twenty four “pages” of the newest Dexter book. I thought this was kind of dumb and not a special feature. It’s what you can get on the “Look Inside” part of Amazon.
- Penny Dreadful Season 1 Episode 1 – The pilot episode of Showtime’s series "Penny Dreadful."
Summary (3 out of 5 stars)
I love this show and it's great to get this collection of episodes which satisfies my "Dexter" fix. While the cast and the episode selections are really good, the video and audio quality could have been better and the extras were a little disappointing. This is still highly recommended for all of the "Dexter" fans out there!
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