Dexter - Season 6 [DVD]

Dexter Morgan is a police forensics expert, family man, and serial killer. Luckily he confines his murderous instincts to those criminals who have avoided justice, and he avoids capture by rigorously following rules laid down by his adoptive father, a policeman who realised Dexter was "different". The show never flinches away from the ugly truth, that Dexter is a sociopathic murderer who just happens to prey on bad people. He's always one mistake away from being a monster, and he knows it.

Previously, season five was a little disappointing, as it ended without properly confronting the consequences of what had happened during that season, and during the excellent season 4; the supporting characters were also a bit mishandled. However, season six is clearly determined to make up for this.

The best seasons of Dexter have a strong central enemy, and this season features the excellent Edward James Olmos as a reclusive academic obsessed with the Apocalypse, and Colin Hanks as his impressionable young sidekick, perpetrating a series of murders that they believe will bring about the End of Days. It could have been a bit cheesy, but instead it is handled brilliantly, with a series of macabre murderous tableaux that confuse Miami PD as they attempt to solve the murders. Dexter is, of course, closer on the trail, but he has troubles of his own. Dexter is now a single father, struggling with the fear that one day his son will be confronted with the murderous truth about his dad. It plays as a psychological battle between the killers, much as season 4 did with Trinity, and this brings out the best in the show.

In addition, the supporting characters are handled very well this season, as the writers throw spanners in their personal life. Debs in particular is given plenty to do, and gets some strong development. There are some interesting new characters too, including Masuka getting an intern and a new detective who reminds me of Doakes from the early seasons. La Guerta gets back to what she does best - playing dirty in internal police politics - while Batista has a quiet but competent season. I found Quinn a bit annoying though.

One excellent episode brings back some characters from previous seasons to tempt Dexter away from his code, and the show uses that to set up a brilliant twist a couple of episodes later - the writing is really good, particularly towards the end of the season.

This isn't the best season of Dexter - I still rate seasons 1 and 4 as the best - but it's very good, with some great performances, a twisty plot, and a sense that the show knows where it is going. And I guarantee the last scene will leave you wanting to know what happens next.

I have to agree with many others. Dexter has been one of my favourite series for years with great acting from many of the characters not least Michael Hall. In other series 1-5 there have been moments when the suspension of belief has been needed but this time to such a degree that it is ridiculous. Also the fact that one of the main characters in several episodes turns out to be a figment of someones imagination was such a cop out. They have always used this idea so that Dexter's Dad could talk to him from the grave and that works but this was just plain annoying and lazy scriptwriting.

I also feel that it gets more and more gruesome and all the things that made me root for and make Dexter a charater to sympathise with have all but been removed, and they were what used to make it a great watch.

As for the other characters, especially Deb, they seem to have become so far removed from their original personalities that they are now pretty unbelievable.

Will I watch series 7? Maybe for old times sake and only if I can buy it cheaply second hand.

An uneven season - combination of continued strengths and serious misjudgments. As ever, Michael C. Hall holds everything together - his Dexter determined to be a good father, killing of villains never clashing with little Harrison's bedtime stories (where a hero despatches monsters).

The series again interestingly evolves. Dexter stands at the crossroads, torn between light and darkness (well acted reformed gangster Brother Sam prompting a rethink). Also with impact is Debra's promotion to Lieutenant, she feeling increasingly isolated - her therapist kept busy.

The great flaw concerns the dominating Doomsday storyline, source of spectacularly gory deaths. The theme itself has possibilities, but not as presented here with loopholes abounding. Not for a moment does the Gellar-Travis relationship convince, especially after the Ep.9 bombshell where everything becomes ludicrous. An embarrassingly miscast Colin Hanks as Travis lacks any hint of the inner torment, driving mania, essential for the role.

Amongst other concerns? No mention of Dexter's two step-children. Quinn in freefall, now increasingly a boring waste of space. Lazy plotting - some escapes of the "with one bound he was free" gene (as with that blazing boat), people turning up out of the blue (as with that otherwise brilliant season cliffhanger).

12 episodes. Modest extras, of them cast interviews the most interesting.

Most series inevitably sometimes wobble a bit, emerging the stronger with lessons learned. With plausible storylines and more carefully chosen guest stars, there is plenty of life left in Dexter - although, hopefully, not in some of the people he targets.