In my unintentional mission to catch up on a lot of good TV shows my other half watches, I've begun my journey through a little show called Dexter. And when I say begun my journey, I really mean that I've watched the whole first season and know I'll be watching more.
Dexter is about a serial killer. Dexter himself not only kills people, but he also works in forensics. On its own, this would make for a rather creepy, off-putting story. But thankfully Dexter doesn't just kill anyone - he has a code. A code which states he only kills people who have killed others. He's essentially a modern vigilante, but with a seemingly complete disconnection from emotion, which is likely the only thing that enables him to do what he does.
I know, it sounds awful. And to be honest, parts of the show are truly awful. There are a great many bits and pieces I can't watch, and have to look away from the screen. Yet I continue to invest my time in this show. Why am I so keenly interested in something that, if I look up at the wrong time, makes me feel absolutely sick? (I don't handle blood well, and there is a lot of blood in this show.)
I think I have the answer. I don't watch the show because I particularly like it, or like the main character. I watch it because it's so compelling. I don't like watching Dexter kill people, but I am fascinated by the events that led him to this place in his life. I sometimes find it hard to look away because, as awful as his actions are, he somehow manages to balance it out within his strict code of conduct. I can't think of another word for it, so I'll just say it again: incredibly compelling.
As a final note, this show is not for the faint of heart, so if you have trouble with things like death, murder, and abuse, keep your distance from this one, okay? Don't say I didn't warn you.
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