If DEXTER, Then CLARICE!

He’s intelligent, conflicted, and he’s got a super sense of humor. He’s Dexter Morgan (Golden Globe winner Michael C. Hall), a lovable serial killer. When “Dexter” (a Showtime Original Series) opens, he is delivering cruel justice to a child molester. Dexter captures the man and takes him to a hideaway where he exacts his own gruesome brand of punishment. He was raised by his father, Harry Morgan (James Remar), a cop who died in the line of duty several years ago. Through a creative and captivating series of flash-backs, we learn that Harry teaches Dexter how to kill using a strict code of ethics in choosing his victims. As a child, Dexter begins by killing animals. His father becomes aware of his ghastly inner urges to kill and feels the need to intervene to put Dexter on a path that will not be harmful to innocent people. In several flashbacks, Harry teaches Dexter the art of choosing victims who should’ve been put away in the criminal system but who have escaped prosecution. Using his police knowledge, he shows Dexter exactly how to plan and carry out justice without getting caught and leaving no trace.

In the first episode, the story may seem unwatchable as Dexter kills his first victim in a gruesome and violent manner. If you can stay with the developing plot, you will learn more about the inner workings of Dexter Morgan. His psychological profile is stunningly portrayed over the course of each season. As the observer, you’ll be taken along for a ride that is both exhilarating and wildly fascinating as you see Dexter in action as a blood spatter analyst at the Miami Police Department. With psychological twists and turns, you’ll witness the development of his character as a serial killer with a moral compass but an existential burden. You’ll get to know him as a person and as a very conflicted and haunted man who lives daily with his urges to kill, coupled with a personality that is endearing to those around him.

When we first meet Dexter at work, he is bringing donuts to the entire department. He is liked by all of his coworkers except one, James Doaks (Erik King). Doaks is “creeped out” by Dexter and is always looking to find whatever sinister activities he feels Dexter must be up to behind the scenes. Dexter also works with his sister, Debra Morgan (Jennifer Carpenter) who delivers an outstanding performance as the adoring sister. She is his only sibling and is very attached to him. She is an up-and-coming cop who works in vice, but has aspirations for becoming a criminal investigator. The cast is rounded out by several colorful characters including C.S. Lee (Vince Masuka), the quirky forensic photographer; Angel Batista (David Zayas), a Hispanic cop with an attitude; and Maria LaGuerta (Lauren Velez), a provocative and bossy Captain.

The story line follows Dexter as he captures and kills various criminals who have committed heinous murders and have fallen through the cracks of the criminal justice system. He chooses his victims carefully, being certain that they are guilty of their egregious crimes and are living a life without remorse. Dexter helps his sister Debra in solving a major series of murders, thus propelling her into a detective position within the department. Dexter desperately wishes to be “normal”, and so begins to date a very troubled and psychologically damaged woman, Rita Bennett (Julie Benz). Rita and her two children provide a context in which Dexter can appear more normal. In this relationship, he struggles with being authentic and his attempts at doing so are poignant at times.

The show is an exhilarating ride dealing with the psychological profiles not only of Dexter, but of many other characters as well as how they interact with each other. It is a psychological thriller with a convoluted plot that leads you through the world of serial killers. You’re invited to witness what goes through the mind of a serial killer as well as the experience of those who are trying to capture and deliver justice to them. These two plot lines are intricately woven together into a captivating and spinetingling story. As the seasons go by, you will come to better understand Dexter--his actions, motives, and existential angst. As the story is drawn to an end, Dexter is on the razor’s edge of being caught. His ability to elude the authorities has no match. The series ends with his flight to a new location where he is pretty much a recluse without the seeming possibility of ever being captured. It will leave you wanting more.

Enter Clarice Starling (Rebecca Breeds). In the new CBS series, “Clarice”, Starling is called to work with the Violent Criminal Apprehension Program (VICAP) in the investigation of three serial killings. Clarice rescued Catherine Martin a year ago from the horror of Buffalo Bill’s basement. She has witnessed first-hand the gruesome work of that serial killer and is significantly affected by her experiences. She comes to VICAP with a troubled psychological profile that she is barely able to keep under wraps. She acts flawlessly as the beleaguered young investigator who is troubled by the monstrous crimes she has witnessed, as well as her past. In addition, we see glimpses of her childhood and her struggle to maintain her outward appearance as a competent, gifted investigator. Her meetings with the psychiatrist, who is mandated by VICAP, reflect her reticence to reveal any of her internal struggles. The juxtaposition of her genius at assessing serial killer motives and behaviors with her internal psychological conflicts is portrayed brilliantly by Breeds.

Paul (Michael Cudlitz) is Clarice’s supervisor who is hesitant to deploy Clarice but is forced to because she has been invited on to the case due to her superior expertise. Paul is concerned about Clarice’s mental state as she intervenes in the triple serial killer case. But Clarice proves to be a crucial link in solving the crime and she is slowly gaining Paul’s respect. The cast is rounded out with several other talented characters, including Shaan (Kal Penn) who is a colleague of Clarice’s. The series has just begun with three intriguing episodes and it has launched with a bang!

If you like "Dexter", with its intensely psychological bent, you’ll love "Clarice". The two shows have similarities in that both of the central characters are psychologically challenged. In Dexter, the contrast between seeing through the eyes of the killer and the eyes of the law poses an intriguing concurrence of events that keep the viewer on the edge of their seat throughout each season. In Clarice, the tortured detective provides an exciting insight into the mind of the pursuer and how the psychological demons of the pursuer affect the chase. Both series provide the viewer with a brain teaser and with much food for thought in their stimulating and captivating presentations.