Dexter: Crocodile

 "I think he's trying to impress me. And it's working."

Episode two... and, for the first time, we see the opening titles, which are nicely clever and symbolic, using objects to hint at violence without any human flesh. And perhaps- we'll see if I'm right- we get a hint of a broad formula to the episodes, while also developing the characters. Meanwhile, there's some very witty dialogue and clever directorial choices. 

Interestingly, I don't like Dexter at all. But that isn't a barrier to his working well as the main character- why should the protagonist necessarily be the hero? His admiration with his serial killing rival is amusing. He commits another casual murder, this time of a serial drunk driving killer played by Sam from True Blood. And, again, only Doakes sees through him. His sister, the adorably ditzy Deb, looks up to her big brother. And even his sexual awkwardness with Rita makes him look good- it seems, at first, as though our asexual protagonist is going to have to do some making out. But he's saved by the fact that Rita's sexual assault trauma means she can't go through with it. And ends up with her thinking he's motivated by pure decency!

But the mood is different: not only has a cop been killed, not only has the killer gone after his wife, but there's drama, as Doakes was sleeping with the wife. LaGuerta still fancies Dexter while disdaining Deb, who gets transferred to homicide against her wishes. All this is definitely going somewhere. And all deliciously observed by Dexter. I like his attitude in court, as he people watches... conceptually, he gets other peoples' pain. But he's incapable of feeling it. Damn, this is quite the compelling character, and promises to be a compelling series.