DEXTER Novels Vs. Dexter Television Series

[Gail Simone]

The series is flawed. The romantic subplots are almost always silly and unconvincing. Dexter himself is so charming that the actual element that drives him, the NEED TO KILL, has been replaced mostly by KILLING AS JUSTICE.

The books are a little braver than that. Dexter is a killer, he longs to kill, he doesn't care much about innocent people, even those closest to him. And interestingly, in the books, his stepkids are monsters-in-training, both potential serial killers.

But the books are also goofy as hell in spots and completely annoying. Dexter talks for pages at a time about himself in a manner that is cloying and unamusing and not particularly interesting. The events stretch credibility. Dexter himself is not that bright in his actions. And the books tend to end in huge anti-climaxes held together with glue and spit.

But the NEWEST Dexter book is barely readable. Dexter does nothing in the story, he directs no movement, everything happens TO him, he barely is even IN many of the key scenes, and several scenes end in such ridiculous coincidence that the whole thing just irritates.

In this case, the adaptation is so much better than the original work, it's really quite glaring.

Can't miss TV, must miss novels!

[gryhpon]

i read the first book and tried to read the second but felt it was not good writing and stopped shortly into it. if it only got worse, then im glad i stopped reading the series

[FeminineMystique]

As someone whose not read the books, I've got to ask: I read on TV Tropes that the books apparently have some kind of supernatural element? How does that work? For Dexter's sake I hope it's not "I see dead people" as I doubt there are many he'd be happy to see again

[dupont2005]

i have the first 3 books sitting on my shelf, i'll get around to them some day

[EZMOHR]

As someone whose not read the books, I've got to ask: I read on TV Tropes that the books apparently have some kind of supernatural element? How does that work? For Dexter's sake I hope it's not "I see dead people" as I doubt there are many he'd be happy to see again

I've always been told the "demon" Dexter talks about in him, is in fact, possibly, a real demon. And that is why I will continue to watch the show, and leave the books right next to the Sookie Stackhouse books at the store.

[jerrymcl89]

I thought only the first season really works while still treating Dexter as though he's a real serial killer. It's just too hard to sustain that with an ongoing series. The show is still good, but I think the it can't sustain Dex as a character with no real human empathy for years on end. Kind of like what Joss Whedon ran into with his concept of vampires (specifically Spike) as "Buffy" continued for years.

I've never read the books, so I've got no opinion on that.

[Tages]

I tuned out of the books once Dexter's Dark Passenger turned out to be part of some ancient demonic something-or-other complete with cheap Lovecraftian knock-off cult.

The series has had me hooked since the beginning, even with its flaws. Most obviously, though the second season is my favorite thus far, how is it that the Miami Metro PD hasn't changed their procedures at all even after the Bay Harbor Butcher case made it manifestly obvious how good a cover it made for a vigilante killer?

The current season is...uneven. Vandal subplot kind of annoying, and in general there are way too many things happening at once even three episodes in. I tried describing it all to my buddy Mike the other night and actually got lost in the attempt.

[Larime]

I think part of what works in the TV series so well is that Dexter is actually learning to feel things Harry told him he couldn't. On some level, yes, Rita and the kids are a cover, but when they're threatened there's something deeper going on when he reacts to protect them. I just think he doesn't know what it is because he's never had a frame of reference.

The character in the TV show actually grows.

[Vakanai]

I didn't even know there were books, but I got to go with TV show here.
Sure, Dexter doesn't start out likable. But you can't help but start to feel for the little guy.
All he wants is peace. The peace and safety to do his work. Yet big bro...er, sister, won't let him be. Always breaking his stuff and asking what this button does as she presses said big red button.
And yet, he takes it all in stride, and keeps on working.
Also, he's freaking awesome.
Now I wish I had a laboratory.

:biggrin:

[Cayman]

I don't think they are must miss novels, but the TV show is better.

[kingdom2000]

How odd, this is the first I have ever heard that Dexter was based on novels. I knew True Blood was but not that show. I would love to see the "romantic" elements take a back seat in the series mostly because Dexter's wife is just so poorly written (love the actress but not the character) She constantly whines and constantly needs help and any mother with two kids would find a new baby stressful but old hat but in the show its protrayed like its her first kid so they have an excuse for all the sub plots that follow (ie lazy writing).

[Charles RB]

Dexter's learning to care about people and feel stuff? I thought he was a sociopath i.e. was not capable of it?

[hellokittykat]

But the NEWEST Dexter book is barely readable. Dexter does nothing in the story, he directs no movement, everything happens TO him, he barely is even IN many of the key scenes, and several scenes end in such ridiculous coincidence that the whole thing just irritates.

In this case, the adaptation is so much better than the original work, it's really quite glaring.

Can't miss TV, must miss novels!

Damn. I was hoping that the fourth book was going to get back on track because the third was barely readable to me. :frown:

I tuned out of the books once Dexter's Dark Passenger turned out to be part of some ancient demonic something-or-other complete with cheap Lovecraftian knock-off cult.

That's exactly why I thought that the third book was terrible.

[Dreadstar]

I stopped reading the books in the second one. While the first one was pretty imaginative and fairly unique, the second one was poorly constructed tripe written at a level that didn't even reach the qualtiy of the old NEB collaborations. I have no idea about any subsequent books, since my brain has been very upset with my common sense for making it actually finish the second book. But I've been saying that since season one of the TV show. Like The Godfather, this is one of those rare properties that transcends the written source.

[Ian Boothby]

I tuned out of the books once Dexter's Dark Passenger turned out to be part of some ancient demonic something-or-other complete with cheap Lovecraftian knock-off cult.
.

They did the same twist in the Sweet Valley High book series.

[Wiser]

I tuned out of the books once Dexter's Dark Passenger turned out to be part of some ancient demonic something-or-other complete with cheap Lovecraftian knock-off cult.

The series has had me hooked since the beginning, even with its flaws. Most obviously, though the second season is my favorite thus far, how is it that the Miami Metro PD hasn't changed their procedures at all even after the Bay Harbor Butcher case made it manifestly obvious how good a cover it made for a vigilante killer?

The current season is...uneven. Vandal subplot kind of annoying, and in general there are way too many things happening at once even three episodes in. I tried describing it all to my buddy Mike the other night and actually got lost in the attempt.

"cheap Lovecrafian knock-off cult"??

LOL there's nothing at all "Lovecrafian" about Dexter's demonic possession in the books. Dexter's demon comes from an occult order dedicated to mastering the magic of Solomon's book the Goetia, a real life grimoire book for invoking/evoking demon's in occult circles (look it up if you don't believe me). The Goetia and the occult orders aka cults surrounded in Goetia practice of demon invocation/evocation were around centuries before Lovecraft decided to create the Cthulhu cults. Cthulhu, "Lovecraftian" stuff, has nothing at all to do with Dexter's demon or the cult following Dexter.

Bottom line, get your facts straight before spitting out nonsense from that c$mdumpster mouth of yours.

[Wiser]

They did the same twist in the Sweet Valley High book series.

And you fail to see the trend here? Books describing demonic possession and Goetia practice...that's highly occult oriented.

[Pro]

Bottom line, get your facts straight before spitting out nonsense from that c$mdumpster mouth of yours.

I see you're going to stay around for a long time ... oh oops was that the report button i accidentally clicked?

[Perry Holley]

Bottom line, get your facts straight before spitting out nonsense from that c$mdumpster mouth of yours.Bottom line, lay off the needless personal attacks unless you want to have your account banned.

[Tages]

Ah, the internet. Where trolls can't even bother to check the timestamp on the post they're responding to.

[Gumbo Maximillian]

Dexter's learning to care about people and feel stuff? I thought he was a sociopath i.e. was not capable of it?

According to this link at least; sociopathy seems to exist on a spectrum or "might" exist on a spectrum.

http://driventodoevil.com/blog/?page_id=21

[Cam63]

Who wants popcorn ?

[Wiser]

Bottom line, lay off the needless personal attacks unless you want to have your account banned.

I see you're going to stay around for a long time ... oh oops was that the report button i accidentally clicked?

1. It wasn't a personal attack of any kind.

2. Grow up, there's an ignore option if you don't approve of "profanity". Because everyone knows that profanity kills children and causes diseases...lol. But yeah grow up.

[Wiser]

Ah, the internet. Where trolls can't even bother to check the timestamp on the post they're responding to.

This ^. God bless the ignore option, so effective for getting rid of trolls like Pro and Perry.

[Nimrod's Son]

I think part of what works in the TV series so well is that Dexter is actually learning to feel things Harry told him he couldn't. On some level, yes, Rita and the kids are a cover, but when they're threatened there's something deeper going on when he reacts to protect them. I just think he doesn't know what it is because he's never had a frame of reference.

The character in the TV show actually grows.

This. Even though it might not necessarily be as bold and ballsy as having Dexter be completely unconcerned for his fellow man and his friends and family, it doesn't have as much dramatic potential. it's much more interesting seeing Dex grow over time and try and develop these emotions and connections even if they're completely alien to his broken psyche.

[Perry Holley]

1. It wasn't a personal attack of any kind.

2. Grow up, there's an ignore option if you don't approve of "profanity". Because everyone knows that profanity kills children and causes diseases...lol. But yeah grow up.Enjoy your time off from CBR.