He's a respected forensics expert. He's the perfect gentleman. He loves kids. Oh, and he's a serial killer. Get ready to meet Dexter and friends as the controversial US crime thriller series hits ITV1 this Wednesday at 10.35pm, with a repeat on Friday at 11pm on ITV4...

by Jane Murphy
Pictures: ITV

 

 

It's difficult to imagine developing a soft spot for a serial killer - but that's what viewers of new US series Dexter are asked to do. You see, the eponymous hero is a Miami police forensics expert who spends his spare time tracking down murderers and exerting his own brand of very bloody justice. So he only kills baddies - but does that make him a goodie? It's all so confusing!

"I think there are plenty of things in this world that desensitise us to violence - and to suffering generally," says Michael C Hall, who plays Dexter. "I think Dexter is an interesting example, or maybe an exceptional example, in that violence isn't detached from the affection you're encouraged to have for the person who's doing the killing, because the people he's killing are themselves killers. So it sort of folds in on itself." Nope, sorry - we're still confused.