When the second season of Dexter begins on Sunday, September 30, it will be a mere 38 days after America's favorite serial killer saved the city and his adopted sister Debra Morgan (Jennifer Carpenter) by murdering his only brother, the notorious Ice Truck Killer.

"For all that was resolved [last season], there are some really open wounds for Dexter," series star Michael C. Hall told the Associated Press during filming.  "I mean Dexter, on all fronts, has people closing in on him."

Those people include Sgt. Doakes (Erik King), Lt. Maria LaGuerta (Lauren Velez) and his girlfriend, Rita Bennett (Julie Benz).  Doakes has been monitoring Dexter's every move and has managed to convince Maria that Dexter has something to hide.  Rita feels Dexter framed her ex-husband and sent him to prison.

To make matters worse for Dexter, evidence of his killing sprees surfaces, prompting the arrival of FBI serial-killer hunter Frank Lundy (Keith Carradine).  Lundy teams up with Dexter's colleagues, Angel Batista (David Zayas) and Vincent Masuka (C.S. Lee).

With all this going on, Dexter becomes uneasy and finds himself unable to kill.

"I can't believe how stressful this guy's life is," Hall said, "and he can't talk about it with anybody."
For those unfamiliar with Showtime's Dexter, the series revolves around a Miami-based blood spatter analyst who goes after criminals who have slipped through the justice system and kills them.  He is the epitome of the modern-day anti-hero.

"The days of Magnum, P.I. are gone," executive producer Clyde Phillips told the Associated Press.  "Part of what we love in our antiheroes now is that shadow side, that part of what we love in ourselves because we all have that shadow."

Dexter debuted to positive critical reception and is now one of the cable network's highest-rated series.  Velez believes Michael C. Hall's haunting and revealing voice-overs add to the show's appeal.

"I'll tell you, if you couldn't hear his internal dialogue I think it would be a very different story," Velez said.  "That's the genius of the show."

Executive producer John Goldwyn told the Associated Press that the primary concern of the series is to explore the absolutes of good and evil.  The answer can be found in Dexter's relationship with his adopted father, former police officer Harry Morgan (James Remar).

"Therein lies the eternal conflict," Goldwyn said.  "Did Harry make him the way he is, or was he born the way he is?  Is it nature or is it nurture?"


-Lisa Claustro, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
Source:  Associated Press
(Image Courtesy Showtime)