So I just finished Season 1 of
Dexter. And let me start by saying that despite the following critique, I'm lumping myself with the many fans of this show and will surely be adding Season 2 to my queue (now in direct NetFlix competition with Battlestar Gallactica). Nonetheless, as the final credits were rolling after the twelfth and final episode of Season 1, I found myself it a bit of philosophical and ethical dilemma. Let me explain.
On one hand, Dexter is unequivocally the hero, the protagonist, or however one might describe the "good" guy, that also just so happens to be a serial killer. He lives by what he calls Harry's "code," a system of ethics taught to him by his foster father who could see that the only thing that would keep his son out of an electric chair was teaching him to direct his murderous disposition towards the "bad" guys of this world. On top of his higher ground code, Dexter certainly has a charm and seemingly good heart for those in his personal life. He also helps bring many "bad" guys to justice in his professional life and spare time. Did I mention he's really good looking? So what's not to like about Dexter... besides that he chops people into a dozen pieces if they violate his personal view of justice?
Well here's my tension: beyond the obvious and purposeful irony of this character and plot, there's something else going on here that I think is vastly more subtle. I think no matter what side of the spectrum one finds themselves on when it comes to violence, there's an intuitive sense of what I'll call "survival" ethics that comes into question here. Part of what Dexter's dad, Harry, taught him was that he needed to learn how to kill
justly so he wouldn't simply kill irrationally and recklessly. Essentially, if he didn't do this, then Dexter wouldn't live a long and fruitful life--the wishes of any loving parent right? For Dexter, it's a question of survival. This is much like the situation for Robin Hood or George W. who found themselves asking a similar question, "Can we twist our moral code if it means our people will survive?" And while I know (and hope) many will jump on this post from either side of this issue, at the end of the day, the show is a huge hit among pacifists and warmongers alike.
For 54 mins, we can lay aside our own "codes" and empathize with Dexter and engage in his story on a very human level. Otherwise, the show would not be popular and would not be so widely received. So what does this say about our view of a survival ethic? Is there an intuitive sense of justice that we all share on a very ambiguous yet universal level? Robin Hood is a hero to us all and according to Nielsen, so is Dexter Morgan (unfortunately for this blog post good ole Georgie boy isn't fitting into the analogy). But I think it's bigger than a suspension of disbelief here folks. Even as one who would call himself a pacifist, I know I might sing a different song if my son and daughter's lives were at stake. My idealism is not so strong as to let my children's fate rest in the hands of mere ideas.
And so here is where I find answer to the conundrum within the very life of this fictional life of Dexter. This so-called code that he lives by is a metaphor and perhaps satire on our modern system of ethics. We all have our caveats and footnotes to the great stone tablets we've decided or have been indoctrinated to carry in our life. It just so happens that Dexter's involves a much more provocative and shocking act of violence; one that few could stomach. But even his own code does not save him. He still wrestles with his identity and his inability to have a "normal" life, even with people he loves.
I think this is the place where we find a similar resonance with our own religious and societal codes. They're not perfect and they're never able to bring us the perfect utopia we seek for. Like the writers of
Dexter so brilliantly convey in his character, the most difficult times in our life are when our codes, our identity, or our disciplines fail us and leave us OUT of control. And so we must fall back on something more universal and perhaps more intuitive. At times we must let our idealism rest and instead find freedom in being honest enough with ourselves to know there's no perfect code out there. When we reach this place of flexibility, we realize that we can enjoy a show like
Dexter and not feel as if this piece of fiction threatens our moral fiber. Again, not endorsing murder itself but appreciating Dexter as the lovable antihero that he is... and maybe in real life, to find love for those--like him--whose way of life we may not understand, even G.W.
I feel your pain Mike, here's my technofail: 
