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| Version | User | Scope of changes |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 7 2007, 12:11 PM EDT | TheDarkestForm | 5 words added |
| Oct 4 2007, 10:32 AM EDT | umbra | 16 words added |
Changes
Key: Additions Deletions
Have you read the Dexter novels?
Click EasyEdit above to compare how the series departs from the
plot and characterizations in the books.
(Don't see the EasyEdit button above? Sign in or sign up.)
Click EasyEdit above to compare how the series departs from the
plot and characterizations in the books.
(Don't see the EasyEdit button above? Sign in or sign up.)
If you've read Jeff Lindsay's Dexter novels, then you're in a position to share your perspectives on how artfully and successfully the series addresses the characters and events he created in the books. Which adaptations are a service to the storyline, which discredit it?
Warning ***(SPOILERS)***
| PLOT/CHARACTER ELEMENT | HOW THE BOOKS PORTRAY IT | HOW THE SERIES PORTRAYS IT | WHICH IS BETTER? |
| Dexter's relationship with blood | Dexter can't stand the sight of blood | Dexter seems mesmerized, almost erotically entranced, by blood addendum (in the season 1 ep "Shrink Wrap" Dexter say to the "shrink" he hates blood) | The Book |
| Portrayal of Debra | Deb is described as a busty blonde with a model's good looks |  Jennifer Carpenter is tall, skinny, angular, fair, with auburn hair | Tie. Carpenter seems a believable relative of Dexter. |
| Debra | Debra is aware of Dexter struggling not to kill her and discovers he's a serial killer. | Debra doesn't find out. | The Series. Dexter can see how she deals with the knowledge of Brian and Dexter can grow as a character with this insight. |
| Brian Moser AKA Rudy | Ends up getting away in the end of the first book | Is killed by Dexter in the end of the series | The Book |
| Brian Moser AKA Rudy | In the book is described as looking near identical to Dexter and Dexter at one point is unsure if he himself is not the killer | Brian looks nothing like Dexter, takes an alias, Dates Debra to get to Dexter, and does not get away. | The Series. Although the confusion of Dexter with Brian being near identital is great and has its own merit. The series allows for more twists and character development on how Debra will handle what has happend and how Dexter will deal with the loss of Brian. |
| Rita Bennett | Husband abused her. Infected her with diseases and beat her children. She divorced him and he was jailed. Also described as a fitness nut. Her husband is not seen (at least by the end of book 2 he is not) | The divorce does not get finalized till the husband get released out of jail. Husband causes some havoc. She is not infected. | The Book. Although it works better for the series I think that she isn't infected. The husband being a good daddy seems to taint another plotline with Cody and Astor this may change with time. |
| Biological Father | No referance is made to him still being alive, none-the-less a retreat to his house to pack things up. | End up having a get together, at Dexters biological fathers house. | THE BOOK. |
| Lt. LaGuerta | She is Killed by the ice truck killer | She is no where near the scene when that scene takes place | The series, I see her as a great ally to Dexter. |
| Angel Batista | Works in the Medical Examiner's Office. | Homicide Detective. Having Marital Problems. | The Series. It gives Dexter an ally that is an officer. Plus Batista's problems allows a foil for how "humans" deal with life. |
| James Jaworski | One of Dexter's victims. Dexter's Dark Passenger is roused by the Tamiami Butcher and he rushes to kill James, a janitor who kills runaway girls. Dexter has to flee before disposing the body. | James is a valet that does snuff films. He murders Jane Saunders in one. Dexter completes his murder without interuption. | Either way. In the book Dexter tries to clear his head and has to deal with possibly being discovered. In the series they cleverly deal with the same issue in "Love American Style" but also tie it in with the Ice Truck Killer. |
| Sgt. Doakes | Suspects Dexter of something but teams with him to catch a mutilating "murderer" from Doakes's military days. Doakes ends up being the last mutilated (living) victim. | Suspects Dexter of something. Does not get mutilated. | The Series. Doakes is great as an antagonist to Dexter and Doakes also seems to have his own secrets and dark passenger to deal with. |
| Cody & Astor | At the end of the second book Dexter has a realization of what Cody is when he remembers the time he and Cody went fishing and Cody had plunged the knife in deep and twisted, smiling. When confronted Astor explains, Cody does the killing of the neighbors dog and she helps to get rid of the body. | There seems to be no hint whatsoever that either Cody or Astor have and social issues, other then the fact that that they never smile. Rather then kill the dog off with the kids, the tv show has Dexter find a home for it. | The Book. What's wrong with Showtime passing up on probaly the most interesting plot twists in the entire series of books so far? As he becomes further involved with Rita, he sees that maybe it's his destiny to guide Cody and his passenger. Hopefully Showtime will smarten up and alude to this in the upcoming season. |
| The Dark Passenger in Dexter | |||
