Good Design Analysis - Dexter

Dexter is a TV show about a Serial Killer that work’s for Miami Metro Homocide as a blood splatter analyst. What separates dexter from most other serial killers is that he will only kill other killers.

That differentiation straight away strikes me as a good piece of “design” or story writing. The “rule” that dexter follows of only killing other murders straight away can raise a moral debate with people watching it. However it does this twice, firstly it will raise the debate in the viewers head first, it will probably happen instantly on whether they agree with what he’s doing or if they disagree. Their preference will then decide how they experience the rest series’.

If they agree with what he’s doing the viewer will wanting dexter too succeed in what he’s doing and they’ll want him to avoid detection. However if they’re against what he’s doing and they’re moral position is that all murder is bad they will want him too get caught.

So this instantly gives people a talking point socially which will increase exposure to the series’. So my intrinsically weaving a moral debate into the core of the show they allow the show to potentially grow through word of mouth; which is has done. So they don’t have to rely heavily on expensive marketing campaigns, as people will talk about the moral dissonance with their friends and colleagues naturally.

As you progress through the series’ and episodes you’ll start to notice the second thing about how they’ve designed the show. They give you an internal monologue of dexters thoughts and feelings. This then gives the viewer a chance to understand why he kills people and his feelings about doing so. This does two things simulateously; For the people who originally found that he was indeering and agreed with what he does - It will draw they even closer too the charchter so they can form a greater understanding of him and they will become even more empathetic to his cause. It will also give the people who originally disliked the concept a chance to understand the charchter and will give them an opportunity to potentially grow to like him.
(It’s also worth noting that they portray him in a positive manner throughout the show so the likelihood of this happening is high)

It’s important for the success of the show that people feel strongly in a positive way towards dexter because it gives the other aspects of the show extra emotional impact. Because many of the plot lines are run much better if you’re rooting for dexter. Since most of the storylines end with dexter coming out on top.

Although that sounds cliche and predictable they generally counteract the positive with something else that will complicate dexters life again or will add depth to the story. (More on that later)

Rather cleverly the writers realise that not many people can relate to serial killers so they will discretely add plot lines and character traits that makes dexter very relatable. For example they pose very real very common problems in dexter's life such as; Having a baby, having a complicated love life with his girlfriend rita. With those 3 plot lines that i’ve mentioned alone they’ve got the trifecta of relatable and thought provoking topics that are Life, love and death.

The show in my opinion could quite easily survive alone on the storylines that run through dexter’s life however they’ve designed the show so that they can use the supporting cast from his family and work colleague to manipulate the mood of the show. Often you’ll seem them using a comedic character called Masuka being introduced to a scene lighten the mood. Or they’ll use a scene with him in it as a precursor to a particularly dark scene so that the viewer doesn’t ever feel too down or depressed about, what is fundamentally a very dark and gruesome byproduct of dexter’s character.

 

It’s also worth noting they sometimes don’t take the ‘killings’ too seriously and play it off lightly. Once the viewer is 2 to 3  series’ in they’ll find themselves watching killings thinking “Dexter’s just doing his thing” and thinking nothing more than a byproduct of his addiction and thinking it’s almost normal for it to be happening. That is a true testament to the great design of story in the dexter series.

Generally towards the end of a series what ever overarching story that has been running will be resolved and in theory everything works out great because the initial problem has been rectified. However the writers counteract this by making dexter sacrifice something or present him with a problem. Not only will this build anticipation for the next series it also makes it more of an emotional journey since they want dexter to just be happy! ( For the most part)  They also use a similar device episodically and they'll generally end an episode on a high or with anticipation too keep the viewer interested. ( A well know design technique, but one the writers use very well and don't abuse it, they respect the intelligence of the viewers and disguise it well.)  

So what they’ve achieved by using many clever, well designed and hidden devices is making a topic that is typically very dark and disconcerting a completely acceptable act. They’ve created a canon and world which is incredibly rich in depth that can keep being expanded and changed around this one character. Many social and political issues are tackled within the canon seamlessly around dexters life and nothing seems out of place.

 

The writers have designed the series in such a way that horrific act’s seem more tame and manageable. It really is quite miraculous the way the series makes you feel and if looked in at more depth the devices used in dexter could be used in video games to tackle some of these more touchy subjects which video games have been afraid too tackle. Or if they’ve attempted too tackle them they’ve done in with an ironfist. It could help inform some writers how to tentativley tackle some of these issues.