December
3
'Dexter': A slice of life with the showrunner
Season Pass' next Q&A is with "Dexter" showrunner Clyde Phillips. We are accepting questions now.
I discovered "Dexter" during the interminable WGA strike, when CBS aired less-graphic versions of sister net Showtime's serial killer drama. I was immediately drawn in to the tale of Dexter Morgan, a Miami PD blood spatter pattern analyst, who moonlights as a serial killer. Phillips exec produces the show, based on Jeff Lindsay's novel "Darkly Dreaming Dexter."
Dexter, who struggles with social interactions that others find routine, lives by a strict "code" — he only murders those whom he believes have escaped justice. Michael C. Hall's deft performance as the lead, inspires an unexpected sympathy for the character. Auds are let into the anti-hero's inner thoughts through use of voiceover.
In this, the third season, Dexter has let D.A. Miguel Prado, played by Jimmy Smits, into his life and in on his secret and has even taught him some of his "skills."The third season wraps up Dec. 14 and auds are still waiting to see how Dexter resolves his problems with Miguel. (Hall and Smits are pictured at right.)
We'll time the posting of the answers for the Monday following the finale. Ask anything you'd like about the inner workings of the show, the characters, things we've already seen this season, Clyde's background, the writing process, plot points from previous seasons, etc.
Here are the rules for the Q&A:
1) Hit the comment button below and ask your question. You have until Tuesday, Dec. 9 at midnight.
2) You may ask more than one question but we are looking for quality, not quantity. Asking more will not guarantee that you'll get an answer. In the spirit of fairness, we try to give plenty of folks a chance.
3) Read through the other comments to make sure you're not repeating something that's already been asked.
4) Questions about next season's plot are not allowed. And keep in mind that by the time you read the answers that this season's finale will have already aired. So please don't ask specific questions about the last two episodes.
5) I'll email the very best questions to Phillips (pictured left) and he'll answer the 10 he likes best.
6) The person who asks the question Clyde likes best will win a DVD set of Season 2.
Have fun and be clever!
Posted by Kathy Lyford
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Since Dexter is definitely a procedural with serial (no pun) elements, what spec scripts did your staff/future staff submit to apply for the job? I'm curious because the show is so different yet normal at the same time, I wanted to know what submissions were considered the most Dexter-suitable...
Posted by: Richard Martin | December 10, 2008 at 03:11 PM
How difficult is it as a writer to keep the audience rooting for a serial killer to NOT get caught?
Posted by: Kat | December 09, 2008 at 12:51 PM
Did Clyde Phillips ever go to Ramapo High School in Franklin Lakes,N.J?I dated a guy by that unusual name around 1967 and he wanted to be an actor.I even have an old newspaper photo of him from some play and a bunch of letters he sent me around 1971.My name is Gerri Orr and I have always been more than curious if this could be the same man,although I doubt it.Anyway' if it is I thought he might be interested in speaking with me.Oh, by the way Dexter is one of my favorites. in fact my son Gabriel Dellavecchia was your payroll accountant for the pilot episode.So just thought I'd take a chance,if it is the same person it would be really weird.
Posted by: Gerri Orr | December 09, 2008 at 11:37 AM
While Season 3's A story of Dexter v. Miguel Prado and the tangential Skinner saga have been aces. The C stories of Angel's redemption, Masuka's reports and kinky search for love etc are starting to feel like distractions. Does the writing staff feel obligated to give these characters something to do every season even at the expense of the show's momentum and tension? Is there a writerly reason that these stories are necessary to the show?
Posted by: B Stewart | December 09, 2008 at 07:20 AM
What is Dexter an anagram for?
Posted by: Bill Johnson | December 08, 2008 at 11:23 PM
I'm interested in why Dexter's police department seems to have a huge serial killer problem. Is Miami a serial killer vacation destination?
Posted by: Morgan | December 07, 2008 at 09:36 PM
One of the most unique characteristics of “Dexter” is that it contains a delicate mixture of dramatic tension and wonderfully dark comedic timing, two successful components due mostly in part to the inclusion of Dexter’s internal dialogue.
As a fellow writer myself, I find the art of internal monologue and voice over to be incredibly difficult, especially in a “show it, don’t tell it” medium. What I would like to know is, do you find it difficult to develop Dexter’s character through the use of internal dialogue, seeing as how it is commonly regarded as a storytelling crutch?
Posted by: Matthew Torti | December 07, 2008 at 06:40 PM
I find the similarities between Dexter and his sister Debra's disconnect with people interesting. She has no girlfriends, has trouble maintaing a relationship with a man and for a detective, can't read her own brother who she should have figured out long ago. She also had no clue and fell for Dexter's brother, "The Icebox Killer".
Will Debra learn of Dexter's proclivity for serial murder and when she does, will she follow "the code" to protect him or kill him?
Posted by: Jim Burton | December 06, 2008 at 08:15 PM
Will another character on the show evidence resurfacing childhood trauma? If so, how will Dexter relate?
Posted by: K. Anderson | December 06, 2008 at 06:47 AM
I am a huge fan of Dexter. Congratulations on another great season. (I was bummed when Doakes got blown to bits, but Smits makes an even nastier nemesis)
My question - What changes in the show have you consciously made with the aim to improve it from season to season? And is there an area of the show you would specifically like to see altered or changed to make Dexter even better than it is? (Very hard to do...but I imagine you are always looking to up the ante)
For instance, after the first season of The Office, they shot it less like a sit com, and more handheld/doc-style, like it's British predecessor, greatly improving the comedy.
Posted by: David Cook | December 04, 2008 at 06:50 PM
I love the new series and the introduction of the Miguel character. However, i find it strange that after two series where Dex is obsessed with serial killers he does not seem in the least bit interested in the "skinner". Any plans for the next series for Dexter to tackle another big case.
Posted by: robert currens | December 04, 2008 at 11:57 AM
Such an amazing show; is there a mythology behind the characters and their relationships?
Posted by: Brian Tidmore | December 04, 2008 at 10:22 AM
How did your formative years at Van Nuys Junior High inform your creative decisions dealing with a sociopath?
Posted by: Michael Tronick | December 04, 2008 at 10:07 AM
"Go Your Own Way" is, by the far, the best episode I've seen on TV period! The "mano e mano" between Dexter and Miguel was flawless and poetic. When you came up with the concept of Dexter having a "partner" this season, was the fallout always part of the plan or did you switch gears midway? Some of us were worried Dexter would lose himself if he shared his "gift" with another. Congrats on a great season!
Posted by: Andre Wiggins | December 04, 2008 at 05:59 AM
Throughout the series we have seen Dexter struggle with his alter ego referred to as The Dark Passenger, particularly in Season 2. However in the Jeff Lindsay novels The Dark Passenger plays a much more prominent, and external role. Was it your intention to minimize the concept of the Dark Passenger, and if so why was this decision made?
Posted by: Marlon Shingles | December 04, 2008 at 12:06 AM
Jimmy Smits has been a great addition this year with a performance that is definitely Emmy worthy. How hard was it to decide on casting a key season character such as his, with so much riding on that character to sustain the show's momentum? Was he your first choice?
Posted by: Bob DeMars | December 03, 2008 at 11:43 PM