Blu-Ray Review:
Dexter Season 2
By Jason Gillard
*Screenshots are not from the Blu-Ray source.
TV
If you read my review of Dexter Season 1, you will know that I think the show is fantastic. It gets better with every episode. Continuing with Season 2 that trend does not stop. Dexter had thought he had found the perfect dumping ground for his bodies. He would dump them in the sea. Everything seems to be looking up for Dexter until one day divers discover bags of body parts. The media gives this new menace a name "The Bay Harbor Butcher". Dexter has to work on these cases all along knowing exactly who dumped these bodies there. If that were not enough Doakes is growing more suspicious by the day even following Dexter around. Meanwhile Rita's ex husband shows up wanting to be with the kids which is really complicating the only normal part of Dexter's life. Dexter has to do his job, balancing all this as well as taking out the bad guys, and supplementing his urges. This season is even more fantastic than the first. It's really interesting to see how Dexter handles all of these obstacles and still tries to maintain Harry's code. If you liked the first season then you will love the second season.
9 out of 10
Video
I raved about the transfer for season 1 and with season 2 it is just as good. Paramount has treated us to a beautiful looking 1080p transfer that gets top marks all around. Black levels are lush and deep. The Miami nightlife jumps off the screen with beautiful colours. Scenes in the daytime around Miami also look spectacular. Detail is also great, with textures showing up with clarity rarely seen in a tv show. Everything from the stubble on character's faces to Dexter's knives and equipment gleam in HD. I did see some digital noise in some of the nighttime scenes but nothing that will distract anyone. Being a fan of the show, I don't think I could of asked for anything more from Paramount. They have done a fantastic job with the transfer of Dexter Season 2.
9.5 out of 10
Audio
Audio is also stunning just like the transfer. Paramount gives us a great Dolby TrueHD 5.1 track. Dexter's narration on the show comes across with the utmost clarity. Dialogue is crisp and centered well. I never had to adjust my volume and everything seems perfectly mixed. I feel like everything seems to be better than season one which was no slouch by any means. Ambient noises appear from many channels giving you the creepy feeling you are there when Dexter takes out his victims. The LFE channel seems to be given the upgrade here as well. Whether it be a punch or the jabbing of a knife into a human body the LFE channel gives it that extra oomph. For a TV show I think the mix is really good. Paramount should be commended once again for giving us a great audio track.
9 out of 10
Extras
Here is what you get in the way of extras:
Tools of the Trade
Yup that's it, at least on the disc. One of my biggest complaints about the first season Blu-ray was the lack of extras. Tools of the Trade is an interactive game that is sort of a trivia game. I can't believe this is all that they have included. You can use BD-Live to download a featurette called Blood Fountain, several Michael C Hall podcasts and two dark defender online shorts, but honestly, why was this material not included on the disc? For a show that is so popular I don't understand the lack of extras! Pathetic is a word that comes to mind and it sad that a show as good as this gets so little.
2 out of 10
Overall
Great show, great transfer, excellent audio and nothing in the way of extras. I still have to recommend this set. Even with the poor quality extras the rest of the set lives up to the quality of this show.
8.5 out of 10