Can an emotionally stunted serial killer deal with love, intimacy and friendship?

That’s a central theme for the title character of Showtime’s squeamishly graphic drama Dexter, which begins its third season Sunday (9 ET/PT).

Dexter Morgan (Michael C. Hall), the forensics expert who moonlights as a justice-dispensing serial killer, will still dispatch plenty of bad guys who may deserve a grisly death. But the adopted son of a now-deceased cop will show a more humane side as he develops a friendship with deputy district attorney Miguel Prado (guest star Jimmy Smits) when they’re brought together after the violent death of Prado’s brother.

“The relationship will be the central arc of the season,” says Hall, 37. “It’s sort of the trunk of the tree with many branches. Initially, it sheds light on Dexter’s simultaneous aversion for and attraction to this idea of connection. He’s in unchartered territory.”

Based on Jeff Lindsay’s novel Darkly Dreaming Dexter, the cult favorite was Showtime’s most popular series last season, drawing about 1 million viewers an episode. And Dexter could gain a greater following this season after 12 edited-for-broadcast episodes aired on sibling CBS earlier this year to fill a programming void left by the protracted writers’ strike.

The Emmy-nominated Hall says he relished working with Emmy winner Smits (NYPD Blue, The West Wing). “Jimmy’s been fantastic. He brings such a complexity and gravity to the character,” Hall says. “He’s an incredibly fine actor; it’s a real shot in the arm for the show.”

Smits’ bereaved Prado appears on first glance to be the sort of principled, good-guy role he has mastered since his days on L.A. Law. But Smits says a prime reason he joined Dexter was the opportunity to play someone different.

“For me, it’s about stuff that’s on the page — and the writing is top-notch,” says Smits, 53. “They promised upfront that this was really going to challenge me, that it would be stuff that I haven’t done before, and they’ve really given me a shot. They’ve delivered the goods.”

Dexter’s relationship with Smits’ character parallels Dexter’s growing emotional ties with girlfriend Rita (Julie Benz) and her two youngsters, a relationship that takes a surprise turn in Sunday’s premiere.

Free from adhering to the rigid code imposed by his foster father, Harry, Dexter’s intimate relationships are vastly more temperate than the volatile ones Dexter had in Season 1, when he was mocked and threatened by the Ice Truck Killer, and in Season 2, when his polarizing nemesis at the Miami Police Department, Sgt. Doakes (Erik King), hounded him before ultimately learning of his killing spree.

Hall suggests there’ll be plenty of internal tension as Dexter comes to grips with his softer side. “He’s moving forward in his personal life with Rita and this friendship with Miguel. But in both cases, he’s rebelling against his father. That need to rebel is a real engine for what unfolds this season.”

Indeed. “Dexter starts having this growing confidence that he can experience a normal life,” says executive producer Sara Colleton. “As he gets further involved, it puts him in harm’s way.”

Source: USA Today

Note: All comments must be approved by the webmaster before being publically displayed. This is merely a preventive measure against spam/advertisements - there is no need to resubmit.

Please keep comments appropriate and on topic.