TV Show Info:
Writers: Various
Directors: Various
Cast: Michael C. Hall, Julie Benz, C.S. Lee, Christina Robinson, Jennifer Carpenter, Lauren Vélez, David Zayas, James Remar, Erik King, Preston Bailey, Keith Carradine, Jaime Murray
Rating: Not Rated
Studio: Paramount & Showtime

Release Info:
Original Air Dates: October 1, 2006-Present
Season Air Dates: September 30, 2007-December 16, 2007
DVD Box Set Release Date: August 19, 2008
Online Availability: Amazon for $
Episodes: All episodes in Season Two

There are only a few television shows I refuse to miss for anything. One of those shows is Dexter. The show, which debuted on Showtime two years ago, is one of the best series I’ve ever watched. Dexter is one of Showtime’s most popular shows. That means I’m not alone in watching this somewhat obscure show. Considering that Dexter is a show about a serial killer, it is not surprising (though it might be a bit shocking) that it is such a popular show.

It’s always hit and miss with television shows (or movies) that are based on books. Dexter is most definitely a hit. Dexter Morgan is an appealing character because he’s made human. In fact, some may even view Dexter’s actions as virtuous. He’s a serial killer. He kills people. He does it for a reason. All of the people he kills are bad. They hurt other people, and yet, in some way, the human emotion allows us to both empathize with Dexter and still view his actions as wrong.

This just emphasizes the human obsession with serial killers. We, as humans, are taught that killing anyone, no matter the reason, is wrong. Of course, that hasn’t always been the way of the law. Not everyone believes that the justice system in America works. People who are guilty get off. People who aren’t are convicted. Back in the day, a guilty man (especially for something like murder) was killed without the chance of appeals or the option of life in prison. Our softness on prisoners has created more criminals. Dexter, a blood spatter expert with the Miami police, sees this and he is willing to take matters into his own hands. All of his victims are those who he knows are guilty of their crimes.

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Just because a show doesn’t necessarily go the way you want it to, doesn’t mean that the show isn’t any good. I learned this when watching the first four episodes of Season Five of The L Word. I had tried to get into The L Word when it first premiered on Showtime. I had given up because, for whatever reason, I just couldn’t get into it. Since Showtime has exceptional shows I couldn’t imagine why I wouldn’t like The L-Word.

Of all people, my future mother-in-law, who is the straightest woman I know, swore by how great the show was. I decided to give it another try when Ashtyn was sent Season 4 to review. I ended up watching the show because I thought we could start doing recaps of most of the shows we watch on the network. It only took an episode before I was hooked. I felt like I was an outsider looking in at a culture I once believed I was a part of and the fact that there was a storyline about someone who identified as an FTM was intriguing. With the well developed characters, the captivating plotlines, and the friendships that held together the entire show what isn’t to like about The L Word?

I had caught up on the entire fourth season in 2-3 days and I just couldn’t get enough. You know you’ve become obsessed with a show when you start every sentence with ‘On The L Word’ or ‘I forgot to tell you…’ and your girlfriend replies, ‘is this about The L Word?’ That has been me for the past week. Little did I know that Showtime had sent us the first four episodes of The L Word’s fifth season! The moment I realized we had the episodes I was ready to watch them and boy did I get way more than I expected!

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Writer: Various
Director: Various
Cast: Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Henry Cavill, Natalie Dormer, Maria Doyle Kennedy, Jeremy Northam, Sam Neill, Gabrielle Anwar
Rating: M (Sex and Violence)
Studio: Showtime
Release Date: January 1, 2008

Once upon a time I was HBO loyal. This is not to say that I never watched Showtime, Cinemax, or Starz. It’s just that when it came to original series that aired on premium channels I mainly watched HBO. In recent years, I have noticed a change and the change is a complete 180.

A few years back, I would say that I only watched the occasional Showtime show. My two favorites were Jeremiah and Street Time, which in the case of the latter, has not yet hit DVD shelves, but hopefully will at some point. However, my real obsession with Showtime started with Queer as Folk. After falling in love with that show it was only a matter of time before I picked up my little The L Word obsession. From there came Meadowlands (which sadly has been canceled), Weeds, Californication, Dexter, and Brotherhood. By this point, anything new that came from Showtime was worth watching, in my opinion, at least once. My obsession with shows on HBO has waned with the passing of shows like Rome and The Sopranos, though Big Love still manages to hold my fancy. Still, Showtime has won my favor in the battle of the premium channels, at least for now.

As for The Tudors, which is the the purpose of this review, I have been watching this show since the first episode. Naturally I couldn’t wait to review this series, which focuses on the possible life of King Henry VIII in his younger years. People watching this show for historical accuracy have scoffed at The Tudors and complained to no end. I must agree that it is not incredibly historical, though some inaccurately say that it’s not historical at all. Regardless, the series is absolutely phenomenal. If you are interested in a dynamic series that offers explosive characters, sex, violence, love, scandal, and drama in a historical setting then you will absolutely love The Tudors.

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Unresolved romances and a long-simmering film project finally bear fruit in the fifth season of THE L WORD®, returning January 2008 to SHOWTIME. Dreams come true and new life paths are forged for many of the show’s beloved characters this year – but not without the The L Word’s trademark provocative storylines, sizzling sexuality, and heart-rending emotion. The series stars Jennifer Beals, Leisha Hailey, Laurel Holloman, Mia Kirshner, Katherine Moennig, Daniela Sea, Rachel Shelley and Pam Grier. Season five’s new guest stars include Kelly McGillis and Wallace Shawn, alongside returning special guest stars Cybill Shepherd, Marlee Matlin, Kristanna Loken, Jane Lynch and, returning to a role that earned the program acclaim and controversy, Rose Rollins as Tasha, an Iraq War veteran concealing her sexuality from the military.

Season five’s major plot developments include a “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” investigation of Tasha Williams (Rose Rollins), a closeted soldier whose moving romance last season with the out-and-proud Alice Pieszecki (Leisha Hailey) earned the show an award from the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network.

Series creator and executive producer Ilene Chaiken is proud of the attention her series is bringing to the lingering but still-unresolved issue of gay military service. “I hope Tasha’s story will shed light on the military’s untenable policy of institutionalized discrimination again gay men and lesbians who sacrifice to serve their county,” Chaiken says. “Tasha’s experience with ‘Don’t Ask Don’t Tell’ only skims the surface of the battles gay servicemembers face every day. We’re grateful to have had the opportunity to tell her story and hope that it sparks consensus, rather than controversy, on the need for policy reform.”

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Writer: Various
Director: Various
Cast: Michael C. Hall, Jennifer Carpenter, Juli Benz, Erik King, Lauren Vélez, David Zayas, James Remar, C.S. Lee, Christina Robinson, Daniel Goldman
Rating: Not Rated
Studio: Showtime/Paramount
Release Date: August 21, 2007

One of the best television shows on Showtime, Dexter, made waves due to its controversial nature. Based on the Dexter book series by Jeff Lindsay, Dexter follows the life of a man (Dexter Morgan) who works as a blood spatter expert for the Miami PD. He also happens to be a serial killer in his spare time.

The real conundrum is the fact that Dexter only kills those who commit crimes and get away with them. You can find out about all the offerings on the DVD Box set for Dexter - The First Season and what the Review Duo thinks of the show in their latest podcast.

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The easiest way to see hate is through the unapologetic acknowledgement of it by those who are hate-mongering. One family that does this openly is the Phelps family. While some may say the family is fascinating (in a disturbing way), the Phelps family is more bothersome and something that people should fear, simply because they are an unpredictable, crazy bunch.

It is easy to see that the Phelps could be capable of violence and many other destructive, hurtful tactics, to take their hatred one step further. That is why every human being on this Earth should be aware of this family, what they are capable of, and what they believe.

You may have heard about a group who protest at the funerals of soldiers. The group is the members of the Westboro Baptist Church, whose membership is made up primarily by the Phelps family. Fred Phelps is the head of the Phelps family. I don’t like to write about Phelps much merely because the more attention he seems to get, the more he believes his mission (whatever distorted vision that may be) is being accomplished, merely because his hate messages are spewed to a national and international audience. However, since the documentary, Fall From Grace looks at the Phelps and their mission, from both their perspective and the perspective of others, it is easy to see why so many people oppose Phelps and his ministry. It is hard to imagine anyone could be swayed over to the side of this crazy man, whose only followers appear to be his family and a few stragglers who like causing trouble.

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