The Corner Penthouse

Hello Boils and Ghouls. The Halloween season is upon us, which means lots of treats to enjoy on October 31st. Join me as I take a look at CBS Home Entertainment's recently released Dexter: The Complete Series + New Blood Blu-ray. Read on to find out more...

[ SYNOPSIS ]

DEXTER: THE COMPLETE SERIES - Smart and good looking with a great sense of humor, Dexter Morgan (Michael C. Hall) is everyone's favorite serial killer with his own twisted sense of justice. As a Miami forensics expert, he spends his days solving crimes, and nights committing them. But Dexter lives by a strict code of honor that is both his saving grace and lifelong burden. Torn between his deadly compulsion and desire for true happiness, Dexter is a man in profound conflict with the world and himself.

DEXTER: NEW BLOOD - Dexter Morgan returns ten years after he goes missing in the eye of Hurricane Laura in the original series. Far from the life he knew, he is now living under a false name in the small fictional town of Iron Lake, New York. With a normal job and a Chief of Police girlfriend, it seems he's got life under control - until his son shows up and turns his world upside down. When his Dark Passenger inevitably beckons, Dexter finds himself on a collision course with a very dangerous local.

[ EPISODES ]

The 28-disc set includes all 106 episodes of the two series that aired on the Showtime channel from October 1, 2006 to September 22, 2013 (original series) and November 7, 2021 to January 9, 2022 (New Blood).


Do note that the "BD-Live Special Features" listed inside the case (image above) do not exist. More on that in the "Special Features" section below.

[ SPECIFICATIONS ]

The show is presented in a 1.78:1 aspect ratio with each episode running about 45 to 60 minutes each. The total runtime for the original eight-season series is 84 hours and 52 minutes, while the one-season 10-episode New Blood series runs for a total of 8 hours and 47 minutes. Both series are Not Rated, but would be equivalent to a theatrical R-rating. For the original series, audio languages include English (all seasons), Spanish (all seasons), and French (Seasons 5-7). For New Blood, audio is available in English only. Subtitle languages include English SDH for both series.

[ SPECIAL FEATURES ]

All of the content listed below can be found on the Blu-ray discs. There are no on-disc special features for Seasons 3-7. The episode breakdown inside the case lists lots of "BD-Live Special Features", which is really misleading as none of it exists anymore. Originally, it would have been available for online streaming though the "BD-Live Portal" on several of the discs, but it was all removed before October 10, 2016, as reported in this review. This is why anything provided through BD-Live, which was the studio's misguided belief that people want to have their Blu-ray player connected to the Internet (mine isn't), should never be listed on the packaging. If it's not on the disc, it doesn't exist. I thought CBS/Paramount learned their lesson after the crappy Season 1 DVD release that I reviewed back in 2008. Instead, they did it worse with the Blu-rays.

• SEASON 1, DISC 2: Audio Commentary: "Return to Sender" - with Jennifer Carpenter, David Zayas, Lauren Velez and Erik King.
• SEASON 1, DISC 3: Audio Commentary: "Born Free" - with executive producers Sara Colleton, Clyde Phillips, and Daniel Cerrone.
• SEASON 2, DISC 3: Tools of the Trade - Interactive fun facts about Dexter's killing tools.
• SEASON 8, DISC 1: Ray Donovan, Episode 1 (57:17) - An episode of an unrelated Showtime series starring Liev Schrieber presented in 720x480, 16:9 anamorphic widescreen. This episode is entitled "The Bag or the Bat" and originally aired on June 18, 2013.
• SEASON 8, DISC 2: Ray Donovan, Episode 2 (52:59) - An episode of an unrelated Showtime series starring Liev Schrieber presented in 720x480, 16:9 anamorphic widescreen. This episode is entitled "A Mouth Is a Mouth" and originally aired on July 7, 2013.
• SEASON 8, DISC 3: From Cop to Killer (3:15) - The evolution of Debra Morgan, from her first season appearance to her final hurrah.
• SEASON 8, DISC 3: Dexter - The End Begins (3:07) - A short featurette that presumably aired on Showtime.
• SEASON 8, DISC 3: Dexter with Scott Buck Executive Producer Episode 801 (2:07) - The cast and crew discuss an episode in a promo that I'm sure I saw on Showtime On Demand back in 2013.
• SEASON 8, DISC 3: Dexter - Ep #802 Directed by Michael C. Hall (2:17) - The cast and crew discuss an episode in a promo that I'm sure I saw on Showtime On Demand back in 2013.
• SEASON 8, DISC 3: Dexter - Dissecting Episode 803 Scene 30 (1:37) - The cast and crew discuss an episode in a promo that I'm sure I saw on Showtime On Demand back in 2013.
• SEASON 8, DISC 3: Dexter with Scott Buck Executive Producer Episode 804 (2:17) - The cast and crew discuss an episode in a promo that I'm sure I saw on Showtime On Demand back in 2013.
• NEW BLOOD, DISC 1: Why Now (2:13) - Dexter Morgan is back. Showrunner Clyde Phillips and stars Michael C. Hall & Jennifer Carpenter are here to tell you what to expect.
• NEW BLOOD, DISC 1: Dissecting Dexter: New Blood - Deb is Back (1:58) - Deb returns as Dexter's conscience while he navigates his new life. Michael C. Hall and Jennifer Carpenter dive into their roles as Dexter and Deb Morgan.
• NEW BLOOD, DISC 2: Dissecting Dexter: New Blood - The Kill Room (1:58) - Get a behind-the-scenes look at Dexter's kill room.
• NEW BLOOD, DISC 4: All Out on the Table (30:04) - The cast and crew lay it all out on the table to dissect their characters, reveal exclusive behind-the-scenes moments, and break down the emotional finale.

[ ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ]

No digital copy code voucher is included inside the very thick Scandavo clear DVD-sized case, similar to that of other recent Complete Series sets. The discs are stacked op top of each other, either in 2 or 3 discs per stack. The case itself measures approximately 7.5" high, 5.5" wide, and 2.5" deep, which will definitely save some shelf space, width-wise, over the previously released season sets. The first print run includes an embossed slipcover.


[ NOTES ]

Dexter: The Complete Series + New Blood is available on Blu-ray and DVD. These discs are identical to the previously released seasons. Several extras that were previously exclusive to 2013's "blood slide box" Complete Series Collection (available on Blu-ray and DVD), such as "The Evolution of Dexter Morgan", "The Code", and "Rubin Museum of Art Special Presentation", do not appear in this set.

The failure to include a bonus disc or two containing the extras that were either exclusive to the blood-slide box set, streaming via BD-Live, on store-exclusive discs, or were shown on Showtime's channel or website (and currently locked away), is a serious oversight and a major disappointment. For fans with zero interest in supplements, but a desire to own both Dexter series in one box, this set is fine. Those who already own the individual releases, or the more comprehensive box set, should steer clear.






This item has been provided by CBS Home Entertainment for review on this site.