During a recent SAG-AFTRA Foundation panel, the actor took the opportunity to joke about how unrealistic Dexter can sometimes be.
Even though Dexter is widely considered one of the best TV shows ever made, it is fair to say the series can be unrealistic at times, and honestly, that has always been part of its nature. A serial killer managing to survive in the modern era without ever getting caught is actually a huge stretch, and many fans have pointed out over the years that Dexter Morgan seems protected by a certain level of plot armor.
But at the same time, that is also necessary for the show to exist and continue for so many seasons. And as it turns out, Michael C. Hall is fully aware of the ongoing joke about Dexter somehow escaping every situation without being caught by security cameras, witnesses, or law enforcement.
During the recent SAG-AFTRA Foundation panel promoting the first season of Dexter: Resurrection for the Emmy awards season, Hall addressed the topic with a great sense of humor.
The conversation started after the moderator pointed out how sharp and funny the writing and performances are in the series, asking how the show actually manages to balance its dark themes with humor so well.
Hall explained that one of the most enjoyable parts of working on Dexter: Resurrection Season 1 was exploring a version of Dexter that was less weighed down by everything that had burdened the character in previous years. According to him, those elements are still present, but they are no longer as heavy as before.
When talking about Leon Prater’s serial killer gatherings, Hall admitted that the concept itself pushes the show slightly away from complete realism. He explained that while Dexter has always felt somewhat realistic, but there has also always been an exaggerated side to it, especially with all the things Dexter somehow manages to get away with. Hall jokingly pointed out that realistically, nobody could actually pull off the things Dexter does without getting caught.
He then continued to joke by saying it almost feels like the audience never sees the scenes where Dexter magically...“turns himself into smoke” to escape impossible situations. According to Hall, that over-the-top quality has always been a part of the show’s idea, and of course, Dexter: Resurrection embraces it.
Hall also talked about how fun it was to realize that the overall concept of Dexter could naturally support these larger than life ideas and characters. He explained that the show works best when talented actors fully commit to roles that might seem too extreme or unrealistic in another series.
What Michael C. Hall said about Dexter constantly escaping impossible situations is something most fans of the franchise have probably thought about at least once while watching the show. And honestly, hearing Hall openly acknowledge it in front of an audience of critics felt refreshing.
The humor behind his comments actually made what he said even better, especially because it confirmed that the people behind Dexter are definitely aware of how unbelievable some of the character’s escapes really are.