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[POLL] Dexter on Showtime--better than the Sopranos?

Is Dexter better than the Sopranos?

  • Yes.

  • No.

  • I like The Sopranos but haven't seen Dexter.

  • I like Dexter but haven't seen The Sopranos.

  • I like them both but can't say one is a better show than the other.

  • I hate both shows.

  • I guess I don't have any opinion about it at all.

Results are only viewable after voting.
WhipperSnapper

WhipperSnapper

Lifer
As I was watching last night's episode of Dexter on Showtime, it occurred to me that I like it better than the Sopranos (which started to feel like a soap opera after a while). Am I the only one who feels that way?

Here are some Dexter clips on YouTube including the brilliant "Dexter's morning" intro (which might tell you all you need to know about this guy's character):

Intro: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ej8-Rqo-VT4

Season 1 compressed into 4 mins: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0yjgvjgJeeg

Season 4 trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ageR58yU6ro
 
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Sopranos pre-Season 5 absolutely kills the first 3 seasons of Dexter that I saw. Whether it has gotten better or not, I cannot comment.
 
Simply put, no. Both shows are completely different, though both very very good. The Sopranos is on another level though. IMO the only show that can challenge sopranos is another HBO great, the wire
 
While I enjoy Dexter more, Dexter is still way too spotty at times - you can have a string of mediocre episodes followed by an amazing one. The bad episodes are really bad, with bad acting, lazy writing, and huge leaps of logic... While the good ones are better than most movies playing at the multiplex. Sopranos, however, is a show that relies on just being consistently good. It's like Seinfeld in its consistency.

Dexter's hugely dependent on the writer/director of the particular episode, especially now that the lead producer/head writer is too busy these days with Twilight (Melissa Rosenburg).
 
You're right though, most shows are basically dressed up soap operas. Look at Mad Men! Dexter delves into the melodrama as well, look at the relationship drama between almost every characters.. oye!

I haven't caught up on series 2 yet, but Breaking Bad was refreshingly soap opera free
 
Beev said:
Early Seinfeld was terrible all around.
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Well, Season One of most shows are pretty mediocre, as they figure out their audience .. But Seinfeld's first season was watchable, even if it's only because of how embarrassing some of it was. Like stand up bits intercut throughout the episode (not just the intro or outtro).. How pretentious! But, still, Seinfeld remains one of the most rewatchable shows ever.
 
The only thing that the Sopranos was consistent at was not having anything happen during an episode. Yeah, every couple episodes someone would get whacked, but it was mainly because they are going to be starting on a new tv show or in a movie.

The Sopranos was also consistent in having a hot chick humping Tony and a scene in the strip club.
 
Platypus said:
Sopranos pre-Season 5 absolutely kills the first 3 seasons of Dexter that I saw. Whether it has gotten better or not, I cannot comment.
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I guess that might be the case. Since I've seen the later seasons of the Sopranos most recently perhaps my impressions of it are inaccurate. I thought the Sopranos became sappy and soap opera like later on.
 
WhipperSnapper said:
I guess that might be the case. Since I've seen the later seasons of the Sopranos most recently perhaps my impressions of it are inaccurate. I thought the Sopranos became sappy and soap opera like later on.
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It really got quite ridiculous towards the end. Season 5 was somewhat tolerable for a few memorable scenes but it really started to lose focus completely after 5.
 
I like Dexter more, but still feel that Sopranos was a better show overall.

it's sorta like, I enjoy reading the Dresden Files more than War and Peace, but I wouldn't say that the Dresden books are better.
 
Can't compare the two. Dexter is really focused around one person, with a small supporting cast. Sopranos, while techinically focused on Tony, was carried by a gigantic cast that wove in and out of the story lines, Lots more going on with sopranos.

I like them both and believe both have a place.
 
Both shows turned to crap, but The Sopranos took longer to do so and didn't fall quite as hard. It just became overwhelmingly depressing.
 
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abaez said:
I'm a huge Dexter fan, but Season 3 was horrid. Drags down the show by a bunch.
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I thought the same thing. I like Jimmy Smitts (was decent enough in the last two seasons of The West Wing), but his character drove me NUTS after the first few in the season...

I was worried about the poor showing last season, but this one has been OFF THE HOOK amazing. I think it might even rival the first season, which is probably still my favorite. Nothing beats the feel of walking into that show and realizing the main character is a serial killer. Plus the build up at the end... Geez! Rivaled only by Friday's closing line from Lithgow "Hello... Dexter Morgan." Gave me the geebees!
 
"Hello.... Dexter Morgan"
Yup just saw that last night. This season reminded me of a snowball rolling down a gradual incline... it takes a while but it builds and right about now we have one huge mutha of a snowball coming at sonic speed.
I predicted about the exact opposite of what is happening now. I thought Dexter would kill the daughter, and Deb would get to collar Trinity. (who's name now should be Quadrilogy)
I loved the Soprano's until it was like watching paint dry, for the whole damn season. That and I thought they got a little too full of themselves and that could easily be seen on camera.
Dexter is much more compelling than the Soprano's, imo. There are many more twists and turns involved other than a power struggle to be a family man, mafia boss, cheating husband and all around fat fuck.
 
I think we can all pretty much predict that Arthur is going to go after Dexter's family and perhaps hold them hostage and that somehow Dexter will save his family and end up killing Arthur. How it plays out sure will be entertaining to watch.
 
I love Dexter but it's not better than the Sopranos.

On overall acting alone, if not cinematography, storyline, music, writing.
 
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