TV Series: Dexter Season 6

The sixth season of "Dexter" is the most controversial season of the whole series. It deals with Christianity, the world's largest religion. It's a religion that's inspired millions to love and millions to kill. It deals with people on both sides of the dividing line. Dexter, as a non-believer is caught in the middle. He makes friends with a religious man who he thinks might help him find salvation. At the same time he's hunting the religious killers who're trying to bring about the end of the world.

Dexter tries to find a place for his son Harrison in a Catholic kindergarten. The nun naively asks Dexter about his faith. She's confused when he says he doesn't believe in anything. I understand her. As a nun she lives in an isolated environment with others who share her faith. At the kindergarten the parents also believe, or at least they pretend to believe in order to make a good impression. Dexter isn't a hypocrite. He's open about his lack of faith. The nun doesn't condemn him. She's just amazed that a person might not believe in anything. She doesn't understand Dexter.

Dexter's initial reaction is to reject the kindergarten as unsuitable for his son. The next day he changes his mind. Just because he doesn't believe in God, it doesn't mean he wants his son to be a nonbeliever. Dexter doesn't want his son to grow up like himself.

The most fascinating person for me in Season 6  is Samuel Wright, known as Brother Sam. He used to be a thief. During a robbery he shot someone, and he was charged with murder, but the case was dismissed on a technicality. He interpreted this as God giving him a second chance, so he turned his life around. He became a Christian, and he began to preach to other criminals. He opened a car repair shop which only hired former criminals who had become Christians.

Dexter is dubious because he doesn't believe a man can change so much. In fact, all of his colleagues at the police station think that Brother Sam is only pretending to be a Christian. Dexter approaches him by delivering his car for repair. At first he intends to kill Brother Sam, but he sees that Sam is really a changed man. The two become close friends. When Dexter asks Sam how he lost the evil in his being, Sam replies that it's still in him and he has to fight it every day. Dexter tries to find a way to apply Brother Sam's new way of life to himself.

Travis Marshall and Professor James Gellar kneel in prayer. They see themselves as the chosen ones to bring about the end of the world. They consider themselves to be the two witnesses named in the Book of Revelation. In preparation, they commit a series of murders to create tableaus, pictures that are based on the prophecies in the last book of the Bible. Together they're called the Doomsday Killers.

Mike Anderson is a detective who's been transferred from Chicago. He's evidently a religious man, because he immediately recognises the religious symbolism of the tableaus. He's called to explain the connection between the murders and the Bible.

Dexter sits reading the Bible, hoping to find clues about the next actions of the Doomsday Killers. This doesn't mean he's starting to find faith. On the other hand, when his son is in hospital with appendicitis, he prays to God. It's an awkward prayer, and he doesn't know if anyone is listening, but he's talking to God, inspired by his friend Brother Sam.

In this season Dexter's sister Debra is promoted from detective to lieutenant. She looks very smart in her uniform.

But I prefer Debra in her casual clothing.

This is one of the Doomsday Killers, Travis Marshall, played by Colin Hanks. He looks so similar to his father that you'd know who he is even if you didn't know his name.

Travis Marshall, killing in the name of God.

In the season we see that Travis draws large paintings in preparation for the murders.

Dexter is shocked to see himself portrayed as the Beast.

This is the whole painting. 

The paintings were actually made by the artist Dave Lebow and digitally enlarged to become wall murals. He's an incredible artist. I'm impressed. Referring to the speed with which Travis seemingly paints, he says "I'm not that brilliant". Dave shouldn't be so modest. Brilliance isn't just about speed. I consider him to be brilliant.

Here are a few examples of the paintings used in the series. Click to enlarge them. The paintings are worth looking at.

The Whore of Babylon

The Seven Angels

Suffering

The Plague of Locusts

The Plague of Locusts (Close Up)

The Four Horsemen

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