The episode introduces the series' protagonist, Dexter Morgan (Michael C. Hall), a Miami Metro Police Department blood spatter analyst with a double life as a serial killer.

Flashbacks reveal that Harry first decided to impart these "lessons" upon Dexter after discovering that the boy had been killing neighborhood pets.

Dexter is contacted by his foster sister Debra (Jennifer Carpenter), a vice officer in the Miami Metro Police Department.

Dexter, a blood spatter analyst for the department, assists Debra in investigating an apparent serial killer targeting prostitutes.

At the police station, he discusses another murder case being handled by James Doakes (Erik King), a detective who dislikes him.

While on a date with Rita, Dexter finds another murder scene with no traces of blood, this time with the victim's head missing.

Dexter theorizes that the killer murders his victims in extreme cold, explaining the absence of blood, and might be using a stolen refrigerated truck.

[7] However, he changed his mind after reading the script, because he was "intrigued by the macabre mix of dark humor, chilling violence, and a unique central character.

[16] The script was also presented to James Remar, who auditioned for the part of Harry Morgan, because it was a character he "really related to" and had waited for most of his life to play.

Dexter is a clever sociopath who believes himself unlovable and is convinced he has no human feelings; however, he's an excellent actor whose agreeable, socially conventional demeanor belies the emptiness and rage inside.

[26] President of Entertainment at Showtime, Robert Greenblatt said "I've always felt that location is a strong starring character and adds to the success of many shows.

The crew originally wanted to shoot the entire pilot in Miami,[27] but during the first two weeks of filming,[28] three hurricanes went by: Katrina, Rita, and Wilma.

"[28] As opposed to Dexter's "disturbing" environment, Tirone tried to give Rita's home a "warmer, safer, happier place" with "a dark side to it," doing so by letting more light come through the windows.

These locations include Biscayne Bay and Virginia Key island[34] (used for the flashbacks of the 8-year old Dexter, talking with Harry about his homicidal tendencies, and then later re-used in Crocodile).

[1] In a 2008 press release, PTC president Tim Winter stated the following: We are formally asking CBS to cancel its plan to air the first season of Dexter on its television network.

Dexter introduces audiences to the depths of depravity and indifference as it chronicles the main character's troubled quest for vigilante justice by celebrating graphic, premeditated murder.Although some critics[45] objected to Dexter's edited broadcast, CBS, in response to the PTC, moved it up to a later timeslot and replaced expletives, using substitutes such as "frickin'" and "mother lover".

[citation needed] It was watched by 603,000 viewers, the highest audience numbers for a Showtime series premiere since Fat Actress aired in March 2005.

[55] On July 7, 2008 Dexter premiered in Australia on Network Ten, where it was watched by a little less than a million viewers, finishing highest in the 18–49, 16-39 and 25-54 demographics.

[56] David Hinckley of the New York Daily News called it "bold, different and exciting, with a central character and performance that take your breath away".

[57] Maureen Ryan of the Chicago Tribune claimed "to deny yourself the engrossing Dexter based on its subject matter would be to miss out on one of television's most fiendishly intelligent new dramas."

[59] Slant Magazine's Ed Gonzalez was unimpressed with the character of Dexter, saying the show "meticulously and dubiously qualifies its twisted gimmick, asking us to put stock in a serial killer (yikes!)

"[58] Gilbert described Dexter as a cross between Hannibal Lecter and Clarice Starling, calling him a vigilante obsessive murderer with a slippery personality, but "also a hero of sorts.

"[59] InsidePulse.com reviewer Mathan Erhardt said that the episode did not quite meet his expectations, and in a reversal of Gonzalez, opined that Dexter's narration is necessary but grating.

He praised Hall's performance as moving chameleon-like between different personas, and said that some of the supporting cast nonetheless managed steal some of the scenes.

He argued that despite the controversial subject matter, the gore in the episode is not significantly worse than that seen on popular programs such as House and the various CSI shows.

Robert Abele of LA Weekly thought the pilot was average, containing "fashionable gore, occasionally witty dialogue, serviceable suspense and boilerplate police-department politics."

Abele felt that the series was a superhero tale, rather than the dark comedy, police thriller and brooding drama that it was promoted to be.

[68] Brian Lowry of Variety did not think that Dexter would impress critics, and said, "antics of the deranged ... aren't really all that pleasant to watch."

[25] Nancy DeWolf Smith of The Wall Street Journal felt that the "grotesqueries of Dexter are not something that can easily be dismissed with the old 'you don't have to watch' line.

"[69] Elena Maganini won a Creative Arts Primetime Emmy Award in 2007 for Outstanding Single Camera Picture Editing for a Drama Series.