Lindsay Sperling’s Top 10 TV Shows Of 2013

Television isn't made by any one person, and it certainly isn't made for any one specific demographic, which can sometimes blur the line between what is considered "good" TV and what isn't. In contrast to "popular opinion," I admittedly prefer some television series that are heavier on the fluff factor (I offer most of the shows I regularly review as examples) rather than what can be considered as compelling examples of TV narrative at its' finest. But, that's what I love about the medium. Good television is not exclusive to one genre or network. You can find series that fit all of your viewing desires without sacrificing personal taste; the part of me that loves to see comic book characters come to life on film can enjoy CW's Arrow while the history buff part of me craved Showtime's mini-series The White Queen.

Lindsay Sperling

Published: Jan 2, 2014 05:55 pm

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6. Dexter

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Dexter

Originally I had reserved this spot for The Vampire Diaries. At the last minute though I exchanged it for Dexter, which aired its final season this year. The choice was easy too, since I recently viewed the final season in its entirety at the request of a friend who has been a long-time fan of the series.

Though I know that most people weren’t pleased with how things ended, I appreciate the difficulty that goes along with wrapping up a show and the burden of meeting the expectations of so many loyal fans with conflicting opinions. With that in mind, I think that Dexter did a commendable job.

Leading up to the finale, Dexter had to come to terms with his evolution as a killer, which unbeknownst to him was partially orchestrated by a third party, Dr. Evelyn Vogel (Charlotte Rampling). This development was the catalyst for Dexter’s final challenge to himself. Before he could flee the country with Hannah (Yvonne Strahovski) and his son, and spend the rest of his life experiencing everything that happily ever after entailed, he would best the latest serial killer to victimize Miami. In a final twist, the killer turned out to be Vogel’s son, and more of an equal than anyone Dexter had faced to-date. In his attempt to defeat him, Dexter had to face the harsh reality about his own dark nature and made a decision that would effect everyone he loved.

If you’ve been a fan of the series for the long haul, then the ending may have either completely caught you off-guard or seemed like a very tragic high note. Personally, I am leaning toward the latter. Dexter Morgan (Michael C. Hall) suffered a grave loss, but he ended with the perfect crime – faking his own death.

I also really like that the series left itself open for further development. The current trend is to see shows brought back from repeat purgatory for fan-fueled feature films, and Dexter has left itself in a perfect position for that.

Showtime consistently offers fans some great viewing options, and while there were definitely other shows on the network worth noting, the final season of Dexter was no less than exemplary, for me at least.

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Author

Lindsay Sperling

Lindsay Sperling has A.D.D. and her tastes reflect it. Her movie collection boasts everything from Casablanca to John Tucker Must Die to every season of Sons of Anarchy to-date. She adamantly supported a Veronica Mars Movie (yes, she did make a donation to see it happen..and also possibly for the t-shirt), hopes that the Fast & Furious franchise continues far into the future, and has read every popular YA book series turned film in recent years (except Harry Potter..). When she's not on an indie film set or educating the youth of America, she uses her time arguably productive as a freelance writer.