James Manos

The serial killer who kills other killers goes to Narcotics Anonymous.

Pretty much the whole point of season one is that you're rooting for a "bad guy." This time around, I not only wasn't rooting for him, but I kind of hated him and would have been much more satisfied with the show if Sgt. Doakes snapped and killed him around episode six or seven. Of course, it's an ongoing series, so it's no spoiler to say that doesn't happen. I spent most of the last few episodes thinking, "If this is show more where they're going with this show, why would I want to watch season three?" If they're never going to catch the bastard, what's the point? But I have to admit, if they put season three online, I'll probably feel compelled to find out exactly how pointless it is. Part of me is even holding out hope that they'll get around to plugging some of season two's plot holes.

Concept: C
Story: D
Characters: D
Dialog: A
Pacing: A
Cinematography: C
Special effects/design: A
Acting: B
Music: B

Enjoyment: C plus

GPA: 2.6/4 show less

Dexter is a serial killer - we see him do the deed, and understand in some way his drive to do it. He is also a member of society, working as a blood spatter expert for Miami metro police department. His sister, Deb, is also an officer on the force. Deep down, Dexter has all the emotions of Mr. Spock, but unlike Spock, he wants to be thought normal, so he imitates those around him, trying to act the emotions he's supposed to feel.

Season 2 of this excellent series has Dexter's girlfriend, show more Rita, forcing him to seek a 12-step program for addicts. In the program, he is chillingly explicit about the effects of the addiction on himself, without sharing the exact form his addiction takes. A mysterious English woman, Lila, offers to be his sponsor, but it is clear she has motives, and twisted problems, of her own. Meanwhile, Dexter's body dump site is discovered by divers, and a Federal task force comes to town to investigate the "Bay Harbor Butcher" serial killer. Keith Carradine hits just the right note as an attractive (to Deb), seasoned expert leading the manhunt. And, as always, Dexter's past and his relationship with the father that shaped him and gave him the rules he lives by, are key parts of the unfolding story of his past and why he is a serial killer.

The relentless first-person style narrative gives the viewer the same thrill of fear at each almost discovery. It feels as if he's about to be revealed, and yet somehow that person interprets Dexter's actions based on the mask Dexter has created, and the history and experiences that observer brings to life. Excellently well-rounded secondary characters as well.

If the first season was like watching a train-wreck in slow motion, this season was a mid-air collision in slow motion. Parts are inevitable, you see them coming, but ya gotta keep watching. Now I must read the books! show less

A serial killer kills other killers, and does crime scene forensics by day.

It's the sort of show where once you start, you need to know what happens next. It took an act of willpower to not just stay up all night and watch the whole thing in one sitting. As great as it is, I'm a little baffled by how long it's been running. It really felt like he should have died at the end of this season, despite the presence of a second season proving otherwise. How much show can you make about a serial show more killer without him ever getting caught?

Concept: B
Story: A
Characters: B
Dialog: B
Pacing: A
Cinematography: D
Special effects/design: A
Acting: B
Music: B

Enjoyment: A

GPA: 3.2/4 show less

Little Ellie Claus, by James Manos Jr. has been sitting unread on my shelf for quite a while. I was determined to read it this year. Lucy and Peter are young, in love, and setting off on an adventure. With all their pets in tow, they head to New York in 1933 where Peter has been offered a job. When things don't work out quite like they hoped, they struggle along with most of the country, in the midst of the Great Depression.

I feel that almost everything else I put in a summary will ruin the show more story, so I'm going to refrain. There were a few things that I loved about the story. The basic idea was really great and I knew from the beginning that something I didn't like was going to happen. It worried me and I considered putting the book back on the shelf. I did plod through and I found some of joy in the story. Peter and Lucy were great characters, with a lot of life and warmth. Santa and Mrs. Claus were joyful and fun loving, just as Santa should be.

I did not care for the character of Henry. I didn't get it. He confused me and was way to excitable. He wasn't necessary to the plot. I also had a problem with the very end. Without giving anything away, I am an adoptee and I don't feel that the end was handled very well. It just wouldn't happen. Very hard to be specific without giving things away!!!

I think the book is worth a read if you have nothing better to do. It's pretty short and could be read fairly quickly. I would go in knowing that some characters may annoy you and that the ending is a bit rushed.

After pondering my review, I felt I needed to add to it. Big spoilers so please don't continue to read if you don't want to know. . .

*Spoiler Alert*

You know how some books stick with you, good or bad? Some books I read, put away and don't really think much about. Others seem to stay with me and Little Ellie Claus, by James Manos Jr. has. Not in a good way. I keep thinking, and thinking, and thinking about this story. I thought about writing a letter to the author but I can't find an e-mail address.

Here's my problem. . . I'm adopted. I was adopted at birth and my parents are amazing. They have done nothing but love and support me my entire life. If, at age eleven, my birth parents had come back into my life, there is absolutely no way my parents would have just waved goodbye to me. There is no way I would have let them.

In Little Ellie Claus, Ellie finds out that she is adopted (not formally or legally, but essentially she was adopted). She's only eleven years old but she immediately takes off for New York to find her birth mother. There was nothing pointing to a strained or difficult relationship between Ellie and her parents. She was raised by Santa and Mrs. Claus! What could be bad? When Ellie finds her birth mother, she bonds with her immediately and after only brief drama, she says goodbye to the parents who raised her so she could stay with the mother who was forced to give her up many years earlier.

I can't imagine that the author really understands how adoption works, not the legal aspect, but the emotional bond. Ellie was an infant when Santa took her in. She had no memory of her birth mother, so why the instant bond? I find it all very disturbing and frankly the ending ruined the book for me. That's all I have to say. show less