DR Matt. H - I've not given up on Dexter yet. I just found the Senior police officer (female) so clichéd and would have liked the sister much more had she not been drawn "dumb'.
The female characters in Six Feet were it's major strength.
The female characters here have a much different function from the females in SIX FEET UNDER. To be honest, I don't much like Dexter's sister Deb even after two seasons. I actually find the actress rather annoying, but I've had to get used to her because she figures MAJORLY in both seasons.
But Hall is so hypnotic and so different from his role and performance in SIX FEET UNDER that he just swept me along with the flow of the series. I was willing to follow that character anywhere, and when things get really intense in season two, well, I was just bowled over. He was Emmy nominated for season one, and I will be mightily disappointed if he doesn't get nominated this year as well.