Dark City: The Cleaner

My initial reaction was, oh dear, NZ are trying to replicate Dexter. But then, it kind of got to me. I didn't anticipate the ending of episode one, and I loved it. The idiot serial killer certainly doesn't have the charm of Dexter, but, he is more believable as a serial killer. I mean, come on, Michael C Hall is lovely! This dude, does creepy-weird well. The besotted wanna be girlfriend, heck, who doesn't know a Sally? Joe's love for his goldfish is, believable. And the sex scenes on the bus were howlingly funny.

I could have done without the actual murders, and Melissa's orgasmic delight in them, but otherwise her character was a blast and convincingly played. I felt the humour had shades of Dexter to it. Obviously not as well done, but then, I'm picking, they didn't have the same budget.

As a kiwi, I loved that it was so recognisably Christchurch. I loved the narration/inner monologue from Joe. I hope they don't wreck it (like they did Dexter, those last seasons were not good) by dragging it out too long.

Definitely an acquired taste. I can understand why some will think it's terrible. I found it quirky, and rather fun.

Joe is basically invisible because he doesn't stand out so it makes him a perfect serial killer.

Without spoiling anything, I will also say that if you take a liking to Joe, then you are gonna absolutely, positively, love Melissa! I know I do!!

Very good acting, writing, producing etc .

The down side is the last episode, we were left with a cliffhanger and I personally hate that crap!

At least they gave us 4 episodes instead of one, so mostly pros and a few cons. Hopefully in the upcoming episodes we'll get more of a storyline about Melissa. There are some sketchy people in this series, which makes it so much more interesting.

This is like a low budget Kiwi version of Dexter, but in Dexter you could root for Dexter because he ws killing off sick serial killer scum like our erstwhile villain main character Joe Middleton. The first person thought narration is even more than in Dexter. This creep takes joy in killing random women who did him no harm. So I feel sort of guilty enjoying this based on the sexual sadism angle. But it has a charm and it also paired him with a female version of him Melissa Flowers who at first literally busted his ball with pliers. Then add Joe's awful mom Evelyn and a decent Christian woman who worked as a maintenance man in the same ChristChurch Police Station as our lead psycho. But instead of being a CSI wonk like Dexter, he is a lowly janitor. But like Dexter, he keeps ahead of the cops due to eavesdropping and snooping around. Like I said befoe, it seems immoral to enjoy a show so amoral and vile like this but it has a droll sense of humor and some interesting characters and plot twists too.

The plot of this series is compelling and the psychological depth of the characters adds a fascinating layer. Each episode maintains a high level of attractiveness and engagement, ensuring that viewers remain invested throughout. While the central idea may not be entirely novel, the sequence of events and how they unfold are executed in a way that makes the series particularly interesting. There is some nudity towards the end of the first episode, with an exposure of genitals that could have been concealed without impacting the narrative or visual appeal. While the ending could have been written to be more captivating, it still manages to be good. The overall quality and execution suggest that a second season would be highly anticipated and welcomed. The series has successfully balanced character development with plot progression, making it a worthwhile watch.

In New Zealand, Joe Middleton (Cohen Holloway) is a meek janitor in a police station to most people. To his victims, he is a serial killer known as The Christchurch Carver. He carefully picks his female targets while the audience listens to his inner monologue. A victim is added, but he didn't kill her. It could be a copycat and he intends to solve the case. He encounters Melissa Flowers (Chelsie Preston Crayford) who is more than his match.

This is a serial killer working behind enemy lines. Certainly, there are elements of Dexter here. Then there is Melissa Flowers. She comes out of nowhere and shocks us as well as Joe at the end of the pilot. She's crazy and a terrific black comedy generator. It puts the show off-kilter and I like it. It does suggest more seasons, but I don't know if this New Zealand show is continuing.