In this day and age, we are definitely familiar with Netflix – some of us more than others. Now like most Netflix users, we use the streaming database to binge watch television shows that we most likely missed while they were on-air. Sometimes, if we catch onto a trend quick enough, we can get ourselves caught up on the plot to watch new episodes on television.

Let’s be real, though, and agree that it’s really annoying to get caught up and then have to play the waiting game. Or better yet, with our hectic evening schedules as college students, most of us don’t get to watch the shows as they air, and have to catch them on other websites like Hulu or another television streaming site – and that’s only if the show is posted on those online sites. Most of us end up catching shows after they have come to their conclusions.

This past weekend at a friend’s house, we decided to start a show that wasn’t movie length, but could fill an awkwardly longer gap of time. Scrolling through the long list of Netflix’s possibilities, we came across the popular show, “Dexter.”

This show follows a Miami forensics blood spatter analyst who investigates homicides. The twist to this “CSI”-esque show is that its titular character, Dexter, has a craving for murder himself, and as a result enjoys murdering those who have inflicted pain and death upon other people. The storytelling of “Dexter” will have viewers sympathizing with the main the character while evaluating their own code of right and wrong.

I heard of “Dexter” before this encounter in high school, but I never really gave the show much attention because my fair share of after school curricular activities kept me pretty busy. I did, however, catch one or two episodes and decided that if I knew what was actually going on with the characters I might somewhat enjoy the show.

Fast-forward a few years, and here I am – waiting to kill an hour or so, and we decide to give the pilot episode of “Dexter” a try. Similar to my earlier notions, I found myself enjoying the show. “Dexter” had a good amount of tension, humor, and character exposition that often makes or breaks a pilot episode of a television show.

Of course, the most common issue with pilot episodes is their general awkwardness when it comes to storytelling. Starting a new television show is an interesting experience similar to starting new books. The director, writers, and actors have a very limited amount of time, about 45 minutes, to deliver an episode that is going to set the tone for the rest of the series. The pilot should also make viewers invest themselves in the storyline and the lives of characters in those stories.

“Dexter” succeeded in my opinion, which also seems to be the overall opinion – considering the show ran for eight seasons from 2009 to 2013. IMDB, an internet movie reviewing site, gave the television drama and 8.9 out of 10. The pilot episode of “Dexter” was an intriguing, at times funny, and suspenseful 45 minutes. The acting and storytelling was strong enough that it’s no wonder the show sustained itself for eight seasons.