For All Hallows Eve, the TV doctor prescribes a heavy dose of pain and killers, body replacement therapy, followed by regular check-ups at the Treehouse of Horror.
No Halloween would be complete without a nod to the first science-fiction novel in history (originally published in 1818), Frankenstein (BBC Entertainment; Saturday at 5.25pm). In this 21st-century 'reboot' of Mary Shelley's monstrous tale, biotech is the new gothic. Brilliant research scientist Victoria Frankenstein (Helen McCrory; Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince) has an ulterior motive for the series of breakthroughs she makes with her Universal Xenograft Project (UX). Her son, William, is terminally ill and she is convinced that her work on stem-cell regeneration is his only hope of survival. Racing against time, she secretly injects William's DNA into the UX grafting tank in a desperate attempt to find a cure.
The thrills begin when Frankenstein's assistant, Ed Gore (Benedict Wong; Dirty Pretty Things), discovers the tank forced open and the dungeon-like lab covered in fleshy bioplasma the same night that little William dies. Frankenstein's ex-husband, Henry Clerval (James Purefoy; Vanity Fair), while grieving the loss of his son, immerses himself in the details of the botched project. After a series of mysterious deaths leaves everyone fearing for their lives, Clerval steps in to do some damage control, revealing a deeper reason for his involvement with Frankenstein.
In this made-for-television film, the monster - referred to, neutrally, as the UX - lacks the self-awareness that elevates murderous violence into acts of vengeance and shame, as it did in the original story. In an obvious reference to Shelley's own relationship with and loss of her own son, also named William, the adaptation focuses on the power of maternal instinct to create and nurture, questioning how far humanity can go beyond the bounds of nature. McCrory leads a strong effort in meaningful story-telling, from which the thread of corporation/government conspiracy and silly future-tech accessories detract, unfortunately.
For those who missed the beginning of the all-new season three of Dexter, a marathon of the first five episodes (Fox Crime; Saturday, 7pm to midnight) will have you bound, gagged and cling-wrapped on the couch. Besides his blossoming bro-mance with attorney Miguel Prado (Jimmy Smits; The Jane Austen Book Club) and his fiery Cuban-American clan, Dexter Morgan (right; Michael C. Hall, Six Feet Under) has another unexpected challenge to face - impending fatherhood.
Morgan has only become the serial murderer that he is today because of his stepfather's acceptance and guidance. Not many of his peers can lay claim to that, or the Code of Harry (his rule book for 'constructive killing'). Trying to fit that history into the life of normalcy that he has built with Rita Bennett (Julie Benz; Angel) and her children is doing Morgan's head in. Can he come to terms with his upbringing? Will he find the confidence to become a real parent, while doing everyday serial-killer stuff? This marathon will help you catch up with the rest of his die-hard fans.
