Dexter's killer fifth season

The wait is almost over — on October 2, “Dexter” is back for its sixth season on Showtime. For some, the wait would have been unbearable without the season five DVD to alleviate the suspense.

Fresh off a brilliant guest-star role by John Lithgow as the Trinity Killer, Michael C. Hall and the rest of the cast return for a fast-paced fifth season.

This season is once again defined by the guest stars brought in, as Julia Stiles shines as a tortured young woman taken under Dexter’s wing while Jonny Lee Miller nails the creepiness of those super-famous inspirational speakers. All the while, Dexter is searching for a way to cope with Rita’s death, his involvement in it and how best to deal with her annoyingly angsty children.

The extras are pretty solid with interviews from all the major characters, but that seems to be the norm these days. The real treats are select episodes from “Californication,” “Episodes” and “The Borgias” and a trailer for “Homeland,” the newest Showtime original series.