It starts at the opening credits and the initial notes of the perfectly matched quirky, perky theme tune, as Dexter kills a mosquito feeding on his arm. Without moving, he looks at the little squirt of blood that remains of his "victim" and ... smiles.

Sadly, you'll have to wait until next week for those award-winning opening titles because this pilot episode of one of the most intriguing crime shows to come out of the US for a long time throws you in at the deep end without them.

Chirpy blood-spatter analysis expert with the Miami Police by day, sociopathic serial killer of serial killers by night - Dexter Morgan is cold and detached, a monster without emotions who loves children, treats his girlfriend well and is just so, well, likeable. He's the ultimate antihero, a Sunshine State Hannibal Lecter.

The show is technically brilliant and its intelligence shines through in an ability to switch, in a fading heartbeat, from deadly gruesomeness to light comedy. Miami is stunningly filmed as Dexter's alter-ego - sweetness and sunlight during the day but menacing after dark - and the supporting cast is as good as it gets (keep an eye out for a wonderfully over-the-top performance by Erik King as Sergeant Doakes).

Then there's Michael C. Hall, previously known mainly for his turn as the neurotic, gay younger brother in Six Feet Under, who perfectly conveys Dexter's twisted mix of sweetness, charm, and emotionless evil. It is a virtuoso, nuanced, subtly edgy performance that improves with every viewing. Hall somehow makes Dexter grisly but fun, light but dark, vulnerable but vicious. And that's just the voice-over.

Dexter aired here on pay TV and Ten is airing the same uncut version (in US, free-to-air showed a censored version) so be aware it's not for the squeamish. Dexter's foul-mouthed cop sister would make Gordon Ramsay blush and there are bodies and body parts galore.