Talk:Dexter Morgan

Image in infobox

I am asking that the image in infobox be the non-free image for the page. I am going to follow WP:Bold and say that the image will stay as long as there are no objections.

Alternatively, is it possible that both images could stay? If I comment on the specific clothing Hall is wearing in the promotional photo, which has destinct meaning in the TV Series, and I insert the photo as a visual aid for the reader, could it stay? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 1zdoqnrh5 (talk • contribs) 21:15, 7 September 2024 (UTC)

Any comment you make would be considered WP:OR; however, if reliable sources have critically discussed how the character's appearance has change over the years, then perhaps that content should be added to the article first. Then, based upon what's added, it might be possible to justify a non-free image related to such changes. The appearance of "Dexter", however, seems to not involve any major costuming, make-up or facial prosthetics, and appears to not have changed much over the years, except perhaps as would be expected through natural aging. Moreover, the character pretty much looks the same as the actor who portrays him. So, I think it would be hard to justify more than one non-free image in the article. -- Marchjuly (talk) 21:30, 7 September 2024 (UTC)

Of course any comment made would be backed up with a reliable source. But to reply to the comment on his appearance, Dexter uses the long sleeved green jumper/sweater when he is about to or is in the middle of committing a crime, equipped with gloves, brown pants and usually an apron. The reason why I could use both images is because I could use the promotional photo to show the reader Michael C. Hall in character in the clothes when Dexter is about to commit a crime in the show. I'm sure other articles would do something similar, so why not this one? 1zdoqnrh5 (talk) 21:45, 7 September 2024 (UTC)

The way you've described the character's appearance when he's about to commit a crime doesn't really require the reader see two non-free images of him to understand he wears different clothes. A reliable source stating essentially the same thing would be just as descriptive and not really helpful. A single image of him as such in the main infobox would be more than sufficient to get that point across. What other articles might be doing isn't really relevant per WP:OTHERCONTENT and also WP:OTHERIMAGE; it could just as easily mean that they're doing something they shouldn't. If there are themes or critical interpretations associated with his change in clothing, than that might be encyclopedically relevant to the reader, but simply just saying he wears gloves, brown pants and even an apron doesn't really need to a non-free image to be understood. -- Marchjuly (talk) 22:28, 7 September 2024 (UTC)

The apron at least is iconic to the television series whilst committing said crime, usually with a visor depending on the job. Maybe an image of him in the apron since that can be seen in most promotional images by simply googling "Dexter Morgan". 1zdoqnrh5 (talk) 23:09, 7 September 2024 (UTC)

Personally, I think the images are about equal, and that the change to "working" Dexter is acceptable. It's big article, 12020 words of readable prose, most of it plot, and some free pictures could be of use. Gråbergs Gråa Sång (talk) 06:10, 8 September 2024 (UTC)

So can we keep the image currently in infobox and can you take the warning template off in the image description, if not what can I do to get the warning template removed from the image description? 1zdoqnrh5 (talk) 10:41, 8 September 2024 (UTC)

I removed the template since the file is now being used in the main infobox. FWIW, the The photo was taken a decade ago, any commercial opportunites would of been exausted long ago. you posted in the file's non-free use rationale isn't really correct, though; copyright law tends to protect images for way longer than a decade because commercial opportunities tend exist for much longer periods of time than ten years. So, I suggest you modify that statement to something more appropriate. You should also try to find a better source for the image than a fandom site to make sure there are no problems with WP:NFC#Meeting the previous publication criterion. Sites like forums, XXX-pedias, wikis, fandoms, blogs tend to be primary user-generated sites that don't really properly vet the images they host, and thus are usually unreliable when it comes to determining image provenance. It's much better to use official sites under the control of the content's copyright holder or reputable news/media sites which most likely received the images it hosts from their respective copyright holders. Given that Dexter is probably streaming on some platforms these days, there should be images on one of their official websites that are OK to use even if you're unable to find a better source for this particular one. Finally, it might be a good idea to add a WP:HIDDEN note after the infobox image syntax to let others know the image was changed based on this discussion. This doesn't mean someone can't or won't challenge the use of this particular image, but it could possibly avoid any edit warring over it. If you're not sure how to add such a note, perhaps Gråbergs Gråa Sång could do it for you. -- Marchjuly (talk) 20:56, 9 September 2024 (UTC)

I'll work on the source of the image, that's just where I found it. The file's non free use rationale is worded that way because the original Dexter series has been off the air for 11 years now and since Hall has drastically aged when he came back into the role a few years ago, it was my understanding no commercial use of the image would be obtainable. But I'll take what you send on board and at the WP:HIDDEN note, if I can find out how to do it. Thanks. 1zdoqnrh5 (talk) 21:11, 9 September 2024 (UTC)

That photo is eligible for copyright protection for either 70 years after the date of death of the photographer who took it (if that person is known) or the shorter of 95 years after it was first published or 120 years after creation (if the photographer is truly unknown) under US copyright law. One of the main reasons for copyright laws is to ensure content creators (and their heirs) can take full advantage of whatever commercial opportunities their work might provide whenever they present themselves; so, eleven years is really nothing and you shouldn't assume otherwise unless you've been in direct contact with the copyright holder of the photo themselves. -- Marchjuly (talk) 06:43, 10 September 2024 (UTC)

Btw, off-topic but if people are looking for images, try find a WP-usable one for Lisa Bonet. Denise Huxtable has one of course, such are the ways of WP. Gråbergs Gråa Sång (talk) 08:48, 8 September 2024 (UTC)

Length

This article is unnecessarily long and detailed for being about a fictional character 2600:4040:296C:3200:C0F8:D987:6FA8:4659 (talk) 18:59, 1 April 2025 (UTC)

Aliases.

We should add aliases for him E.G bay harbour butcher. Neoogai (talk) 23:43, 12 September 2025 (UTC)

References

We need references that states all the information, because almost all of the characterization and book sections lack citations and the character development in the series, practically only have quotes the episodes. Most of the article uses episodes as sources, and some are valid, but not excessively so; it's not something everyone can easily verify, which is the whole point of adding information and a source. Ideally, websites or other secondary sources should be used to add the information so it can be verified at any time, and it shouldn't be from the original material. Marco camino 10 (talk) 10:58, 7 March 2026 (UTC)

For the characterization, sure, but as per MOS:BOOKPLOT, any plot summary's source is just the source material, in this case the books themselves. MJFake (talk) 23:18, 6 August 2026 (UTC)

Plots really necessary?

Both the books and the series have Dexter as the super-duper main central character protagonist around whom pretty much all the action revolves around. This means any description of Dexter's story within the works is essentially the entire plot summarized, correct? I think the plot sections should be completely deleted, because this is the article about the character, and not the books and series in which he has appeared and their full plots. Anyone with me? MJFake (talk) 23:29, 6 August 2026 (UTC)