Every Dexter Show, Ranked

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Originally airing in 2006, Dexter quickly became a standout show of the decade. The crime drama, based on Jeff Lindsay’s novels about a vigilante serial killer, ran for eight seasons on Showtime, though its ending wasn’t well-received by many fans. Years later, the show found a new audience on Netflix, leading to a sequel series called Dexter: New Blood, intended to provide a more satisfying conclusion to the story.

This resulted in the prequel series Dexter: Original Sin, featuring a new cast taking on familiar characters. While Michael C. Hall, the actor who plays Dexter Morgan in all versions, returned as the voiceover narrator, Patrick Gibson played a younger Dexter.

Dexter: New Blood Tried to Right the Wrongs of the Past

As a big fan of the original Dexter, I was really intrigued by New Blood. It’s set about ten years after the finale, and it was cool to see Dexter trying to live a normal life. He’s gone by ‘Jim Lindsay’ for years, hiding out in this small town in upstate New York – which, of course, ties back to that lumberjack scene at the end of the original series, hinting he was trying to control his dark impulses. What’s really different this time is that instead of his dad, Harry, being the voice in his head keeping him in check, it’s his son, Harrison, playing that role. It’s a neat twist!

The new story centers around Harrison, Dexter’s son, who is now grown up. Previously seen as a young child who fled with Dexter’s girlfriend Hannah, Harrison is now a teenager who discovers old letters from his father. This prompts him to search for Dexter. The limited series, created by the original showrunner of Dexter, Clyde Phillips, successfully aimed to deliver a more conclusive and satisfying resolution to the story.

The show delves into the complex relationship between a father and son, and Dexter ultimately falls back into his murderous habits. The ending was both fulfilling and disturbing. Despite not being as popular as hoped, Dexter: New Blood was still an improvement over previous seasons and demonstrated that there was continued interest in Dexter’s story and plenty of potential for further development.

Dexter: Original Sin Started Strong and Ended Too Soon

The series Dexter: Original Sin effectively revisited Dexter Morgan’s story, offering a compelling look at his origins. Patrick Gibson portrays a young Dexter as he grapples with his dangerous impulses. A central focus is the relationship between Dexter and Harry (played by Christian Slater), showing how Harry developed and taught ‘The Code’ – the set of rules that would later govern Dexter’s life.

Even though the actor playing Harry in flashbacks doesn’t look like the original actor, their performances feel very similar. The show does a great job of connecting to stories Dexter remembered from the original series, and even uses flashbacks to show those memories. Dexter: Original Sin sheds new light on details from the original show, explaining things like why Debra always felt different around her father and Dexter, how Dexter acquired his boat, and his habit of bringing donuts every morning.

The first season of Dexter: Original Sin ended with many potential storylines still unexplored, such as Dexter’s work life and Debra’s time at the police academy. But the biggest missed opportunity for viewers was never seeing the crucial scene where Harry discovers Dexter dismembering a body, which ultimately leads to Harry’s suicide.

The series Dexter: Original Sin included a plotline revealing that Harry had reconnected with Dexter’s older brother, Brian Moser, when Dexter was older. This unexpected development intrigued viewers, who hoped to see it explored further in Season 2. Unfortunately, the merger between Paramount and Skydance caused some changes, and the planned continuation of Dexter: Original Sin was ultimately cancelled as a result.

Dexter: Resurrection Brings the Character Back to Basics

Dexter: Resurrection is nearly as good as the first Dexter series. While it’s only one season in—with a second one on the way—it needs more time to fully develop. The show does a great job of picking up the story after Dexter: New Blood, explaining how Dexter survived and bringing him back into the fold through a surprising set of events.

Now that he’s returned using his actual name, Dexter feels like the character fans remember and adore. However, his reappearance in Miami has sparked curiosity and suspicion among those who thought he was gone.

With Harrison back in the picture, Dexter: Resurrection explores a new side of Dexter as a father. He’s torn between wanting to connect with his son, fearing Harrison might share his dark impulses, and the desire to mentor him like Harry once did. The season also introduces a group of fellow killers and a wealthy man who is strangely captivated by people like Dexter.

The show has finally regained its quality, and Dexter is back to his best. Although he’s older and a bit out of practice, it doesn’t take long to remember what made fans love him originally. His intelligence and ability to win people over are still remarkable, which is why Dexter: Resurrection was so popular.

Dexter Set a New Standard For Crime Television

The show begins with Dexter already grown up, working as a forensic expert for the Miami police department. He uses his job to identify criminals who have avoided punishment and then secretly takes the law into his own hands.

Dexter eliminates dangerous criminals, but his methods become questionable when he starts keeping secrets from his coworkers, prioritizing his own brand of justice. While he appears to control his violent impulses, innocent people are still harmed because he can’t fully suppress his dark side, causing him to stray from his personal code.

While the ending of Dexter is widely considered one of the worst in television history, the overall quality of the series makes it easy to overlook. The show expertly portrays Dexter’s struggle to reconcile his life as a father with his dark compulsion to kill. As people get closer to discovering his secret, the consequences are often tragic.

As a movie and TV lover, I’m completely captivated by ‘Dexter’. It’s a really gripping and layered show that takes you on an emotional rollercoaster each season. What’s so fascinating is that Dexter is a murderer – a seriously dark one who dismembers bodies – yet he’s strangely charming and you find yourself rooting for him! The creator, Lindsay, really wanted to make audiences feel conflicted about the character, and Michael C. Hall nails that complexity. It’s honestly one of the most unforgettable shows of our time.

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2026-01-06 06:09