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The Best Episodes of Dexter

Every episode of Dexter ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of Dexter!

Binge this in 3d 12h•Peaking at 9.8/10

Dexter Morgan, a blood spatter pattern analyst for the Miami Metro Police also leads a secret life as a serial killer, hunting down criminals who have slipped through the cracks of justice.

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
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    Dexter Season 4 Episode 12 - The Getaway
    9.8/10(33744 votes)

    #1 - The Getaway

    S4:E12

    Dexter and Arthur are on a collision course.

    Director:Steve Shill
    Writers:Wendy West, Melissa Rosenberg, Scott Reynolds

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  2. Dexter Season 1 Episode 12 - Born Free
    9.6/10(25490 votes)

    #2 - Born Free

    S1:E12

    Dexter figures out who the Ice Truck Killer is, along with a dark secret from his troubled past. Meanwhile, La Guerta is replaced with a new boss and Angel figures out a way how to track the killer while he's still in hospital.

    Director:Michael Cuesta
    Writers:Daniel Cerone, Melissa Rosenberg

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  3. Dexter Season 4 Episode 11 - Hello, Dexter Morgan
    9.5/10(15259 votes)

    #3 - Hello, Dexter Morgan

    S4:E11

    Dexter must buy time to protect himself when Debra's investigation brings the department one step away from identifying Arthur as the Trinity Killer; Rita confides in Dexter, but is disappointed in the result.

    Director:Michael Cuesta
    Writers:Scott Buck, James Manos Jr., Lauren Gussis

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  4. Dexter Season 2 Episode 9 - Resistance Is Futile
    9.4/10(14529 votes)

    #4 - Resistance Is Futile

    S2:E9

    Dexter realizes it won't be easy to end things completely with Lila. Dexter tries to stay ahead of the investigations as the manhunt for the Bay Harbor Butcher intensifies. An enemy of Dexter figures out his secret.

    Director:Marcos Siega
    Writer:Melissa Rosenberg

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  5. Dexter Season 4 Episode 9 - Hungry Man
    9.4/10(13890 votes)

    #5 - Hungry Man

    S4:E9

    Dexter learns more about Arthur's bizarre and twisted world, while Rita has her hands full preparing Thanksgiving dinner for a full house, Debra uses the holiday to further investigate Trinity, and Batista gets closure on an old case.

    Director:John Dahl
    Writer:Wendy West

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  6. Dexter Season 7 Episode 1 - Are You...?
    9.4/10(17321 votes)

    #6 - Are You...?

    S7:E1

    After witnessing her brother kill, Debra attempts to reconcile with Dexter while struggling to cover up their involvement with the murder.

    Director:John Dahl
    Writer:Scott Buck

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    The 20 WORST Episodes of Dexter

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  7. Dexter Season 1 Episode 11 - Truth Be Told
    9.3/10(14913 votes)

    #7 - Truth Be Told

    S1:E11

    The Ice Truck Killer sets a trap for Dexter by kidnapping someone close to him; Dexter's increasingly odd behavior piques Doakes's interest.

    Director:Keith Gordon
    Writer:Drew Z. Greenberg

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  8. Dexter Season 7 Episode 12 - Surprise, Motherfucker!
    9.3/10(13315 votes)

    #8 - Surprise, Motherfucker!

    S7:E12

    Dexter must protect himself when LaGuerta closes in on his secret.

    Director:Steve Shill
    Writers:Scott Buck, Tim Schlattmann

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  9. Dexter Season 2 Episode 12 - The British Invasion
    9.2/10(13642 votes)

    #9 - The British Invasion

    S2:E12

    Special Agent Lundy and the FBI finally settle the case of the Bay Harbor Butcher, but the heat's not entirely off Dexter as the flames literally close in.

    Director:Steve Shill
    Writers:Daniel Cerone, Melissa Rosenberg

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  10. Dexter Season 4 Episode 4 - Dex Takes a Holiday
    9.2/10(11055 votes)

    #10 - Dex Takes a Holiday

    S4:E4

    Rita goes to a wedding with the kids, allowing Dexter to have his own little vacation. He does what he does best when alone, hunt, and goes after an officer with a dark secret.

    Director:John Dahl
    Writers:Wendy West, Melissa Rosenberg

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  11. Dexter Season 4 Episode 10 - Lost Boys
    9.2/10(11622 votes)

    #11 - Lost Boys

    S4:E10

    The disappearance of a ten-year-old boy forces Dexter to question his assumptions about Trinity, while Cody defends one of Dexter's lies and Masuka is unable to face what he witnessed on Thanksgiving.

    Director:Keith Gordon
    Writers:Charles H. Eglee, Tim Schlattmann

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  12. Dexter Season 1 Episode 10 - Seeing Red
    9.1/10(14118 votes)

    #12 - Seeing Red

    S1:E10

    Dexter Morgan is sent to investigate a blood-soaked crime scene, and is gripped by a suppressed memory. Meanwhile, Rita is charged with assaulting Paul and could lose the children in a custody battle. Angel investigates a hunch regarding The Ice Truck Killer.

    Director:Michael Cuesta
    Writer:Kevin Maynard

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  13. Dexter Season 2 Episode 8 - Morning Comes
    9.1/10(11437 votes)

    #13 - Morning Comes

    S2:E8

    Dexter is attacked by the man who murdered his mother. Meanwhile, Lila wants to get closer to Dex, and Debra and Lundy close in on the Bay Harbor Butcher.

    Director:Keith Gordon
    Writer:Scott Buck

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  14. Dexter Season 6 Episode 12 - This Is the Way the World Ends
    9.1/10(12023 votes)

    #14 - This Is the Way the World Ends

    S6:E12

    Dexter and Homicide race against a lunar eclipse to catch the Doomsday Killers before their final gruesome act; Debra struggles with a new emotional reality.

    Director:John Dahl
    Writers:Scott Buck, Wendy West

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  15. Dexter Season 2 Episode 11 - Left Turn Ahead
    9.0/10(11281 votes)

    #15 - Left Turn Ahead

    S2:E11

    Dexter must make a massive decision that will have an effect on all those he holds close. Lila meanwhile is back with a secret to blackmail Dexter.

    Director:Marcos Siega
    Writers:Scott Buck, Tim Schlattmann

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  16. Dexter Season 3 Episode 10 - Go Your Own Way
    9.0/10(10024 votes)

    #16 - Go Your Own Way

    S3:E10

    A series of chess-like moves ensues when Dexter and Miguel vie for the upper hand, with Miguel winning Rita's affection by presenting her with a lavish wedding gift; Debra wonders if her relationship with Anton is worth the trouble.

    Director:John Dahl
    Writer:Tim Schlattmann

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  17. Dexter Season 4 Episode 5 - Dirty Harry
    9.0/10(10134 votes)

    #17 - Dirty Harry

    S4:E5

    Dexter is inspired to investigate the Trinity Killer on his own, while Debra blames herself for an event that was out of her control, and Rita realizes how little she knows her husband after discovering one of his secrets.

    Director:Keith Gordon
    Writer:Tim Schlattmann

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  18. Dexter Season 1 Episode 6 - Return to Sender
    8.9/10(13762 votes)

    #18 - Return to Sender

    S1:E6

    The Ice Truck Killer leaves a clue at the scene where Dexter has dispatched his latest victim, and Dexter is worried that someone might have witnessed his killing. Rita is trying to deal with her ex-husband.

    Director:Tony Goldwyn
    Writer:Tim Schlattmann

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  19. Dexter Season 1 Episode 8 - Shrink Wrap
    8.9/10(13876 votes)

    #19 - Shrink Wrap

    S1:E8

    The strange suicide of a powerful woman leads Dexter to suspect her shrink of murder, but he gets a shock when a visit to the suspect opens up dark secrets from Dexter's past.

    Director:Tony Goldwyn
    Writers:Kevin Maynard, Lauren Gussis

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  20. Dexter Season 2 Episode 10 - There's Something About Harry
    8.9/10(11129 votes)

    #20 - There's Something About Harry

    S2:E10

    Doakes follows Dexter to his next crime scene and shocks him with a revelation about Harry. The Bay Harbor Butcher task force feels they are zeroing in on their man.

    Director:Steve Shill
    Writer:Scott Reynolds

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  21. Dexter Season 3 Episode 11 - I Had a Dream
    8.9/10(9666 votes)

    #21 - I Had a Dream

    S3:E11

    Dexter must find a way to get rid of Miguel despite the fact that his friend is a highly placed district attorney and also Dexter's best man, and Debra finds a new clue to the Skinner's identity.

    Director:Marcos Siega
    Writers:Charles H. Eglee, Lauren Gussis

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  22. Dexter Season 5 Episode 9 - Teenage Wasteland
    8.9/10(8855 votes)

    #22 - Teenage Wasteland

    S5:E9

    Dexter and Lumen hunt for their next victim; Debra uncovers new evidence in the Barrel Girl case

    Director:Ernest R. Dickerson
    Writer:Lauren Gussis

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  23. Dexter Season 5 Episode 10 - In the Beginning
    8.9/10(8771 votes)

    #23 - In the Beginning

    S5:E10

    Homicide uncovers some key evidence linked to one of Dexter's and Lumen's prior victims; Debra identifies two more suspects in the case.

    Director:Keith Gordon
    Writer:Scott Reynolds

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  24. Dexter Season 7 Episode 11 - Do You See What I See?
    8.9/10(8640 votes)

    #24 - Do You See What I See?

    S7:E11

    As Christmas approaches, Dexter tries to balance his life with Hannah and his relationship with Debra. Dexter learns the man responsible for ordering his mother's death has been released from jail.

    Director:John Dahl
    Writers:Wendy West, Manny Coto

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  25. Dexter Season 3 Episode 12 - Do You Take Dexter Morgan?
    8.8/10(10333 votes)

    #25 - Do You Take Dexter Morgan?

    S3:E12

    Dexter attempts to calm the unstable Ramon now that Miguel is out of the picture; Debra is about to receive her detective's shield but is blind-sided with information that could derail her promotion.

    Director:Keith Gordon
    Writer:Scott Buck

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Best Episodes Summary

"The Getaway" is the best rated episode of "Dexter". It scored 9.8/10 based on 33744 votes. Directed by Steve Shill and written by Wendy West, Melissa Rosenberg, Scott Reynolds, it aired on 12/13/2009. This episode scored 0.2 points higher than the second highest rated, "Born Free".