Dexter backdrop
Crime•Drama•Mystery

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.

Airs on
Showtime
BestEpisodes
WorstEpisodes
BestSeasons
AllEpisodes

Seasons8

All12345678

Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
    Click to reveal
    Dexter Season 4 Episode 12 - The Getaway
    9.8/10(46784 votes)

    S4:E12

    Dexter and Arthur find themselves on a collision course, as Debra unearths a shocking long-hidden truth, Rita admits her marriage to Dexter is troubled, and Batista and LaGuerta face the consequences of an ethics breach.

    Director:Steve Shill
    Writers:Melissa Rosenberg, Scott Reynolds

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  2. Dexter Season 1 Episode 12 - Born Free
    9.6/10(33130 votes)

    S1:E12

    Dexter follows the clues left for him by the Ice Truck Killer, in hopes of finding his lost sister Debra. Paul tries to convince Rita that Dexter is dangerous.

    Director:Michael Cuesta
    Writers:Daniel Cerone, Melissa Rosenberg

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  3. Dexter Season 4 Episode 11 - Hello, Dexter Morgan
    9.6/10(20148 votes)

    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.

    Directors:Michael Cuesta, SJ Clarkson
    Writers:James Manos Jr., Scott Buck, Lauren Gussis

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  4. Dexter Season 2 Episode 9 - Resistance Is Futile
    9.5/10(18892 votes)

    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

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  5. Dexter Season 4 Episode 9 - Hungry Man
    9.5/10(17571 votes)

    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

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  6. Dexter Season 7 Episode 1 - Are You...?
    9.4/10(20558 votes)

    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

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

    7. Trending NowTRENDING NOW

    The 20 WORST Episodes of Dexter

    READ
  7. Dexter Season 7 Episode 12 - Surprise, Motherfucker!
    9.4/10(16301 votes)

    S7:E12

    As LaGuerta closes in on Dexter's secrets, Dexter struggles to protect himself, Debra and the life he's built.

    Director:Steve Shill
    Writers:Scott Buck, Tim Schlattmann

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  8. Dexter Season 1 Episode 11 - Truth Be Told
    9.3/10(18789 votes)

    S1:E11

    The Ice Truck Killer takes extreme measures, forcing Dexter into a trap that will forever change his life, while Doakes begins to harbor suspicions about Dexter's odd behavior.

    Director:Keith Gordon
    Writers:Drew Z. Greenberg, Tim Schlattmann

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  9. Dexter Season 2 Episode 12 - The British Invasion
    9.2/10(17060 votes)

    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
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  10. Dexter Season 4 Episode 4 - Dex Takes a Holiday
    9.2/10(13765 votes)

    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

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  11. Dexter Season 4 Episode 10 - Lost Boys
    9.2/10(14748 votes)

    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:Tim Schlattmann, Charles H. Eglee

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  12. Dexter Season 1 Episode 10 - Seeing Red
    9.1/10(17656 votes)

    S1:E10

    When Dexter is sent to investigate a bloody crime scene, deeply suppressed memories from his childhood begin to resurface.

    Director:Michael Cuesta
    Writer:Kevin Maynard

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  13. Dexter Season 2 Episode 8 - Morning Comes
    9.1/10(14239 votes)

    S2:E8

    Lila's growing attachment is enough to put Dexter off the recovery process, and he decides it's time to confront the man who killed his mother again.

    Director:Keith Gordon
    Writer:Scott Buck

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  14. Dexter Season 6 Episode 12 - This Is the Way the World Ends
    9.1/10(14895 votes)

    S6:E12

    Dexter and the Homicide Division race against a lunar eclipse to catch the Doomsday Killers before their final gruesome act. Debra struggles with, but finally faces up to, a new emotional reality.

    Director:John Dahl
    Writers:Wendy West, Scott Buck

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  15. Dexter Season 2 Episode 11 - Left Turn Ahead
    9.0/10(14174 votes)

    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

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  16. Dexter Season 3 Episode 10 - Go Your Own Way
    9.0/10(12478 votes)

    S3:E10

    A series of chess-like moves ensues when Dexter and Miguel vie for the upper hand.

    Director:John Dahl
    Writer:Tim Schlattmann

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  17. Dexter Season 4 Episode 5 - Dirty Harry
    9.0/10(12718 votes)

    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

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  18. Dexter Season 1 Episode 6 - Return to Sender
    8.9/10(17142 votes)

    S1:E6

    The Ice Truck Killer leaves Dexter a surprise at the scene of one of Dexter's recent kills, placing him firmly in the cross hairs of his own Homicide Division colleagues.

    Director:Tony Goldwyn
    Writer:Tim Schlattmann

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  19. Dexter Season 1 Episode 8 - Shrink Wrap
    8.9/10(17153 votes)

    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

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  20. Dexter Season 2 Episode 10 - There's Something About Harry
    8.9/10(13888 votes)

    S2:E10

    Dexter turns the tables on Doakes, but the triumph is short-lived when the sergeant reveals a lifechanging secret that shakes his foundation.

    Director:Steve Shill
    Writer:Scott Reynolds

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  21. Dexter Season 3 Episode 11 - I Had a Dream
    8.9/10(12083 votes)

    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:Lauren Gussis, Charles H. Eglee

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  22. Dexter Season 5 Episode 1 - My Bad
    8.9/10(14198 votes)

    S5:E1

    Dexter must make a choice; Quinn stirs up trouble for Dexter but supports Deb.

    Director:Steve Shill
    Writer:Chip Johannessen

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  23. Dexter Season 5 Episode 9 - Teenage Wasteland
    8.9/10(10925 votes)

    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

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  24. Dexter Season 5 Episode 10 - In the Beginning
    8.9/10(10833 votes)

    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

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  25. Dexter Season 7 Episode 11 - Do You See What I See?
    8.9/10(10661 votes)

    S7:E11

    As Christmas approaches, Dexter tries to balance his life with Hannah and his relationship with Debra, but unbeknownst to Dexter, Debra follows up on what could be an incriminating tip that Hannah's father gave her. However, when Dexter learns that the man responsible for ordering his mother's death has been released from prison, he zeros in for a kill that might end all kills.

    Director:John Dahl
    Writers:Wendy West, Manny Coto

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

Best Episodes Summary

"The Getaway" is the best rated episode of "Dexter". It scored 9.8/10 based on 46784 votes. Directed by Steve Shill and written by Melissa Rosenberg, Scott Reynolds, it aired on 12/13/2009. This episode scored 0.2 points higher than the second highest rated, "Born Free".