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(46392 votes)

    #1 - The Getaway

    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(32853 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

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  3. Dexter Season 4 Episode 11 - Hello, Dexter Morgan
    9.6/10(19879 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.

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

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  4. Dexter Season 2 Episode 9 - Resistance Is Futile
    9.5/10(18632 votes)

    #4 - Resistance Is Futile

    S2:E9

    Lila's fatal attraction for Dexter is about to boil over, but he already has his hands full trying to stay ahead of his sister and Lundy.

    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(17357 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

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  6. Dexter Season 7 Episode 1 - Are You...?
    9.4/10(20404 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

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

    7. Trending NowTRENDING NOW

    The 20 WORST Episodes of Dexter

    READ
  7. Dexter Season 1 Episode 11 - Truth Be Told
    9.3/10(18609 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
    Writers:Drew Z. Greenberg, Tim Schlattmann

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  8. Dexter Season 7 Episode 12 - Surprise, Motherfucker!
    9.3/10(16143 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

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  9. Dexter Season 2 Episode 12 - The British Invasion
    9.2/10(16901 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
    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(13618 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

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  11. Dexter Season 4 Episode 10 - Lost Boys
    9.2/10(14587 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

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  12. Dexter Season 1 Episode 10 - Seeing Red
    9.1/10(17482 votes)

    #12 - Seeing Red

    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(14098 votes)

    #13 - Morning Comes

    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(14756 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

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  15. Dexter Season 2 Episode 11 - Left Turn Ahead
    9.0/10(14034 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

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  16. Dexter Season 3 Episode 10 - Go Your Own Way
    9.0/10(12346 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

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  17. Dexter Season 4 Episode 5 - Dirty Harry
    9.0/10(12575 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

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  18. Dexter Season 1 Episode 6 - Return to Sender
    8.9/10(16966 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

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  19. Dexter Season 1 Episode 8 - Shrink Wrap
    8.9/10(16989 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

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  20. Dexter Season 2 Episode 10 - There's Something About Harry
    8.9/10(13749 votes)

    #20 - There's Something About Harry

    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(11952 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

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  22. Dexter Season 5 Episode 1 - My Bad
    8.9/10(14072 votes)

    #22 - My Bad

    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(10818 votes)

    #23 - 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

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  24. Dexter Season 5 Episode 10 - In the Beginning
    8.9/10(10728 votes)

    #24 - 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

    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(10548 votes)

    #25 - Do You See What I See?

    S7:E11

    As Christmas approaches, Dexter tries to balance his life with Hannah and his relationship with Debra.

    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 46392 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".