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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!

Best episode
S4E12 The Getaway
9.847,328 votes
Worst episode
S8E12 Remember the Monsters?
4.936,235 votes
Top season
Season 4
8.9avg
Binge time
3d 12h
96 episodes
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(47328 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
    Writer:Unknown

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  2. Dexter Season 1 Episode 12 - Born Free
    9.6/10(33548 votes)

    S1:E12

    Dexter follows the clues left for him by The Ice Truck Killer, while Paul tries to convince Rita that Dexter is dangerous.

    Director:Michael Cuesta
    Writers:Daniel Cerone, Melissa Rosenberg

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  3. Dexter Season 4 Episode 11 - Hello, Dexter Morgan
    9.6/10(20499 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

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  4. Dexter Season 2 Episode 9 - Resistance Is Futile
    9.5/10(19212 votes)

    S2:E9

    Dexter tries to distance himself from Lila, but discovers she is not so willing to let go of their relationship; Lundy's manhunt makes Dexter nervous as he tries to stay one step ahead.

    Director:Marcos Siega
    Writer:Melissa Rosenberg

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  5. Dexter Season 4 Episode 9 - Hungry Man
    9.5/10(17870 votes)

    S4:E9

    For most people, Thanksgiving is a time for traditions and family. But for Dexter, it’s an opportunity to learn more about Arthur's bizarre and twisted world. Meanwhile, Rita has her hands full preparing dinner for a packed 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(20788 votes)

    S7:E1

    After witnessing her brother kill, Debra attempts to reconcile with Dexter while struggling to cover up their involvement with the murder. Meanwhile, Detective Mike Anderson has an unfortunate run-in, Quinn and Batista begin to make amends, and LaGuerta finds evidence that causes her to re-think the closed Bay Harbor Butcher case.

    Director:John Dahl
    Writer:Scott Buck

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    The 20 WORST Episodes of Dexter

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  7. Dexter Season 7 Episode 12 - Surprise, Motherfucker!
    9.4/10(16541 votes)

    S7:E12

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

    Director:Steve Shill
    Writers:Scott Buck, Tim Schlattmann

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  8. Dexter Season 1 Episode 11 - Truth Be Told
    9.3/10(19096 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

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  9. Dexter Season 2 Episode 12 - The British Invasion
    9.2/10(17321 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:Melissa Rosenberg

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  10. Dexter Season 4 Episode 10 - Lost Boys
    9.2/10(15007 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

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  11. Dexter Season 4 Episode 4 - Dex Takes a Holiday
    9.2/10(14009 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

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  12. Dexter Season 1 Episode 10 - Seeing Red
    9.1/10(17938 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

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  13. Dexter Season 6 Episode 12 - This Is the Way the World Ends
    9.1/10(15115 votes)

    S6:E12

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

    Director:John Dahl
    Writers:Wendy West, Scott Buck

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  14. Dexter Season 2 Episode 8 - Morning Comes
    9.1/10(14477 votes)

    S2:E8

    Dexter decides that Lila is becoming too attached, decides "recovery" isn't working for him, and pays another visit to his mother's killer; Debra, Batista and Lundy find a clue that points to The Bay Harbor Butcher being right under their noses.

    Director:Keith Gordon
    Writer:Scott Buck

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  15. Dexter Season 2 Episode 11 - Left Turn Ahead
    9.0/10(14409 votes)

    S2:E11

    Dexter dodges bullets both figurative and real as he is forced to decide the fates of those he cares about most; Lila attempts to blackmail Dexter and makes a startling discovery that changes the nature of their relationship.

    Director:Marcos Siega
    Writers:Scott Buck, Tim Schlattmann

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  16. Dexter Season 4 Episode 5 - Dirty Harry
    9.0/10(12957 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

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  17. Dexter Season 3 Episode 10 - Go Your Own Way
    9.0/10(12692 votes)

    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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  18. Dexter Season 1 Episode 8 - Shrink Wrap
    8.9/10(17448 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

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  19. Dexter Season 1 Episode 6 - Return to Sender
    8.9/10(17424 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

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  20. Dexter Season 5 Episode 1 - My Bad
    8.9/10(14415 votes)

    S5:E1

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

    Director:Steve Shill
    Writer:Chip Johannessen

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  21. Dexter Season 2 Episode 10 - There's Something About Harry
    8.9/10(14124 votes)

    S2:E10

    Dexter turns the tables on Doakes, but the triumph is short-lived when the sergeant reveals a life-changing secret that shakes his foundation; The Bay Harbor Butcher task force feel they are zeroing in on their man.

    Director:Steve Shill
    Writer:Scott Reynolds

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  22. Dexter Season 3 Episode 11 - I Had a Dream
    8.9/10(12300 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 Dexter's best man); Rita discovers that Miguel has been seeing an old flame; Debra finds a new clue to the Skinner's identity.

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

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  23. Dexter Season 5 Episode 9 - Teenage Wasteland
    8.9/10(11103 votes)

    S5:E9

    In the midst of hunting their next victim, Dexter and Lumen are surprised by the return of an unannounced guest; Debra is assigned to the file room, but manages to uncover new evidence in the Barrel Girl case.

    Director:Ernest R. Dickerson
    Writer:Lauren Gussis

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  24. Dexter Season 5 Episode 10 - In the Beginning
    8.9/10(11012 votes)

    S5:E10

    Dexter discovers a possible ally in the pursuit of Lumen's former captors, but he and Lumen are forced to step down when homicide uncovers evidence linked to one of their prior victims; Debra identifies two more suspects in the Barrel Girls case.

    Director:Keith Gordon
    Writer:Scott Reynolds

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  25. Dexter Season 7 Episode 11 - Do You See What I See?
    8.9/10(10834 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 a potentially incriminating tip. Dexter learns that the man responsible for ordering his mother's death has been released from prison, and zeros in for a kill that might end all kills.

    Director:John Dahl
    Writers:Wendy West, Manny Coto

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Best Episodes Summary

"The Getaway" is the best rated episode of Dexter. It scored 9.8/10 from 47,328 votes. Directed by Steve Shill and written by Unknown, it aired on December 13, 2009. This episode scored 0.2 points higher than the second highest rated, "Born Free".

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