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The Best Episodes of Dexter Season 1

Every episode of Dexter Season 1 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of Dexter Season 1!

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...
Genres:CrimeDramaMystery
Network:Showtime

Season 1 Ratings Summary

"Dexter" is the best rated episode of "Dexter" season 1. It scored 8.6/10 based on 12993 votes. Directed by Michael Cuesta and written by James Manos, Jr., it aired on 10/1/2006. This episode is rated 0.4 points higher than the second-best, "Crocodile".

  • Dexter
    8.6/1012,993 votes

    #1 - Dexter

    Season 1 Episode 1 - Aired 10/1/2006

    Dexter Morgan, a Miami Metro Police Department blood spatter analyst, is living a double life. After his day job with the police department, Dexter moonlights as a serial killer, hunting and killing criminals who slip through the justice system. Dexter's sister, Debra, a vice squad officer, pulls Dexter into her world when another serial killer is killing prostitutes and leaving their bloodless bodies dismembered in various locations around Miami. Meanwhile, Dexter hunts a man who made snuff videos and killed a mother of two.

    Director: Michael Cuesta

    Writer: James Manos, Jr.

  • Crocodile
    8.2/109,023 votes

    #2 - Crocodile

    Season 1 Episode 2 - Aired 10/8/2006

    As Dexter stalks his next victim, a drunk driver who is about to be acquitted for vehicular homicide that resulted in the death of a teenage boy, the Ice Truck Killer strikes again and later gets in touch with Dexter. Meanwhile, when a cop is found murdered, Dexter helps Doakes and Debra investigate a crime boss who they believe is responsible.

    Director: Michael Cuesta

    Writer: Clyde Phillips

  • Popping Cherry
    8.2/108,474 votes

    #3 - Popping Cherry

    Season 1 Episode 3 - Aired 10/15/2006

    "The Ice Truck Killer" strikes again and new homicide officer Debra is assigned the case, but she gets reprimanded for violating the chain of command; flashbacks offer insight into Dexter's homicidal tendencies and take him back to his first time "taking out the garbage"; Doakes gets on the bad side of a drug kingpin.

    Director: Michael Cuesta

    Writer: Daniel Cerone

  • Let's Give the Boy a Hand
    8.6/108,295 votes

    #4 - Let's Give the Boy a Hand

    Season 1 Episode 4 - Aired 10/22/2006

    The Ice Truck Killer leaves severed body parts from his victims at locations that are linked to memories from Dexter's troubled childhood, which begins to get into Dexter's head.

    Director: Rob Lieberman

    Writer: Drew Z. Greenberg

  • Love American Style
    8.4/107,936 votes

    #5 - Love American Style

    Season 1 Episode 5 - Aired 10/29/2006

    The homicide division is handed an unbelievable lead when the Ice Truck Killer's latest victim is found alive but mutilated; Dexter is on the trail of a person who traffics in humans.

    Director: Rob Lieberman

    Writer: Melissa Rosenberg, Kevin Maynard

  • Return to Sender
    8.9/108,588 votes

    #6 - Return to Sender

    Season 1 Episode 6 - Aired 11/5/2006

    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

  • Circle of Friends
    8.6/107,808 votes

    #7 - Circle of Friends

    Season 1 Episode 7 - Aired 11/12/2006

    The squad identifies the Ice Truck Killer; Rita's ex-husband, an abusive addict, is paroled.

    Director: Steve Shill

    Writer: Daniel Cerone

  • Shrink Wrap
    8.9/108,715 votes

    #8 - Shrink Wrap

    Season 1 Episode 8 - Aired 11/19/2006

    Dexter appears to be connected to a psychiatrist suspected of murdering a suicidal patient.

    Director: Tony Goldwyn

    Writer: Kevin Maynard, Lauren Gussis

  • Father Knows Best
    8.5/107,617 votes

    #9 - Father Knows Best

    Season 1 Episode 9 - Aired 11/26/2006

    While on a weekend getaway with Rita, his sister and her new beau, Dexter learns that his biological father, thought to be dead for 30 years, has just passed away, and that he's willed his son everything he owned.

    Director: Adam Davidson

    Writer: Melissa Rosenberg, Kevin Maynard

  • Seeing Red
    9.1/108,679 votes

    #10 - Seeing Red

    Season 1 Episode 10 - Aired 12/3/2006

    The Ice Truck Killer prepares a crime scene for Dexter: a hotel room all covered in his previous victim's blood. But Dexter does not appreciate this gift, because his childhood memories hunt him.

    Director: Michael Cuesta

    Writer: Kevin Maynard

  • Truth Be Told
    9.2/108,954 votes

    #11 - Truth Be Told

    Season 1 Episode 11 - Aired 12/10/2006

    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

  • Born Free
    9.6/1014,847 votes

    #12 - Born Free

    Season 1 Episode 12 - Aired 12/17/2006

    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

    Writer: Daniel Cerone, Melissa Rosenberg