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 have slipped through the cracks of justice.
Season 1 Ratings Summary
The best episode of "Dexter" season 1 is "Dexter", rated 8.6/10 from 12371 user votes. It was directed by Michael Cuesta and written by James Manos, Jr.. "Dexter" aired on 10/1/2006 and is rated 0.4 point(s) higher than the second highest rated, "Crocodile".
8.6/10 12,371 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.
8.2/10 8,527 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
8.2/10 8,004 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
8.6/10 7,826 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
8.4/10 7,502 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
8.9/10 8,110 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
8.6/10 7,371 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
8.9/10 8,250 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
8.5/10 7,181 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
9.1/10 8,174 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
9.2/10 8,401 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
9.6/10 13,926 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: Melissa Rosenberg, Daniel Cerone