Despite being considered one of the greatest shows on television for a respectable amount of time, Dexter was never able to keep its momentum following its legendary fourth season. With a new showrunner helming the series for season 5, and another for seasons 6 through 8, the final four seasons can feel a bit disjointed in comparison with the first four.
All the same, it really isn’t until the final season where Dexter derails itself completely. While the quality is by no means consistent reaching season 8, those first seven seasons all have value in some way, shape, or form. For the most part. At its best, Dexter is a nuanced story about a serial killer trying to find his place in the world. At its worst, it’s a meandering mess that doesn’t know how to focus.
8 Season 8
Eight seasons is a long time for any show to run, but Dexter had re-earned quite a bit of goodwill with its penultimate season. Season 7 built up to the dissolution of Deb and Dexter’s relationship, setting the stage for a particularly tense final season in the wake of Laguerta’s death… only for the season 8 premiere to jump ahead six months.
Deb is now an addict and Dexter’s life has never been better. It’s not a bad follow up to how season 7 ended, but it’s completely unearned. After the surprising reveal, there’s no value in these story beats, but there would’ve been had they been built. The season only gets worse from there, dropping just about everything meaningful from season 7 and pitting Dexter against two brand new characters with no real stake in the plot. It’s a bad ending for a show that could’ve easily had a good one.
7 Season 6
Arguably the biggest issue plaguing the sixth season is the mere fact it often feels very standalone. There’s continuity with the first five seasons, but new showrunner Scott Buck tried to set a clear stage for him to work off of. It doesn’t exactly work. The first half is actually decent, with Dexter’s relationship with Brother Sam filling a structural hole left in the wake of Lumen’s departure.
Sam’s death halfway through serves as an important turning point for Dexter, the last straw after a series of many, prompting him to go through some great late series development. Unfortunately, the twist with the Doomsday Killers can be seen from a mile away and the last three episodes in no way live up to the season’s build up. The final scene is one of the series’ best if nothing else.
6 Season 5
The first season following the original showrunner’s departure from the series, explicit confirmation that Dexter would run longer than six seasons, and aftermath of Rita’s death, season 5 had a lot to live up to and ultimately couldn’t. That said, it isn’t as if season 5 is bad. The Barrel Girl Gang leaves a bit to be desired, but Lumen is a fantastic addition to the series.
Not just that, season 5 is one of the few to give Dexter a genuinely happy ending. Lumen has left, but he’s found that he can love and be loved in a sincere way. He realizes he can be seen. It’s a good message, but the real star of the season has to be Quinn and Liddy’s investigation into Dexter. The two come dangerously close to outing him, and it makes for some fantastic tension.
5 Season 2
Season 2 stands out in particular for its very intimate connections to season 1. Essentially everything Dexter does in the first season comes back to bite him in the big way in the second, as he not only finds himself at the mercy of the Bay Harbor Butcher investigation, James Doakes’ ire and Lila’s sudden affection.
Season 2 is one of Dexter’s tensest seasons, and the way all the plot juggle until the finale make for a very satisfying conclusion. It doesn’t quite hold a candle to the first season, in large part due to Lila’s rather frustrating presence at times, but season 2 is classic television.
4 Season 3
It’s funny to think, but season 3 is actually the most inconsequential season in Dexter. It’s the only one that has no real consequences other than Dexter marrying Rita. All the same, it’s incredibly important both thematically and for Dexter’s character. His relationship with Miguel opens many new doors for Dexter’s arc, and starts him down a path of deeper vulnerability.
Miguel himself is one of the series’ most nuanced characters, with his truths and lies intimately blurred. It’s in season 3 where Deb starts to climb the ladder as well, cementing her character arc until Dexter hijacks her life at the start of season 7. While the Skinner isn’t a particularly compelling serial killer, season 3 is filled with great character writing and unforgettable scenes between Dexter Morgan and Miguel Prado.
3 Season 7
It’s honestly shocking how good season 7 is coming off seasons 5 and 6. Out of nowhere, Dexter regains its focus and class, telling a story that’s complex, emotional, and incredibly intense. Isaak Sirko is one of the series’ best villains, someone who can actually take Dexter out should he choose– but putting him at the mercy of other characters makes his role in the plot more dynamic.
Coupled with Laguerta’s investigation into Dexter playing out in the background all season and season 7 feels more like a finale than season 8 did. Dexter even takes out Estrada, the man who killed his mother. The whole season builds up to Deb killing Laguerta, compromising everything she’s ever believed in for the sake of a brother who’s pure poison.
2 Season 1
Seldom is a first season as good as Dexter’s. Even today, it stands out as one of the best written seasons of television ever. The supporting cast can be at times obnoxious, but this in itself is part of early Dexter’s style. Dexter’s Miami is full of scum. Even the people who don’t kill come off like lowlifes. Season 1 would be compelling enough just following Dexter’s serial killings day to day, but the inclusion of the Ice Truck Killer only makes the plot more compelling.
There’s suddenly a mystery at the center of the story, and it’s connected to Dexter himself, allowing the audience to care as much about the character as the plot. The whole season fits together like a seamless puzzle, even planting seeds that blossom into incredible plot points in season 2.
1 Season 4
“Hello, Dexter Morgan.” For as strong as season 1 is, season 4 is just a bonafide masterpiece of television. From its writing, to its acting, to its directing, season 4 of Dexter has no weak spots. Every little detail comes together into a soul crushing finale that feels thematically appropriate. The season begins with Dexter himself struggling to juggle life.
Only in meeting a fellow serial killer, the Trinity Killer, does Dexter start to realize he can have it all. But it’s all a facade, and in taking advice from someone who is actually a monster, Dexter opens the door that ends up ruining his life. It’s an incredible season that balances tension and drama better than most. Dexter is worth watching just to get to season 4.
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