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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!

Binge this in 3d 12h•Peaking at 9.2/10

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.

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
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    Dexter Season 4 Episode 12 - The Getaway
    9.2/10(82 votes)

    #1 - The Getaway

    S4:E12

    Dexter and Arthur are on a collision course.

    Director:Steve Shill
    Writers:Wendy West, Melissa Rosenberg, Scott Reynolds

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  2. Dexter Season 4 Episode 11 - Hello, Dexter Morgan
    9.0/10(67 votes)

    #2 - 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.

    Director:Michael Cuesta
    Writers:Scott Buck, James Manos Jr., Lauren Gussis

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  3. Dexter Season 1 Episode 12 - Born Free
    8.9/10(97 votes)

    #3 - 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

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  4. Dexter Season 4 Episode 9 - Hungry Man
    8.7/10(67 votes)

    #4 - 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

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  5. Dexter Season 2 Episode 9 - Resistance Is Futile
    8.6/10(72 votes)

    #5 - Resistance Is Futile

    S2:E9

    Dexter realizes it won't be easy to end things completely with Lila. Dexter tries to stay ahead of the investigations as the manhunt for the Bay Harbor Butcher intensifies. An enemy of Dexter figures out his secret.

    Director:Marcos Siega
    Writer:Melissa Rosenberg

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  6. Dexter Season 4 Episode 4 - Dex Takes a Holiday
    8.6/10(62 votes)

    #6 - 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

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    The 20 WORST Episodes of Dexter

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  7. Dexter Season 1 Episode 11 - Truth Be Told
    8.5/10(94 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
    Writer:Drew Z. Greenberg

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  8. Dexter Season 2 Episode 8 - Morning Comes
    8.5/10(70 votes)

    #8 - Morning Comes

    S2:E8

    Dexter is attacked by the man who murdered his mother. Meanwhile, Lila wants to get closer to Dex, and Debra and Lundy close in on the Bay Harbor Butcher.

    Director:Keith Gordon
    Writer:Scott Buck

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  9. Dexter Season 4 Episode 10 - Lost Boys
    8.5/10(63 votes)

    #9 - 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

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  10. Dexter Season 1 Episode 10 - Seeing Red
    8.4/10(92 votes)

    #10 - Seeing Red

    S1:E10

    Dexter Morgan is sent to investigate a blood-soaked crime scene, and is gripped by a suppressed memory. Meanwhile, Rita is charged with assaulting Paul and could lose the children in a custody battle. Angel investigates a hunch regarding The Ice Truck Killer.

    Director:Michael Cuesta
    Writer:Kevin Maynard

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  11. Dexter Season 2 Episode 12 - The British Invasion
    8.4/10(71 votes)

    #11 - 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
    Writers:Daniel Cerone, Melissa Rosenberg

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  12. Dexter Season 4 Episode 5 - Dirty Harry
    8.4/10(63 votes)

    #12 - 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

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  13. Dexter Season 5 Episode 12 - The Big One
    8.4/10(55 votes)

    #13 - The Big One

    S5:E12

    Dexter realizes that he and Lumen are being lured into a trap and risks everything to escape; Quinn needs help that only Dexter can provide.

    Director:Steve Shill
    Writers:Chip Johannessen, Manny Coto

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  14. Dexter Season 2 Episode 11 - Left Turn Ahead
    8.3/10(67 votes)

    #14 - 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

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  15. Dexter Season 3 Episode 11 - I Had a Dream
    8.3/10(68 votes)

    #15 - 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

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  16. Dexter Season 5 Episode 1 - My Bad
    8.3/10(62 votes)

    #16 - My Bad

    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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  17. Dexter Season 5 Episode 8 - Take It!
    8.3/10(57 votes)

    #17 - Take It!

    S5:E8

    Dexter and Lumen vet and stalk a violent killer; Debra gets into some unexpected trouble from the fallout of the Santa Muerte case

    Director:Romeo Tirone
    Writers:Wendy West, Manny Coto

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  18. Dexter Season 5 Episode 9 - Teenage Wasteland
    8.3/10(56 votes)

    #18 - 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

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  19. Dexter Season 5 Episode 10 - In the Beginning
    8.3/10(55 votes)

    #19 - 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

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  20. Dexter Season 5 Episode 11 - Hop a Freighter
    8.3/10(54 votes)

    #20 - Hop a Freighter

    S5:E11

    Dexter must do damage control; Debra's speculation begins to take shape; Quinn becomes involved in a homicide.

    Director:John Dahl
    Writers:Scott Buck, Tim Schlattmann

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  21. Dexter Season 6 Episode 12 - This Is the Way the World Ends
    8.3/10(55 votes)

    #21 - 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

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  22. Dexter Season 7 Episode 12 - Surprise, Motherfucker!
    8.3/10(60 votes)

    #22 - Surprise, Motherfucker!

    S7:E12

    Dexter must protect himself when LaGuerta closes in on his secret.

    Director:Steve Shill
    Writers:Scott Buck, Tim Schlattmann

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  23. Dexter Season 1 Episode 4 - Let's Give the Boy a Hand
    8.2/10(100 votes)

    #23 - Let's Give the Boy a Hand

    S1:E4

    The Ice Truck Killer's recent crime scenes send a secret message to Dexter Morgan, and lead him to remember his past.

    Director:Rob Lieberman
    Writer:Drew Z. Greenberg

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  24. Dexter Season 1 Episode 6 - Return to Sender
    8.2/10(96 votes)

    #24 - 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

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  25. Dexter Season 1 Episode 8 - Shrink Wrap
    8.2/10(94 votes)

    #25 - 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

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Best Episodes Summary

"The Getaway" is the best rated episode of "Dexter". It scored 9.2/10 based on 82 votes. Directed by Steve Shill and written by Wendy West, Melissa Rosenberg, Scott Reynolds, it aired on 12/13/2009. This episode scored 0.2 points higher than the second highest rated, "Hello, Dexter Morgan".