The WORST episodes of Dexter

Every episode of Dexter ever, ranked from worst to best by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The worst episodes of Dexter!

Dexter Morgan is a Miami-based blood spatter expert who doesn’t just solve murders; he commits them too. In fact, he’s a serial killer — but he only murders the guilty, so he feels justified with his lifestyle choices. His policewoman sister and his cop co-workers have no idea Dexter lives a double life; however, adoptive father Harry knows his secret, and does, in fact, help Dexter hone his “skills.” It’s a unique brand of justice for which charming Dexter feels a psychological hunger.

Last Updated: 8/31/2024Network: ShowtimeStatus: Ended
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Remember the Monsters?
star
6.79
6949 votes

#1 - Remember the Monsters?

Season 8 - Episode 12 - Aired 9/22/2013

With a hurricane threatening Miami, Dexter becomes determined to end things his way.

Directors: Steve Shill
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Road Kill
star
7.57
7428 votes

#2 - Road Kill

Season 4 - Episode 8 - Aired 11/15/2009

Dexter has always known his father’s Code was meant to protect him from exposure. But after committing a serious mistake, he wonders if it could have been designed to protect him from something even more dangerous – human emotion. When he discovers that Trinity is planning an out-of-town trip, Dexter sees an opportunity to ride along and gain insight into the mind of a fellow monster.

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Sí Se Puede
star
7.60
6011 votes

#3 - Sí Se Puede

Season 3 - Episode 6 - Aired 11/2/2008

Miguel is put on test by Dexter. Meanwhile, Rita is forced to reconsider her choices. The Skinner strikes again, this time killing the young boy who worked as Freebo's doorman and Debra begins to feel like she had some part in it.

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
First Blood
star
7.63
9098 votes

#4 - First Blood

Season 5 - Episode 5 - Aired 10/24/2010

Dexter is saddled with an unwanted conspirator; Dexter worries about how Rita's death will affect Harrison; Deb works alone; Quinn enlists an old friend's help.

Directors: Romeo Tirone
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Nebraska
star
7.64
8200 votes

#5 - Nebraska

Season 6 - Episode 7 - Aired 11/13/2011

Dexter finds himself teamed up with a fellow Dark Passenger when he takes a road trip to Nebraska to tie up some loose ends from the past; Debra deals with the complications of her promotion as she leads the Doomsday investigation.

Directors: Romeo Tirone
Writer: Wendy West
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Crocodile
star
7.65
7864 votes

#6 - Crocodile

Season 1 - Episode 2 - Aired 10/8/2006

Being wrapped up in preparing for his next victim, Dexter, finds out that the Ice Truck Killer is aware of Dexter's dirty little secret.

Directors: Michael Cuesta
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Blinded by the Light
star
7.65
7171 votes

#7 - Blinded by the Light

Season 4 - Episode 3 - Aired 10/11/2009

Dexter is hampered by his neighborhood's increased vigilance due to vandalism, his temporary inability to drive himself anywhere, and his admiration for the killing technique of the artful Trinity Killer.

Directors: Marcos Siega
Writer: Scott Buck
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Our Father
star
7.66
6594 votes

#8 - Our Father

Season 3 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/28/2008

Dexter has put his life back together but things may fall apart soon. His new victim is also being targeted by Assistant District Attorney Miguel Prado. Deb has to decide how to handle Internal Affairs, as they want her to turn on her new partner.

Directors: Keith Gordon
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Popping Cherry
star
7.66
7151 votes

#9 - Popping Cherry

Season 1 - Episode 3 - Aired 10/15/2006

Dexter's on the trail of a recently released murderer who plans to kill again when he's sidetracked by the Ice Truck Killer's latest crime - a cut-up hooker found in a hockey ice rink.

Directors: Michael Cuesta
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Living the Dream
star
7.66
7637 votes

#10 - Living the Dream

Season 4 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/27/2009

The pressures of fatherhood threaten to bring Dexter's world crashing down. In his carelessness, Dexter realizes that he's misplaced crucial evidence, something that could expose his dark side to the world. But his search will have to wait, as Miami Metro's two simultaneous murder cases continue to escalate. Their top priority is to solve 'The Vacation Murders', a series of robberies gone bad that threaten Miami's lucrative tourist industry. Lundy, however, remains convinced that the bigger problem is dealing with the Trinity Killer, who unbeknownst to them is already stalking his next victim. Dexter has to weave a web of lies to extract himself from his duties, hoping to bury his secret before someone else finds it first.

Directors: Marcos Siega
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Lion Sleeps Tonight
star
7.67
6146 votes

#11 - The Lion Sleeps Tonight

Season 3 - Episode 3 - Aired 10/12/2008

Dexter and a pedophile have a run-in; Dexter is unable to restore Freebo's good name after he is accused of a murder he didn't commit. Also, Dexter's friendship with Miguel weighs on his mind.

Directors: John Dahl
Writer: Scott Buck
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Love American Style
star
7.68
6658 votes

#12 - Love American Style

Season 1 - Episode 5 - Aired 10/29/2006

While the rest of the police department are focused on finding the Ice Truck Killer, Dexter is busy gathering evidence for his next victim. It turns out he will also discover more about relationships, love and how to make a success of it all. In doing so he gets some hilarious advice from unlikely sources and we see the first time that he actually kills two people at one time.

Directors: Robert Lieberman
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Remains to Be Seen
star
7.68
7125 votes

#13 - Remains to Be Seen

Season 4 - Episode 2 - Aired 10/4/2009

Dexter misplaces evidence which could expose his secret. Meanwhile, Miami Metro must juggle two serial killers at the same time, as the Vacation Murders might bring the city's tourism industry to a grinding halt.

Directors: Brian Kirk
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Turning Biminese
star
7.69
5788 votes

#14 - Turning Biminese

Season 3 - Episode 5 - Aired 10/26/2008

While Dexter struggles with how to handle Rita’s desire for them to move in together before they get married, Miguel tells Dexter about a husband who has gotten away with killing two of his wives for financial gain. Meanwhile, Debra works with Anton, her confidential informant, to track down one of Freebo’s criminal confidants.

Directors: Marcos Siega
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Goodbye Miami
star
7.69
5949 votes

#15 - Goodbye Miami

Season 8 - Episode 10 - Aired 9/8/2013

Dexter enlists Dr. Vogel's help to lure the Brain Surgeon to a location in order to get him on the table. Later, an important person in Dexter's life is murdered before his eyes.

Directors: Steve Shill
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
See-Through
star
7.70
5983 votes

#16 - See-Through

Season 2 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/21/2007

Rita's estranged mother visits and senses something is wrong with Dexter. Masuka thinks he's developed a lead in the Bay Harbor Butcher case, which has Dexter concerned. Angel's interrogation of a witness crosses a line.

Directors: Nick Gomez
Writer: Scott Buck
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Return to Sender
star
7.72
6597 votes

#17 - Return to Sender

Season 1 - Episode 6 - Aired 11/5/2006

Dexter is called to the scene of the crime at the Castillo junkyard. The Ice Truck Killer has returned Valerie Castillo's body putting Dexter in danger of being caught. A boy is found who witnessed the crime.

Directors: Tony Goldwyn
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Hello, Bandit
star
7.73
9417 votes

#18 - Hello, Bandit

Season 5 - Episode 2 - Aired 10/3/2010

Dexter tries to focus on the children and fight his dark urges; Debra ends up on Quinn's doorstep.

Directors: John Dahl
Writer: Scott Buck
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Every Silver Lining...
star
7.73
6169 votes

#19 - Every Silver Lining...

Season 8 - Episode 2 - Aired 7/7/2013

Miami Metro continues their hunt for the Brain Surgeon, while Dr. Vogel enlists Dexter to do her bidding based on her own personal experience with her previous patients. Debra continues to track down her PI case and has to take matters into her own hands.

Directors: Michael C. Hall
Writer: Manny Coto
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
My Bad
star
7.75
10659 votes

#20 - My Bad

Season 5 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/26/2010

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

Directors: Steve Shill
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
All in the Family
star
7.75
6018 votes

#21 - All in the Family

Season 3 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/19/2008

After a failed marriage proposal, Dexter attempts to convince Rita that he wants more than a financial merger and fatherhood. He wants a family with Rita. Deb lands a new case. Miguel's brother, Ramon, is dead set on finding Oscar's murderer, which worries Dexter and Miguel.

Directors: Keith Gordon
Writer: Adam Fierro
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Slack Tide
star
7.75
7227 votes

#22 - Slack Tide

Season 4 - Episode 7 - Aired 11/8/2009

Dexter finds himself enjoying a brief moment of tranquility. He's finally managed to strike a balance between work, family and other pursuits. But he's keenly aware that times like these aren't meant to last. When Miami Metro discovers a string of murders connected to a prominent photographer, Dexter sees an opportunity for a clean kill.

Directors: Tim Hunter
Writer: Scott Buck
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Finding Freebo
star
7.76
6221 votes

#23 - Finding Freebo

Season 3 - Episode 2 - Aired 10/5/2008

Dexter continues the hunt for Freebo, knowing he is still in town after finding Teegan's body. Dexter and Rita must make a decision about her pregnancy. Dexter isn't sure whether he can raise a child. Deb searches for the identity of her body, not knowing the link to the Freebo case. Dexter races to beat the rest of the police to Freebo.

Directors: Marcos Siega
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Waiting to Exhale
star
7.77
5759 votes

#24 - Waiting to Exhale

Season 2 - Episode 2 - Aired 10/7/2007

Dexter is finding it hard to have closure on killing his brother. There is a new FBI agent to head the "Bay Harbor Butcher" case. Debra is finding it tough to put the past behind her.

Directors: Marcos Siega
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Let's Give the Boy a Hand
star
7.77
6893 votes

#25 - Let's Give the Boy a Hand

Season 1 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/22/2006

The Ice Truck Killer begins leaving pictures from Dexter's childhood at the crime scenes. Is the killer trying to tell Dexter something about his own past?

Directors: Robert Lieberman
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV