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''Dexter'' is an American
crime drama Crime film is a film belonging to the crime fiction genre. Films of this genre generally involve various aspects of crime and fiction. Stylistically, the genre may overlap and combine with many other genres, such as Drama (film and television), dr ...
television series that aired on
Showtime Showtime or Show Time may refer to: Film * ''Showtime'' (film), a 2002 American action/comedy film * ''Showtime'' (video), a 1995 live concert video by Blur Television Networks and channels * Showtime Networks, a division of Paramount Global w ...
from October 1, 2006, to September 22, 2013. Set in
Miami Miami is a East Coast of the United States, coastal city in the U.S. state of Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, Florida, Miami-Dade County in South Florida. It is the core of the Miami metropolitan area, which, with a populat ...
, the series centers on
Dexter Morgan Dexter Morgan (born Dexter Moser), also known as The Bay Harbor Butcher, is a fictional serial killer and the antihero protagonist of the ''Dexter'' book series written by Jeff Lindsay (writer), Jeff Lindsay, as well as the Dexter (TV series), tel ...
( Michael C. Hall), a forensic technician specializing in blood spatter analysis for the fictional Miami Metro Police Department, who leads a secret parallel life as a
vigilante Vigilantism () is the act of preventing, investigating, and punishing perceived offenses and crimes without legal authority. A vigilante is a person who practices or partakes in vigilantism, or undertakes public safety and retributive justice ...
serial killer A serial killer (also called a serial murderer) is a person who murders three or more people,An offender can be anyone: * * * * * (This source only requires two people) with the killings taking place over a significant period of time in separat ...
, hunting down murderers inadequately punished by the justice system due to corruption or legal technicalities. The show's first season was derived from the novel ''
Darkly Dreaming Dexter ''Darkly Dreaming Dexter'' is a 2004 novel by Jeff Lindsay, the first in his crime/ thriller series about American forensic analyst/serial killer Dexter Morgan. It formed the basis of the Showtime television series '' Dexter'' and won the 2005 ...
'' (2004), the first in a series of novels by Jeff Lindsay. It was adapted for television by James Manos Jr., who wrote the first episode. The series enjoyed mostly positive reviews throughout its run. The first four seasons were widely praised, but reception dropped considerably as the series progressed, with the final season and especially the
series finale A series finale is the final installment of an episodic entertainment series, most often a television series. It may also refer to a final theatrical sequel, the last part of a television miniseries, the last installment of a literary series, ...
being highly criticized and often cited as amongst the worst of all time. The show has received myriad awards, including two
Golden Globe The Golden Globe Awards are awards presented for excellence in both international film and television. It is an annual award ceremony held since 1944 to honor artists and professionals and their work. The ceremony is normally held every Januar ...
s won by Hall and
John Lithgow John Arthur Lithgow ( ; born , 1945) is an American actor. He studied at Harvard University and the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art before becoming known for his John Lithgow filmography, diverse work on stage and screen. He has rece ...
for their roles as Dexter Morgan and Arthur Mitchell, respectively. The fourth season aired its season finale on December 13, 2009, to a record-breaking audience of 2.6million viewers, making it the most-watched original series episode ever on Showtime at that time. The eighth season served as the final season of ''Dexter''; the season premiere was the most watched ''Dexter'' episode, with more than 3million viewers total, while the series finale drew 2.8million viewers, the largest audience in Showtime's history. ''Dexter'' has continued through an expanded franchise with further series. The sequel series '' Dexter: New Blood'' aired from November 2021 to January 2022, with Hall reprising the title role and Clyde Phillips as
showrunner A showrunner is the top-level executive producer of a television series. The position outranks other creative and management personnel, including episode directors, in contrast to feature films, in which the director has creative control over th ...
. The prequel series '' Dexter: Original Sin'' premiered in December 2024, starring Patrick Gibson as Dexter. Further series are in development, including '' Dexter: Resurrection'', and ''Trinity Killer'', a spin-off prequel series.


Plot

Orphaned at age three, when he witnessed his mother's brutal murder with a chainsaw, Dexter (
Michael C. Hall Michael Carlyle Hall (born February 1, 1971) is an American actor and musician. He is known for playing Dexter Morgan, the titular character in the Showtime (TV network), Showtime series ''Dexter (TV series), Dexter'' and David Fisher (Six Feet ...
) was adopted by Miami police officer Harry Morgan (
James Remar William James Remar (born December 31, 1953) is an American actor. He has played numerous roles over a 45-year career, most notably Ajax in '' The Warriors'' (1979), Albert Ganz in '' 48 Hrs.'' (1982), Dutch Schultz in '' The Cotton Club'' (198 ...
). Recognizing the boy's trauma and the subsequent development of his sociopathic tendencies, Harry trained Dexter to channel his gruesome bloodlust into vigilantism, killing only heinous criminals who slip through the criminal justice system. To cover his prolific trail of homicides, Dexter gains employment as a forensic analyst, specializing in
blood spatter pattern analysis Bloodstain pattern analysis (BPA) is a forensic discipline focused on analyzing bloodstains left at known, or suspected crime scenes through visual pattern recognition and physics-based assessments. This is done with the purpose of drawing infer ...
, with the Miami Metro Police Department. Dexter is extremely cautious and circumspect; he wears gloves and uses plastic-wrapped "kill rooms", carves up the corpses, and disposes of them in the Atlantic Ocean's
Gulf Stream The Gulf Stream is a warm and swift Atlantic ocean current that originates in the Gulf of Mexico and flows through the Straits of Florida and up the eastern coastline of the United States, then veers east near 36°N latitude (North Carolin ...
to reduce his chances of detection. Dexter juggles his two personas, recognizing each as a distinct part of himself that must cohesively work as one. He depends on their interaction, as a means of survival and normality. Although his homicidal tendencies are deeply unyielding, as he originally claims (via narration), throughout the series he strives to feel (and in some cases does feel) normal emotions and maintains his appearance as a socially responsible human being.


Episodes

''Dexter'' aired from October 1, 2006, to September 22, 2013. In April 2013, Showtime announced that season eight would be the final season of ''Dexter''.


Cast and crew


Cast

Besides Hall playing the
title character The title character in a narrative work is one who is named or referred to in the title of the work. In a performed work such as a play or film, the performer who plays the title character is said to have the title role of the piëce. The title o ...
, the show's supporting cast includes
Jennifer Carpenter Jennifer Carpenter (born December 7, 1979) is an American actress. Her early film roles include the cult comedy ''White Chicks'' (2004) and the supernatural horror '' The Exorcism of Emily Rose'' (2005), with the latter establishing her as a ...
as Dexter's adoptive sister and co-worker (and later boss)
Debra Debra is a feminine given name. Debra may refer to: People * Debra Adelaide (born 1958), Australian writer * Debra Allbery (born 1957), American poet * Debra R. Anderson (1949-2022), American politician * Debra Austin (born 1955), American ba ...
, and
James Remar William James Remar (born December 31, 1953) is an American actor. He has played numerous roles over a 45-year career, most notably Ajax in '' The Warriors'' (1979), Albert Ganz in '' 48 Hrs.'' (1982), Dutch Schultz in '' The Cotton Club'' (198 ...
as Dexter's adoptive father, Harry Morgan. Dexter's co-workers include
Lauren Vélez Luna Lauren Vélez (born November 2, 1964) is an American actress. Her most notable television roles are as María LaGuerta on Showtime (TV network), Showtime's ''Dexter (TV series), Dexter'', Detective Nina Moreno on Fox Broadcasting Company, F ...
as Lieutenant (later Captain) María LaGuerta, Dexter and Debra's supervisor,
David Zayas David Zayas (born August 15, 1962) is a Puerto Rican actor. He is best known for his roles as Angel Batista on the Showtime series ''Dexter'' and Enrique Morales on the HBO prison drama series '' Oz''. Early life Zayas was born in Ponce, Pu ...
as Detective Sergeant (later Lieutenant) Angel Batista, and
C. S. Lee Charlie Seunghee Lee (; born December 30, 1971) is an American actor and comedian. He is best known for playing forensics analyst Vince Masuka on the Showtime drama series ''Dexter''. Early life Lee was born in Cheongju, South Korea. Acting be ...
as lab tech Vince Masuka (promoted to title credits in season two).
Erik King Erik King (born April 21, 1963) is an American actor, best known for his portrayal of James Doakes, Sergeant James Doakes on Showtime (TV network), Showtime's television series ''Dexter (TV series), Dexter''. He is also known for his roles as M ...
portrayed the troubled Sgt James Doakes for the show's first two seasons.
Desmond Harrington Desmond Harrington (born October 19, 1976) is an American actor. He made his film debut in 1999, playing Jean d'Aulon in '' The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc''. His later credits include '' Riding in Cars with Boys'', '' The Hole'' (both ...
joined the cast in season three as
Joey Quinn Joseph Quinn is a fictional character in the Showtime television series ''Dexter'', portrayed by Desmond Harrington. The character was introduced in season three. He appeared in 72 episodes, making him one of the most frequently appearing charac ...
; his name was promoted to the title credits as of season four.
Geoff Pierson Geoffrey Pierson is an American actor known for his starring television roles on ''Dexter'', ''Unhappily Ever After'', ''Grace Under Fire'', '' 24'', ''Ryan's Hope'', and ''Designated Survivor''. He has also guest-starred in dozens of other TV sh ...
plays Captain Tom Matthews of Miami Metro Homicide.
Julie Benz Julie Benz (born May 1, 1972) is an American actress. She is known for her roles as Darla (Buffy the Vampire Slayer), Darla on ''Buffy the Vampire Slayer'' and ''Angel (1999 TV series), Angel'' (1997–2004), and as Rita Bennett on ''Dexter (TV s ...
starred as Dexter's girlfriend, then wife, Rita in seasons one to four, with a guest appearance in season five. Rita's children, Astor and Cody, are played by Christina Robinson and
Preston Bailey Preston Bailey (born July 25, 2000) is an American actor who started acting at the age of two. He is known for appearing in the Showtime television series ''Dexter'' and for starring in such films as ''Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer'', '' ...
(who replaced Daniel Goldman after the first season). Dexter's infant son Harrison is played by twins, Evan and Luke Kruntchev, through season seven; in season eight, Harrison was played by Jadon Wells.
Aimee Garcia Aimee Sandimés Garcia López de Ordóñez (born November 28, 1978) is an American actress. She is known for her television roles as Veronica Palmero on the ABC sitcom '' George Lopez'' (2006–2007), Jamie Batista on the Showtime drama '' D ...
plays Batista's younger sister, Jamie. Notable appearances in season one are
Christian Camargo Christian Camargo (né Minnick; born July 7, 1971) is an American actor. He is best known for playing army officer John Cambridge in Academy Award-winning film ''The Hurt Locker'', Brian Moser in the Showtime drama ''Dexter'', Michael Corrigan ...
as Rudy and
Mark Pellegrino Mark Ross Pellegrino (born April 9, 1965) is an American actor of film and television. He is best known for his work as Lucifer in ''Supernatural'', Paul Bennett in '' Dexter'', Jacob in '' Lost'', James Bishop in '' Being Human'', Clayton H ...
as Rita's
abusive Abuse is the act of improper usage or treatment of a person or thing, often to unfairly or improperly gain benefit. Abuse can come in many forms, such as: physical or verbal maltreatment, injury, assault, violation, rape, unjust practices, ...
ex-husband Paul.
Jaime Murray Jaime Erica Murray (born 21 July 1976) is an English actress. She is known for playing Stacie Monroe in the BBC series ''Hustle (TV series), Hustle'' (2004–2012), Lila West in the Showtime (TV network), Showtime series ''Dexter (TV series), ...
portrayed Lila Tournay in season two, a physically attractive but unhinged British artist who becomes obsessed with Dexter.
Keith Carradine Keith Ian Carradine ( ; born August 8, 1949) is an American actor. In film he is known for his roles as Tom Frank in Robert Altman's ''Nashville'', E. J. Bellocq in Louis Malle's ''Pretty Baby'', and Mickey in Alan Rudolph's '' Choose Me.'' ...
, as Special FBI Agent Frank Lundy, and
Jimmy Smits Jimmy L. Smits (born July 9, 1955) is an American actor. He is best known for playing attorney Victor Sifuentes on the legal drama ''L.A. Law'', NYPD Detective Bobby Simone on the police drama ''NYPD Blue'', and Matt Santos on the political dr ...
, as ADA Miguel Prado, each appeared in season-long character arcs in seasons two and three, respectively.
David Ramsey David Paul Ramsey (born November 17, 1971) is an American actor. He is best known for his roles in The CW Arrowverse series ''Arrow'', ''The Flash'', ''Supergirl'', and ''Batwoman'' as John Diggle / Spartan, portraying Diggle and Bass Reeves i ...
, who plays
confidential informant An informant (also called an informer or, as a slang term, a "snitch", "rat", "canary", "stool pigeon", "stoolie", "tout" or "grass", among other terms) is a person who provides privileged information, or (usually damaging) information inten ...
Anton Briggs in season three, returned in season four, becoming romantically involved with Debra Morgan.
John Lithgow John Arthur Lithgow ( ; born , 1945) is an American actor. He studied at Harvard University and the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art before becoming known for his John Lithgow filmography, diverse work on stage and screen. He has rece ...
joined the cast in season four as the "
Trinity Killer Arthur Mitchell, often referred to as the "Trinity Killer," is a fictional character and the main antagonist of the fourth season of the Showtime TV series '' Dexter.'' Mitchell is a serial killer who presents himself as an unassuming church ...
". Carradine returned in season four, reprising his role as newly retired FBI Special Agent Frank Lundy, who was hunting the Trinity Killer.
Courtney Ford Courtney Ford (born June 27, 1978) is an American actress. She is best known for her roles on television, such as playing Christine Hill on ''Dexter'' (2009), Portia Bellefleur on ''True Blood'' (2011), Lily on '' Parenthood'' (2012), Tonia Pyn ...
was featured in season four as an ambitious reporter who mixes business with pleasure, getting romantically involved with Quinn while simultaneously fishing for sources and stories.
Julia Stiles Julia O'Hara Stiles (born March 28, 1981) is an American actress. Stiles began acting at the age of 11 as part of New York's La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club. Her film debut was a small role at age 15 in '' I Love You, I Love You Not'' (1996), ...
joined the cast in season five as
Lumen Pierce Lumen Ann Pierce is a fictional character portrayed by Julia Stiles in the Showtime television series ''Dexter'', season 5. Lumen is introduced in the third episode (" Practically Perfect") as a survivor of rapist-serial killer Boyd Fowler. ...
, a woman who gets involved in a complex relationship with Dexter after the tragedy that culminated the previous season. Season five also had
Jonny Lee Miller Jonathan Lee Miller (born 15 November 1972) is an English actor. He achieved early success for his portrayal of Simon "Sick Boy" Williamson in the dark comedy-drama film '' Trainspotting'' (1996) and as Dade Murphy in '' Hackers'' (1995) before ...
cast as the motivational speaker
Jordan Chase This is a list of characters from the Jeff Lindsay novel series ''Dexter'', consisting of ''Darkly Dreaming Dexter'', '' Dearly Devoted Dexter'', '' Dexter in the Dark'', '' Dexter by Design'', '' Dexter Is Delicious'', '' Double Dexter'', the ...
,
Peter Weller Peter Francis Weller (born June 24, 1947) is an American actor and television director. He has appeared in more than 70 films and television series, including ''RoboCop'' (1987) and its sequel ''RoboCop 2'' (1990), in which he played RoboCop ( ...
cast as Stan Liddy, a corrupt narcotics cop, and
Maria Doyle Kennedy Maria Josephine Doyle Kennedy (born 25 September 1964) is an Irish singer and actress. With a singing and acting career that has spanned more than 30 years, she has established herself as one of Ireland's most prolific artists and entertainers. ...
cast as Sonya, Harrison's nanny. In season six,
Mos Def Yasiin Bey ( ; born Dante Terrell Smith; December 11, 1973), formerly known as Mos Def ( ), is an American rapper, singer, and actor. A prominent figure in conscious hip hop, he is recognized for his use of wordplay and commentary on social an ...
was cast as Brother Sam, a convicted murderer turned born-again Christian, and
Edward James Olmos Edward James Olmos (born February 24, 1947) is an American actor. He is best known for his roles as Detective List of Blade Runner (franchise) characters#Gaff, Gaff in ''Blade Runner'' (1982) and its sequel ''Blade Runner 2049'' (2017), Lieuten ...
and
Colin Hanks Colin Lewes Hanks (born November 24, 1977) is an American actor and filmmaker. He is best known for his role as Gus Grimly on the FX crime series '' Fargo'' (2014–2015), which earned him nominations for a Golden Globe Award, a Primetime Emmy ...
guest-starred as Professor James Gellar and Travis Marshall, members of a murderous apocalyptic cult. Seasons seven and eight featured multiple guest stars, including
Ray Stevenson George Raymond Stevenson (25 May 196421 May 2023) was a Northern Ireland-born actor, best known for his film and television work. He had a starring role as legionary Titus Pullo on the BBC/HBO television series ''Rome'' (2005–2007), and port ...
as Ukrainian mob boss Isaak Sirko, a man with a personal vendetta against Dexter;
Yvonne Strahovski Yvonne Jaqueline Strzechowski (born 30 July 1982), known professionally as Yvonne Strahovski (), is an Australian actress. She is known for roles as Sarah Walker in the spy comedy drama series '' Chuck'' (2007–2012), Hannah McKay in the dra ...
as Hannah McKay, the former accomplice of a spree killer;
Jason Gedrick Jason Michael Gedrick is an American actor. He is best known for his work on the television series '' Murder One'' and ''Boomtown'', and the motion picture ''Iron Eagle'' as Doug Masters. He starred in the 2001 film '' Summer Catch'' as Mike ...
as strip club owner George Novikov, also part of the mob; and
Charlotte Rampling Tessa Charlotte Rampling (born 5 February 1946) is an English actress. An icon of the Swinging London, Swinging Sixties, she began her career as a model. She was cast in the role of Meredith in the 1966 film ''Georgy Girl'', which starred Lynn ...
as Dr. Evelyn Vogel, a neuropsychiatrist who takes an interest in Dexter;
Ronny Cox Daniel Ronald Cox (born July 23, 1938) is an American actor and musician. He has appeared in numerous films and television series since his acting debut in ''Deliverance'' (1972). He is best known for his roles in ''RoboCop'' (1987) and '' Total ...
as the Tooth Fairy killer;
Sean Patrick Flanery Sean Patrick Flanery (born October 11, 1965) is an American actor. He is known for playing Connor MacManus in ''The Boondock Saints'' (1999) and its sequel '' The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day'' (2009), Greg Stillson in the television seri ...
as Jacob Elway, a private investigator who Debra works for.
Margo Martindale Margo Martindale (born July 18, 1951) is an American character actress who has appeared on television, film, and stage. In 2011, she won a Primetime Emmy Award and a Critics' Choice Television Award for her recurring role as Mags Bennett on '' ...
had a recurring role as Camilla Figg, a records office worker who was close friends with Dexter's adoptive parents.
JoBeth Williams Margaret JoBeth Williams (born December 6, 1948) is an American actress. She rose to prominence appearing in such films as '' Kramer vs. Kramer'' (1979), '' Stir Crazy'' (1980), ''Poltergeist'' (1982), '' The Big Chill'' (1983), '' The Day After' ...
portrayed Rita's suspicious mother, Gail Brandon, in four episodes of season two.
Anne Ramsay Anne Ramsay is an American actress best known for her role as Lisa Stemple on '' Mad About You'', for which she shared a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination for Best Ensemble in a Comedy series. Early life Ramsay was raised in La Habra, Cal ...
portrayed defense attorney Ellen Wolf, Miguel's nemesis.
Valerie Cruz Valerie Cruz is an American actress. Early life and education Valerie Cruz is of Cuban ancestry. She attended Florida State University and received a BFA theatre degree. Career Cruz appeared in the film '' Cellular'' and played Grace ...
played a recurring role as Miguel's wife, Sylvia. In season six, Billy Brown was cast as transferred-in Detective Mike Anderson to replace Debra after her promotion to lieutenant.
Josh Cooke Josh Cooke (born November 22, 1979) is an American actor. Early life Cooke attended Harriton High School, a small public high school in suburban Rosemont. He was a member of Harriton Theater Company and directed a show his senior year. He has ...
played Louis Greene, a lab tech and Masuka's intern, in seasons six and seven, and Darri Ingolfsson played Oliver Saxon in season eight.


Crew

The main creative forces behind the series were executive producers
Daniel Cerone Daniel Cerone is a television writer and executive producer. His credits include '' Dexter'', where he served as showrunner, along with '' The Blacklist'', '' The Mentalist'', '' Dirty Sexy Money'' and '' Charmed''. He was the co-creator of '' Con ...
, Clyde Phillips, and
Melissa Rosenberg Melissa Anne Rosenberg is an American television writer, television producer, and screenwriter. She has worked in both film and television and has won a Peabody Award. She has also been nominated for two Emmy Awards, and two Writers Guild of Ame ...
. Cerone left the show after its second season. Executive producer and showrunner Phillips departed the series, after a record-setting season-four finale, to spend more time with his family; ''24'' co-executive producer
Chip Johannessen George Frederick "Chip" Johannessen (born November 16, 1955) is an American writer, editor, and producer of several popular television series. He is credited with work on '' 24'', ''Homeland'', ''Dexter'', ''Moonlight'', ''Millennium'', and ''Bev ...
took over Phillips' post. Head writer Melissa Rosenberg left after season four, as well. After the conclusion of season five, Chip Johannessen was revealed to be leaving the show after a single run, and
Scott Buck Scott Randall Buck is an American television writer. Buck has written for several television series including '' Six Feet Under'', ''Rome'', Showtime's ''Dexter'', ''Everybody Loves Raymond'', '' Coach'', ''Inhumans'', '' The Oblongs'' and '' Ir ...
would take over as showrunner from season six onward.


Production


Exterior filming

Although the series is set in
Miami, Florida Miami is a East Coast of the United States, coastal city in the U.S. state of Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, Florida, Miami-Dade County in South Florida. It is the core of the Miami metropolitan area, which, with a populat ...
, many of the exterior scenes are filmed in
Los Angeles Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...
and
Long Beach, California Long Beach is a coastal city in southeastern Los Angeles County, California, United States. It is the list of United States cities by population, 44th-most populous city in the United States, with a population of 451,307 as of 2022. A charter ci ...
. Many landmark buildings and locations in Long Beach are featured throughout the series. The finale episode's airport scene takes place at
Ontario International Airport Ontario International Airport is an international airport east of downtown Ontario, California, Ontario, in San Bernardino County, California, United States, about east of downtown Los Angeles and west of downtown San Bernardino. It is ow ...
in
Ontario, California Ontario is a city in southwestern San Bernardino County, California, United States, east of downtown Los Angeles and west of downtown San Bernardino, the county seat. Located in the western part of the Inland Empire metropolitan area, it lies ...
.


Marketing

In preparation for the United Kingdom launch of the series, Fox UK experimented with an
SMS Short Message Service, commonly abbreviated as SMS, is a text messaging service component of most telephone, Internet and mobile device systems. It uses standardized communication protocols that let mobile phones exchange short text messages, t ...
-based
viral marketing Viral marketing is a business strategy that uses existing social networks to promote a product mainly on various social media platforms. Its name refers to how consumers spread information about a product with other people, much in the same way th ...
campaign. Mobile phone owners received the following unsolicited SMS messages addressed to them by name with no identifying information other than being from "Dexter": "Hello (name). I'm heading to the UK sooner than you might think. Dexter." The SMS message was followed by an email directing the user to an online video "news report" about a recent spree of killings. Using on-the-fly video manipulation, the user's name and a personalized message were worked into the reportthe former written in blood on a wall near the crime scene, the latter added to a note in an evidence bag carried past the camera. While the marketing campaign raised the show's profile, it proved unpopular with many mobile owners, who saw this as spam advertising aimed at mobile phones. In response to complaints about the SMS element of the campaign, Fox issued the following statement:


Reception


Critical reception

Although reception to individual seasons has varied, the overall response to ''Dexter'' has been positive. The first, second, fourth, and seventh seasons received critical acclaim, the third and fifth seasons received generally positive reviews, while the sixth and eighth seasons received mixed to negative reviews. While remarking on some of the show's more formulaic elements (quirky detective, hero with dense workmates, convenient plot contrivances), Tad Friend of ''
The New Yorker ''The New Yorker'' is an American magazine featuring journalism, commentary, criticism, essays, fiction, satire, cartoons, and poetry. It was founded on February 21, 1925, by Harold Ross and his wife Jane Grant, a reporter for ''The New York T ...
'' magazine remarked that when Dexter is struggling to connect with Rita or soliciting advice from his victims, "the show finds its voice." The
review aggregator A review aggregator is a system that collects reviews and ratings of products and services, such as films, books, video games, music, software, hardware, or cars. This system then stores the reviews to be used for supporting a website where user ...
website
Metacritic Metacritic is an American website that aggregates reviews of films, television shows, music albums, video games, and formerly books. For each product, the scores from each review are averaged (a weighted average). Metacritic was created ...
calculated a score of 77 from a possible 100 for season one, based on 27 reviews, making it the third-best reviewed show of the 2006 fall season. This score includes four 100 percent scores (from the ''
New York Daily News The ''Daily News'' is an American newspaper based in Jersey City, New Jersey. It was founded in 1919 by Joseph Medill Patterson in New York City as the ''Illustrated Daily News''. It was the first U.S. daily printed in Tabloid (newspaper format ...
'', ''
San Francisco Chronicle The ''San Francisco Chronicle'' is a newspaper serving primarily the San Francisco Bay Area of Northern California. It was founded in 1865 as ''The Daily Dramatic Chronicle'' by teenage brothers Charles de Young and M. H. de Young, Michael H. ...
'', ''
Chicago Sun-Times The ''Chicago Sun-Times'' is a daily nonprofit newspaper published in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Since 2022, it is the flagship paper of Chicago Public Media, and has long held the second largest circulation among Chicago newspaper ...
'' and ''
People Weekly ''People'' is an American weekly magazine that specializes in celebrity news and human-interest stories. It is published by Dotdash Meredith, a subsidiary of IAC. With a readership of 46.6 million adults in 2009, ''People'' had the la ...
'' magazine). Brian Lowry, who had written one of the three poor reviews Metacritic tallied for the show, recanted his negative review in a year-end column for the trade magazine ''
Variety Variety may refer to: Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats * Variety (radio) * Variety show, in theater and television Films * ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont * ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...
'', after watching the full season. On Metacritic, season two has a score of 85 with all eleven reviews positive; season three scored 78 with 13 reviews; season four scored 77 with 14 reviews; season five scored 76 with eleven reviews; season six scored 62 with 10 reviews; season seven scored 81 with seven reviews; and season eight scored 71 with ten reviews. On
Rotten Tomatoes Rotten Tomatoes is an American review aggregator, review-aggregation website for film and television. The company was launched in August 1998 by three undergraduate students at the University of California, Berkeley: Senh Duong, Patrick Y. Lee ...
, season one has an 83 percent approval rating with a score of 8.0 out of 10, and the consensus: "Its dark but novel premise may be too grotesque for some, but ''Dexter'' is a compelling, elegantly crafted horror-drama."; season two has a 96 percent approval rating with a score of 7.6 out of 10 and the consensus: "The Bay Harbor Butcher secures his nefarious spot among the great television anti-heroes in a taut second season that is both painfully suspenseful and darkly hilarious"; season three has a 72 percent approval rating with a score of 8.3 out of 10 and the consensus: "America's most amiable serial killer has lost some of his dramatic edge, but this third outing continues ''Dexter''s streak of delivering deliriously twisted entertainment"; season four has an 88 percent approval rating with a score of 8.4 out of 10 and the consensus: "The inherent comedy of Miami's favorite psychopath contending with domestic bliss and the unspeakable horror of John Lithgow's Trinity killer coalesce into one of ''Dexter''s most sensational seasons"; season five has an 84 percent approval rating with a score of 7.5 out of 10 and the consensus: "Michael C. Hall's remarkable performance invites viewers into Dexter's heart of darkness in a sorrowful fifth season that explores whether a hollow man can become a real boy"; season six has a 38 percent approval rating with a score of 6.3 out of 10 and the consensus: "Heavy-handed symbolism, an unimpressive villain, and a redundant arc for America's favorite serial killer all conspire to make ''Dexter''s sixth season its worst yet"; season seven has an 79 percent approval rating with a score of 7.5 out of 10 and the consensus: "Season seven represents a return to form for ''Dexter'', characterized by a riveting storyline and a willingness to take some risks"; and season eight has a 33 percent approval rating, a score of 5.5 out of 10, and the final consensus: "The darkly dreaming ''Dexter'' lays to rest once and for all in a bitterly disappointing final season that is so hesitant to punish its anti-hero for his misdeeds, it opts to punish its audience instead."


Popular reception

The season-three finale, on December 14, 2008, was watched by 1.51million people giving Showtime its highest ratings for any of its original series since 2004, when Nielsen started including original shows on premium channels in its ratings. The season-four finale aired on December 13, 2009, and was watched by 2.6million viewers. It broke records for all of Showtime's original series and was their highest-rated telecast in over a decade. The season-five finale was watched by a slightly smaller number of people2.5million. The show was declared the ninth-highest rated show for the first ten years of
IMDb.com IMDb, historically known as the Internet Movie Database, is an online database of information related to films, television series, podcasts, home videos, video games, and streaming content online – including cast, production crew and biograp ...
Pro (20022012). The seventh season as a whole was the highest rated season of ''Dexter'', watched by 6.1million total weekly viewers across all platforms. The season eight premiere was the most watched ''Dexter'' episode, with more than 3million viewers total. The original broadcast of
the series finale "The Series Finale" is the ninth episode and series finale of the American television miniseries ''WandaVision'', based on Marvel Comics featuring the characters Wanda Maximoff / Scarlet Witch and Vision. It follows Wanda as she tries to pro ...
on September 22, 2013, drew 2.8million viewers, the largest audience in Showtime's history.


Awards and nominations

''Dexter'' was nominated for 24
Primetime Emmy Award The Primetime Emmy Awards, or Primetime Emmys, are part of the extensive range of Emmy Awards for artistic and technical merit for the American television industry. Owned and operated by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS), the P ...
s, including in the category of Outstanding Drama Series four times in a row, from 2008 to 2011, and Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series (for Hall) five times in a row, from 2008 to 2012. It has also been nominated for ten
Golden Globe Award The Golden Globe Awards are awards presented for excellence in both international film and television. It is an annual award ceremony held since 1944 to honor artists and professionals and their work. The ceremony is normally held every Janua ...
s (winning two), seven
Screen Actors Guild Awards Screen Actors Guild Awards (also known as SAG Awards) are accolades given by the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA). The award was founded in 1995 to recognize outstanding performances in movie an ...
and received a
Peabody Award The George Foster Peabody Awards (or simply Peabody Awards or the Peabodys) program, named for the American businessman and philanthropist George Foster Peabody, George Peabody, honor what are described as the most powerful, enlightening, and in ...
in 2007. On December 14, 2006, Hall was nominated for a
Golden Globe Award The Golden Globe Awards are awards presented for excellence in both international film and television. It is an annual award ceremony held since 1944 to honor artists and professionals and their work. The ceremony is normally held every Janua ...
at the
64th Golden Globe Awards The 64th Golden Globe Awards honored the best in film and American television of 2006, as chosen by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA). The ceremony was held on January 15, 2007, from the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif ...
. In 2008, the show was nominated for a
Primetime Emmy Award The Primetime Emmy Awards, or Primetime Emmys, are part of the extensive range of Emmy Awards for artistic and technical merit for the American television industry. Owned and operated by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS), the P ...
for Outstanding Drama Series for its second season (Showtime's first-ever drama to be nominated for the award), and its star for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series. It won neither, losing to ''
Breaking Bad ''Breaking Bad'' is an American crime drama television series created and produced by Vince Gilligan for AMC (TV channel), AMC. Set and filmed in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the series follows Walter White (Breaking Bad), Walter White (Bryan Cran ...
'' actor
Bryan Cranston Bryan Lee Cranston (born March 7, 1956) is an American actor. After taking minor roles in television, he established himself as a leading actor in both comedic and dramatic Bryan Cranston filmography, works on stage and screen. He has received ...
. In 2010, Hall and Lithgow, in their respective categories, each won a Golden Globe for their performances in season four.


Cultural impact


American broadcast

In December 2007, when CBS publicly announced that it was considering ''Dexter'' for broadcast reruns in the wake of the shortage of original programming ensuing from the 2007–08 Writers Guild of America strike, the
Parents Television Council The Parents Television and Media Council (PTMC), formerly the Parents Television Council (PTC), is an American media advocacy group founded by Conservatism in the United States, conservative political pundit L. Brent Bozell III in 1995, which ...
("PTC") protested the decision. When the network began posting promotional videos of the rebroadcast on
YouTube YouTube is an American social media and online video sharing platform owned by Google. YouTube was founded on February 14, 2005, by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim who were three former employees of PayPal. Headquartered in ...
on January 29, 2008, PTC president TimothyF. Winter, in a formal press release, again called for CBS not to air the show on broadcast television, saying that it "should remain on a premium subscription cable network" because "the series compels viewers to empathize with a serial killer, to root for him to prevail, to hope he doesn't get discovered". Winter called on the public to demand that local affiliates pre-empt ''Dexter'' and warned advertisers that the PTC would take action against any affiliates that sponsored the show. Following Winter's press release, CBS added parental advisory notices to its broadcast promotions and ultimately rated ''Dexter''
TV-14 The TV Parental Guidelines are a television content rating system in the United States that was first proposed on December 19, 1996, by the United States Congress, the American television industry, and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) ...
for broadcast. On February 17, 2008, the show premiered edited primarily for "language" and scenes containing sex or the dismemberment of live victims. The PTC later objected to CBS' broadcasting of the final two episodes of season one in a two-hour block, and to the episodes' starting times, which were as early as 8 pm in some time zones.


Association with real crimes

Several comparisons and connections to the TV show and its protagonist have been drawn during criminal prosecutions. In 2009, 17-year-old Andrew Conley said the show inspired him to strangle his ten-year-old brother. In an affidavit filed in Ohio County court, in Indiana, police said Conley confessed that he "watches a show called ''Dexter'' on Showtime, about a serial killer, and he stated, 'I feel just like him.'" In Spain, on July 25, 2009, a man and his girlfriend killed his brother and pregnant partner. The man owned the complete ''Dexter'' series DVD collection and the methods used to avoid leaving blood traces were inspired by the show. On November 4, 2010, in Sweden, a 21-year-old woman known as ''Dexter-mördaren'' ("The Dexter killer") or ''Dexter-kvinnan'' ("The Dexter woman") killed her 49-year-old father by stabbing him in the heart. During questioning, the woman compared herself to Dexter Morgan, and a picture of the character would appear on her phone when her father called her. In July 2011, she was sentenced to seven years in prison. In Norway, Shamrez Khan hired Håvard Nyfløt to kill Faiza Ashraf. Nyfløt claimed that ''Dexter'' inspired him, and he wanted to kill Khan in front of Faiza, similar to the television series, to "stop evil". Association was established between
Mark Twitchell Mark Andrew Twitchell (born July 4, 1979) is a Canadian convicted of first-degree murder in April 2011 for the murder of John Brian Altinger. His trial attracted particular media attention because Twitchell had allegedly been inspired by the fi ...
, of
Edmonton Edmonton is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Alberta. It is situated on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Metropolitan Region, which is surrounded by Central Alberta ...
, Alberta, Canada, during his first-degree murder trial, and the character of Dexter Morgan. After weeks of testimony and gruesome evidence presented in court, Twitchell was found guilty of the planned and deliberate murder of 38-year-old Johnny Altinger on April 12, 2011. British teenager Steven Miles, 17, was sentenced to 25 years in prison on October 2, 2014, for stabbing and dismembering his girlfriend Elizabeth Rose Thomas, 17, in
Oxted, Surrey Oxted is a town and civil parish in the Tandridge district of Surrey, England. It is at the foot of the North Downs, south-east of Croydon, west of Sevenoaks, and north of East Grinstead. Oxted is a commuter town and Oxted railway station ...
. Police discovered Thomas' body on January 24, 2014, and determined the cause of death to be a stab wound to the back. Miles was arrested on suspicion of murder. Miles pled guilty to the crime on September 9. According to Surrey Police, Miles had dismembered Thomas' body following her death, wrapping up limbs in
plastic wrap Plastic wrap, cling film, Saran wrap, cling wrap, Glad wrap or food wrap is a thin plastic film typically used for sealing food items in containers to keep them fresh over a longer period of time. Plastic wrap, typically sold on rolls in boxe ...
, and had attempted to clean up the crime scene before he was found by a family member. Miles had been reported to be obsessed with the television series ''Dexter''. Miles reportedly had an
alter ego An alter ego (Latin for "other I") means an alternate Self (psychology), self, which is believed to be distinct from a person's normal or true original Personality psychology, personality. Finding one's alter ego will require finding one's other ...
named Ed, whom Miles claims made him carry out the murder. On January 11, 2022, in
New Orleans, Louisiana New Orleans (commonly known as NOLA or The Big Easy among other nicknames) is a Consolidated city-county, consolidated city-parish located along the Mississippi River in the U.S. state of Louisiana. With a population of 383,997 at the 2020 ...
, 34-year-old Benjamin Beale was arrested after police discovered a decapitated body inside a freezer in a painted bus. The body was confirmed, over a week later, to be that of Julia Dardar, a missing mother of two children. They even discovered a grim ''Dexter'' profile painting with guns and knives, as this murder was inspired by the "Ice Truck Killer" from the show's first season.


Theme song and series music

The opening title theme for ''Dexter'' was written by
Rolfe Kent Rolfe R. Kent (born 18 April 1963) is an English film score composer. Biography Kent was born in St Albans, Hertfordshire, England. He attended St Albans School, worked at Balrossie School in Renfrewshire, Scotland, then graduated in psycholo ...
and scored by American composer
Daniel Licht Daniel Licht (March 13, 1957 – August 2, 2017) was an American soundtrack composer and musician, best known for writing the score of Showtime TV drama series ''Dexter''. Life and career Licht grew up in suburban Detroit and attended the Roep ...
. The series music for each episode was overseen by
Gary Calamar Gary Calamar is an American film and television music supervisor, who has been nominated five times for Grammy Awards. Calamar's notable credits include ''The Man In The High Castle','' '' Six Feet Under'', ''True Blood'', ''House'', ''Weeds' ...
of Go Music and coordinated by Alyson Vidoli. *"Dexter Main Title" (Rolfe Kent) – 1:40 *"Tonight's the Night" (Michael C. Hall, Daniel Licht) – 1:07 *"Conoci La Paz" (Beny Moré) – 3:03 *"Uruapan Breaks" (Kinky) – 2:21 *"Flores Para Ti" (Raw Artistic Soul featuring Rafael Cortez) – 5:16 *"Blood" (Michael C. Hall, Daniel Licht) – 0:59 *"Con Mi Guaguanco" (Ray Armando) – 7:12 *"Perfidia" (Mambo All-Stars) – 2:37 *"Sometimes I Wonder" (Michael C. Hall, Daniel Licht) – 0:29 *"Born Free" (Andy Williams) – 2:25 *"Dexter Main Title" (Kinky) – 1:41 *"Escalation" (Daniel Licht) – 2:09 *"Shipyard" (Daniel Licht) – 2:03 *"Deborah Loves Rudy/The House" (Daniel Licht) – 3:12 *"I Can't Kill" (Daniel Licht) – 2:21 *"Voodoo Jailtime" (Daniel Licht) – 2:58 *"New Legs" (Daniel Licht) – 2:01 *"Photo Albums" (Daniel Licht) – 3:22 *"Courting the Night" (Daniel Licht) – 1:22 *"Hide Your Tears" (Daniel Licht) – 1:36 *"Wink" (Daniel Licht) – 2:08 *"Astor's Birthday Party" (Daniel Licht) – 2:00 *"Epilogue/Bloodroom" (Daniel Licht) – 3:44 *"Blood Theme" (Daniel Licht) – 2:25 *"Die This Way" (Daniel Licht, Jon Licht) – 3:55 *"Fight or Flight" (Daniel Licht) – 1:41 (ITunes Bonus) *"Nowhere to Hide" (Daniel Licht) – 1:43 (ITunes Bonus) *"The Ice Truck Killer" (Daniel Licht) – 2:56 (ITunes Bonus) *"The Fortune" (Daniel Licht) – 1:17 (ITunes Bonus) *"Second Season Suite" (Daniel Licht) – 2:01 (ITunes Bonus)


Other media


''Dexter: Early Cuts''

''Dexter: Early Cuts'' is an animated
web series A web series (also known as webseries, short-form series, and web show) is a series of short scripted or non-scripted online videos, generally in episodic form, released on the Internet (i.e. World Wide Web), which first emerged in the late 1 ...
that premiered on October 25, 2009. Hall reprises his role as the voice of Dexter. KTV Media International
Bullseye Art Bullseye Art was a New York City-based art collective that pioneered art and animation on the web. Founded in 1995 by Josh Kimberg, Nick Cogan and Ryan Edwards, the company gained fame for creating unique and offbeat interactive cartoons made us ...
produced and animated the webisodes, working closely with Showtime for sound editing, Interspectacular for direction, and illustrators
Kyle Baker Kyle John Baker (born 1965) is an American cartoonist, comic book writer-artist, and animator known for his graphic novels and for a 2000s revival of the series ''Plastic Man''. Baker has won numerous Eisner Awards and Harvey Awards for his wo ...
,
Ty Templeton Tyrone Templeton is a Canadians, Canadian comic book artist and writer who has drawn a number of mainstream titles, TV-associated titles, and his own series. Career Templeton first received attention for ''Stig's Inferno'' (Vortex Comics), now ...
, Andrés Vera Martínez, and Devin Lawson for creating distinctive illustrations. The webisodes are animated in 2.5D style, where flat two-dimensional illustrations are brought to life in three-dimensional space. The first season was created and written by ''Dexter'' producer/writer Lauren Gussis. She was nominated for a Webby for her writing in the first season. The first web series precedes the narrative of the show and revolves around Dexter hunting down the three victims that he mentions in the sixth episode of season one, " Return to Sender". Each victim's story is split into four two-minute chapters. A second season of the web series titled ''Dexter: Early Cuts: Dark Echo'', one story in six chapters, premiered on October 25, 2010. It was written by
Tim Schlattmann Timothy (Tim) Schlattmann is a three-time Emmy award nominee television writer and producer. Nebraska born and raised, this former disc jockey and college professor's writing credits include ABC's number one hit ''Roseanne'', Fox's '' Get Rea ...
and illustrated by
Bill Sienkiewicz Boleslav William Felix Robert Sienkiewicz ( ; ; born May 3, 1958) is an American artist known for his work in comic books—particularly for Marvel Comics' ''The New Mutants (comic book), The New Mutants'', ''Moon Knight,'' and ''Elektra: Assassi ...
and David Mack. The story begins immediately following Dexter's adoptive father Harry's death. Season 3 centers around Dexter's first encounter with a pair of killers. Each story is told in several two to three-minute chapters.


Album soundtrack

In August 2007, the album soundtrack entitled '' Dexter: Music from the Showtime Original Series'' was released featuring music from the television series. The album was produced by Showtime and distributed by Milan Records. The digital download version offers five additional bonus tracks from the show's first two seasons.


Comic book

Marvel Comics Marvel Comics is a New York City–based comic book publishing, publisher, a property of the Walt Disney Company since December 31, 2009, and a subsidiary of Disney Publishing Worldwide since March 2023. Marvel was founded in 1939 by Martin G ...
released a ''Dexter'' limited series in July 2013. The comic books are written by creator Jeff Lindsay and drawn by Dalihbor Talajic. Another limited series, called ''Dexter: Down Under'', was published in 2014.


Home media releases


Games

On September 13, 2009, Icarus Studios released a video game based on the events of season one, for the
iPhone The iPhone is a line of smartphones developed and marketed by Apple that run iOS, the company's own mobile operating system. The first-generation iPhone was announced by then–Apple CEO and co-founder Steve Jobs on January 9, 2007, at ...
platform, via the
iTunes iTunes is a media player, media library, and mobile device management (MDM) utility developed by Apple. It is used to purchase, play, download and organize digital multimedia on personal computers running the macOS and Windows operating s ...
app store. The game was released for the
iPad The iPad is a brand of tablet computers developed and marketed by Apple Inc., Apple that run the company's mobile operating systems iOS and later iPadOS. The IPad (1st generation), first-generation iPad was introduced on January 27, 2010. ...
on October 15, 2010, and for PCs on February 15, 2011. The cast and crew of ''Dexter'' were very supportive, with some of the cast providing full voice work for the game, including Hall. The game has received many positive reviews, including an 8/10 from
IGN ''IGN'' is an American video gaming and entertainment media website operated by IGN Entertainment Inc., a subsidiary of Ziff Davis, Inc. The company's headquarters is located in San Francisco's SoMa district and is headed by its former e ...
. No additional content for the game has been released or announced as planned; plans to release the game on the
PlayStation 3 The PlayStation 3 (PS3) is a home video game console developed and marketed by Sony Computer Entertainment (SCE). It is the successor to the PlayStation 2, and both are part of the PlayStation brand of consoles. The PS3 was first released on ...
and
Xbox 360 The Xbox 360 is a home video game console developed by Microsoft. As the successor to the Xbox (console), original Xbox, it is the second console in the Xbox#Consoles, Xbox series. It was officially unveiled on MTV on May 12, 2005, with detail ...
seem to have been canceled, as no recent information regarding the expansion of the game onto these platforms has been given and both consoles have been discontinued. In July 2010, Showtime launched ''Dexter Game On'' during
Comic-Con A comic book convention or comic con is a fan convention emphasizing comic books and comic book culture, in which comic book Fan (person), fans gather to meet creators, experts, and each other. Commonly, comic conventions are multi-day events h ...
. The promotion relied on community involvement, part of which required participants to use the
SCVNGR SCVNGR (SCaVeNGeR) was a social location-based gaming platform for mobile phones, like a location-based social network, SCVNGR was part game, part game platform. History SCVNGR was founded by Seth Priebatsch. In February 2011, it was specula ...
applications available for the
Android Android most commonly refers to: *Android (robot), a humanoid robot or synthetic organism designed to imitate a human * Android (operating system), a mobile operating system primarily developed by Google * Android TV, a operating system developed ...
,
iPad The iPad is a brand of tablet computers developed and marketed by Apple Inc., Apple that run the company's mobile operating systems iOS and later iPadOS. The IPad (1st generation), first-generation iPad was introduced on January 27, 2010. ...
, iPhone, and
iPod Touch The iPod Touch (stylized as iPod touch) is a discontinued line of iOS-based mobile devices designed and formerly marketed by Apple Inc. with a touchscreen-controlled user interface. As with other iPod models, the iPod Touch can be used as a po ...
platforms to complete treks around the five cities where the game was available. The final trek led to a kill room, where the Infinity Killer had recently claimed a victim. A link was found in the room to a (fake) company called Sleep Superbly, which began an extensive Showtime-maintained
alternate reality game An alternate reality game (ARG) is an interactive networked narrative that uses the real world as a platform and employs transmedia storytelling to deliver a story that may be altered by players' ideas or actions. The form is defined by int ...
that continued until ''Dexter''s season-five premiere. The alternate reality game involves players working cooperatively to help catch the Infinity Killer and identify his victims; several other characters help. During the game, players communicate with the Infinity Killer, among many others. The game spans
Craigslist Craigslist (stylized as craigslist) is a privately held American company operating a classified advertisements website with sections devoted to jobs, housing, for sale, items wanted, services, community service, gigs, résumés, and discussi ...
,
Facebook Facebook is a social media and social networking service owned by the American technology conglomerate Meta Platforms, Meta. Created in 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg with four other Harvard College students and roommates, Eduardo Saverin, Andre ...
,
Twitter Twitter, officially known as X since 2023, is an American microblogging and social networking service. It is one of the world's largest social media platforms and one of the most-visited websites. Users can share short text messages, image ...
, and countless unique sites created for the game. Players can even call phone numbers. The characters and companies are controlled by real people, adding an extra layer of realism and the ability for intelligent conversation. To maintain a realistic feeling in the game, Showtime does not put its name or advertisements on most sites or pages created for the game. In September 2010, the Toronto-based company, GDC-GameDevCo Ltd., released a ''Dexter''
board game A board game is a type of tabletop game that involves small objects () that are placed and moved in particular ways on a specially designed patterned game board, potentially including other components, e.g. dice. The earliest known uses of the ...
. On August 13, 2015, the
hidden object A hidden object game, also called hidden picture or hidden object puzzle adventure (HOPA), is a subgenre of puzzle video games in which the player must find items from a list that are hidden within a scene. Hidden object games are a popular trend ...
mobile game ''Dexter: Hidden Darkness'' was released for all iOS devices, with the announcement that Android support would be available soon. Players, acting as Dexter Morgan, solve crimes and hunt down killers to "feed" the dark passenger.


Merchandise

In February 2010, EMCE Toys announced plans to release
action figure An action figure is a poseable character model figure made most commonly of plastic, and often based upon characters from a film, comic book, military, video game, television program, or sport; fictional or historical. These figures are usually ...
s based on the series. In March 2010,
Dark Horse Comics Dark Horse Comics is an American comic book, graphic novel, manga and Artist's book, art book publisher founded in Milwaukie, Oregon, by Mike Richardson in 1986. The company was created using funds earned from Richardson's chain of Portland, O ...
released a seven-inch bust of
Dexter Morgan Dexter Morgan (born Dexter Moser), also known as The Bay Harbor Butcher, is a fictional serial killer and the antihero protagonist of the ''Dexter'' book series written by Jeff Lindsay (writer), Jeff Lindsay, as well as the Dexter (TV series), tel ...
, as part of its ''Last Toys on the Left'' series. In April 2010, it released a
bobblehead doll A bobblehead, also known by nicknames such as nodder, wobbler, or wacky wobbler, is a type of small collectible figurine. Its head is often oversized compared to its body. Instead of a solid connection, its head is connected to the body by a ...
based on the show character, the Trinity Killer. A variety of merchandise items is available from Showtime including an apron, bin bags, blood slide
beverage coaster A coaster, drink coaster, beverage coaster, or beermat is an object used to rest drinks upon. Coasters protect the surface of a table, or any other surface where a user might place a cup, from condensation created by cold drinks. A coaster on top ...
s and
key ring A keychain () (also keyring) is a small ring or chain of metal to which several keys, or fobs can be attached. The terms keyring and keychain are often used interchangeably to mean both the individual ring, or a combined unit of a ring and fob ...
s, drinking glasses, mugs, pens made to look like syringes of blood, posters, and T-shirts. In June 2021 Flashback announced a highly detailed th scale figure of Dexter Morgan.


Prop sales

In January 2014, in partnership with Hollywood Props, Dexter Corner created an auction site and sold hundreds of original props used in the series; part of the auction's proceeds were donated to the
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS), a 501(c)(3) charitable organization founded in 1949, is a voluntary health organization dedicated to fighting blood cancer world-wide. LLS funds blood cancer research on cures for leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin ...
. Showtime has also offered a limited selection of props for sale.


Franchise


''Dexter: New Blood'' (2021–22)

In October 2020, Showtime announced that ''Dexter'' would return with a 10-episode limited series, starring MichaelC. Hall in his original role, with Clyde Phillips returning as showrunner. On November 17, 2020, it was announced
Marcos Siega Marcos Siega (born June 8, 1969, in New York City) is a film, television, commercial and music video director. He has also worked as a producer, a musician and an artist. Career In the late 1980s, he helped to form the New York–based punk band ...
is set to direct six episodes of the limited series as well as executive produce alongside Hall,
John Goldwyn John Howard Goldwyn (born August 10, 1958) is an American film producer. Early life Goldwyn was born on August 10, 1958, in Los Angeles, California, the son of producer Samuel Goldwyn Jr., and his wife, film and stage actress Jennifer Howard. H ...
,
Sara Colleton Sara Colleton is an American television and film producer. She has worked as an executive producer on the Showtime drama series ''Dexter'' since 2006 and has received several Emmy nominations for her work on the series. Career Colleton joined th ...
, Bill Carraro, and Scott Reynolds. Production began in February 2021, with a fall 2021 premiere date. In January 2021,
Clancy Brown Clarence James Brown III (born January 5, 1959) is an American actor. Prolific in film and television since the 1980s, Brown is often cast in villainous and authoritative roles. His film roles include Rawhide in ''The Adventures of Buckaroo Ban ...
was cast as Kurt Caldwell, Dexter's main
antagonist An antagonist is a character in a story who is presented as the main enemy or rival of the protagonist and is often depicted as a villain.Jamie Chung Jamie Jilynn Chung (born April 10, 1983) is an American actress and former reality television personality. She began her career in 2004 as a cast member on the MTV reality series '' The Real World: San Diego'' and subsequently through her appea ...
and Oscar Wahlberg were cast in recurring roles. In June 2021, it was announced that
John Lithgow John Arthur Lithgow ( ; born , 1945) is an American actor. He studied at Harvard University and the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art before becoming known for his John Lithgow filmography, diverse work on stage and screen. He has rece ...
would reprise his role as Arthur Mitchell. In July 2021, it was revealed that Jennifer Carpenter would return as well, with both Lithgow and Carpenter appearing in their characters during flashback scenes. It premiered on November 7, 2021, on Showtime.


''Dexter: Original Sin'' (2024–present)

A prequel series titled ''Dexter: Original Sin'' was also developed with a straight-to-series order. It is set in 1991, fifteen years before the events of the original show. Depicting the earlier years of Dexter's life through the frame story of Dexter thinking back on his youth post-''New Blood'', the show follows his years after college graduation, and his first introduction to various characters from the original series. Members of his family feature as main characters. The series stars Patrick Gibson as Dexter, Molly Brown as Debra and
Christian Slater Christian Michael Leonard Slater (born August 18, 1969) is an American actor. He made his film debut with a leading role in '' The Legend of Billie Jean'' (1985) and gained wider recognition for his breakout role as Jason "J.D." Dean, a sociopath ...
as Harry Morgan. Other cast includes
Patrick Dempsey Patrick Galen Dempsey (born January 13, 1966) is an American actor and racing driver best known for playing neurosurgeon Derek Shepherd in ''Grey's Anatomy'' (2005–15; 2020–21). He is also known for his leading man romantic film roles, such ...
as Aaron Spencer, James Martinez as Angel Batista,
Christina Milian Christina Milian ( , Flores; born September 26, 1981) is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. Following a number of minor television and film roles in the late nineties, Milian made her recording debut on American rapper Ja Rule's 20 ...
as Maria LaGuerta, Alex Shimizu as Vince Masuka,
Reno Wilson Roy "Reno" Wilson (born January 20, 1969) is an American actor. He is best known for his roles as Howard in the sitcom '' The Cosby Show'', Officer Carl McMillan in '' Mike & Molly'', Stan Hill in '' Good Girls'', Wes in '' The Chronicle'' (2001 ...
as Bobby Watt and
Sarah Michelle Gellar Sarah Michelle Prinze ( ; born April 14, 1977) is an American actress. After being spotted by a talent agent as a young child, she made her film debut at age six in the television film ''An Invasion of Privacy'' (1983). She had her first lead ...
as Tanya Martin. The series premiered on December 13, 2024, on
Showtime Showtime or Show Time may refer to: Film * ''Showtime'' (film), a 2002 American action/comedy film * ''Showtime'' (video), a 1995 live concert video by Blur Television Networks and channels * Showtime Networks, a division of Paramount Global w ...
. The first season consisted of ten episodes, released weekly and ending on February 14, 2025. A second season was announced on April 1, 2025.


''Dexter: Resurrection''

A sequel series to ''Dexter: New Blood'' titled ''Dexter: Resurrection'' was announced, with
Michael C. Hall Michael Carlyle Hall (born February 1, 1971) is an American actor and musician. He is known for playing Dexter Morgan, the titular character in the Showtime (TV network), Showtime series ''Dexter (TV series), Dexter'' and David Fisher (Six Feet ...
reprising his role as Dexter, at
San Diego Comic-Con San Diego Comic-Con is a comic book convention and multi-genre entertainment event held annually in San Diego, California, at the San Diego Convention Center. Founded in 1970, originally showcasing primarily comic books and science fiction/fant ...
on July 26, 2024. In January 2025, David Zayas, James Remar, and Jack Alcott were confirmed as series regulars, reprising their roles as Detective Angel Batista, Harry Morgan, and Harrison Morgan, respectively. Other cast confirmed for the series includes
Uma Thurman Uma Karuna Thurman (born April 29, 1970) is an American actress. She has performed in a variety of films, from romantic comedies and dramas to science fiction and action films. Following her appearances on the December 1985 and May 1986 cover ...
,
Peter Dinklage Peter Hayden Dinklage (; born June 11, 1969) is an American actor. Portraying Tyrion Lannister on the HBO television series ''Game of Thrones'' (2011–2019), Dinklage won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama S ...
,
Neil Patrick Harris Neil Patrick Harris (born June 15, 1973) is an American actor, singer, writer, producer, and television host. Primarily known for his comedic television roles and dramatic and musical stage roles, he has received List of awards and nominations ...
,
Krysten Ritter Krysten Alyce Ritter (born December 16, 1981) is an American actress. After an early modeling stint, she appeared on the UPN noir mystery series ''Veronica Mars'' (2005–2006) and the CW comedy drama series ''Gilmore Girls'' (2006–2007). He ...
,
Eric Stonestreet Eric Allen Stonestreet (born September 9, 1971) is an American actor. He is known for portraying Cameron Tucker in the ABC sitcom ''Modern Family'' (2009–2020), for which he received two Emmy Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Com ...
,
Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine (born 1967) is an American-Ugandan stage and film actor, playwright, photographer and documentarian. He was credited as Ntare Mwine until 2008, and by his full name thereafter. Background Mwine was born in Hanover, New Ham ...
,
Dominic Fumusa Dominic Fumusa (; born September 13, 1969) is an American stage and screen actor known for starring in the Showtime comedy-drama series ''Nurse Jackie''. Early life Fumusa was born and raised in Dane County, Wisconsin the son of Clara and Peter ...
, Kadia Saraf, Emilia Suárez,
David Dastmalchian David Dastmalchian ( ; born July 21, 1977) is an American actor, writer, and producer. He has had supporting roles in a number of superhero franchises: he portrayed Thomas Schiff in ''The Dark Knight'' (2008), Kurt and Veb in the Ant-Man franc ...
, and
Steve Schirripa Steven Ralph Schirripa ( ; born September 3, 1957) is an American actor. He is regularly credited as Steven R. Schirripa, including his total of over 300 total appearances in three long running series, playing: Bobby Bacala on ''The Sopranos''; ...
.
John Lithgow John Arthur Lithgow ( ; born , 1945) is an American actor. He studied at Harvard University and the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art before becoming known for his John Lithgow filmography, diverse work on stage and screen. He has rece ...
is set to reprise his role as the Trinity Killer in a cameo. "They're rebooting the entire Michael C. Hall version of 'Dexter.' And it turns out he didn't die after all. I come back sort of as a phantom, as he gradually comes to life on a hospital bed" Lithgow said. The series is slated to premiere in 2025.


Future

Additional spin-off series, depicting the origins of various other characters from the original show including the Trinity Killer are also in development. The new ''Dexter'' franchise is being overseen by Clyde Phillips, the showrunner of ''Dexter''. The multiple television shows will be developed through Showtime's merger with
Paramount+ Paramount+ (formerly known as CBS All Access in the United States and 10 All Access in Australia) is an American Video on demand#Subscription models, subscription video on-demand Over-the-top media service, over-the-top Streaming media, stream ...
.


References


Further reading

* * (Updated May 25, 2011) * * * *


External links

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TV series A television show, TV program (), or simply a TV show, is the general reference to any content produced for viewing on a television set that is broadcast via over-the-air, satellite, and cable, or distributed digitally on streaming platf ...
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