The worst episodes of Dexter

Ranked by viewer rating, lows first. Lit marks on the season rail place this list across the run. Vote on a placement to back it or contest it.

1. 01

   S08E12 · September 22, 2013 · 1h

   Remember the Monsters?5.6

   Dexter has to act quickly when Hannah tells him Elway is staking out the airport. He finds a way to get him out of the way but it also leads to the entire airport being closed. With a hurricane bearing down on Miami, few options are open to them. Dexter races to the hospital when he learns that Deb has been shot. She seems to be recovering and he decides to send Hannah and Harrison to Jacksonville where they could catch a flight. A return trip to the hospital leads to Saxon's arrest but also bad news about Deb. Realizing that he has, directly or indirectly, been ...

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2. 02

   S08E10 · September 8, 2013 · 1h

   Goodbye Miami7.2

   Having made the decision that he and Harrison will move to Argentina with Hannah, Dexter has a lot to do. He tells Deb about his plan but that doesn't go over very well. He also tells Dr, Vogel that her son, Saxon, is dangerous and she is in need of protection. She insists that he back off and let her deal with him in her own way but Dexter has no intention of leaving Miami while Saxon is alive. Saxon has problems however and he takes his mother to his killing room explaining that it's identical to the treatment room at the mental hospital she put him in. He wants his...

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3. 03

   S08E11 · September 15, 2013 · 1h

   Monkey in a Box7.2

   Still coming to terms with Dr. Vogel's death, Dexter wants to eliminate Oliver Saxon before he, Harrison and Hannah head off to South America. He also has a lot of personal items to tie up including selling his condo. Saxon shows up as a prospective buyer and offers Dexter a deal: they stop going after each other and go their own way. Dexter is non-committal and, having located his kill room, sets a trap for him. Meanwhile, U.S. Deputy Marshall Clayton is following Deb, certain that she will lead him to Hannah. Dexter is continuing to reevaluate his priorities and his...

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4. 04

   S08E09 · August 25, 2013 · 1h

   Make Your Own Kind of Music7.3

   Dexter has decided to make a new life for himself with Hannah and Harrison but not before he takes care of the Brain Surgeon. In searching Zach Hamilton's photo studio he finds a clump of hair and blood hidden under a table. When Dexter runs the sample against the DNA database he finds a familial match - to Dr. Evelyn Vogel. Somewhat incredulous at his revelation, Vogel explains that she once had two sons, the eldest of which killed the other. He was placed in a mental institution but died in fire. Dexter believes he must have survived and soon has him identified. Deb...

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5. 05

   S06E07 · November 13, 2011 · 1h

   Nebraska7.4

   Miami Metro gets closer to Gellar and Travis thanks to the new intern. Meanwhile Dexter deals with faces from the past. Travis tries to move on from Gellar.

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6. 06

   S08E06 · August 4, 2013 · 1h

   A Little Reflection7.4

   Dexter is convinced that Zack Hamilton killed Norma Rivera but has no proof and takes to following him whenever he can. He's more than a bit surprised to follow him to Dr. Vogel's office. She admits that Zach is a new patient but refuses to talk about his case. Batista is under pressure from Deputy Chief Tom Matthews to make a decision on who to promote to sergeant. When Quinn learns he didn't get the job, he redoubles his effort to solve the Rivera murder. With Dexter tagging along, it becomes obvious - to Dexter at least - that Zack is stalking his next victim, ...

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7. 07

   S08E07 · August 11, 2013 · 1h

   Dress Code7.4

   After being drugged by Hannah McKay, Dexter wakes up in an industrial area outside of town. He knows that Hannah is responsible and she's surprisingly easy to find, which makes Dexter more than just a bit suspicious. It turns out she's living on a luxury yacht with her husband Jacob. She's changed her name to Maggie and says she's quite happy. Her husband doesn't appreciate the fact that she's met with Dexter forcing her to take action and for Dexter to help her out. Meanwhile, Dexter has agreed to teach Zach Hamilton the code - to Dr. Vogel's delight - but he is ...

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8. 08

   S08E05 · July 28, 2013 · 1h

   This Little Piggy7.5

   Dr. Vogel tells Dexter that Deb was traumatized when she tried to kill him. Now that she's hit rock bottom, things will improve. Dexter isn't too happy with either Vogel or Deb and concentrates on finding serial killer A.J. Yates. Deb and Dexter have another problem when Yates kidnaps Vogel and they set out to rescue her. At the station, the police continue investigating the death of Norma Rivera. She had sex not long before dying and they assume that whoever that was is also the man who killed her. They have a suspect, her former employer Ed Hamilton, who admits to ...

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9. 09

   S06E05 · October 30, 2011 · 1h

   The Angel of Death7.6

   With the help of his newfound friend Brother Sam, Dexter wonders if there is light within him to counter the darkness, while the search for the Doomsday Killers takes him in a new direction; Batista and Quinn pay a visit to the university where Professor Gellar taught; due to departmental regulations following the shooting, Debra is forced to begin therapy.

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10. 10

    S06E08 · November 20, 2011 · 1h

    Sin of Omission7.6

    Dexter, using what he's learned from Brother Sam, comes a step closer to the Doomsday killers, specifically Travis; Deb and LaGuerta go head-to-head after a call girl ends up dead.

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11. 11

    S06E10 · December 4, 2011 · 1h

    Ricochet Rabbit7.6

    Now realizing the error he has made, Dexter redoubles his efforts to track down the doomsday killer and eliminate him. He plants evidence in the church to keep the police off the scent and sets out to find DDK. He manages to track down Holly, the woman Travis freed, but too late. From the evidence at the crime scene, Dexter believes he knows what DDK will strike with next, though he has no idea where. With Quinn hung over and not at work, Batista sets off to interview a person of interest which may have major ramifications for him. Meanwhile, Deb goes through the evidence from the dead call girl case and now knows who was with her and who Laguerta is protecting. Louis the crime lab intern is more than a little deflated when Dexter slams his new computer game.

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12. 12

    S08E02 · July 7, 2013 · 1h

    Every Silver Lining...7.6

    Dr. Vogel shows Dexter some video she shot when his father Harry visited her for help in treating him. Dexter was only 10 years old when Harry first visited her and she takes more than just a little of the credit for what Dexter calls Harry's code: that he would only kill bad people. Vogel says she did it because she cared for him. Having saved his life, she now wants to call in a favor: she thinks the man who recently sliced open someone's brain and left the body on the beach is one of her former patients. She wants Dexter to do what she and Harry taught him to do. ...

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13. 13

    S08E03 · July 14, 2013 · 1h

    What's Eating Dexter Morgan?7.6

    Deb is going through a particularly bad patch and there is nothing Dexter can seemingly do about it. A cop finds her behind the wheel of her car, drunk. She had the good sense to pull over but ran over a parking meter in the process. She contacts Quinn who manages to get her out without being charged. Dexter blames himself but Vogel says he shouldn't take on her problems. She also wonders why Dexter didn't kill her when she found out about him. Drunk again, Deb goes to the station and tells Quinn she killed LaGuerta. Meanwhile, Dexter and the police check out Lyle ...

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14. 14

    S08E04 · July 21, 2013 · 1h

    Scar Tissue7.6

    The next potential killer on Vogel's list is A.J. Yates, who was institutionalized at 15. Vogel tried to channel his hostilities much as she did with Dexter but was unable to do so. When Dexter sees a huge scar on his head, he learns from Vogel that Yates had surgery to remove a brain lesion. He breaks into Yates' house and finds something interesting in the closet. Dexter isn't alone in the house however and it looks he may be their man. He also finds something that affects his relationship with Vogel. Dexter meets a neighbor, Cassie, from the next door apartment. ...

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15. 15

    S03E06 · November 2, 2008 · 1h

    Sí Se Puede7.7

    Miguel surprises Dexter by agreeing to his unreasonable request: access to a white supremacist already in custody.

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16. 16

    S06E01 · October 2, 2011 · 1h

    Those Kinds of Things7.7

    Dexter uses his 20 year high school reunion as a chance to hunt the prom king. It's going fine until he is called to the scene of a vicious faith-based murder leaving him with questions about what he wants to pass on to Harrison. Debra who is finally in a good place with her relationship with Quinn and her job becomes an unexpected hero.

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17. 17

    S06E02 · October 9, 2011 · 1h

    Once Upon a Time...7.7

    In order to solve the mysterious murders, Homicide asks for the help of Brother Sam, who Dexter knows used to be a serial killer. Debra has two proposals, one personal and one job-related.

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18. 18

    S06E03 · October 16, 2011 · 1h

    Smokey and the Bandit7.7

    Dexter faces a serial killer from his past; Debra has problems with her new position and Travis with Gellar think of their next move.

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19. 19

    S08E01 · June 30, 2013 · 1h

    A Beautiful Day7.7

    It's now 6 months since Captain LaGuerta's death. Dexter is still working as a blood spatter expert but Deb has quit the force and is now working as a private investigator. She's also been avoiding Dexter as much as possible. Angel Batista is now the squad's Lieutenant and Tom Matthews is a Deputy Chief. Dexter is worried about Deb in general but even more so after he hears she hasn't been in touch with her new boss for two weeks. Metro homicide has a new case after a body is found on the beach. The man's skull has been sliced open and a small part of his brain ...

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20. 20

    S01E02 · October 8, 2006 · 1h

    Crocodile7.8

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

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21. 21

    S03E01 · September 28, 2008 · 1h

    Our Father7.8

    Dexter begins to question his blind loyalty to his father's memory. In an act of spontaneity, he wonders whether the code of Harry is a necessity anymore.

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22. 22

    S03E02 · October 5, 2008 · 1h

    Finding Freebo7.8

    Dexter catches up with Freebo, but once again the kill goes terribly wrong.

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23. 23

    S03E03 · October 12, 2008 · 1h

    The Lion Sleeps Tonight7.8

    Miguel continues to press his unwanted friendship on Dexter, who has other things to worry about - primarily a child molester who has his eye on Astor.

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24. 24

    S03E04 · October 19, 2008 · 1h

    All in the Family7.8

    Dexter botches his first marriage proposal to Rita, but a shocked and grieving fiancée's display of emotions provides him with clues on how to show the proper feelings himself.

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25. 25

    S03E05 · October 26, 2008 · 1h

    Turning Biminese7.8

    Through Miguel, Dexter learns of a wife-killer who has gone free - the perfect person for his next kill.

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