We all thought we had seen the last of Dexter Morgan when he adopted a new life as a lumberjack in Oregon in the final moments of the original series. How wrong we were. Since then, we’ve had three moreDextershows. What began as a simple story about a murderous blood-splatter analyst working for the fictional Miami Metro Police Department has now grown high and far beyond the confines of Jeff Lindsay’s novel,Darkly Dreaming Dexter.
The idea to expand the franchise was born out of viewer dissatisfaction. The majority of fans had been unhappy with how the original series ended, and, for years, the debates continued. Since the interest was still there, more shows were made, and these creative choices have been totally justified. NoDextershow has failed, but they vary slightly in quality.
Here is the ranking of each series, according to Rotten Tomatoes.
The animated web seriesDexter: Early Cutshas no Rotten Tomatoes score and therefore is not included here.
4’Dexter: Original Sin' (2024 – Present)
Rotten Tomatoes: 70%
Dexter: Original Sin
Set 15 years before Season 1 ofDexter,Dexter: Original Sinfollows a young Dexter Morgan (Patrick Gibson)as he starts his forensic internship at Miami Metro. His encroaching inner demons soon give him the urge to take lives, but he finds a rather ‘honorable’ way to do it. Guided by his adoptive father, Harry (Christian Slater), he embraces a strict code requiring him to only kill other murderers who have avoided justice, or are likely to avoid it. Michael C. Hall provides the narration.
Dexter Year One… and Many More
Originsdoesn’t break any new ground in the arena ofprequel stories, but it offers great insights into the character’s psyche. Among many other things, we see how his secret activities exact a heavy toll on his charged relationship with his sister, Debra.
On Rotten Tomatoes, critics were pleased, but not thrilled, suggesting that more creativity should have been infused into the proceedings to make the origin story better than the rest of the productions. Still, most commentators agree that this is a gift that fans who have stuck with the franchise since the 2000s deserve to be given. The site’s consensus notes that the show“cares less about injecting fresh blood than reviving a tried-and-true formula, making for a prequel that’s just solid enough to scratch the Dexter itch with a scalpel.”
3’Dexter' (2006 – 2013)
Rotten Tomatoes: 71%
When he isn’t doing his duties as a normal blood spatter analyst for the Miami Metro Police Department, Dexter Morgan (Michael C. Hall) isbusy catching and murdering killers. He is careful enough not to be caught, and takes advantage of the fact that cops usually aren’t excited to pursue cases about murdered murderers. Each season ofDexterfeatures a major villain who isn’t as easy to get as Mr. Morgan’s other victims.
The Show That Started It All
Michael C. Hall scores as a downright spooky Smith, and Golden Globe-nominated John Lithgow does a nicely measured turn as arguablythe show’s greatest villain, Arthur Mitchell. However, without great performances and creative kills, the small-screen production would be basic. As with many projects of its kind, the dialogue is superfluous, just extended lines intended to express the mood of the episode rather than hoist the logic-defying narrative.
Beyond that,Dexteris extremely inconsistent, especially in its later seasons. Critics famously tore up the final season, with the consensus noting that it“is so hesitant to punish its anti-hero for his misdeeds, it opts to punish its audience instead.”This was a far cry from the first season’s consensus, which described the crime thriller as“a compelling, elegantly crafted horror-drama.”
2’Dexter: New Blood' (2021)
Rotten Tomatoes: 77%
Dexter: New Blood
There’s some unlikely calm at the start ofDexter: New Blood, but the reality of nature eventually intervenes, forcing Dexter Morgan (Michael C. Hall) to make difficult decisions about his life. Set 10 years after the end of the original series, the spinoff finds himliving under the assumed name “Jim Lindsay” in the remote town of Iron Lake, New York. He has suppressed his “Dark Passenger” and is dating the town’s chief of police, Angela Bishop (Julia Jones). However, his idyllic, comeuppance-free life is shattered when his estranged son, Harrison (Jack Alcott), shows up. This, coupled with a series of strange events in the small community, gradually triggers his homicidal urges.
Swimming in a Smaller Pond
This marvel of small-town minimalism tells a simple tale about love, parenting, and goodwill.New Bloodallows Michael C. Hall fewer opportunities for the kind of eerie intensity he showed in the original series, and he doesn’t have the aura that he exhibits insome of his other performances, but he burrows deep into the role and offers it as much authenticity as it can hold. He’s usually not an actor with a lot of range, but he knows how to create the much-needed rapport with the viewers as he brings us right inside Dexter’s delusions and rare fears. Jennifer Carpenter is also the perfect match for him; it’s easy to see why they’ve been paired a few times.
On Rotten Tomatoes, most critics gave it a stamp of approval, pointing out a few characterization flaws but praising all other production and storytelling aspects. The consensus reads:“Anchored by Michael C. Hall’s still-compelling portrayal of the title character,Dexter: New Bloodhelps restore some of the luster lost by the show’s contentious finale.”
Everything You Need To Remember About ‘Dexter: New Blood’ Before ‘Dexter: Resurrection’
‘Dexter: Resurrection’ is almost here, which means it’s time for a refresher on everything that happened in the previous chapter.
1’Dexter: Resurrection' (2025)
Rotten Tomatoes: 87%
Dexter: Resurrection
Set several weeks after the eventsof New Blood,Dexter: Resurrectionreveals that Dexter Morgan (Hall)miraculously survived after being shot by Harrison. Who would have thought otherwise? He is almost like Jason Voorhees at this point. Upon waking from a coma, he traces Harrison to New York City, determined to give him proper mentorship. However, proper parenting will be hard since Miami Metro lawman Angel Batista (David Zayas) has pieced things together and is now ready to cross all jurisdiction lines to nab the vigilante killer.
Dexter Returns
So far, this has been a fun, unbridled delight of a crime thriller. Each episode is 50 minutes of pure escapist insanity that is almost lethal in its effectiveness. It’s a bracing tale of tenacious realism, blending mild absurdity and quietly heartbreaking observations of the state of the character’s mind. Great camerawork, hair-raising close calls, and a narrative jam-packed with detailed moments of contemplation also outfit the new show.
The final word on RT states:“Dexterbrushes off a minor case of death and multiple false endings to reemerge as vital as ever in a knowingly absurd continuation that rediscovers the thrill of the hunt.“The journey is not yet over, but so far, so good. It’s unclear whether Dexter Morgan will survive in the finale, but it’ll be better if he finally gets to pay for his “sins.” Fingers crossed.
