Bethany Joy Lenz | Dexter

• Genre: Crime drama. Psychological thriller. Mystery. Black comedy. Police procedural
• Based on: Darkly Dreaming Dexter by Jeff Lindsay
• Developed by: James Manos Jr.
• Showrunners: Clyde Phillips (seasons 1–4), Chip Johannessen (season 5), Scott Buck (seasons 6–8)
• Starring: Michael C. Hall, Julie Benz, Jennifer Carpenter, Erik King, Lauren Vélez, David Zayas, James Remar, C. S. Lee, Desmond Harrington, Aimee Garcia, Geoff Pierson
• Theme music composer: Rolfe Kent
• Composer: Daniel Licht
• No. of seasons: 8
• No. of episodes: 96
• Executive producers: James Manos Jr., Sara Colleton, John Goldwyn, Charles H. Eglee, Michael C. Hall, Chip Johannessen, Clyde Phillips, Manny Coto, Wendy West, Tim Schlattmann, Melissa Rosenberg, Jace Richdale, Scott Buck
• Producers: Timothy Schlattmann, Lauren Gussis, Arika Lisanne Mittman, Drew Z. Greenberg, Scott Reynolds, Dennis Bishop
• Production locations: Miami, Florida, U.S., Long Beach, California, U.S.
• Cinematography: Terry Stacey, Romeo Tirone, Martin J. Layton, Jeffrey Jur
• Running time: 47–66 minutes
• Production companies: The Colleton Company, John Goldwyn Productions, Clyde Phillips Productions, 801 Productions, Devilina Productions, Showtime Networks
• Network: Showtime
• Release: October 1, 2006 – September 22, 2013

Orphaned at age three, when he witnessed his mother's brutal murder with a chainsaw, Dexter (Michael C. Hall) was adopted by Miami police officer Harry Morgan (James Remar). 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 bloodstain pattern analysis, 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 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.

"Scar Tissue"

Debra and Vogel work through LaGuerta's murder, but Debra still struggles to cope. Quinn finds out he aced the Sergeant test from Batista. Vogel tells Dexter he might not have Debra in his life anymore. Dexter searches for the next potential killer on Vogel's list, A.J. Yates. Sneaking inside Yates' residence, Dexter doesn't know he's actually under surveillance from Yates' cameras. Dexter calls Vogel about suspicious evidence as Yates overhears. Below the house Yates has a female prisoner tied up. Quinn fights with Debra's DUI arresting officer, angering Batista on Quinn's behavior as he's nominating him for Sergeant (who Matthews doesn't want). Dexter meets his new neighbor, Cassie, who is attracted to mysterious men. Masuka has an awkward encounter with Niki, a 20-year-old, who claims to be his biological daughter via artificial insemination. Dexter returns to Yates' residence and finds the hidden entrance and proof he is the Brain Surgeon. Instead of Yates he finds the female prisoner stabbed and rescues her. Dexter finds out that Vogel is keeping notes on her interaction with him. Debra learns of Harry's suicide over Dexter's nature. Dexter uses Yates' ailing father to lure him, but Yates escapes after putting his father in danger. After confirming Harry's suicide, Debra grabs the wheel and tries to kill herself and Dexter, driving off the road into a lake. After being rescued Debra sees Dexter drowning and swims back to save him.

"This Little Piggy"

Vogel tries to reconcile Dexter and Debra's differences in therapy, but Dexter walks out. Miami Metro PD steps up its investigation of Norma Rivera's murder; they target her millionaire boss, Ed Hamilton, with whom she was having an affair. Matthews pressures Quinn to overlook Hamilton. After they visit Hamilton he provides an alibi but they find a witness who saw the son, Zach, near the scene. Dexter suspects Zach is the real killer after the witness later recants, likely paid off by the family. Police investigate Yates' home and find his underground lair and multiple graves on the property. Yates broke each victim's toes, one week at a time, before finally murdering them. Masuka asks Debra to do a background check on Niki, who claims to be his daughter. Yates abducts Vogel; Dexter and Debra reconcile as they work together to find her. Vogel manages to call Dexter, and Deb traces the location. Dexter kills Yates, and brings Debra and Vogel along as he dumps the body, explaining that he considers them family, seeing Vogel as a mother figure.

"A Little Reflection"

Dexter investigates Zach and confirms that he murdered Norma. Vogel wants to teach Harry's Code to Zach, but Dexter is skeptical. Deb helps her boss, Elway, prove his sister's boyfriend is being unfaithful. After being denied the sergeant's position, Quinn zealously investigates Zach. Dexter captures Zach just before he kills his father, not his father's latest mistress as expected. Dexter binds Zach in a kill room. Zach confesses to killing Norma to protect his mother, whose alcoholism stems from his father's marital indiscretions. Zach's noble motives convince Dexter to let Zach go and teach him Harry's Code. Later, while eating dinner at Deb's, Debra and Dexter are drugged by Hannah McKay.

"Dress Code"

Waking up unharmed, Dexter and Debra believe that Hannah has sent them a message. Dexter finds Hannah's current alias and address, and learns that she is married to multimillionaire Miles Castner. Masuka learns that Niki works at a topless sports bar, so he secures her a part-time job in his lab. Zach visits the precinct with his lawyer and demands that Quinn stop following him. Quinn and Jamie decide to move in together. Hannah confesses to Dexter that she hoped he would kill Miles. Debra borrows Elway's GPS and tracks Dexter. Miles violently confronts Hannah about her meeting with Dexter, and she kills him herself. Dexter and Hannah dump the body, but Debra sees them together. Dexter is called to a crime scene in his building: Cassie has been bludgeoned, in the same fashion as Norma, and Dexter suspects Zach.

"Are We There Yet?"

Dexter finds evidence that Zach killed Cassie. He tracks Zach to a hotel in Key West, and Hannah accompanies him. During the trip, Dexter plans to get Hannah a new identity so she can flee the country. Debra uses the GPS to follow Dexter to Key West. Dexter and Hannah realize that Zach was in Key West at the time of Cassie's death, which means that someone is trying to frame Zach. Debra tries to arrest Hannah, but stops when Hannah convinces her that she loves Dexter; however, Elway informs the authorities that Hannah may be in Miami. Back in Miami, Dexter, Hannah, and Zach have dinner with Vogel. Afterward, Dexter takes Hannah to her hotel room, where they have sex. At his apartment, Dexter finds Zach's corpse, left by the Brain Surgeon. After dumping the body, Dexter asks Hannah to stay in Miami.