All The Dexter Content So Far

Dexter is a long-running thriller franchise. Starting with the novel Darkly Dreaming Dexter in 2005, this dashing, deadly killer has been in the spotlight. But if you’re just being introduced to the franchise, it can be a bit daunting.

There’s a lot. Eight novels, four television shows, and two comic mini-series, to be exact. So, it can be hard to know when or where to jump in.

So, with season two of the latest series coming out in October, now is the time to dive in. And I am here to help you. I’ve read and watched every piece of Dexter content. It’s all been great, except for one detail. Most of the endings have sucked. I think that’s one of the reasons the show keeps getting rebooted. They still haven’t given us a satisfying ending. Or even one that hasn’t filled fans with rage.

Or maybe that’s just me.

The book series

The Dexter novel series spans eight novels written by Jeff Lindsay. They follow, sort of, the events of the first few seasons of the show. Though the ending is wildly different.

The books follow Dexter Morgan, a blood splatter analyst for Miami PD. He is mostly a good guy. He is devoted to his work. He is a loving boyfriend and eventually husband to Rita. He’s a great stepdad to her kids and father to his own.

But he has a problem. A Dark Passenger that lives within him that incites him to kill. Thanks to his adopted father, Harry Morgan, he channels this Dark Passenger with a Code. He can only kill killers. Only people the police haven’t been able to bring to justice. And above all, he must not get caught.

If we’re to compare the novel series to the show, the biggest thing that stands out is that the books are a little funnier. Dexter has conversations with his Dark Passenger, and that guy is a snarky bitch. Ten out of ten.

One thing I don’t like as much in the series is that there’s no real attachment between Dexter and anyone. In the show, which we’ll discuss soon, Dexter shows affection for his sister Deb, as well as Rita and the kids. In the books, it’s a little clearer that these relationships are part of his cover of normalicy and he doesn’t really care about anyone.

And that’s just not as endearing of a character.

Dexter

Launching in 2006 on Showtime, the show Dexter follows a slightly warmer version of Dexter Morgan. He is still a blood splatter analyst. Still devoted boyfriend and then husband to Rita. Still a pretty good dad and stepdad.

In fact, he seems to really thrive in those roles.

Instead of the Dark Passenger, Dexter has conversations with the memory of his adopted father, Harry Morgan. He seems to be the voice of reason in his head.

Through the course of the series, Dexter tries over and over again to balance the everyday life that he seems to want with his need to satiate his Dark Passenger. Each season sees him coming face-to-face with another killer. Some of them justified, some of them not. This included John Lithgow playing one of the scariest damned serial killers I have ever seen. But each one teaches Dexter something about himself.

Eventually, though, it all becomes too much. And after an especially devastating loss, he takes advantage of a hurricane and vanishes. Never, we think, to be seen again.

Dexter, New Blood

The original Dexter series ended in 2013. Dexter New Blood came out in 2021 and takes place ten years after the end of the first series.

Dexter, now going by the name Jim Lindsay as a nod to the original author, is living in a small town in New York. He works at a hunting shop, dates the chief of police, and has a strange relationship with a gorgeous white deer.

Then, Harrison shows up. Now a young man, he wants to know why his father abandoned him. But the revelation that his dad is a serial killer is a little too much for him. That is, until they realize that there’s someone in town who might need a visit from the Dark Passenger.

Spanning only ten episodes, this was a dark continuation of the story that brought up a lot of Dexter’s family issues. And poor Harrison is left more broken than ever.

Dexter, Original Sin

Taking a step back in time, Dexter Original Sin is about a teenage Dexter. It starts with his first kill, which we saw in the original series. Patrick Gibson plays a young Dexter Morgan, while Michael C. Hall seems to be narrating from his hospital bed.

After you know, almost dying.

This series was fun in that it showed younger versions of all our favorite characters. Dexter and Harry realize together that his bloodlust can’t be contained by animals alone. And so they begin to navigate the ins and outs of killing.

We also see a series of flashbacks to Harry and Laura Moser, Dexter’s birth mother. In my opinion, we also realize that the real villain of this show is, and always will be, Harry Morgan. Trust me, when you watch it, it makes sense.

Original Sin only ran for one season, which was a shame. Young Dexter was fun. And at least we knew no beloved characters could be needlessly killed in the last episode. Maybe it will get renewed at some point, since we can’t seem to let this character die.

This leaves just the first season of the latest show, Dexter Resurrection. This season deserves its own review, which will be coming later this week. Hope to see you then, it’ll be killer.

What do you think of Dexter? Have you seen any of it, or are you just curious where to start? Let me know in the comments.