Dexter follows the life of evolution of forensic blood-spatter analyst turned vigilante serial killer, Dexter Morgan (Michael C. Hall), but with several shows in the franchise, viewers may struggle to follow what happens when. From the groundbreaking original series to its prequel and sequels, Dexter has become far larger of a franchise than originally anticipated when it debuted in 2006.
The story spans decades of time as it’s moved through it’s over twenty-year run, and while the series has developed one of TV’s most morally ambiguous protagonists, the expansion of the world has consistently brought more to light about Dexter and his life, both before the original show and in its aftermath. The Dexter franchise has fleshed itself out consistently through the years.
Though many believed that Dexter was coming to a complete close when the series ended, there have been few characters that have left as big a mark on the landscape of modern television. Dexter became one of the most iconic, controversial dramas of its time, blurring the lines between justice and monstrosity as it gave viewers a look at a true anti-hero.
The franchise having expanded in recent years wasn’t necessarily shocking to those who have watched for years, but seeing things expand far enough to bring a prequel series to the forefront speaks to just how fascinating Dexter has become for viewers. With Dexter: Resurrection having been renewed for another season, the saga is continuing to evolve, adding new layers of context consistently.
Dexter: Original Sin Season 1 (1991)
Prequel Series Released In 2024
- Dexter: Original Sin takes place in 1991, 15 years prior to the original series.
- Original Sin follows Dexter for roughly two weeks in his post-adolescent life.
Dexter: Original Sin premiered in 2024, but the series is the earliest in the Dexter franchise. Following Dexter’s life in his earlier years, the show takes place in 1991 and sees Dexter played by Patrick Gibson rather than Hall. Throughout the show’s first season, Dexter: Original Sin follows the titular Dexter as he begins a forensics internship at Miami Metro, confronting his emerging violent urges.
Guided by his adoptive father, Harry Morgan (Christian Slater), Dexter begins to shape the infamous moral code that he brings into the franchise later. Over the course of the season, Dexter navigates college life, his familial relationships, and the understanding of his Dark Passenger. The series only covers a short span of time, existing in a roughly two-week window throughout its run.
Dexter Seasons 1-8 (2006-2012)
Original Series Ran From 2006-2013
- Dexter’s eight-season run covers the characters’ lives between 2006 and 2012.
- Although Dexter ran until 2013, the show itself leaves off a year earlier.
While Original Sin follows Dexter’s early years, the original series sees him as an adult, moving through his life at the Miami Metro police department. Dexter, a blood-spatter analyst moonlighting as a vigilante serial killer, moves through a steady evolution. Confronting a series of major antagonists, including the Ice Truck Killer (Christian Camargo), Dexter hunts other killers when he feels justice hasn’t been served.
With eight seasons, Dexter ran from 2006 until 2013, but the show only covers the timeline of 2006 through 2012. With each season focusing on different adversaries, the time span from season to season can be different for the show. Regardless, the series works hard to balance Dexter’s unconventional work as a vigilante with the rest of his life, which leads him to eventual isolation.
Dexter: New Blood (2021)
Sequel Series Picked Up In 2021
- Dexter: New Blood takes place in 2021, nearly 10 years after Dexter’s finale.
- Spanning two and a half weeks, Dexter: New Blood accomplishes a lot in a short time.
After years of buzz surrounding the idea of Dexter returning to the spotlight, Dexter: New Blood ran as a limited revival series nearly a decade after the end of the original show. Dexter, who was living in the fictional Iron Lake, New York under an alias, has been suppressing his Dark Passenger for years, but something major triggers a chain of events that reawakens him.
While Dexter: New Blood sees a lot happen over the course of the revival’s season, the series only covers roughly two and a half weeks in Dexter’s life. After he’s revisited by his estranged son Harrison (Jack Alcott), Dexter has to confront his past habits and his relationships, though the short series leaves off with what appears to be a patricide from Harrison’s side.
Dexter: Resurrection (2025)
Second Sequel Set 10 Weeks Post-New Blood In 2022
- Dexter: Resurrection aired in 2025, but takes place in 2022.
- Moving closer to real-time, Dexter: Resurrection spans the course of a few weeks, as well.
As the most recent series in the Dexter franchise, Dexter: Resurrection is a sequel series that picks up just weeks after the events of Dexter: New Blood. Set in early 2022, Dexter wakes from a coma in New York City and finds himself chasing Harrison while being pursued by former colleagues from Miami, despite having faked his own death in the past.
A darker, grittier piece of the puzzle, Dexter: Resurrection season 1 has finished airing, and is set to return for a second season in the future. As the father-son dynamic deepens, Dexter: Resurrection makes it clear that the franchise has a lot more steam than anticipated by viewers who thought it was long over. With more story to tell, Dexter: Resurrection will return once again.
- Created by
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James Manos Jr.
- First Episode Air Date
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October 1, 2006
- Cast
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Michael C. Hall, Jennifer Carpenter, David Zayas, James Remar, C.S. Lee, Luna Lauren Velez, Desmond Harrington, Julie Benz, Erik King, Geoff Pierson, Aimee Garcia, Yvonne Strahovski, John Lithgow, Jimmy Smits, Colin Hanks
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