Top 20 Dexter Kills of All Time

Top-20-Dexter-Kills

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today were counting down our picks for the top 20 best Dexter kills. Beware of spoilers!

Are You...?

Mike Anderson was one of those rare cops in Dexter- sharp, principled and just getting started at Miami Metro. Sadly, hes gunned down by Viktor Baskov, whos trying to cover up a crime. Mike wasnt that close to Dexter, but his death mustve struck a nerve. So, Dexter does what he does best- he investigates, tracks Viktor down and catches him right before he can skip the country. In a quiet airport bathroom, Dexter drugs him and sets up the kill. Viktor tries to bribe his way out, but we all know Dexter didnt come to negotiate. When Viktor realizes this, he accepts his fate. Sure, a kill room at the airport sounds wild, but if anyone can pull it off, its Dexter.

The Lion Sleeps Tonight

While Dexter claims to follow a code, hes bent the rule more than a few times and Nathan Marten is proof. We first meet Marten at a supermarket, where he shows too much interest in Astor. If theres one thing Dexters good at, its spotting predators. After taking note of Nathans license plate, and doing some digging, he confirms his gut feeling. Still, Nathan doesnt stop there, he starts stalking Astor and taking photos. After a public confrontation, Dexter breaks into Nathans home and what he finds seals the deal. Driven by the fierce need to protect his children, Dexter strangles him. Honestly, we cant blame anyone who thinks its a well-deserved death. Nathan had it coming.

The Dark... Whatever

Theres no denying Clint McKay was an awful father. After the traumatic childhood Hannah had because of him, he comes back again and for a moment, it seems hes changed. But, no, hes just back for money. When Hannah doesnt hand it over, the monster resurfaces. He plows through her greenhouse with his truck and tears her down with harsh words. Then, he resorts to blackmail. Code or no code, thats when Dexter decides he must die. Dexter ambushes him in a parking lot, and dispatches his lovers father like any other target. Just before the fatal stab to the chest, Clint gets a glimpse of the devil inside Dexter. Sometimes, being a jerk can get you killed.

My Bad

At first, Dexter was all about Harrys code, and in a twisted way, it made sense. But sometimes, Dexter kills simply because he cant control that strong urge. Thats exactly how Rankin becomes a victim. Like Clint McKay, Rankins an obnoxious man and he crosses Dexter at the worst possible time, while hes still dealing with Ritas death. This loudmouth hurls insults at Dexter, and when Dexter confronts him, he goes on to insult dead Rita. Its enough to unleash the beast. Though Rankin puts up a fight, a rage-filled Dexter bludgeons him without mercy. Another reason you should never pick up a fight with a stranger, you never know what theyre capable of.

Do You Take Dexter Morgan?

He was known for skinning them alive. He manages to evade capture for a while until he ends up on Dexters radar, thanks to Miguel who hires him to kill Dexter. On Dexters wedding day, King kidnaps him and prepares for torture. But this is Dexters show after all and the tables quickly turn when Dexter frees himself. What follows is a violent clash between these killers, made even more intense by the sound of approaching sirens. In the end, Dexter brutally snaps Kings neck. If you ask us, its an easy death for someone so cruel.

Run

When it comes to the most sadistic killers in Dexter, Ray Speltzer ranks high. Even after getting arrested, Speltzer walks free on a technicality. Dexter takes matters into his own hands. Things get complicated when he ends up inside Speltzers maze, but he figures out the game and escapes. By now, the tension is already at a boiling point and were eagerly awaiting Speltzers downfall. It finally comes when Dexter lures him to the cemetery and one shovel hit later, Speltzer wakes up on Dexters table. Taunting him like he did his victims, Dexter stabs him before shoving him into the flames of the crematorium. Brutal, but deserved.

Dexter

To the outside world, Donovan was just a nice preacher, helping the underprivileged in his community. But behind the holy facade was a perverted killer who targeted young boys and has already taken several lives. After doing his research, Dexter finally confronts him with photos of his victims. Though Donovan pleads that he cant help himself, Dexter isnt buying it. He delivers his own brand of punishment, executing the kill with precision and disposing of the body neatly. Its a standout moment because its our introduction to Dexters dark impulses and his ruthless code.

Dex, Lies, and Videotape

If youre trying to copy a killer like Dexter Morgan, you better be flawless. Otherwise, youll end up on his table. Thats exactly what happened to this sloppy copycat who claimed to be the Bay Harbor Butcher. But impersonation wasnt the major reason Dexter killed him. Under the disguise of being Dexters other identity, Ken Olson had killed two people and tried to kill a third, his boss. For Dexter, killing is permitted by his code, not personal gain. But Olson? He killed for himself. So, Dexter hunted him down, showed him what a real kill room looked like and decided there could only be one Dark Defender in Miami.

Those Kinds of Things

Being a jerk in high school might be forgivable. But being a jerk who kills your own wife to dodge an expensive divorce? Thats a whole different level. Joe Walker crosses that line and karma catches up with him in the form of Dexter at their high school reunion. After confirming that Janet Walker didnt take her own life, Dexter lures Joe into a shed where things go sideways. The two brawl, but Dexter proves hes the better fighter. Whats darkly funny about Walkers death is his rants about how divine justice would protect him. Dexters answer? A giant sledgehammer to the head. For someone who spent his life playing the tough guy, Joe did not see that coming.

Morning Comes

If Santos Jimenez and his crew hadnt murdered Dexters mother and left him lying in the pool of her blood, maybe things wouldve turned out different. So, if anyone deserves a spot on Dexters table, its this notorious drug dealer. 34 years after Laura Mosers murder, Dexter tracks him down to his tavern but fails to finish the job. Instead of backing off, Jimenez makes the big mistake of coming after Dexter. Dexter then lures him out of his cabin and onto his table. Jimenez goes from begging to threats, but Dexter kills him in the same way he killed his mother. What goes around, comes around.

Cold Snap

Dexter spent years resisting the urge to kill, so the return to his instincts had to be worth the wait. Having decided not to get involved with Matt Caldwell, the entitled son of villainous Kurt Caldwell, Dexter is infuriated when Matt nearly shoots him and takes the life of a deer he was attached to. After he captures Matt, Dexter feels a return to his former self, as if his true persona is seeping back in. Although the kill room is crudely put together, the essence of a "Dexter" ritual can be felt when he gets Matt to admit to his sins. The moment after he ends Matt is memorable because we finally see Dexter acknowledge who he truly is.

The British Invasion

Lila Tournay, or Lila West, is a toxic influence on Dexter, which he realizes after she tries to eliminate Rita and the kids. She seals her own fate after causing the demise of James Doakes. Knowing that finishing Lila off is now an option, Dexters first attempt fails but he makes sure he gets another. Despite Lilas escape to France, Dexter arrives to incapacitate her. In a rare act of mercy, he makes her last moments painless, although Doakes is avenged. After watching Lila destroy Dexters life, and eliminate the innocent Doakes, its worth seeing her get what she had coming. It also fits into Dexter and Lilas twisted romance, with Lila receiving the grand gesture she kept wanting Dexter to make for her.

The Is the Way the World Ends

Travis Marshall becomes the Doomsday Killer when he convinces himself hes on a divine mission of killing people. Travis and Dexters conflict reaches its breaking point when he abducts Dexters son, which makes things very personal. Dexter ends up outsmarting Travis to capture him, in order to bring an end to Travis with poetic justice. The conversation preceding the kill is what makes the big impression, as Dexter and Travis share their contrasting beliefs in faith and the inevitable. Theres a definite sense of tension during this sequence as Debras arrival is imminent, which leaves a whole lot of ambiguity in the air when the killing blow lands. Travis demise leaves the season with a perfect mix of shock and intrigue.

Practically Perfect

Dexter is more of a vigilante in the fifth season, where he takes down the gang behind the barrel girl killings. Uncovering The Finishers identity, Dexter falls into a tight situation when Boyd manages to simultaneously render him unconscious. However, he eventually outsmarts Boyd at his house, creating a makeshift kill room to maintain his ritual. Dexter even describes Boyds victims to him since he doesnt have his stock of photos. Having recently lost his wife Rita, Dexter sees this as his way to carry on with his life and deliver retribution to men who find pleasure in harming female victims. Were encouraged to root for Dexter because of Boyds lack of remorse, and its grimly fitting he meets a gruesome end just like his victims did.

Shrink Wrap

A psychiatrist who gained a sadistic sense of pleasure by influencing women in power to take their own lives, Emmett Meridian falls on Dexters radar. Funny enough, the sessions Dexter undergoes just to get close to Meridian actually end up helping, although theyre still not good enough to get the doctor off the hook. Dexter chooses to scare Meridian before capturing him, openly admitting to being a serial killer and then making his move. The kill is mainly significant because its one of the first times that Dexters code borders on vigilantism, as he ensures the doctor doesnt emotionally manipulate anyone else. Its a mixture of dark comedy and the sense of thrill that Dexter evokes whenever a plan comes together perfectly.

Dex Takes a Holiday

While Dexter isnt supposed to be a good person, his actions do often deliver justice where it should have been served. Dexter deduces Zoey Kruger as the person who took the life of her child and blamed it on her husband, and realizes shes a shrewd tactician whos onto him. Zoey proves to be a tough target for Dexter to catch, before successfully luring her to his house and then capturing her. Zoey is the victim who confirms to Dexter that he truly does appreciate having a family, and that there might be monsters worse than him out there. Dexter makes Zoey realize that her actions were an excuse to run away from responsibility, and, in his way, taking her life is Dexter being responsible.

Remember the Monsters?

The villain who deals Dexters life in Miami the overwhelming blow is Oliver Saxon, also known as the Brain Surgeon. Dexter manages to catch Saxon, but lets Debra apprehend him. This comes back to haunt Dexter, as Debra eventually ends up brain-dead after Saxons attack on her. Filled with vengeance, Dexter arrives at the jail under the pretense of doing his job. In a chilling show of Dexters mastery in killing, he outright tells Saxon his intentions to finish him off with a pen. This leads to a fight to the death where Dexter delivers on his promise. As the final villain in the original series, Saxon gets a distinct and memorable send-off, while the kill itself is cathartic for Dexter for the retribution he gains.

I Had a Dream

Miguel becomes Dexters best friend after Dexter learns he accepts him for his dark passenger. As it turned out, Miguel was using Dexter from the beginning so he could become a killer himself, with the two falling out big-time. When Miguel targets Maria LaGuerta, Dexter steps in to put an end to the monster hes made. Ambushing Miguel where he thought he was going to find Maria, Dexter then straps his former friend to his kill table. This moment brings out the real Miguel, whose lies to sway Dexters intentions fall on deaf ears. Miguels elimination confirms Dexters status as the apex predator, with their relationship brought to a close through an appropriately violent end.

Born Free

This is Dexters most heartbreaking kill: Brian is his own brother. After learning Debras boyfriend is actually the Ice Truck killer his brother masquerading with a different identity to get close to Dexter Dexter nearly gives in to Brians proposal to team up. However, he has no choice but to turn the tables on Brian when he realizes that Brian intends to take Debras life. While Dexter is usually gleeful when he has someone on the kill table, this one plays like a true tragedy. Having seen Dexter claim he cant feel human emotions, we watch as he breaks down after ending his brother for good. Its incredible how the show makes us feel bad for two serial killers in one scene.

The Getaway

The Trinity Killers death is something that fans looked forward to the whole season. Arthur Mitchells reign of terror comes to an end when Dexter ambushes him. Hes brought to a unique kill room adorned by the pictures of the many people Arthur slew over the years, along with reminders of his childhood. The most interesting aspect of this kill is how Arthur gradually shifts from horror to complete acceptance of his fate. Its to the point where Dexter feels the shift in control and brings an end to the Trinity Killer, and thinks hes won. Arthurs acceptance is understood when Dexter returns home to find his own wife dead, thus adding an additional layer of horrifying subtext to The Trinity Killers death scene.

What do you think is the best Dexter kill? Let us know in the comments!