The Dexter franchise isn’t a simple crime saga. Interwoven with a prequel, two sequels and shocking twists, its timeline has become increasingly gripping and complex. All said, here’s the ultimate guide on how to watch the entire Dexter series in the correct order.
A James Manos Jr. creation, Dexter first premiered in 2006 on Showtime, introducing viewers to the chilling world of Dexter Morgan (played by Michael C. Hall), a forensic expert with a dark secret. The show continued its run for eight hit seasons and was both a commercial and critical hit. It received multiple awards, including two Golden Globes won by Hall and John Lithgow for their roles as Morgan and Arthur Mitchell, respectively.
The serial killer‘s story then continued with Dexter: New Blood, a sequel series released in 2021. Created by Clyde Phillips, it went on to become one of Showtime’s most-watched shows, drawing over 3 million weekly viewers during its run.
In 2024, a prequel series titled Dexter: Original Sin brought the titular character back. While the story in Original Sin picked up after the events of New Blood, the narrative soon shifted to Dexter’s youth through flashbacks, focusing on his teenage years and his first steps towards becoming a serial killer guided by a twisted moral code.
Consequently, Dexter: Resurrection, set to release on 11 July 2025, will serve as a direct sequel to New Blood. It will continue Dexter’s saga, all the while also focusing on his son, Harrison Morgan (played by Jack Alcott), as the latter grapples with the weight of his father’s chilling legacy.
Decoding the chronological timeline of the Dexter series
Dexter: Original Sin (2024) – Set 15 years before Dexter, it shows the titular character’s youth and origin story. However, despite being a prequel, parts of it take place after New Blood, and thus could contain spoilers for viewers who haven’t watched the original series and New Blood.
Dexter (2006–2013) – Follows Dexter’s adventures in Miami.
Dexter: New Blood (2021) – Set 10 years after Dexter, the show follows Dexter’s new life in Iron Lake.
Dexter: Resurrection (2025) – To follow Dexter and Harrison’s adventures in New York weeks after the events of Dexter: New Blood.
However, if you want to find the best way to watch the saga without any spoilers, keep reading.
Which is the correct order to watch every Dexter series in?
Dexter (2006–2013)
Created by: James Manos Jr.
Cast: Michael C. Hall, Jennifer Carpenter, Julie Benz, David Zayas
Seasons: 8
Episodes: 96
IMDb rating: 8.6
Synopsis: Dexter Morgan (Hall) is a forensic blood-spatter analyst for the Miami Metro Police Department. However, he leads a double life as a vigilante serial killer, targeting other murderers who have escaped justice.
Trivia: The 8th season premiere was the most-watched Dexter episode, with over 3 million viewers. Meanwhile, the series finale drew 2.8 million viewers, the largest audience in Showtime’s history at that time.
Watch Dexter season 1-8 on Netflix
Dexter: New Blood (2021)
Created by: Clyde Phillips
Cast: Michael C. Hall, Jack Alcott, Julia Jones, Johnny Sequoyah, Clancy Brown
Episodes: 10
IMDb rating: 8.1
Synopsis: Ten years after the events of the original series, Dexter (Hall) is living under a new identity in the quiet town of Iron Lake, New York. However, his past catches up to him when his estranged son, Harrison (Alcott), tracks him down, and a series of local criminals threaten to dismantle his peace.
Trivia: According to Clyde Phillips, the sequel took 119 days to film.
Watch Dexter: New Blood on Prime Video
Also read: A recap of Dexter: New Blood before Resurrection drops
Dexter: Original Sin (2024)
Created by: Clyde Phillips
Cast: Patrick Gibson, Christian Slater, Molly Brown
Episodes: 10
IMDb rating: 8.2
Synopsis: A young Dexter Morgan (Gibson) navigates life as a college student by day and an emerging serial killer by night. He is guided by his adoptive father, Harry Morgan (Slater), under the strict “Code” of only killing the killers.
Trivia: Original Sin was renewed for a second season in April 2025. The show takes viewers to 1991, 15 years before the first season of Dexter.
Watch Dexter: Original Sin on Prime Video
Dexter: Resurrection (2025)
Created by: Clyde Phillips
Cast: Michael C. Hall, David Zayas, Jack Alcott
Episodes: 10
Synopsis: A few weeks after the events of New Blood, Dexter Morgan (Hall) returns to chase his son, Harrison (Alcott), to New York City, all the while being tailed by Captain Angel Batista (Zayas).
Trivia: Michael C. Hall also serves as an executive producer for Resurrection.
Hero image credit: Dexter via X; Featured image credit: Morning Comes, Dexter (2006) via IMDb.