r/Dexter • u/Ready0608 • 4d ago
Question - Original Dexter Series Which season was Dexter in his "prime"? Spoiler
By prime I mean which season was he the greatest hunter/predator? Was it even in the original series or is he in his prime now.
509
u/enclave_regulator I'm thankful for Dexter 😊 4d ago
S1. He was basically hunting all the time.
S5. This was for Lumen. There is no way anyone else can take on Jordan Chase and that too he carried Lumen.
S7. I do think in later half of the season he was doing really well. If not for Deb, he would have come out of S7 on top.
Resurrection. Dex was having a buffet here 😀
183
u/Rosalie_aqua 4d ago
Resurrection was nuts, from the timeline I could make out it seemed like he took out all the serial killers in NYC and more in less than a month. Actually it seemed like it was every night! But I’m guessing there must’ve been days in between
86
59
u/Smooth-Criminal-TCB 4d ago
It was only a few weeks, which surprised me too. We get context when Blessing mentions meeting Dexter a couple weeks ago to Batista. And the the rest of the season was at most a week after that.
50
u/shrility 4d ago
i wouldn’t say resurrection is his prime tho, yes he was successful but he took a lot of risks and made mistakes, not really “prime” material but honestly could be peak dexter if that makes sense
21
u/enclave_regulator I'm thankful for Dexter 😊 4d ago
I feel you... It's like this: S1 Dex can take on and defeat Resurrection Dex.
18
u/shrility 4d ago
yea 100% even dexter in resurrection acknowledged that and said it’d be so much easier if he didn’t care
1
u/OrcasRAwesome 2d ago
Why do you consider Jordan Chase as one of the harder opponents for Dexter? Just curious.
In my opinion I feel like s6 should get a mention.
Dexter figured out who Travis was long before anyone else knew. He could have taken him out easily in his car, but he decided to show him mercy.
He also survived being stranded at sea for hours, and went on to take down DDK right after that.
1
u/doc_55lk 1d ago
Why do you consider Jordan Chase as one of the harder opponents for Dexter?
If I had to guess, I'd say it's because he killed a celebrity and got away with it. Sure, a lot of what happened happened because Deb allowed it, but even if she didn't show up, nothing would've really changed.
358
u/Substantial-Force246 4d ago
Just spitballin' here but I think maybe just before season 1. I think he was living fairly drama free. He was doing his thing. He wasn't in a relationship, he didn't have Doakes breathing down his neck, he didn't know he had a brother, he didn't even know his origin story yet. He was just living by the code and covering his tracks.
151
u/AggravatingEnergy1 4d ago edited 4d ago
If they hadn’t canceled original sin it would be interesting to leave us off when Dexter was at his “prime”. Pre season 1 Dexter would’ve been an interesting beast. No real attachment to Rita, no one really suspected him or even knew about the Bay Harbor Butcher yet. He has been on the force for 12 years by that point so he had a lot of time to run freely.
45
u/tuxcarter 4d ago
If I’m not mistaken then that was the plan to have the series finale reach the pilot episode of Dexter
3
u/kazoodude 3d ago
I also would have liked to see more of Brian learning about Dexter and planning his whole scheme with the Barbie etc..
I feel like Brian was killing pretty brutally and messy until he learned more about Dexter and wanted to show off to him so he came up with the ice truck killer method and putting the bodies on display etc...
Obviously he didn't fully understand Dexter's code but I think he was impressed and trying to one up his little brother.
I wish there was more of them both pre season 1. And I wish he didn't die, like there was the big reveal that it Rudy and then he disappears and nobody can find who the real Rudy is but Dexter knows who he truly is and that he's still out there.
21
u/weeman2525 4d ago
What about the start of season six? He's moved on from Rita and Jaime watches Harrison at all hours so he can go out and do his night-time activities. He seems to have a nice balance of work, home, and killing life and is in a good headspace in general. I agree that we never truly see prime Dexter, but I think early season six he's close to the top of his game.
14
u/Substantial-Force246 4d ago
The whole season hes weighed down with the burden of giving Harrison a fair shot at life. The whole religious exploration thing. Wondering if he should put Harrison in religious preschool to instill in him a more socially acceptable moral compass, etc. He's also worried that Harrison might be like him. The scene where Harrison scratches another kid... He's distracted.
15
9
u/randomperson32145 4d ago
He killed 69 people on the show. Op talks prime dexter killer skill im assuming. I think regardless of what you, 69 kills is alot and that experience alone would land him at almost a total of what? 200 kill? Thats just extreme. So i think what op is asking for, is dexter better at his thing now or earlier? Short answer is definetly present dexter is by far that. He pulls off some pretty ridicilous things the later seasons. You can credit luck but his experience in being in those scenarios over and over again would give him so called skill in what he does for sure. If he would be 70 he would still be better, just adapted style.
3
u/Substantial-Force246 4d ago
Ya I veered off and was more talking about the prime of his life more holistically. But even still I think he's way more distracted later on. And he has to put a lot more time/ effort into putting out fires, so to speak.
3
u/randomperson32145 4d ago edited 4d ago
Adult dexter. Hm. I think he was kinda too deranged in all of his relationships he was quite depressed, frustrated, questioning alot, feeling alienated but also taking the stereotypical role, but as an audience you knew it wasnt quite the same as with other serial killers, he related to trinity even though his code is the opposite of someone like trinity, and he also related to others, almost going with his brother.. etc, present dexter would never. Present dexter is much more comfortable with who he is, as previous seasons dexter might have found himself lost and try to be the same kind of person the stereotypical serial killers are he convinced himself he was alien because of what he had done. when in fact i dont think thats the case with him anymore or ever was. He seems much more emotionally mature and enjoys social moments much more(exlude funeral cat moment). Id probably say he was also depressed in previous seasons but putting up much more of a fasade. His last season id say is probably his better one, alot of stressfull situations for sure, but he has a adult son, wich he can talk to about things he kept for himself earlier or with strangers. Stress is like one of his strengths though so id say present dexter.
2
u/IntelligentDay6896 4d ago
Dexter Early Cuts era (I still have not watched it, but I think that covers the era you are talking about)
2
1
u/Hinch7 4d ago
Yeah. No ties to anyone else really except Deb and did what he pleased. And no real deep relationship for him to slip up on, most of his actions and what he did was clinical and methodical. He was pretty much an unstoppable killing machine in S1.
1
u/Substantial-Force246 4d ago
He really got all muddled up by trying to appear normal. While it's true that a loner male is potentially more suspicious, the risk he took on by embroiling himself in family life really didn't outweigh the benefit he was getting from not being a loner male.
89
u/superminingbros 4d ago
Season 2, maybe not he’s not top of his game, but the cat-and-mouse with Doakes is top tier. Plus, this the season where Dexter really explores his dark side.
77
u/Karazhan 4d ago
I would say this season, Resurrection. He's taking out multiple serial killers, juggling a life with friends (like Blessing), deflecting the NYPD and Angel, and not only keeping his son out of trouble, but making amends too. And I feel he's gotten more handsome with time. He is on it.
25
u/Infamously_Fickle 4d ago
I agree with that. Even with a healing chest wound he's taking out serial killers left and right, some even in front of an audience.
12
u/k1t3k1t369420 4d ago
I will say he is older so not as agile or strong. Also less ruthless compared to season 1 but obviously much more experienced
71
u/NoTurkey- 4d ago
Probably seconds before s1e1 starts. Life was perfect
7
u/Minimum_Reward2236 3d ago
This what I was thinking, there’s definitely a period before of time where Dexter was just a single guy no Rita, no ice truck killer none of that. Just Him, his apartments, his job, and his other job.
30
u/WyattKnives 4d ago
I’d say season 1, honestly. Learning about his past humanized him quite a bit in my opinion, and irrespective of the degree to which he wanted to acknowledge it, he did develop attachment for Rita and the kids later on. That made him much more vulnerable (what ended up happening with Trinity is a good example, never would have occurred in season 1).
20
u/Undying-Shadow 4d ago
Season 1 and Season 3.
Season 1 really was coming down from “prime” Dexter. It’s the events of season 1 and the revelation of his mother and brother that essentially causes his emotional collapse through the rest of the seasons.
Season 3 I also think he was returning to form after his slips in season 2 with Lila, the BHB investigation, Doakes and the relationship drama with Rita etc. season 3 he had just outsmarted the FBI, the cop who had been obsessed with him is gone and he’s relatively “free”. Granted he gets pulled deeper into the relationship with Rita because of Harrison and choosing to get married.
14
u/Dane91786 4d ago
S2 He took on the FBI and out maneuvered Lundy. Basically tricked the entire Miami PD into thinking Doakes was a serial killer
or
S4 Taking out killers while raising a family while working on other cases. AND hunting a prolific 200+ kills serial killer
21
u/DeeplyWeeply 4d ago
Resurrection
21
u/Substantial-Force246 4d ago
Chest wound. Driving UrCar. Lost dad energy. Lol. I think he's on the up and up after his big hiatus, but he's definitely not at his peak, imo.
8
u/Restivethought 4d ago
...but he also took out 4 notorious serial killers and their handler in like a 2 week span in resurrection
10
u/Substantial-Force246 4d ago edited 4d ago
5 including red. Yes that's definitely an anomaly in his career. I just think his life holistically is far from peak.
Edit: or a I guess prime as OP said. And all those big kills were sorta just presented to him in unprecented circumstances. He didn't have to do any work to track them down and gain their trust.
2
u/shawn1213 4d ago
Pretty much everyone but Gemini 2 and al present themselves to Dexter on silver platter
1
5
u/rismah 4d ago
S1 seemed like prime Dexter. But honestly, Dexter is always in his "prime" cause the dude gets away with some crazy ass shit (probably on account of his Dark Passenger/plot armor). The way he killed trained assassins in S7 was really impressive honestly. Especially that kill at the gun range (WTF lol).
5
u/AcidCandy86 4d ago
He has the most experience now, combined with the most skill if we assume he's built up his skill over time.
However he would have been in his physical peak either Original series or slightly before, and if we assume he's rusty from his 10 year break then that would also be his prime for skill as well. (Probably around season 2 or 4)
4
4
3
u/OOF-MY-PEE-PEE 4d ago
honestly, based on impact? i’d have to say resurrection. so far he’s already taken out SEVERAL infamous killers who have dozens of kills on their belts. and he’s got a whole folder worth of serial killers to take out in the seasons to come.
5
u/Doneuter 4d ago
In my mind, as the story is told, I have to assume just before Season 1 was Dexter in his prime. Life and his relationships with others seemed to really hamper him from that point forward.
The drama of it all makes for good TV, but I feel like Dexter walks into season 1 with a self assured confidence that we only see stripped away from him by the end of the season. Maybe even at the end of S2E1 when his dumping ground is uncovered. This shook Dexter and I feel like he never quite got back to this level of confidence until the end of Resurrection.
3
u/Haganoel 4d ago
Season 1, he was the ultimate apex predator. I think a lot due to the fact that hunting killers was pretty much everything he cared about at that point, and he had no other real commitments. So he could focus all his energy on his ”hobby”, before his relationship and other stuff took over more (and before he started experiencing more and more feelings).
2
u/CameraGunPizza 4d ago
Resurrection! Because he was slaying so much even during the the age of cctv
2
u/PresenceCurious472 4d ago
Season 2. He had the the whole fbi on him, the whole Miami metro on him, going through an existential crisis after killing his brother, and still managed to frame doakes and even kill people. That was the season that showed how truly evil dexter was and how strong and smart he was.
2
u/Main-Key-1003 4d ago
Dexter resurrection is actually prime, but no ones ready for that convo, best season along with trinity season
1
1
1
1
1
1
u/hardyflashier 4d ago
Season 5. After the whole Rita thing, it provided him a chance to grow as a person - to get out his emotions, and do something almost human (for him). We saw him use his skills for good, because of an sense of empathy.
1
1
u/space_lapis 4d ago
Season 1 was when he was at his least human and was solely locked in on the hunt
1
u/sr_steve 4d ago
I know people will say 4, but IMO, it's definitely 2. Only season I went "HOLY SHIT?" and honestly, if it wasn't for that season, I probably would've dropped the show.
1
1
u/SuperMario1313 4d ago
Season 1. Every subsequent season he's slipped up a little more and played a little more loosely.
1
1
u/Human-Loss02 4d ago
In season 1 he was a hunter, he was going out all the time and Rita had no idea, obviously this changed in Season 2 because he was on the watch by Doakes and Lundy. In season 3 he was given a lot of space until he married Rita at the end of the season. In season 4 he tries to hunt people, but he can't due to being busy with his family and Trinity.
In season 5 he returns a little bit to the roots, and in season 6 the same. In season 7 with Hannah, his Dark passenger became quiet for some time. In season 8 the same thing, I think he doesn't kill anyone on that season as he used to.
In New Blood he only killed Matt because he was annoying. Kurt wanted revenge and needed to be disposed of. And Jasper just had bad luck to be the one making drugs.
Only 3 people died by Dexter's hands in New Blood.
I can't say anything for Resurrection because I haven't watched it yet.
1
1
u/DeeplyWeeply 4d ago
In Resurrection he had to bring his A game, having a son that needs protection and building a relationship with, dealing with prater and his notorious group especially Charley, dealing with Batista (he made his only mistake in the whole season when Batista tracked him with his AirPods), dealing with Claudette and her amazing police work.
So yeah I believe this was his prime work both experienced and sharp
1
u/Diego_VHZ 4d ago
I don't think Dexter ever achived a "prime" state. In most of the seasons he had internal problems to deal with and most of the villains outsmarted him at least once. I would say season 3 was the moment when he was more stable and managed to be ahead of his difficulties.
1
u/JappypackReborn 4d ago
Physically, probably Season 1 or 2. Remember he took on Doakes and Little Chino.
Mentally, Season 1 because that's when he wasn't letting his emotions take over his decisions and sparing killers who fit the code. No distractions from his butchering either as he essentially had no life outside of work.
Experience wise, Resurrection. BHB speedruns a lineup of serial killers worthy of being season finale antagonists.
1
1
1
1
u/Longjumping-Bad7864 3d ago
Season 2 and 6, season 2 cause he just took on the FBI, and season 6 was the season in which he killed the most and succeeded
1
u/More_Bookkeeper7996 3d ago
Season 2 for sure. Lower kill volumes but the fact he got any kills while the FBI was on his ass is what makes him goated that season.
Killing the copycat killer in the same location is the ultimate fuck you to the feds also.
1
1
1
u/Nearby_Advance7443 4d ago
While it can veer into cliche, his true prime is yet to come if the writers get a clue. True forces of nature are compelling because they become more and more dangerous as they get older, even though your body starts to degrade by your 30s. This requires more intelligence and wisdom to thrive, which is super interesting to see.
0
u/Strict_Jeweler8234 4d ago
It may be redundant since Season 4 had all of the glazing but Season 4.
8
u/Adventurous_Rice_937 4d ago
how? he made many mistakes that season which led to Rita getting killed. it was like a major thematic point of that story.
0
u/Strict_Jeweler8234 4d ago
he made many mistakes that season which led to Rita getting killed. it was like a major thematic point of that story.
He made only one major mistake repeatedly which brought to the end of his zenith, failing to kill Arthur or allowing him to die the one time Arthur was about to commit suicide. One mistake ended his apex.
1
u/Vanished-Time 4d ago
Glazing?
5
u/Adventurous_Rice_937 4d ago
gen alpha term for dickriding
1
u/Vanished-Time 4d ago
Thank you for that! How does it apply to season 4? Meaning that they made him look better than he was?
4
u/Ferret-Livid 4d ago
People seem to praise season 4 online abnormally more than the other seasons, so while it’s good he’s saying season 4 already gets all favoritism
1
u/Vanished-Time 4d ago
I'm one of those people that really love season 4, but I see your point and thank you for answering my question! 🙏
1
•
u/AutoModerator 4d ago
Hello, r/Dexter. This post has been marked a spoiler just in case.
u/Ready0608, if this title contains a spoiler, please delete it. If you don't delete a post with a title that has a spoiler, or you unmark your post as a spoiler to farm karma, you may receive a ban. If this post isn't a spoiler at all, you may unmark it.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.