Dexter’s dark sense of humor and compelling antihero set it apart from most other crime TV shows. The idea of a moralistic serial killer is exciting enough on its own, but Michael C. Hall’s charisma helped to makeDexterinto one of the best TV shows of all time. In the past 20 years,Dexterhas become a four-show franchise, andeveryDextershowhas a slightly different tone. WhileNew Bloodwas a clear attempt to alterDexter’s controversial series ending,Original Sinbrought back many of the best things about the main series, with Patrick Gibson playing the title role.
While the later seasons ofDexterwere less well-received than the first four, Dexter Morgan himself remained one ofTV’s best antiheroes, with plenty more story to tell.Dexter: Resurrectionis in production, and it seems likely that there will be a second season ofOriginal Sinafter the first season’s success. TheDexterfranchise is even expanding further, with a Trinity Killer-focused prequel in development. That said, while waiting for the story to continue,there are now plenty of other TV shows similar to the different shows in theDexterfranchise.
WhileDexteris Michael C. Hall’s most famous role to date, he was already an accomplished actor with his breakout role in the highly acclaimed and multi-award-winning dramaSix Feet Under. The show made stars of many of its actors, but Hall is undoubtedly its most successful cast member.Six Feet UndersharesDexter’s dark sense of humor, and follows a Los Angeles funeral home run by the Fisher family.
Six Feet Underran for five seasons, and most episodes center on the death of a stranger who ends up at the Fisher family’s funeral home. Hall plays David Fisher, who is one of the best characters in the series and an early, well-written portrayal of a gay man in a TV show. WhileSix Feet Underis extremely different fromDexterin terms of different elements of the tone, the subject matter often includes murders and Hall stands out as one of the best actors present.
Each season ofTrue Detectivefollows a different detective as they try to solve crimes in their area, and the show stars some big names, like Matthew McConaughey, Colin Farrell, and Woody Harrelson.True Detectivebegan with a supernatural element, featuring a demonic cult alongside some gruesome murders. However, the next seasons were more grounded, following a police procedural plot similar toDexter, though both shows feature some shocking moments.
Dexter’s Upcoming Sequel Show Means A Massive Unsolved Mystery From New Blood Can Finally Be Addressed
Dexter: Resurrection needs to address a big part of the saga’s story that New Blood ignores, and it would arguably make sense for it to do so.
Thus, the show is a mixture of police procedure and drama and occasionally has a supernatural twist. Just as each series in theDexterfranchise has a slightly different tone, viewers who appreciate all of them will likely enjoyTrue Detectivefor the same reason.True Detectiveseason 2 resemblesDexterthe most, while season 4 took some risks, similar to the way thatNew Bloodexperimented withDexter’s existing formula.
At first glance,Desperate Housewivesmay not appear very similar toDexter. However, despite its lack of police procedural storylines, the two shows exhibit similar themes.Dexterhides his deadly secret from his family and colleagues while living an outwardly respectable, if isolated, life. InDesperate Housewives, this can be said of almost all the central characters, some of whom even commit murder.Desperate Housewiveshas a surprisingly high kill count, and the show shares many ofDexter’s cat-and-mouse plotlines.
Moreover, both shows are full of dark humor and use the voice of a character who died by suicide as a major plot device. Harry is Dexter’s inner conscience, whileDesperate Housewivesis narrated by Mary Alice Young, who is now able to see and know all that goes on in Wisteria Lane.Viewers who like the tension and drama inDextermore than the blood and guts should watchDesperate Housewiveswhile waiting for the next show in the franchise.
The award-winningKilling Eveis most similar toDexter: New Blood, with its twist-filled relationship and violent antihero. The show stars Jodie Comer as Villanelle, the accomplished assassin who, like Dexter, demonstrates psychopathic tendencies and enjoys her killing missions. Sandra Oh plays the British Intelligence investigator who is tasked with catching Villanelle, but finds herself in a complex relationship with her.Killing Eve’s ending was divisive, but some reviewers felt it was a fitting end for the characters.
BothKilling EveandDexter: New Bloodfocus on a relationship between the killer and a law enforcement agent, withNew Blooddepicting Dexter in a romantic relationship with his town’s chief of police. That said, while Dexter and Villanelle are both fascinating antiheroes with similar endings, they are very different people. Viewers wanting to watch a critically acclaimed show with similar themes, but a different tone toNew Bloodshould certainly chek outKilling Evenext.
Dexter Morgan is a psychopath, but through the guidance of his father, Harry, he learned to live as both a serial killer and a respectable blood spatter analyst. Harry’s rules are a major plot point throughoutDexter, with Harry’s voice acting as Dexter’s moral compass in many episodes. That said, if Dexter had not had Harry as a role model and a good influence, he could have become like the main character inYou.
Dexter: Original Sin Is Still Missing A Major Character Who Was In 7 Seasons Of The Original Show
Dexter: Original Sin season 1 brings back several major characters from the main series, but one significant figure’s absence doesn’t make sense.
Youis one ofPenn Badgley’s best TV shows, and he plays Joe Goldberg, who begins the show looking like a romantic lead, before revealing his true nature.Joe is a stalker and murderer, but unlike Dexter, he has no moral compassor set of rules that he lives by.Youshows a perfect example of an alternative future for Dexter, who is similar to Joe in that he is charming and friendly, with a dark side.
The Followingstars Kevin Bacon as an FBI agent trying to take down a murderer and cult leaderwho has escaped from death row and is played by James Purefoy at his menacing best. The show grows increasingly unhinged, and the violence is often extreme, makingThe Followingas dark asDexterandDexter: Original Sin. Thismakes it a great choice for viewers who likedDexterand its prequel, which each have their share of gory moments.
As the series progressed, reviews ofThe Followinggrew mixed, and the show ultimately did not achieve the critical praise thatDexterdid. That said,The Followingstill has a 66% positive audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and the two main actors are excellent. For a show as gory asDexterand its prequel,but with an added psychological element and the introduction of a hive-minded cult,The Followingis the one to watch next.
Elementaryis a present-daySherlock Holmes, which sees Sherlock living in Manhattan after a stint in rehab. The show stars Johnny Lee Miller as Sherlock, and Lucy Liu as Dr. Joan Watson, and both characters are compelling on their own as well as together.Elementaryis often compared toDexter, with both Sherlock and Watson sharing some characteristics with Dexter Morgan, like his intelligence and analytical abilities. However, the characters would be on opposite sides in real life.
Elementarysometimes shares its tone withDexter: Original Sinbut replaces the moral dilemma at the heart of theDexterfranchise with smaller tests of character for both Sherlock and Watson.Elementaryhas a 95% critical rating on Rotten Tomatoes and, likeDexter, some reviewers have reported that theElementaryfinale did not do the characters justice. It has been suggested thatElementarycould one day come back for a revival, but nothing has been confirmed yet.
Dexter: New Bloodis different fromDexter, with less of the original show’s grit.New Bloodis not as gory as the original show, focusing more onDexter’s interpersonal relationships and the occasional police procedural aspects, rather than depicting the murders in progress. This madeNew Bloodinto more of a drama than a crime show, and this treatment meant that it was not as popular as the original. A show that keepsDexter’s disturbing tone while emphasizing the relationships involved isMindhunter.
Mindhunterfeatures some of the best parts ofDexterwhile focusing on the relationships between the main characters in the same way asNew Blood. It was rewarded for this with a 97% critical rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and while it rarely shows violence in progress, it is still incredibly disturbing through its crime scene photographs and serial killer characters.Mindhunteris based on real events, and characters like Ed Kemper and Charles Manson steal the showevery time they are on-screen, much like Dexter.
Dexterhas some unforgettably bloody moments, from Rita’s tragic death at the hands of the Trinity Killer to the unintentionally hilarious murder-by-hammer of Dexter’s classmate, Joe. That said,Hannibalmight just beatDexterin the gore department, as the elaborate murder scenes are one of the scariest parts of the show.Hannibalis visually stunning, and most episodes deal with different killers using different methods, rather thanDexter’s “villain of the season” formula.
10 Great & Gory TV Shows That Will Make You Look Away
Although gore-filled TV shows may have viewers covering their eyes in terror, all these series had plenty more than excessive just violence to offer.
For all their gruesome content and storylines, bothHannibalandDextercan be hilarious, andthe funniest moments inHannibalare often unexpected, like when Hannibal greets another serial killer with: “Hello. I love your work.” Like Dexter and the characters closest to him, the relationship between Hannibal Lecter and Will Graham is fascinating, with both becoming antiheroes over time. Viewers still psychoanalyze the two even a decade later, despite Will’s line: “You wouldn’t like me when I’m psychoanalyzed.”
Barryis a dark comedy about a disillusioned hitman who stumbles into an improv acting classand discovers a passion for acting. The show was written and directed by Bill Hader, who also stars as Barry Berkman in the title role. Barry’s mission to kill an actor leads him to the class, where he finds himself in a scene with his target. His subsequent attempts to escape his previous job and begin a new life as a performer, while avoiding his handlers who want the job done, are hilarious.
Barrywas a critical and audience success and was nominated for a total of 53 Emmy Awards between 2018 and 2023, winning 10. It has a 98% critical rating on Rotten Tomatoes and is similar to the shows in theDexterfranchise with its dark humor and story about a man living a double life.Barrybegins comedy-leaning but grows more dramatic over time. WhileBarryandDexterare very different shows, their similar characters make it another perfect watch forDexterfans.
