Dexter franchise keeps improving after 20 years

The Dexter franchise first aired in October 2006, nearly two decades ago. Michael C. Hall's Dexter Morgan has remained a sought-after antihero, and franchise overseer Clyde Phillips has prevented the show's quality from dropping permanently. The divisive 2013 series finale — which left Dexter living as a lumberjack in exile — continued to haunt the saga for years.

Season 8's ending was meant to be a finale, but fan backlash prompted Phillips to return with the New Blood follow-up in 2021. New Blood was well received yet again closed with Dexter's death, which led to demands for his resurrection. That comeback unfolded with Dexter: Original Sin, the franchise's first prequel in 2024, followed by Dexter: Resurrection, which restored Hall's character to present-day narrative relevance.

Original Sin ran for a single season before its cancellation; it contains revelations tied to the wider story and is treated as part of the official canon, though some viewers regard it as optional.

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