Dexter (TV series)/Characters

Characters from  include:

Dexter Morgan
Dexter was four years old when he saw his mother Laura Moser killed in front of him. He was taken in by the morgan family who he loved dearly however Dexter had been horribly traumatized by what he'd seen and showed sociopathic traits. His foster father Harry trained him to operate under a code that would protect him from getting caught and stop Dexter from harming innocents. Over the course of the show Dexter slowly realises he isn't as monstrous as he initially thought.

* Manipulative Bastard: Is great at convincing people he's a innocent well-meaning lad. Of particular note is the way he convinces Miguel to keep Ramon in the dark about Freebo by playing them against each other and tricking Ramon into a bar fight.
 * Affably Evil: He may be a serial killer who feels no guilt about his actions but he is unfailingly polite and always expresses gratitude when someone does him a favor.
 * Anti-Villain: He kills but he also has a code, loves his family and protects children from harm.
 * Big Brother Instinct: He loves Deb very much, to the point he killed his biological brother for her.
 * Becoming the Mask: He was only using Rita to appear more normal but also he eventually realised he has grown to love her very much.
 * Benevolent Boss: to Jamie. He allows her as much time of as she needs after Cassie is killed.
 * Dating Catwoman: His relationship with Lila though he kills her after she tries to kill Cody and Astor. His relationship with Hannah also who he protects at the risk of endangering Civilians.
 * Disproportionate Restitution: In the first episode of season 8 he begins strangling a man who cut him off in traffic and only stops when he sees there's a child in the back.
 * Enemy to All Living Things: As a child his killing of neighbourhood animals convinced Harry he would become a monster. Even as an adult he kills a ferret as part of his plan to murder Boyd Fowler.
 * Even Evil Has Standards:
 * He despise those who harm children and goes to great lengths to protect a young boy from Trinity.
 * He can't bring himself to kill Doakes as he knows for as much shit as Doakes gives him he is a decent man. Framing Doakes on the other hand is perfectly acceptable due to Loophole Abuse.
 * He always kills quickly and never draws it out.
 * He expresses dislike for cannibals.
 * He feels guilty when he kills someone outside his code shown by his murders of Oscar Prado and Jonathan Farrow. He's haunted by his role in Miguel's murder of Ellen Wolf.
 * He knows no-one should be like, trying to save both Jeremy and Zach from going down a dark path.
 * His victims must be likely to reoffend.
 * Guilt Complex: In season 2 he briefly finds himself unable to kill anyone because of his conflicted feelings about murdering his own brother.
 * Happily Adopted:He sees Deb and Harry as family regardless of blood.
 * Honor Before Reason: In season 5 he saves Lumen at the risk of his own freedom.
 * It's All About Me: Downplayed in comparison to his enemies but if he had helped the police apprehend Trinity instead of insisting on being the one to kill him Rita would still be alive.
 * Jerkass: Dexter is usually civil to everyone but sometimes acts like a total dick to Quinn without provocation.
 * Kick the Dog: In season 2 he taunts Doakes, telling him he has no inherent worth as no-one will miss him when he dies.
 * Like a Son to Me Cody and Astor are as good as his own flesh and blood.
 * No Good Deed Goes Unpunished: Any time he attempts to be more human it backfires
 * Giving Travis another Chance indirectly leads to Deb uncovering his true identity and everything bad that happens from that point onward.
 * Deciding to turn Saxon into the cops rather than kill him leads to him Dexter having to kill his own sister to put her out of her misery.
 * Villain Protagonist: While a very likable example he is an unapologetically selfish person who has committed many criminal acts and indirectly ruins the lives of many people around him.
 * Your Cheating Heart: His relationship with Rita ends in season 2 after a one-night-stand with Lila.

Debra Morgan
Debra is Dexter's foul mouthed foster sister and without her Dexter may be something far more evil than he is. In the first season she unknowingly dates Dexter's biological brother Brian who uses her to worm his way into Dexter's life. he then forces Dexter to chose between him and Deb. Unfortunately for him Dexter choses Deb. In season 2 the realization Deb depends on him causes him to back out of turning himself in. Upon discovering Dexter's secret she goes down a dark path that ends with Dexter killing her.


 * Big Sister Instinct: she cares about Dexter just as much as he does about her and has saved his life on several occasions.
 * Butt Monkey: is treated very badly by several of her boyfriends and LaGuerta who abuses her with impunity.
 * Daddy's Girl She felt Dexter was Harry's favourite. In reality Harry was trying to help Dexter just as much for her sake as it was Dexter's.
 * Jerk With a Heart of Gold: Despite constantly cursing at inappropriate times and being insensitive she is a good sister and a loyal friend. She supports Angel when he's framed for rape in Season 2 and tries to offer Masuka good advice about his long lost daughter in season 8.
 * Love Makes You Evil: She commits some truly immoral acts to keep Dexter out of trouble, even murdering LaGuerta for him.
 * Let Off by the Detective: In season 5 she allows Dexter and Lumen (while not knowing their identities) escape because she finds the barrel girl gang despicable.
 * Morality Pet: One of the few people Dexter truly loves in the early seasons as he shows her unconditional support.