This season stands apart from the previous nine in an intriguing way.
Throughout the original Dexter series, it quickly became clear that Miami’s most infamous antihero was also something of a heartthrob. Despite his secret life, Dexter Morgan had no shortage of women who captured his heart—and, of course, his body.
His complicated relationships became just as much a part of the storytelling as his double life as a forensic expert and serial killer.
In the very first minutes of the pilot episode, Dexter declares in a voiceover that he doesn't understand intimacy, it feels undignified, unnecessary and something he's not really enjoying. At the time, this aligned with his social detachment and inability to connect emotionally. Yet, as the series unfolded, this claim was challenged over and over again, proving Dexter’s romantic and physical life was far more layered than he initially admitted.
Rita Bennett: The First Real Connection
Season 1 introduces Rita Bennett, who was as emotionally damaged as Dexter in her own way. He initially believed their relationship was safe because she wasn’t demanding physically. However, as their bond deepened, so did their level of intimacy. By Season 3, their connection grew stronger, and Rita eventually became his wife and the mother of Harrison.
Tragedy struck in Season 4 when the Trinity Killer murdered Rita, leaving Dexter shattered, widowed, and a single father. This loss permanently altered his approach to love.
Lila and the Power of Passion
Before Rita’s death, Dexter’s Season 2 relationship with Lila Tournay was one of the most passionate and dangerous of his life. Their chemistry was undeniable, but their bond was toxic, marked by lust, obsession, and chaos. Ultimately, it ended in flames—literally—with Dexter forced to kill her to protect himself and Rita.
Lumen Pierce: A Different Kind of Bond
Season 5 introduced Lumen Pierce, a woman who had been victimized and sought vengeance. At first, their relationship seemed platonic, but soon it blossomed into something deeper. Lumen and Dexter shared a unique and healing intimacy, one rooted in trust and survival. Yet, when Lumen finally achieved closure, she left Dexter, leaving fans heartbroken.
A Season of Temptations
In Season 6, Dexter was single but far from indifferent. Though he had no long-term partner, he engaged in brief romantic encounters—proof that even in solitude, he remained open to connection, if only fleetingly.
Hannah McKay: The Game-Changer
Season 7 brought Hannah McKay, perhaps Dexter’s most transformative partner. Their connection was explosive, filled with both emotional intensity and physical passion. Hannah was the first woman Dexter ever spared on his table, and soon after, they consummated their attraction there—a shocking first for viewers.
Despite betrayals, police interference, and Debra’s disapproval, Hannah and Dexter’s bond continued into Season 8. They even planned a life together in Argentina, raising Harrison. But after Debra’s tragic death, Dexter abandoned them, faking his own death out of guilt.
New Blood: Love in Iron Lake
Dexter: New Blood picked up nearly a decade later, showing a more restrained Dexter living under the name Jim Lindsay. Despite abandoning his Dark Passenger, he didn’t abandon romance. He dated Angela Bishop, Iron Lake’s Chief of Police. While their relationship was genuine, Angela’s growing suspicions about his past ultimately ended their connection.
Dexter: Resurrection – A Season Without Intimacy
This marks the only season where Dexter doesn’t share physical intimacy with a partner. While some fans found this surprising, the writers clearly made this choice for three reasons:
- Subverting Expectations – Casting Krysten Ritter (Mia) and teasing a romance only to pull back was a deliberate way to surprise audiences.
- Character Priorities – Dexter’s mission to find Harrison and rebuild their bond left little room for romance.
- High Stakes – With Leon Prater and Angel Batista circling him, Dexter’s survival took precedence over any romantic entanglements.
Final Thoughts
Dexter Morgan’s love life has always been as complex as his double identity, and each relationship revealed a different side of his fractured humanity.
That’s why Dexter: Resurrection stands out. For the first time, audiences witnessed a season where the antihero’s romantic drought became part of the storytelling itself. Still, given Dexter’s reputation as a heartthrob, and the fact that New York City is the setting for this chapter, it’s safe to assume romance (and all the complications that come with it) is far from gone for good.