From the iconic “But you can’t prove it” moment to the “In a cargo box?” line, these are all the James Doakes memes that went viral over the past year.
Meme culture has been growing for decades, and Dexter is one of those pop culture things that left a surprisingly big imprint on the internet. The very first Dexter meme dates back to the late 2000s and remains iconic to this day: the unforgettable “Surprise, motherf**ker” line from the Season 1 finale, a quote that actually helped cement the show’s place in online culture long before memes became...mainstream.
Behind that iconic line was a character who has seen a massive resurgence in popularity over the past years and continued to dominate conversations in 2025: Sergeant James Doakes, portrayed by Erik King.
Despite appearing in only 26 episodes of Dexter, including a recent cameo in the premiere of Dexter: Resurrection, Doakes has become far more than a supporting character. For many of us, he is inseparable from the identity of the series itself, and for some, he is honestly the very reason they decided to start watching Dexter in the first place.
As Dexter enjoys a big renaissance thanks to new shows and renewed interest, Doakes memes have surged right along with it. What actually makes this revival especially funny is that nearly all of the most popular memes still come from the first two seasons of the original series. They lean heavily on Doakes’ seriousness, his instincts, and those instantly recognizable facial expressions that for many, seem...tailor-made for reaction pics!
Below is a look at the Doakes memes that truly took over the internet in 2025.
1. “...but you can’t prove it” / James Doakes Reaction Images
The first and most recognizable one is the “...but you can’t prove it” James Doakes reaction images. This meme has become one of the most widely used Dexter formats overall. It actually uses two or three screenshots of Doakes, one from the Season 1 finale “Born Free” and from the Season 2 premiere “It’s Alive.”
In those images, whehter he is sitting in his car or having a drink at the bowling alley's bar, Doakes is staring with pure suspicion, capturing in the best way possible, the feeling of knowing something is wrong but lacking hard evidence. The meme works so well because it actually mirrors Doakes’ role in the series, that he was right about Dexter.
Those images gave the internet a simple but also funny way to express that exact emotion, which is why the meme remained flexible and popular throughout the year.
2. “Doakes Side-Eyeing Carlos Guerrero” meme
Another Dexter meme that exploded in 2025, particularly in the days leading up to Dexter: Resurrection, is known as “Doakes Looking at Guerrero” or “Doakes Side-Eyeing Guerrero.” This one comes from a brief scene in Season 1, Episode 3, “Popping Cherry,” and also features actor Rudolf Martin as Carlos Guerrero.
The moment takes place during Guerrero’s daughter’s confirmation, where Doakes delivers a classic, icy stare that says actually everyhting, without a single word. Nearly two decades after the episode originally aired, that one look was one of the most shared reaction memes of the year, which proves how timeless Doakes’ expressions really are!
3. “In a cargo box?” meme
A few weeks later, another Doakes-related meme began circulating online, this time centered on a single line of dialogue from the famous “Surprise, motherf**ker” scene at the Miami shipyards in the Season 1 finale. The line in question was Doakes’ incredulous response, “In a cargo box?” said after Dexter claims he’s searching for his sister, who had been abducted by Brian Moser.
Younger fans discovering the series for the first time found the delivery hilarious, and the quote quickly took over comment sections on Dexter YTP videos across YouTube. The way Doakes emphasizes the line actually turned it into a meme all on its own, separate from the already iconic scene it came from.
Honorable mentions
There are also a couple of Doakes memes that didn’t originate in 2025 but grew even stronger over the past year. The first is, unsurprisingly, “Surprise, motherf**ker,” the original Dexter meme that still refuses to fade away.
The second is “Doakes was the Bay Harbor Butcher,” a comedic joke rooted in the tragic irony of Season 2, where Doakes is framed for Dexter’s crimes after his death. Fans actually have long enjoyed poking fun at this storyline, and its relevance was renewed thanks to Dexter: Resurrection, where that case once again played a key role, driven largely by Batista’s relentless pursuit of justice for truth.
Which Doakes meme was your favorite of 2025?