4. Dexter (2007)
The first two seasons of Dexter are widely considered the shows very best seasons. Season 3 is probably the worst in the entire run, with season 4 being somewhat of a success (although I personally wasn't all that fond of the season nor the "Trilogy Killer") and then season 5 and 6 being complete let downs which killed all the critical success and respect the show had had up until this point (although they were still alright). Luckily for fans, season 7 seems to be back on track and is shaping up to be truly excellent thus far. There is a debate to which season is the best out of the first two, but for me it has to be season 2. There is an episode somewhere in the first season of Dexter where he is almost caught by the Miami Metro Police Department but isn't. I remember at the time thinking this was the most thrilling episode of Dexter I had ever watched, and after this episode I found the others in the season a great let down because nothing could match the thrill of that episode. I also found the Ice Truck Killer storyline actually somewhat weak, and personally wasn't a fan that this killer turned out to be Dexter's long lost brother. To be honest, after the end of Season 1 I was a little worried that I wasn't going to like the rest of the seasons of the show. Thankfully for me, Season 2 hooked me back in and ended with the greatest cliff-hanger the show has even seen. Yes, this cliffhanger was even better than the cliffhanger at the end of Season 6 because this was moment between Debra and Dexter was long overdue. What wasn't long overdue and what came as a massive surprise for me at the end of this opening episode was the discovery of all of Dexter's murder victims at the bottom of the ocean floor. Suddenly, the excitement I felt at that one episode in season 1 came straight back to me in season 2, and I for one was very glad this was the direction season 2 was headed in. I love a great cat and mouse storyline and this is one of the best I have ever seen. Personally, I am also not very fond of the villains in Dexter. As apposed to Dexter himself I have always found every single one of the shows big bads to be somewhat nonthreatening and cheesy, so I was glad that the antagonist of this season wasn't even a villain, but Doakes- a good guy cop who probably deserved to capture Dexter in the end. Obviously he didn't, and we can be thankful that he didn't, but one thing is for certain- the show was much better when Doakes was still alive and I can only hope Season 7 manages to be as exciting and regain the critical acclaim this season of Dexter did. As much as I am loving season 7 of Dexter so far, I doubt very much it will prove as wonderful as this season.