After eight years of serial killer drama, Dexter is finally coming to a close. At the time that I'm writing this article, we're three episodes from the end, and though there have certainly been ups and downs throughout the years, there's no denying that Dexter is one of the most electrifying and enjoyable shows on television. This season, Dexter is up against a killer known as the Brain Surgeon, who removes a piece of brain matter from his victims, wraps it in butcher paper, and places it on the doorstep of an expert neuropsychiatrist, Dr. Evelyn Vogel. Vogel's past is intricately intertwined with Dexter's, and he soon finds himself helping her catch the killer. Since we haven't yet reached the end the season, I've decided to leave the Brain Surgeon off of this list. Perhaps when all is said and done, it will be worth revisiting. For now, I've compiled a list of the Big Bads and antagonists from the past seasons of the show and ranked them from worst to best, depending on how interesting their characters were, and what sort of effect they had on Dexter.
WARNING: MAJOR SPOILERS WILL FOLLOW! This list compiles villains from each season of the show, so be warned if you aren't caught up!
Honorable Mention: Dexter Morgan
Dexter is, first and foremost, his own worst enemy. He has placed himself in more terrible situations, and made more bad choices, than anyone else in the show. Yes, this is mostly due to his Dark Passenger, but he constantly puts his need to kill before any of his other responsibilities. When he has the chance for a clean getaway, he waits until he can kill the man he's been hunting. And when he encounters a monster, like the Trinity Killer, he idolizes him and pays the ultimate price for his hesitation. Though he's certainly made it this far in the series, one has to question some of Dexter's actions throughout the show. And three episodes from the end, one has to wonder what fatal mistakes he'll make before the final curtain falls.