Dexter’s success on Showtime was heavily due in part to the critically acclaimed novel released two years before, titled Darkly Dreaming Dexter. Jeff Lindsay’s novel had a very similar story to the first season of Dexter and inspired the show to become one of the best-received shows to date by audiences. After the first book though, the show deviates heavily, offering radically different story components at times.
But what would have happened if the Showtime show had followed closer to Jeff Lindsay’s books? This list looks into the dark and twisted stories that the Dexter series could have taken from the books.
Sergeant Doakes Lives
James Doakes is a man with a mission. He doesn’t take crap from his coworkers and his eyes see through facades. That’s why he’s such a great foil to Dexter. In season two, Doakes meets his untimely death when stalking Dexter. He got a little too close to Dexter’s secrets, it seems. While it was a shame that this lovably blunt character died so early, the novels keep him alive through all eight novels.
James is renamed Albert Doakes and is largely the same character. But the most important part is that he lives in the novel. After a run-in with the psychotic Dr. Danco, a character only in the books, he is left speaking through a voice box. Doesn’t seem nice, does it? But he still plays a role through the entire book series, often communicating with Dexter and watching him suspiciously. We miss Doakes.
Dr. Danco
Although most seasons of Dexter feature amazing serial killers, not using Dr. Danco is a crime. Martin Henker, known as Dr. Danco, is the major antagonist Dexter runs into the second novel, Dearly Devoted Dexter. This psychopathic doctor loves to cut limbs off patients… as long as they remain alive. So not only does he cut off bits of the body, but he does so in a way that keeps his victims alive. Doakes, Kyle Chutsky, and many other characters are critically wounded by this deranged man.
What’s even more interesting about Dr. Danco is that he has only killed one person, instead leaving people as stubs. So despite not being a ‘serial killer’ by definition, Dr. Danco leaves a horrific impression.
Dexter Stops Killing For a While
In the fifth novel, Dexter is Delicious, something changes in Dexter. The birth of his daughter, Lily. While Lily is replaced by Harrison in the TV show, the changes don’t end there. When his daughter is born, Dexter actually feels love. Surprised by the feeling, he chooses to stray away from his Dark Passenger, something we didn’t know he had the strength to do. We knew Dexter always searched for normalcy, so it’s no surprise that he found it in his first daughter.
Dexter actually chooses to live a more normalized life for a while, not killing for the entire book. This ends when he realizes that not killing has ramifications as well, such as letting evil people survive. The entire dynamic would have been a refreshing change of pace for at least a season.
Cody and Astor Have a Dark Passenger
Cody and Astor are the children of Rita, Dexter’s love interest. And despite being rather normal on the show, we always wondered if they would ever turn into something similar to Dexter. It turns out, the book series has exactly that happen. As Dexter gets acclimated to family life with Rita and the kids, he notices something. He starts to see sociopathic tendencies in Cody and Astor. So what does any trained serial killer do? Teach them Henry’s Code.
Dexter spends time to teach both of Rita’s children how to hone in on their ‘Dark Passenger’ and survive the world without being caught. And if the show would have followed this path, further seasons could have seen Cody and Astor start to take after Dexter!
Dexter’s Biggest Fan
Few people learn of Dexter’s secret. It usually leaves the individuals shocked. Or dead.
In the sixth novel by Jeff Lindsay, Double Dexter, someone stumbles upon Dexter gorily murdering someone. This computer programmer, Bernard Elan runs away, with Dexter soon taking chase. But Dexter doesn’t find him. While Dexter is busy focusing on a cop-killing serial killer, Bernard turns into a copycat Dexter. What happens when a horrific man tries to copy Dexter but without a code? Chaos. Dexter narrowly avoids being framed for multiple murders Bernard commits, as Bernard exciting plays cat and mouse with Dexter. This duo would have made a lovely season on Showtime, with Dexter and his brother Brian doing their best to stay off the radar while Bernard counters it at every corner.
Brian Moser Is Alive
Brian Moser is Dexter’s biological brother and a fellow serial killer. Unlike Dexter, Brian has a different view of the Dark Passenger. And if you think Dexter does some messed up things, wait until you learn about Brian. He loves his Dark Passenger, embracing the carnal feelings.
Although “The Ice Truck Killer” is a new concept by the Dexter television series, Brian played an even bigger role in the books. Instead of dying in the first season after a brutal finale with Dexter, he ends up helping Dexter a few times, including breaking him out of jail. The dynamic of a more brutal Dexter on the loose with family ties was worth exploring for more than one season.
Deborah Knows Dexter’s Secrets Already
Did you notice the different name? Debra is actually named “Deborah” in the books and finds out Dexter’s dark secret early on. Not only does she know, but she actively keeps that information to herself and plays a major role in his life. The tug and pull between Deb and Dexter lead to a shaky relationship through the novels. Deb regularly tries to convince Dexter to stop killing, despite knowing that he focuses on murdering criminals.
In the second to last book, Dexter’s FinalCut, Dexter has some major murders pinned on him. Only then does Deb try and cut ties from him. Despite this, Deb ends up helping Dexter one last time. This constant tension between the siblings serves as a fantastic atmosphere that was sadly cut from the television series.
Kyle Chutsky
Deb’s quasi-partner in season 2 of Dexter is Frank Lundy. A love interest and well-known FBI agent, Lundy is a confident man who knows the system. But he’s nowhere to be found in the novels. Replacing him is Kyle Chutsky. Chutsky is a former Black Ops soldier who falls for Deb instantly. Kyle’s character is a heartfelt look into the aftermath of a soldier who has seen ’too much’ on the battlefield. With a very loud and exaggerated personality, you’d think Kyle is fun. And he is until you realize that it’s all a show to hide the pain and fear underneath.
Despite his past, Kyle sincerely cares for Deb and fathers a son for her. Although he eventually leaves her, it is due to feeling that he is not strong enough to protect her.
Deb Lives
While Deb is obviously a main character in both the novels and television show, Deb’s role is quite different in the novels. In the TV series, Deb is fatally shot by Oliver Saxon - leaving her in a coma. Dexter mercy kills her out of love.
Due to the fact that Deb doesn’t die in the books, she is one of the main characters up until Dexter’s final breath at the end of the last book. After learning Dexter’s secret early on as aforementioned, Deb is ‘closer’ to Dexter by knowing the one truth that defines him. His Dark Passenger. By having Deb live, we show a brighter future where someone can raise Dexter’s family and not fear for their sanity.
Dexter Dies
Although this one might seem controversial, sometimes the best thing to do to a character is to kill them off. The Dexter season 8 finale was negatively-received by critics and audiences alike.
Dexter often has a death wish; after realizing he cannot fully run from his urges, a worthy death is the best answer. If Deb lived and Dexter died, like in the novels, the series finale would have resolved multiple points and felt more realistic to the characters. Faking his death and moving to the mountains seems like the opposite of what Dexter would do.
