Dexter: Season 4

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 14 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 700 Ratings

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9.0

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9.0	Your Score
9.0	User Score Universal acclaim based on 700 Ratings

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Season Details & Credits

Showtime | Season Premiere Date: September 27, 2009

Starring: Julie Benz, Lauren Vélez, David Zayas

Summary: Dexter's balancing life as a new father this season, while another serial killer, the Trinity Killer (John Lithgow) stalks Miami.

Genre(s): Drama, Suspense

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Season 4 Episodes

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S4:E12. The Getaway
Air Date: December 13, 2009
tbd
S4:E12. The Getaway
Air Date: December 13, 2009
tbd
S4:E11. Hello, Dexter Morgan
Air Date: December 6, 2009

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Metascore

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Mixed:

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Critic Reviews

100

Paige Wiser

The series is as compulsively watchable as ever, with Dexter's marriage, stepchildren, newborn son and stifling suburban life complicating his leisure time. Read full review

100

Tim Goodman

All your favorites are back in force, with a few twists, but the allure of the series always has been and always will be Hall, who manages to make a killer (who kills only people who deserve it, mostly) likable, believable, engaging and funny, as he works his job as a blood splatter expert at Miami Metro Homicide. Read full review

Ken Tucker

Any fears you had that marriage and a baby would dull the sharp edge of Dexter--I admit it, I was worried--have been thoroughly allayed by season 4's wonderfully swift, witty, and violent start. Read full review

Heather Havrilesky

Watching Dexter endure the bubbly, enforced cheer of family life may make this the best season of the drama series to date. Read full review

Rob Owen

Dexter will probably never reach the dramatic, creative heights it did in season one, but with this new season the show's producers found a way to sustain the premise by concentrating on the show's characters and, in particular, looking at how Dexter lives with his desire-to-kill rather than dwelling on the myriad ways he might get caught. Read full review

Emily Nussbaum

He may be sicker than Hank Moody or Larry David, but he’s also a far richer figure, and in his own strange way, just as universal, thanks to the transcendent performance of Michael C. Hall, who deepens every sick joke and raises the stakes on every emotional twist. Read full review

This commentary on the emptiness of all-consuming family life might fare better were it not brimming with one suburban cliche after another. These cliches don’t indicate Dexter’s discomfort with the banality of his new environment. Instead, they’re just boring. Read full review

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User Score

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9.0

User Reviews

BryanT

Nov 30, 2009

For anyone who has seen the ninth and tenth episode of this season knows its a 10 rating.

5 of 7 users found this helpful

Mr_West

Mar 28, 2012

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Straightly Speaking, the greatest season of a t.v. show ever. It took a challenging concept and made it one of the most twisted, character centered, artistic, and beautiful series of episodes in T.V. show history. The narration was perfect. Everything added in the exact in the right place. The idea of a monster, a serial killer, trying to live a normal suburban life, seems so rediculous, and yet feels so right, since we as the audience believe we know Dexter, and know the good inside him. Unfortunately, with every chance he gets, we finally, for the first time since Season 1, see a villain who's life resembles Dexter's. But when we do, we know that his pursuit at a normal life, that seemed to covered in gold in Season 3, can only end in one way; tragedy.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

MikeB.

Oct 17, 2009

This is one of the greatest shows I have ever seen. It goes deep so you can really get into it and it is the perfect show to just marathon the sh*t out of. I hope for many many more seasons and I just hate waiting for the episodes to air!

0 of 1 users found this helpful

ironhomer

Sep 15, 2013

After not too pleased third season. This season became for me a surprise. Perfect villain, interesting story with such a plot twists, shock ending, and great acting John Lithgow.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Mrdan69

Jun 14, 2013

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This season was brilliant, but not completely flawless. The beginning few episodes meander and plod along, only to be saved by tantalizing glimpses of the ultimate "big bad" John Lithgow as the Trinity Killer.

The season really picks up and does not let go once Dexter realizes that Trinity is a family man (albeit with a dysfunctional family). It also serves to mirror Dexter's own hopes and fears.

The secondary story of LaGuerta and Batista's romance did not quite work so well for me, as it's only purpose seemed to be to cause political conflict with the higher-ups at the police dept.

But no worries, as anyone who has seen this season knows-the last 2 minutes of the final episode make up for any shortcomings this season might have had. I recall watching Dexter dispatch of Trinity in the trash bags in the ocean thinking "there's still a lot of time left here." The twist at the end of that episode left reverberations that are still being felt as the show enters its 8th and final year.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

JimP

Nov 11, 2009

John Lithgow is suitably creepy as the Trinity Killer and Jennifer Carpenter's character (as Dexter's sister) is equally irritating (as usual). I'm a big Keith Carradine fan, so that doesn't hurt either. So far, so good.

2 of 2 users found this helpful

toughbrets

Aug 31, 2010

I used to love Dexter, but I can't forgive the tedious formula they can't seem to let go of. Dexter befriends a psychopath and ends up realizing that he's got to kill him or her in every single season. While Dexter needs an entire season to figure that out, we the viewers unfortunatelyI used to love Dexter, but I can't forgive the tedious formula they can't seem to let go of. Dexter befriends a psychopath and ends up realizing that he's got to kill him or her in every single season. While Dexter needs an entire season to figure that out, we the viewers unfortunately don't. If you can predict the end of the new season without having seen a single frame of it, it screams repetitiveness.… Expand

2 of 12 users found this helpful210

SEE ALL 62 REVIEWS

Seasons & Episodes

76

Series Overview
Season 8

71
- Season 8 Overview
  Air Date: June 30, 2013
Season 7

81
- Season 7 Overview
  Air Date: September 30, 2012
Season 6

62
- Season 6 Overview
  Air Date: October 2, 2011
Season 5

76
- Season 5 Overview
  Air Date: September 26, 2010
Season 4

77
- Season 4 Overview
  Air Date: September 27, 2009
- tbd
  S4:E12. The Getaway
  Air Date: December 13, 2009
- tbd
  S4:E12. The Getaway
  Air Date: December 13, 2009
- tbd
  S4:E11. Hello, Dexter Morgan
  Air Date: December 6, 2009
- tbd
  S4:E11. Hello, Dexter Morgan
  Air Date: December 6, 2009
- tbd
  S4:E10. Lost Boys
  Air Date: November 29, 2009
- tbd
  S4:E10. Lost Boys
  Air Date: November 29, 2009
- tbd
  S4:E9. Hungry Man
  Air Date: November 22, 2009
- tbd
  S4:E9. Hungry Man
  Air Date: November 22, 2009
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  S4:E8. Road Kill
  Air Date: November 15, 2009
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  S4:E8. Road Kill
  Air Date: November 15, 2009
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  S4:E7. Slack Tide
  Air Date: November 8, 2009
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  S4:E7. Slack Tide
  Air Date: November 8, 2009
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  S4:E6. If I Had a Hammer
  Air Date: November 1, 2009
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  S4:E6. If I Had a Hammer
  Air Date: November 1, 2009
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  S4:E5. Dirty Harry
  Air Date: October 25, 2009
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  S4:E5. Dirty Harry
  Air Date: October 25, 2009
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  S4:E4. Dex Takes a Holiday
  Air Date: October 18, 2009
- tbd
  S4:E4. Dex Takes a Holiday
  Air Date: October 18, 2009
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  S4:E3. Blinded By the Light
  Air Date: October 11, 2009
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  S4:E3. Blinded By the Light
  Air Date: October 11, 2009
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  S4:E2. Remains to Be Seen
  Air Date: October 4, 2009
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  S4:E2. Remains to Be Seen
  Air Date: October 4, 2009
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  S4:E1. Living The Dream
  Air Date: September 27, 2009
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  S4:E1. Living The Dream
  Air Date: September 27, 2009
Season 3

78
- Season 3 Overview
  Air Date: September 28, 2008
Season 2

85
- Season 2 Overview
  Air Date: September 30, 2007
Season 1

77
- Season 1 Overview
  Air Date: October 1, 2006