The Differences of Dexter (TV Series) from the Novel

The first season of Dexter is based on the novel Darkly Dreaming Dexter by Jeff Lindsay. However, there are numerous differences, ranging from extra subplots to rearrangements and modifications of elements from the source material. The biggest change is the lead-up to and revelation of the identity of the "Ice Truck Killer", called the "Tamiami Butcher" in the novel. In the novel, Dexter is led to believe that he might be the one committing the murders, due to a series of strange dreams that connect him to the murder.

In the novel Darkly Dreaming Dexter, Dexter references his urge to kill as being controlled by a "Dark Passenger", and when in his killer trances he tends to refer to himself as "we" or "us". In the first season, only one reference is made to the "Passenger", as Dexter stands at the scene of Angel's stabbing by Brian, an event absent in the book. In the second season, the writers explain Dexter's urge to kill as his "Dark Passenger", and make multiple references to it throughout the season, the first reference being in episode three.

Much of the second season had little to do with the second novel, Dearly Devoted Dexter, although they both shared a subplot concerning a suspicious Doakes following Dexter, both concluding in Doakes being "taken care of" by another killer to prevent Dexter from breaking his moral code. In Dearly Devoted Dexter, Doakes is tortured and dismembered (his hands, feet and tongue are removed) by Dr. Danco, an ex-military interrogator/torturer, and returns in the third novel albeit in a much different state; he is unable to speak coherently and is fitted with prosthetic limbs. The Showtime series has Doakes being blown up by Lila, Dexter's psychopathic ex-girlfriend. She appears in none of the books.

In Dearly Devoted Dexter, Dexter discovers that Cody and Astor share Dexter's need to kill and he helps them by teaching them the code of Harry. Their need to kill was brought on by their abusive father, Paul Bennett (he is only given a name in the TV series). Paul Bennett himself isn't featured much and in the books gave his children a lot of psychological abuse as well as beating them which causes him to end up in prison. In the TV show he is shown to be a doting father but a sexually and physically abusive husband.

Dexter's disposition is somewhat more detached in the books, although he is still very "fond" of Debra, Cody and Astor. He does not seem to have any real affection for Rita other than her being his "disguise", although he does see her as the perfect person for him, both in terms of convenience and otherwise. He also proposes by accident.

Angel does not feature much in the books either and does not have his own subplots. Dexter only seems to be friends with Masuka at work, who has a much more important role in the books than in the show. Masuka also becomes Dexter's best man for the wedding.

Another big difference from the books is that Rita is still alive as of now in the books, whereas she is dead as of the close of Season 4 in the TV Series.

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