History Characters / Dexter

* DatingCatwoman: First with Lila, then with Lumen and finally with Hannah [=McKay=]. [[spoiler:[[WillTheyOrWontThey He doesn't end up with any of them]].]]

* SelfMadeOrphan: He killed his mother after her attitude and behaviour led to Rebecca's suicide.

* SelfMadeOrphan: [[spoiler:Kills his mother, Dr Vogel.]]

* CutHimselfShaving: The excuse he gives Doakes for his wound.
%% * DeadpanSnarker

* TheBrute: He's the largest and most physically dangerous killer Dexter has ever faced and works as a hitman for the Miami gangs. His massive size even allowed to escape from Dexter's restraints once, prompting another capture later on.

* RetiredMonster: Except he still moves a little coke on the side.

* TheBrute: His extensive steroid usage makes him one of the most formidable ''physical'' adversaries Dexter faces in the series in addition to Little Chino and Isaak Sirko.

* MommyIssues

* [[YouKilledMyFather You Killed My Mother]]: Dexter's life goes full circle when this is finally avenged.

* AbortedArc: After Carlos is killed, Marco disappears from the series and is yet to be seen again.

* MommyIssues: Used successfully against him by Vogel upto a point.

* TheAtoner: Subverted, he says he's trying to atone for his past mistakes, but really he's just after more money.

%% * BitchInSheepsClothing: His introduction.

* {{Pyromaniac}}:His whole schtick is killing the hell out of everyone with fire.

%% * [[DeadlyDoctor Deadly Nurse]]

* WouldHurtAChild: He ''is'' a child rapist and murderer.

* AxCrazy

* SmallNameBigEgo

* StupidEvil

%% * OffOnATechnicality

* [[ThoseWackyNazis Those Wacky Neo-Nazis]]: He's a high-ranking member of a Neo-Nazi gang.

* AssholeVictim: As per all Dexter's victims.

* FreudianExcuse: Subverted; it's vaguely hinted that his actions have something to do with him being overweight as a kid, but it's oddly never brought up again.

* {{Badass}}: He's well-trained and extremely dangerous, posing a great threat to Dexter.
* TheBrute: The most physically powerful of the group, having had a background in the marines.

* FourEyesZeroSoul: He wears a pair of thick-rimmed glasses.

* KnightTemplar: He seems to be this, but the recent episode had a teacher assistant of his reveal that he just likes to stir up trouble, so whether he really believes it or not is up in the air.

* UnholyMatrimony: With Beth Dorsey.

* UnholyMatrimony: With her husband Steve.

** BadassInANiceSuit: Always dressed well.
** BadassGay: He's hidden it from the Koshkas, who aren't exactly a forward-thinking gang of thugs.
** CulturedBadass: He has a love of music and opera.
** HeartbrokenBadass: His actions are motivated by his grief at Viktor's death.

* [[IHaveYourWife I Have Your Girl]]: Invokes this to force Dexter into [[EnemyCivilWar his side against two hitmen.]]
* ImplacableMan: Has shades of this. The cops even compare him to [[{{Terminator}} The Terminator]] when they discover the crime scene.

* ShootTheDog: Forces a loyal barman to commit suicide to make the Police stop its investigation regarding Mike Anderson's death. Followed by...
** PetTheDog: Promises that he will make sure the barman's family gets anything they want.

* KarmaHoudini: She committed and abetted in the murder of five people. [[PayEvilOntoEvil However they happened to be utterly evil scum.]]

* AmoralAttorney: Subverted. She's not as straight-up charming as Miguel, but she has the integrity and morals that Miguel makes such a show of pretending to have.

** BadassPacifist: He stands still and simply tells the above attackers that he's not afraid to die.
** BadassPreacher: He's gone from a criminal to a man of God, but still retains all his toughness.

* GoodShepherd: He's set up a garage where he employs ex-cons, and tries to help them better themselves.

* HeelFaithTurn: Surprising even Dexter who had plans for him.

* NotAfraidToDie: See the above quote.

* OddFriendship: To the rest of Dexters social circle, his friendship with a former legendary gangbanger known for his body count would seem .. Odd. Unknown to them the two have a lot more in common then they know.

* TheObiWan: He tries to help Dexter put aside his Dark Passenger and bring out his good instead. He is also the Obi-Wan to Dexter's Anakin.

* MoralityPet: For Travis, but ultimately subverted when he kills her.

* HeroAntagonist: Subverted. His goals only extended to furthering his own success as a novel writer. But he might have some morals.

* OutlawCouple: With Hannah.

* GirlNextDoor: Literally, but it's subverted because the average normal girl is not compatible with Dexter.

* IdleRich: The fact that his father is filthy rich ''does'' give him a lot of free time to pursue his....''"hobbies."''

* APupilOfMineUntilHeTurnedToEvil: [[spoiler:Dexter fears this is the case but it's [[SubvertedTrope Subverted]] when it turns out he's not the one who killed Cassie.]]

* AnnoyingLaugh: Exactly the same as Masuka's.

* DarkAndTroubledPast: From the murder of his mother, the separation from his brother, and his eventual institutionalization, Brian Moser had it rough.
** This is mostly revealed in Dexter's TroubledBackstoryFlashback triggered by Brian in "Born Free," and the events proceeding.

* [[LukeIAmYourFather Dexter, I Am Your Brother]]: "Rudy Cooper" reveals himself as Brian Moser, Dexter's biological older brother.

* LackOfEmpathy: No, ''really''?
* LeanAndMean: But, to be fair, he's also [[StrongerThanTheyLook stronger than he looks]]. He's arguably the skinniest male adversary Dexter has ever faced, but he still beat him in a fight.

** Becomes FanDisservice when he knocks out and later kills a hooker clad in nothing but his underwear.

* TheSociopath: And how!

* TheBusCameBack: In ''Dexter is Delicious''.
* CriminalMindGames: The entire fifth book. It turns out it was just his way of showing affection and having fun with Dexter and the kids.

* [[BigBadFriend Big Bad Girlfriend]]: In Season 2. After befriending Dexter, she acts as a [[ToxicFriendInfluence corrupting influence towards him]] before ultimately posing a direct threat to his loved ones.

* TheSociopath: [[DeconstructedTrope Deconstructed]]. Dexter correctly identifies her as one of these despite Lila's claim that she's madly in love with Dexter. Her shallow affect and reduced empathy actually means that she's desperately tried to experience them somewhere. It's why she started counseling drug addicts in the first place and deludes herself into thinking that she and Dexter are actually soul mates.

* LargeHam: During his confrontation with Dexter, on the rooftop.

* AbusiveParents: Had them and becomes one.

* GoOutWithaSmile: [[spoiler: If ''this'' [[http://images.wikia.com/dexter/images/0/0d/SaxonDeathSmirk.png image]] serves as any indication.]]

* APupilOfMineUntilHeTurnedToEvil: [[spoiler:Dr. Vogel believes the Brain Surgeon to be an old patient of hers. Ultimately subverted when it turns out to be her ''son''.]]

* [[AteHisGun Ate Her Gun]]: She commits suicide by sticking her gun into her mouth and blows her brains out.

* WellDoneDaughterGirl: Towards Arthur, AKA The Trinity Killer.

* NotSoDifferent: With Dexter, occasionally. Both exhibit a harmless facade (which Dexter is better at maintaining) but have violent impulses. And both of them care for the children.

** JerkWithAHeartOfGold: He really just wants to find closure for the death of his brothers.

* BrattyTeenageDaughter: During season four.

* CheerfulChild: In the first seasons. She soon grows out of it as she becomes a teenager, though.

* TheStoner: In Season 7, Cody reveals that she's been doing drugs, although Astor claims she only does it to relieve her of the stress. She does admit that she knows they are bad, though.

* OutOfFocus: In season 6.

* EnfanteTerrible: Dexter worries (needlessly) that he will become this due to witnessing a traumatic event, but of course he's far too young to be affected. Dexter is merely paranoid.

* MyBelovedSmother: To Rita, and also to Astor and Cody.

* SternTeacher: She was fired because she had a disagreement about current teaching methods. She doesn't approve of all children getting a medal when they are not first etc. To be fair, she's just that tough and she was never accused of being a SadistTeacher.

* ChewToy: Really, all he ever got from working the the crew was a flayed back and a broken heart.

* TheInformant: Somewhat subverted; he's a genuinely NiceGuy who just got in some trouble.

* AllGirlsWantBadBoys: First Wayne Randall, and then Dexter.
* AbusiveParents: Her father almost drowned her as a child to make her 'sink or swim'. He's gotten no better, fully ready to send her to prison just to gain a slight benefit to himself.

* OutlawCouple: With Wayne Randall, and later with Dexter.

* CombatPragmatist: When you're a slight women with no combat training, you have to be.

* HairOfGoldHeartOfGold: Before she was turn into an angel of revenge.
* KarmaHoudini: She did commit and abet in murder of five people. However they happened to be utterly evil scum.

* RelationshipUpgrade: With Dexter.
* RunawayBride: Why she moved to Miami.

* Expy: Dexter is a knockoff of TimDorsey's Serge A. Storms: both are south Florida-based serial killers who only target bad guys, with the first Serge novel ''Florida Roadkill'' published in 1999 and the first Dexter novel ''Darkly Dreaming Dexter'' published in 2001. Per Tim during his 2013 book tour for ''The Riptide Ultra-Glide'', Showtime was even offered a Serge TV show two years before they were offered ''Dexter''.

%%* TheFettered: Sticks to his "Code of Harry".

* HuntingTheMostDangerousGame: His modus operandi.

* SlasherSmile: Has mastered this.

** BadassInDistress: She was kidnapped by the Ice Truck Killer in the season 1 finale.

* [[CoolBigSis Cool Little Sis]]: She loves Dexter a lot. They are really close and she gets pissed whenever she feels he shuts her out, which is fairly often.

* GoodIsNotNice: Though not to the extent of Doakes.

* TheMentor: To Dexter when he was alive.

** [[BadassBeard Badass Goatee]]: Sports one of these.

* AnnoyingLaugh: His signature sound.

* DespairEventHorizon: When Debra dumps him.

* TheBeard: Unknowingly started off as this for Dexter so that he could blend into society, although he was asexual rather than gay. No longer applies after he grows to genuinely care for her and the kids.

* HairOfGoldHeartOfGold: She's a sweet, wholesome and very feminine blond woman. She takes a very good care of her children and she's also a sweet and caring girlfriend. She's a bit older variant of this archetype.

* KillTheCutie: In the TV-series only.

* TomboyAndGirlyGirl: The girly girl to Debra's tomboy.

* TheBusCameBack: In season 7, to help Maria...in a way.

* SmugSnake: Whenever he has the upper hand over [=LaGuerta=].

* MySisterIsOffLimits: She's the sister in this case, to Angel.

* TheBusCameBack: He appears in flashbacks on the season 7 finale.

* DemotedToExtra: ... for the first half of the season at least. She hasn't been featured at all in the latter half.

* AmbiguouslyEvil: She has some rather creepy mannerisms and believes that psychopaths are needed for humanity to develop, but she hasn't been anything but helpful so far. Even with the revelation of her [[spoiler:new book about Dexter, she doesn't have any truly evil intentions.]]

A recent transfer from Chicago who has an astounding solve rate and according to Deb, "had recommendations coming out the ass".

* AntiHero: An [[UnscrupulousHero unscrupulous example.]] [[spoiler: Despite being amoral and calculating, the Code she developed proved pivotal in helping Dexter control his bloodlust and eliminate [[BlackandGrayMorality far more dangerous and sinister serial murderers]] like the Ice Truck Killer, Trinity and Jordan Chase. Additionally, in order to protect Dexter from "unnecessary distractions", she does more than anyone else to rescue Debra from her suicidal downward spiral.]]

* ItsAllAboutMe: As a consummate megalomaniac, he [[AGodAmI views himself as a god deserving of unwavering praise and obedience]] from others without [[AllTakeAndNoGive returning any of their loyalty]].

* IgnoranceIsBliss: She's at her happiest when she believes Dexter is the perfect man. She never finds out he's a killer, thankfully. (That is, unless [[FridgeHorror Trinity said something to her)]].

* HappilyMarried: To Angel, but only for a short time. Her ambition gets in the way.

* HappilyMarried: To Dexter in season four.

* HappilyMarried: He makes an offhand comment that he's married.

* HappilyMarried: So she claims to Debra.

* StepfordSmiler: Type C. Underneath all that deliberate sweetness and dorkiness is a sociopathic monster.

* AffablyEvil: Brian isn't affable, but Rudy certainly is.

* FreudianExcuse: Witnessing the murder of his mother and be left in the ensuing blood pool.

The BigBad and Dexter's main nemesis of the first season. The Ice Truck Killer murders prostitutes before placing them in a freezer (starting with an ice truck, hence the name), draining their blood and chopping them into pieces before displaying them for all to see. Throughout the entirety of the first season [[CriminalMindGames he leaves clues and hidden messages that he knows only Dexter will find]] at his crime scenes. He's eventually revealed to be Dexter's older brother, Brian Moser, who seeks to coerce Dexter into discarding all semblance of morality to embrace a life of bloodshed and depravity.

* BigBad: He's the main antagonist of season 1, which revolves around the hunt for the Ice Truck Killer.
* BitchInSheepsClothing: He poses as Rudy Cooper, compassionate doctor and ardent boyfriend. In reality, he's a murderous sociopath who doesn't give a shit about anyone but himself and Dexter, manipulating everyone—including Dexter—in order to bring his plan into fruition.

* CriminalMindGames: Plays this with Dexter for the entire season.

* DeadPersonImpersonation: Steals the identity of Rudy Cooper, a plumber he killed in the late '90s.
* DeathByAdaptation: He survives in the books, but is killed by Dexter in the season 1 finale.

* HopeSpot: To Debra. Worst thing is, ''he's not even trying to pretend anymore'', he's just whatever.

* KillTheOnesYouLove: Or pseudo-love. As far as the viewer knows, this is the first and only kill Dexter has ever cried over, as he killed the only person who fully embraced what he is.

* MadArtist: In Dexter's words, "The killer is an artist."

** Becomes FanDisservice when he knocks out and later kills a hooker clad in nothing but his boxers.
* NoCelebritiesWereHarmed: His modus operandi for killing is primarily based off of [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_the_Ripper Jack the Ripper]], a serial killer in Britain near the dawn of the 20th century who brutally murdered female prostitutes and left their mutilated bodies on display for the public.
* RapeIsASpecialKindOfEvil: When Monique recalls her sexual encounter with Brian, she mentions that he was very violent in bed. This makes him an anger-excitation (sadistic) rapist.

* VillainousRescue: ''Yes, him''. He [[spoiler:saves Dexter from vampiric cannibals in the fifth book.]]

*** She and LaGuerta , as the only women in a [[TheSmurfettePrincipal predominantly-male]] workplace, act as foils to each other as well as to the men in the group. LaGuerta was a [[InformedAbility good cop]] but is better at playing the politics she needs to climb the ranks. Deb is too honest and emotionally driven to politic very well, and ends up being LaGuerta's ButtMonkey after the Fuentes case.

* IgnoranceIsBliss: She's at her happiest when she believes Dexter is the perfect man. She never finds out he's a killer, thankfully.

->'''Played by''': JohnLithgow

* IAmSong: He adopts Mama Cass's " Make Your Own Kind of Music" as this. [[spoiler: Initially, it appears that he is fond of the song because it reminds him of happier times he spent with his mother, Dr. Evelyn Vogel. However, considering that he later brutally murders Dr. Vogel without hesitation or remorse, it is more likely that the lyrics appeal to his own [[{{Pride}} grandiosity]] and [[StrawNihilist nihilistic worldview]].

* LoveMakesYouEvil: At the end of Season 7 she kills [=LaGuerta=] in order to protect Dexter.

%%* [[LukeIAmYourFather Dexter, I Am Your Brother]]: "Rudy Cooper" reveals himself as Brian Moser, Dexter's biological older brother.

* RapeIsASpecialKindOfEvil: To be fair, neither the audience nor the characters ever hear specifically of rape committed by the Ice Truck Killer, but one of his would-be victims mentions that he gets very violent once he has a victim in bed, which could be considered rape given that the victim does not consent the sexual violence. Naturally, the violence is also the prelude to murder.