Many of TV’s worst law enforcement officers aren’t afraid to break the rules they’re supposed to uphold if they gain something from the situation.

Whether it’s trying to keep their corruption secret, avoid going to jail, or get information, these corrupt cops have been known to break the law.

Check out our fanatical picks on the dirtiest law enforcement officers on TV.

Then, be sure to join the conversation in the comments section and tell us who best depicts law enforcement at its worst. Bonus if it’s someone we didn’t list!

TV’s Worst Law Enforcement Officers

We have a range of options when it comes to TV law enforcement shows, from series with comedic nuance, such as Reno 911 or Brooklyn Nine-Nine, to darker shows like FBI, Law & Order, and Blue Bloods.

• New Teaser be Damned: Who Cares About the Duttons’ Land Battle in 1923 With Yellowstone’s Looming Unhappy Ending?
  by Carissa Pavlica
• Landman Season 1 Episode 6 Balances Brutality and Heart, Making It Hard to Look Away
  by Carissa Pavlica
• 15 Christmas Movie Villains That Might Just Be Misunderstood
  by Lisa Babick

Many of these shows tend to create storylines and character developments influenced by real life. And a common theme is police corruption.

TV shows generally exaggerate things, allowing us to ignore the guilt of rooting for dirty cops because it’s fantasy. With that in mind, here are some of TV’s worst law enforcement officers that we hate to love.

Hank Voight – Chicago PD

Throughout the twelve years that Chicago PD has been on NBC, Hank Voight (Jason Beghe) has toed the line between corrupt cop and brilliant detective.

He’s less crooked than other law enforcement officers on this list. But many times, we saw him doing things that put him on the wrong side of the law.

If it weren’t for him being a cop with loyal officers on his team, he’d have been behind bars long ago. But while his methods were often unorthodox and illegal, we usually agreed with them.

Sometimes, bad guys need a taste of their own medicine to persuade them. Voight isn’t scared to deliver said medicine or drag his team with him.

His corruptness often rubbed off on the other members of the Intelligence Unit, including his former partner Alvin Olinsky (Elias Koteas), Jay Halstead (Jesse Lee Soffer), and Hailey Upton (Tracy Spiridakos), who just left at the end of Season 11.

Ian and Robert Ferguson – Mayor of Kingstown

If you’ve read our Mayor of Kingstown reviews, you’ll know we have some major dislike for a couple of the Ferguson brothers.

Mike McLusky is the Mayor of Kingstown and does many bad things — and usually not for a good reason, as we’d expect from our favorite vigilantes. But he’s an ex-con, so no surprise.

But his three cop brothers don’t have that luxury or excuse to throw out in response to their dozens of illegal actions. Luckily, only two of the three brothers are dirty beyond redemption.

This viewer still has a thorn in her side on Ian’s impulsive decision to kill serial killer Charlie (Kenny Johnson) to cover his ass. We’ll have to tune in next season to find out if Ian gets brought to justice for his crimes.

And I’ve been over Robert’s narcissistic, sociopathic wrath of horrors since Mayor of Kingstown Season 1. While I’ve been gung ho about seeing him off the show from the beginning, I didn’t want to see him shot by brotherly fire.

It’s always aggravating that the bad guy wins, even when he doesn’t. Kyle did the right thing and shot Robert to keep him from killing innocent civilians. But Robert survived, and now Kyle’s under arrest for his attempted murder.

Vic Mackey and Shane Vendrell – The Shield

I was in high school when The Shield aired on FX, and it was the hardest show I’d ever seen — until I watched Nip/Tuck shortly after.

The gritty police drama lasted seven seasons and introduced us to Vic Mackey and his band of dirty but effective police officers in the Los Angeles Strike Team.

Mackey (Michael Chiklis) led the team focused on capturing the worst criminals. To get the bad guys, you sometimes have to think and act like them.

No one did that better than Vic (Fantastic Four), starting from episode one when he committed the biggest crime a cop can commit — killing one of their own.

• Days of Our Lives’ Doug Sendoff Reminds Viewers How Good This Soap Used To Be…And Can Be Again
• The Blue Bloods Family Dinners: A Labor Of Love for Viewers and the Cast; Tom Selleck and Donnie Wahlberg In Tears on The Talk
• Dream or Delusion? How TV Shapes Our Vision of the American Dream

We constantly saw Vic engaging in illegal activities for personal gain and public good, making it tricky to decide whether we could excuse his behaviors.

Vic wasn’t the only dirty cop in his division. His friend turned enemy, Shane Vendrell (Walton Goggins), was every bit as bad — if not worse than Vic.

He even killed his partner, Detective Curtis “Lem” Lemansky (Kenny Johnson), by throwing a grenade into his car. And he ended the show with an emotionally traumatic murder/suicide of his entire family.

Dexter Morgan from Dexter

Not all law enforcement officers are police officers. Some people work for the police department in other categories, such as Dexter Morgan, a blood analyst with the Miami Police Department.

By day, he solves crimes and brings criminals to justice. By dark, he serves his form of justice through death for the most vile criminals he locates.

Who knew viewers would love a series about a serial killer who murders other killers? But it worked awesome for the original Dexter series from 2006 to 2013.

The original show’s success inspired a mini-series spinoff, Dexter: New Blood, that picked up ten years after Dexter faked his death in Miami and relocated to Upstate New York.

Our favorite killer serial murderer is coming back once more with another spinoff prequel, Dexter: Original Sin, and another sequel, Dexter: Resurrection.

So, while we constantly root for our favorite law enforcement officer to rid the world of humanity’s worst, he’s the worst criminal.

Wayne Unser (Sons of Anarchy)

The biker gang show Sons of Anarchy captivated users with its mature audience scenes and gritty storylines surrounding a criminal biker gang.

Half the audience hoped to glimpse Jax Teller’s (Charlie Hunnam) sexy behind, but the other half enjoyed the crew’s sense of family, duty, and camaraderie.

It would be hard for the outlaw motorcycle gang to get away with their illegal doings if they didn’t have a cop to cover their butts and look the other way when things blew up. Often literally.

Unser started as the Charming Chief of Police and looked the other way from the first episode. He wasn’t always complacent about committing crimes, but he did nothing to stop them.

Over time, his involvement became deeper, especially once he started having personal feelings for Gemma, Jax’s mother.

He ended up committing a lot of gnarly crimes under the name of friendship, even abandoning the law to align his loyalties to the club.

Daniel Hersl (We Own This City)

Law enforcement shows based on real events hit a bit differently. We Own This City was a limited series on Max that spent six hours wildly exaggerating the true events of a corrupt Baltimore police division.

The series covered the inappropriate wrong-doings of the GTTF (Gun Trace Task Force) as the team of elite plainclothes officers went on a path of corrupt terror.

This book-turned-series (We Own This City: A True Story of Crime, Cops, and Corruption) demonstrated the massive scandal of the different officers involved.

Josh Charles (The Goodwife) played the role of Daniel Hersl, a newer member of the GTTF who ended up with over 50 public complaints of misbehavior, abuse of power, and violence.

But Hersl wasn’t the only crooked cop on the show. It was about the entire team, and each of the eight members was crooked somehow.

Elizabeth Keen (The Blacklist)

The Blacklist‘s Elizabeth Keen (Megan Boone) was destined to be a crooked cop born as Masha Rostova to a double-agent Russian mother, Katarina Rostova, and criminal mastermind Raymond Reddington (James Spader).

When she was four, she shot the real “Red” to defend her mother. Her mom sent her to grow up in America under the parentage of Sam Scott. He changed her name to Elizabeth Scott and inspired her to join the FBI.

After spending time with Reddington, the FBI’s most wanted fugitive, working on she learned how to be the perfect criminal, from cleaning a crime scene to disposing of a body.

By the time the series killed off its main character in The Blacklist Season 8, Keen had become the very thing she’d spent her career trying to stop. The criminal leader of a major crime syndicate.

Fans hated Elizabeth so much they took to Reddit to bash her character development, even years after she left the show to do other stuff.

Nick Armstrong (The Rookie)

When a show finds long-running success, it’s normal for cast members to come and go. The Rookie is no exception as it enters its seventh season.

One of the biggest cast shakeups happened with LAPD Detective Nick Armstrong (Harold Perrineau). Armstrong joined The Rookie in the second season and made quite a mess before exiting at the end of the season.

• New Teaser be Damned: Who Cares About the Duttons’ Land Battle in 1923 With Yellowstone’s Looming Unhappy Ending?
• Landman Season 1 Episode 6 Balances Brutality and Heart, Making It Hard to Look Away
• 1923 Season 1 Episode 1 Review: A New Era

While only briefly on the show, Armstrong’s deep corruption nearly ruined the careers of John Nolan (Nathan Fillion) and Detective Nyla Harper.

Most viewers didn’t even see the secretive corruptness hidden beneath Armstrong’s suave, friendly demeanor. He seemed so legitimate and good at his job.

Until we discovered he was working with a local gang, feeding them department information to keep them out of trouble. He also murdered another police officer to keep his corruptness a secret.

The show writers punished Armstrong properly after trying to frame — and kill — Nolan. He got caught in the crossfire of the gang he helped as they tried to shoot John per his orders.

Armstrong wasn’t the only crooked cop on The Rookie. We also saw rookie Jackson West (played by Titus Makin) have problems with his own dirty officer.

Training Officer Doug Stanton was racist, corrupt, and a violent cop against civilians and other officers, like Officer West.

It took some time and a near brush with death before Sergeant Grey (Richard T. Jones) had enough evidence to end the dirty cop’s career. We’re still seeing the effects of West’s brutal attack a few seasons later.

Jackie Rohr (City on a Hill)

Jackie Rohr (played by Kevin Bacon) is a dirty FBI agent, burnt out from his exposure and dealings with some of Boston’s most violent and awful criminals.

Assistant District Attorney Decourcy Ward wants to change how the city handles its criminals, including addressing government corruption.

While Ward and Rohr strike a semblance of partnership, Ward is still very much aware of all of Rohr’s inappropriate behaviors, from dependence on cocaine to bribes from some of Boston’s worst criminals.

Rohr is no better as an honest husband than he is a veteran FBI agent, often having extra-marital affairs and problems with his marriage.

Despite his failings, Rohr does help ADA Ward put away some bad people and solve gnarly cases, even if he’s a hypocrite for arresting people for doing the same illegal, immoral things he did.

These Keystone Cops of TV Set the Bar Low

Despite police officers taking an oath to do no harm and not break the law, many cops find themselves bigger criminals than the bad guys they chase.

This list of TV’s worst law enforcement officers demonstrates what happens when the good guys turn bad.

Now that we’ve told you our favorite dirty cops, it’s time for you to tell us yours. What corrupt police officer made the most impact on your memory? Do you have a bad law enforcement officer who acts corrupt, but you love them anyway?

Drop your thoughts in the comments section. And be sure you’re following TV Fanatic on social media and join our newsletter for all the latest news delivered to your email.

The post The Keystone Cops of TV: Law Enforcement at Its Worst appeared first on TV Fanatic.

A Dexter prequel series titled Dexter: Original Sin has been in development for some time, and earlier today, Showtime revealed the three talented stars who will portray the main members of the troubled Morgan family.

Irish actor Patrick Gibson — best known for his work in period pieces like The Tudors and Shadow and Bone — will be stepping into Michael C. Hall's shoes as the titular blood spatter analyst.

The role of Dexter's straightlaced sister Deb will be played by Molly Brown, and Christian Slater will portray the siblings' dad, Harry Morgan.

Original showrunner Clyde Phillips will return for the 10-episode prequel series.

The show is currently being framed as a limited series, but you know how these things go.

Dexter Prequel Heads to Showtime

If it's a hit, it'll be renewed. Network execs love this low-risk, low-commitment appoach to new projects!

For example, 2021's Dexter: New Blood was originally announced as a standalone limited series.

But Showtime revealed in 2023 that the show will be returning for a second season, this one focusing on Dexter's son, Harrison.

If you're thinking the Dexter brand is in danger of being badly diluted, you're not alone.

The original series is up there with Game of Thrones and How I Met Your Mother on the list of shows with infuriating finales.

Now, Showtime has doubled- and tripled-down not only on the Dexter-verse, but also on the show's divisive original showrunner.

Dexter: New Blood Reveals Different Side of Our Favorite Serial Killer

Philips helmed the first four seasons of Dexter, which are considered by some Dexter diehards to be the best of the series.

But there are many who think the signs of unevenness began well before Phillips' departure.

And some of those folks believe that Dexter Season 5, the first without Phillips, was the strongest in the show's entire run.

But pretty much everyone agrees that Season 8 was an abomination that never should've happened.

That said, the franchise bounced back a bit with New Blood.

Many critics felt that the spinoff was a much-needed return to the moral ambiguity and psychological complexity that made the original series so compelling.

But there were others who felt that the damage from the original finale was irreparable, and it's impossible for Phillips and company to recapture the magic.

Like Breaking Bad and other shows that thrived at ratcheting up the tension week after week, Dexter reached the point of diminishing returns well before the end of its run.

And as a prequel with a foregone conclusion, Original Sin might have an even tougher time keeping us on the edge of our seats.

"Set in 1991 Miami, DEXTER: ORIGINAL SIN follows Dexter (Gibson) as he transitions from student to avenging serial killer," reads a press release from Showtime.

"When his bloodthirsty urges can’t be ignored any longer, Dexter must learn to channel his inner darkness.

Michael C. Hall Criticizes Dexter Finale

"With the guidance of his father, Harry (Slater), he adopts a Code designed to help him find and kill people who deserve to be eliminated from society without getting on law enforcements’ radar," the announcement continues.

"This is a particular challenge for young Dexter as he begins a forensics internship at the Miami Metro Police Department."

Hey, if you're a Dexter fan, then that description is probably enough to get your mouth watering.

But is there enough juice left in this story to fuel two simultaneous spinoffs?

Showtime's not exactly setting the world on fire these days so the acceptable reward threshold for this risky venture might be awfully low.

But the network could wind up infuriating subscribers if it offers up a double dose of bloodless Dexter projects.

What do you think, TV fanatics? Does the thought of more Dexter get your blood pumping, or is this latest spinoff DOA?

Hit the comments section below to share your thoughts!

The post Dexter: Original Sin: Can The Christian Slater Spinoff Atone For Its Predecessors’ Misdeeds? appeared first on TV Fanatic.

Showtime is expanding the Dexter franchise in a big way.

Fresh off a Wall Street Journal report that the premium cabler is exploring opportunities for more Dexter, we have some big news.

Showtime announced today it has placed a straight-to-series order for the new drama Dexter: Origins (working title), to be executive produced by Emmy nominee Clyde Phillips.

The new series is based on the Emmy-nominated hit series Dexter which starred Emmy nominee Michael C. Hall.

The network is also developing a new version of Dexter: New Blood, which depicts the ongoing emergence of Dexter's son Harrison.

In addition, Showtime is exploring projects based on other characters from the Dexter universe, such as the makings of the notorious Trinity Killer originally played by Emmy winner John Lithgow.

The announcement was made by Chris McCarthy, President/CEO, Showtime and Paramount Media Networks.

"Dexter: Origins will dramatize young Dexter Morgan at the outset of his transition into the avenging serial killer he would become," the logline reads.

"Set in the Miami that was a hotbed of real serial killers of his time, the show will begin as Dexter graduates college to join Miami Metro, where he meets younger versions of many of the characters we came to know in the original DEXTER."

"And, of course, the show will also focus on Dexter's family, including a very-much-alive Harry and a very formidable, teenage Deb."

Meanwhile, Dexter: New Blood is a new incarnation of the 2021-22 drama that became the most-watched series in Showtime history.

The drama focuses on Dexter's son Harrison, who survived his tumultuous reintroduction with his father and flees to New York City where he must wrestle with his own violent nature and whether, like his father, he too is compelled to kill.

Dexter: New Blood will explore the kinds of themes and scenarios seen in the original series on SHOWTIME but through a new lens.

In addition, Showtime is exploring other characters from the Dexter universe whom the network could develop for potential series.

"The DEXTER saga has been an undeniable creative and popular success for SHOWTIME, both in its original, groundbreaking form and the record-setting DEXTER: NEW BLOOD," said McCarthy.

"The series is a rich foundation for other shows in the lane of complex, subversive antiheroes that SHOWTIME has always done so brilliantly."

"Clyde is deep into compelling stories and characters that will satisfy the cravings of our multifaceted audience."

Said Phillips: "I couldn't be more excited about exploring and expanding the universe of DEXTER. It's a privilege to contemplate going even deeper with these complex and iconic characters – and the stories, themes and possibilities they inspire."

"I'm thrilled that Chris and my friends at SHOWTIME want me to help them grow this truly unique and amazingly successful franchise."

What are your thoughts on the prequel series order?

Are you surprised that Showtime is invested in bringing more from the Dexter universe to life?

What are your thoughts on the news?

Hit the comments below.

33 of TV’s Goriest Moments

Open List

The post Dexter: Origins Ordered to Series at Showtime: Find Out Which Other Spinoffs Are in the Works! appeared first on TV Fanatic.

Showtime boss Chris McCarthy spoke to The Wall Street Journal about the future, and there are some big swings.

For one, the Billions franchise is becoming a universe with spinoffs titled Millions and Trillions.

That's the working title for those shows, and unless Showtime wants to cause some confusion, they will probably change it if the shows reach the production stage.

There are — reportedly — four spinoffs in the works for Billions. If most of those shows make it on the air, they will effectively become the Power universe of Showtime.

Starz has had plenty of success by expanding the Power universe, but it's a bit hard to believe that Billions could reach the same success.

The good news is that Billions co-creators Brian Koppelman and David Levien are on board to bring this universe to life.

They may have had plans to expand the Billions universe, but time will tell if the new shows will be worthwhile.

The Dexter universe also looks poised to expand considerably.

It was recently reported that Dexter: New Blood had been put on ice by Showtime in favor of a prequel series about the killer's younger years.

However, that show still appears to be in line to return in some capacity down the line.

Moreover, Dexter prequels focused on fan-favorite characters like the Trinity Killer are also being discussed.

While Showtime is zeroing in on franchises, it will still bring new shows into the fold.

"Of course we're going to do new shows," McCarthy told the WSJ.

"But we're going to do [originals] in a way that has a much more stable base because we'll have these big tentpoles that bring and hold the audience." 

It was recently announced that Showtime will merge with Paramount+ soon.

At the time, shows like Let the Right One In and American Gigolo were canceled, while several shows were removed from streaming entirely.

"It doesn't mean they weren't great, creative shows. They just weren't for us," McCarthy said.

"Our job is to make those hard calls so that we can clear things out and deliver for our shareholders and consumers by reinvesting in shows we know will work."

What are your thoughts on the expansions of Dexter and Billions?

Hit the comments below.

UPDATE: Dexter Origins has been ordered to series!

33 of TV’s Goriest Moments

Open List

The post Revamped Showtime to Expand Billions and Dexter Franchises appeared first on TV Fanatic.

None of those questions centered on the fate of the franchise's leading man, Dexter Morgan.

At the end of Dexter: New Blood, the titular killer was dead, and Showtime — and key creatives — were not ruling out following Dexter's son, Harrison, in a potential second season of the revival.

A year later, that project is officially dead and, err, buried

TV Line reported Tuesday that the project would not be moving forward with a follow-up to New Blood. 

The decision is somewhat surprising.

New Blood scared up enormous numbers for Showtime, but maybe the cabler didn't think the franchise was viable without Michael C. Hall.

It would be a tough sell to have a show set in the Dexter universe without the titular character, so maybe it's not a bad thing that Showtime is moving on from the series.

But what's the next best thing?

A prequel.

That's right, folks. TV Line's confirmation that New Blood is over revealed that another project in the universe could be on the agenda.

While Showtime has not confirmed the report, TV Line states that a prequel centered around a younger version of Dexter could be the next project in that universe.

Dexter New Blood showrunner Clyde Phillips previously told the outlet that a continuation was all down to Showtime.

"If they were to call me and say, 'We want to do [a second season], we want you to figure it out,' I'm pretty busy, but I would drop everything I'm doing and jump right into it. I would love to do it, but it's really up to Showtime," he said.

Showtime will soon merge with Paramount+ to become Paramount+ With Showtime on the linear cable channel and the streaming service in the U.S.

The aim for Paramount Global will be to utilize some of the biggest projects under that umbrella.

What are your thoughts on New Blood getting the boot?

Hit the comments.

33 of TV’s Goriest Moments

Open List

The post Dexter Prequel in the Works at Showtime appeared first on TV Fanatic.

Through characters, viewers can learn, identify with, criticize and emulate certain traits they most identify with in characters and the narratives surrounding them.

Television leaves little to no ambiguity when it comes to deciding the moral leanings of its characters. Mostly it’s as binary as good and evil.

Realistically speaking, no one character is either good or bad. It’s a mixture of both but heavily leaning to one side.

Below, we have compiled some of the best characters who, at some point, switched sides permanently or semi-permanently.

13. Dolores on Westworld

Dolores's story makes many viewers sympathize with her despite her being an android.

In the early seasons of Westworld, Dolores, like many other hosts in the park, found herself on the receiving end of the guests. Their cruelty, depravity, and lack of humanity landed squarely on the hosts' shoulders.

One would think that Dolores would know better.

When hosts eventually got the chance to escape the park, some, like Charlotte, had decided earlier that they would rain hell on humans. Dolores also joined them.

She became the storyteller, weaving narratives for humans and deciding how their lives would play out. It took a lot not to hate her for it.

12. Robin on DC Titans

All Robin wanted to do was help Batman fight crime in Gotham. Batman treated him like a kid who had no idea what he wanted.

During some of his exploits, Robin dies.

He is resurrected by a man who deprives him of anything good, leaving a shell of Robin. The shell was Redhood.

In his pursuit of revenge, Robin attacks his former teammates and declares war on them.

11. Hal Cooper on Riverdale

Hal was a model father. He was engaged in the community, cared for his family, and was a trophy husband.

Underneath all that presentation of the exterior, Hal was a serial killer, having committed some of the most gruesome murders in the history of Riverdale.

At a certain point, he lets go of the performance and embraces his inner nature fully. And then he came for Betty. If a line had not been drawn by then, it was time. No one touches Betty.

10. Agatha on Wandavision.

Agatha was your typical neighbor in Wanda’s world.

In one of the most challenging times in Wanda’s life, she truly believed that this reality she had been living was one of her makings.

Until Agatha came clean, she had manipulated Wanda’s grief using magic and had created the whole thing.

What was particularly cruel was how she hit where it hurt the most; Vision and the children.

It was Agatha all along!

9. Russel Edington on True Blood.

What did humans do when they realized that vampires lived among them? They accepted them and tried to assimilate them into their community.

All-time, the chorus was, “look at us; we are all so similar. We have more in common than we have in differences.” But deep down, anti-vampire sentiments were held.

Russel was your typical vampire, keeping his head down, not wanting to upset humans until his lover was killed.

He went on primetime live television, ripped the head off a news anchor, and laid out his rule. What followed was a proper blood bath.

8. Father Paul on Midnight Mass.

All Father Paul ever wanted was to serve the people on the island to the best of his abilities. Being human, however, old age and diseases were slowly catching up to him.

When he met an angel, the angel allowed him to feed on his blood, bringing back his youth. He also wanted to heal people, so he fed them his blood, and ones with terminal illnesses started getting better.

However, he got greedy.

He started to feed on his congregants to satisfy his never-ending thirst for human blood. As a result, he transferred his disease to the congregation, thus dooming them to death by sunlight.

7. Dexter Morgan on Dexter and Dexter: New Blood.

Dexter was a monster; no doubt about it. He, however, was a good monster. He cleaned the filthiest filth off the streets of Miami.

He was generally a good guy, even though he got a kick out of it. Model brother, coworker, husband, and dad.

Ten years later, we meet him as Jim.

This was where all his good intentions went out the window. He had never killed an innocent person before, but when he realizes he is about to be caught, he murders an innocent police officer in cold blood.

He lived a hero but died a villain.

6. Kanan Stark on Power and Power Book III: Rasing Kanan.

The story of Kanan from Power was apparent. He was a master manipulator and killer.

Revisiting his earlier life in Queens on Rasing Kanan, he was your typical black teenager trying to survive a hostile environment. But in all that mess, he was still a good boy.

How he turned out to be one of the worst villains in Power’s history is, in large part, not only his mother’s fault but also his own. He came to love that life.

5. Jordan Kent on Superman and Lois.

Granted, it was not the real Jordan, but the resemblance was too strong to ignore. Earth Jordan was a well-natured boy whose biggest problems were making the football team and keeping his girlfriend.

Enter bizarro Jordan, who was a proper bad boy. He beat Clark Kent within an inch of his life.

4. Olivia Foxworth on Flowers in the Attic.

Olivia had lived a very sheltered life. She was a sweet-natured spinster who, after being married and finding herself in a peculiar situation, tried to rise above it.

She treated everyone with compassion and understanding, helping her Black servants, broken stepmother, and Queer child when no one else would touch them with a ten-inch pole.

The biggest mistake she made was falling in love with a man who lacked humanity.

After enduring years and years of physical and sexual abuse from her husband, she turned to a cold monster who weaponized religion and locked her grandchildren in the attic to punish their mother.

3. Bode Locke on Locke and Key.

Bode was your typical kid. Even after losing his dad, he found reasons to smile and be happy.

He was so innocent that he believed that flipping someone off was a visual depiction of telling them, “aloha!”

When he finds a time-traveling key, he messes up, and Dodge takes over his body.

Granted that it wasn’t indeed him, but the body was still his, and everyone believed him to be in there, it took everybody by surprise when he started becoming rude, mean, and careless.

The possession lasted a short while, but we learned that an evil Bode was not someone one would want to cross in that short period.

2. Hope Mikaelson on Legacies.

Hope was the only one of her kind. She was a hybrid of a vampire, wolf, and witch.

With enemies coming for her from all corners, she needed all the powers she could get to defeat them.

To become a true hybrid, she had to turn off her humanity to activate the vampire in her.

And when she did that, she became uncontrollable. She would feed on people without care and give her friends a good ass whooping when they tried to help her.

Ultimately she was able to get her humanity back, but those who came across “humanity off” Hope would tell you they wouldn't want that again.

1. Stiles Stlinsky on Teen Wolf

Stiles was the heart of his friend group. He was the funny guy who made everything seem much better when life was at stake.

During one of the group's many exploits, Stiles "dies" while making a symbolic sacrifice to save his father.

This leaves him exposed and his soul is corrupted by an old Japanese spirit.

He goes after his friends, making their lives a living hell. Lucky for him, he is saved by his friends.

In a season-long arc, viewers missed the old Stiles because void Stiles was a force to be reckoned with.

•••••

And those are our good characters who broke our hearts by flipping to the dark side.

Which ones broke your heart the most when it happened?

TV Shows That Ended Too Soon

Open List

Do you think we left some out?

Let us know in the comments below

The post 13 Characters Who Broke Our Hearts by Embracing the Dark Side appeared first on TV Fanatic.

But Showtime's revival of Dexter has broken ratings records for the premium cabler.

In fact, the Michael C. Hall-fronted Dexter: New Blood stands tall as the most watched series in Showtime history.

Dexter: New Blood Season 1 averaged 8.2 million total viewers across all platforms, helping it soar in the ratings.

The controversial series-ender managed 3 million total viewers on Showtime alone, down just a hair below the original series finale in 2013's 3.3 million.

On streaming and on-demand platforms, the episode amassed 2 million viewers.

Simply put, many people watched Dexter linearly, and also via other means.

If you watch Dexter: New Blood online, you know the finale killed off the titular character, but could the show return in some capacity?

"As you can imagine, that’s not the first time I’ve been asked that," showrunner Clyde Phillips explained to TV Line of a potential new season.

"It's all in Showtime's hands. If they were to call me and say, 'We want to do Harrison. We want you to figure it out.'"

"I'm pretty busy, but I would drop everything I'm doing and jump right into it. I would love to do it, but it's really up to Showtime."

While the revival did indeed wrap up Dexter Morgan's story, it wasn't quite as internet-breaking as was teased countless times.

It is nice to have a more satisfying conclusion, but it's hard to imagine there being much of an interest from fans in watching a series focused on Dexter's son, Harrison.

Then again, we never thought a revival of Dexter would work.

We don't know what the future holds for the franchise, but it's hard to imagine Showtime not trying to bring the franchise back via a spinoff.

Even if half the viewers return, it would still be a major hit.

Alas, all we can do is wait and see what Showtime decides is best.

What are your thoughts on the killer ratings?

Hit the comments below.

The post Dexter: New Blood Becomes Most Watched Series in Showtime History appeared first on TV Fanatic.

The original series finale got everything wrong, and despite some big flaws, Dexter: New Blood Season 1 Episode 10 was a more satisfactory conclusion.

Still, there are questions about whether the show could go on.

If you watch Dexter: New Blood online, you know the finale killed off Michael C. Hall's titular character at the hands of his son Harrison.

Harrison ultimately evaded justice as Angela Bishop showed up to give him money to escape town and start a new life.

There have long been theories that the show could continue without Dexter at the wheel of the story, and all eyes are on a potential second season or sequel series with Harrison.

"As you can imagine, that’s not the first time I’ve been asked that," showrunner Clyde Phillips explained to TV Line of a potential new season.

The good news is that he believes the show is "hugely successful" for Showtime, who will make the final decision on a potential comeback.

He added: "It's all in Showtime's hands. If they were to call me and say, 'We want to do Harrison. We want you to figure it out.'"

"I'm pretty busy, but I would drop everything I'm doing and jump right into it. I would love to do it, but it's really up to Showtime."

The response to the latest finale has been mixed, with many criticizing the decision to kill off Dexter Morgan.

If the show does go on with Harrison, it's possible Hall will be involved as the youngster's dark passenger.

The series famously brought back Jennifer Carpenter following her character's demise on the original series finale.

Showtime will likely be weighing up the future of the franchise, but the streamer recently revealed that New Blood is netting 7 million viewers on average, beating all seasons of the original.

Many fans of the franchise will probably be against continuing without Hall, but the network would probably be happy with numbers significantly lower than the above.

It will all come down to time.

What are your thoughts on the way the series ended?

Would you watch a follow-up?

Hit the comments below.

13 TV Shows That Need To Crossover

Open List

The post Dexter: New Blood Showrunner Teases Potential Season 2 After Shocking Finale appeared first on TV Fanatic.

On Dexter: New Blood Season 1 Episode 10, Dexter's deeds come to light. Harrison realizes what kind of a man his father truly is and makes an unbearably difficult decision.

It wasn't a perfect ending, but it was the ending Dexter deserved.

Let's just start by saying that this is a review in one person's opinion. We don't have to agree on everything, except that we all love Dexter.

As fans, we didn't know what to expect when Dexter: New Blood was announced, but a chance for the show to right the wrongs of Dexter's eight seasons was intriguing, to say the least.

The writer, showrunners, and creatives were very clear — this was a limited series that would provide some much-needed closure on the world of Dexter Morgan.

Dexter: Don’t worry about me. I am the phoenix. I rise from the ashes.

_{🔗 permalink: I am the phoenix.}

Should we be surprised that Dexter met his end, given the information we had? Anything else wouldn't exactly have been closure — it would have just been more Dexter. But this character, as brilliant and charming as Michael C. Hall has been, is not sustainable. 

There was no way everyone would be satisfied with this ending, but Showtime still gave it to us.

We got another ten hours of Michael C. Hall inhabiting this unique serial killer and inviting us into his mind. The last scene of him in the woods with Harrison — that's his Emmy clip right there.

Dexter: New Blood Season 1 has been a more emotional journey than anyone anticipated. It was beautiful to watch Dexter truly understand love at last.

Dexter: We’ll get through this. The world needs us.

_{🔗 permalink: We’ll get through this. The world needs us.}

Dexter: New Blood absolutely redeems Dexter's eighth season. It was engrossing from start to finish. It's hard to say goodbye to characters we love, especially ones so masterfully portrayed as Dexter. 

The "limited" series might have been slightly more satisfying if it had been given twelve episodes as the original run had per season. Who knows what would have been possible given that the shooting happened during COVID times? 

Seeing Dexter stand trial could have been interesting, but that's not really what this show is about, and, as Angela said, it would be a foregone conclusion that he would receive the death penalty, so why drag it out?

It was unfair to dangle the possibility of a Dexter-Batista reunion only to snatch that away. Again, this is where a couple more episodes wouldn't have gone to waste.

At least, the Miami storyline gets some closure this way. Batista and Angela will compare notes — including Molly's podcast — and maybe prove that Dexter was the Bay Harbor Butcher after all. Dexter's story is over, but the horrific legacy of his murders lives on forever. 

The ending with Harrison felt more poetic than realistic. 

It was disappointing that Logan had to die for Harrison to realize the truth about his father. But it was incredible to have someone — especially the person Dexter cares most about in the whole world — call him on being a toxic psychopath who enjoys killing above all else. 

Dexter died how he lived — being a terrible father.

What he did to Harrison on Dexter: New Blood Season 1 Episode 9 was child abuse. Deluded and narcissistic, Dexter believed that his son's violent actions were reason enough to murder and dismember a man in front of him to make Harrison into a serial killer alongside him. 

Harrison: I’m not your fucking caretaker. I’m your goddamn son.

_{🔗 permalink: I’m not your fucking caretaker. I’m your goddamn son.}

Harrison shooting him in the heart was a mercy killing. Dexter was spared the long, drawn-out pain of a trial or really atoning for his crimes. It was also a beautiful bookend that it happened where the white stag was killed on Dexter: New Blood Season 1 Episode 1. 

Nothing Dexter did in this episode was out of character for him. He absolutely would have attacked Angela in the kitchen if Logan hadn't come along. He KILLED LOGAN. Dexter would have killed any innocent that stood in his way of being with Harrison.

This is Dexter with his back up against the wall. He's a BAD PERSON. He's a SERIAL KILLER. We can still love him and recognize that he got what he deserved. This was always how it should have ended. 

Harrison: You don’t really care about saving anyone, do you? You’re just feeding this Dark Passenger. It’s not even a passenger, it’s fucking driving!

_{🔗 permalink: You don’t really care about saving anyone, do you?}

It would have been more appropriate if this had all happened a few seasons ago, with any combination of Deb, Batista, LaGuerta, Quinn, even Masuka, or Lundy doing it, but that ship sailed long ago. 

It's still disappointing that we'll never see any of those characters again. But at least we got Dexter and Deb — Jennifer Carpenter proving once again she's criminally undervalued as an actor — and a little bit of Angel. 

There were a few questionable elements that were tricky to process.

The M99/ketamine debate has been raging all over the internet for weeks, but it was explained by writer/executive producer Scott Reynolds in the Dissecting Dexter podcast (a wonderful resource for Dexter fanatics).

Also, Dexter was running through the woods pretty fast for a man who was shot in the leg, what, two days ago?

And let's not forget the reddest of all herrings, Edward Olsen, the elusive oil billionaire who remained elusive despite being a major antagonist in the first few episodes.

For what it's worth, I may have been the only viewer who hoped for at least a mention of Astor and Cody, Harrison's half-siblings. We can imagine he'll go off and find them next and be truly happy at last — that's why there's fanfiction. 

Julia Jones deserves recognition for her grounded, vulnerable work as Chief Angela Bishop.

Angela had an intensely emotional journey, running the gamut from fear, betrayal, anger, frustration, bargaining, devastation, and catharsis.

Chief Bishop maintained a level-head for the most part despite the rage underneath, but in the end, her need to solve the case of the missing women trumped all else. It was foolish of her to go alone to Kurt's cabin (not yet knowing Kurt's fate), but at that point, she didn't have many other options.

She never let her love for "Jim" get in the way of her following her gut. Through her eyes and Harrison's, we saw Dexter for who he truly was — a sociopathic monster who was an expert at hiding in plain sight.

Harrison's end could have been less hastily concluded.

Dexter: You’re right.

Harrison: I don’t want to be right! I want to be normal.

_{🔗 permalink: I don’t want to be right! I want to be normal!}

As it was, there are loose threads there. It was fittingly tragic that the one final parental figure he had left (Angela) told him to run away and never come back. 

Angela had a lot to process at that moment and, perhaps given a little more time, she could have figured something out that would allow Harrison to stay in Iron Lake.

Harrison had a community to lean on, something he never had before. Why should he have to leave it because his father traumatized him?

But this is a story about serial killers. Harrison is lucky he got something that passes for a happy ending. 

Harrison would certainly be considered a person of interest in his father's death, especially since he skipped town in his father's pick-up truck. Though no one knew it, he was a key witness in Kurt Caldwell's murder, which could have provided proof of Dexter being the Bay Harbor Butcher. 

If Angela had known that, she probably would have done everything in her power to keep him safe. It wouldn't have been out of character for her to take him in.

I would have liked to have seen Harrison feel somewhat upset about the horrors he has been a party to as he drove off to start his new life, however, and wherever that may be. 

He may have been screwed either way, so why not stay and face the music? Maybe the showrunners are planning a Harrison spin-off and want to keep it open-ended, but it feels like it might just be best to let this be the end. 

Dexter [voiceover]: I’ve never really felt love — real love — until now.

_{🔗 permalink: I’ve never really felt love — real love — until now.}

Overall, this was a well-crafted, solid season with an appropriate conclusion to a series and a character that many people hold very close to their hearts.

Though the ending may be divisive, I found it satisfying and poetic, with fewer issues than the final three seasons of the original series.  

The lesson here seems to be that if you get too attached to an anti-hero, be prepared for some heartache. 

Feel free to vent in comments — but please keep it civil!

You can watch Dexter: New Blood online here.

The post Dexter: New Blood Series Finale Review: Sins Of The Father appeared first on TV Fanatic.

Dexter watches as the townsfolk help with the salvage and clean-up of his place, reflecting what good people they are. He realizes that if he wants to teach Harrison the Code, they will need to leave Iron Lake.

Angela approaches Dexter, telling him the fire was arson — the roof was drenched in gasoline. She asks if anyone might have it in for him. Harrison says it was likely the Moose Creek wrestling team. 

Teddy brings over some burned artifacts for Dexter to look through. Dexter finds Harry's old watch. 

Tess, Zach, Logan, and Scott bring some clothing and supplies. Logan presents Harrison with a wrestling team jacket. 

Dexter suggests leaving Iron Lake, perhaps going to Los Angeles. Harrison is hesitant to leave his friends and Audrey. Harrison asks for clarification on Dexter's plans, how he intends to continue. Dexter explains that in a big city, they can research, and when the Dark Passenger rises up, they can use it to enact justice. 

Angela searches through the charred wreckage of Dexter's home and finds something.

Angela watches Dexter, Audrey, and Harrison through the window. Dexter is making pasta for dinner. Angela comes in and asks the kids to go to Gig's for some red pepper and parmesan. They leave. Dexter pours Angela some wine. She appears upset, so he hugs her. She pushes him off and draws her gun, telling him to get on his knees and put his hands on his head. Dexter kneels and slowly starts to reach for a knife when Logan comes in with his gun drawn. Logan cuffs him. Angela tells him he is under arrest for the murder of Matt Caldwell. Logan escorts him out and into the police car.

Angela and Logan book Dexter into the station, taking his prints and mugshot. 

Harrison and Audrey arrive. Logan and Teddy tell them to sit and wait.

In Angela's office, Dexter asks if he needs a lawyer. Angela turns on the camera, telling him it's up to him. She asks him to state his name. He says "Jim Lindsay" first, but at Angela's insistence, says, "Dexter Morgan." She asks him where he was when Matt went missing. Dexter says he was alone at his cabin. Angela shows him the footage of the unidentified person in the woods, but she posits that it was him — a similar build, rifle, and chin-scratching habit. He plays innocent. 

Angela shows Dexter the titanium screws from Matt's femur and the note from her mailbox. Angela informs him that she found one of these screws in the ashes of his home. They have serial numbers that identify them as Matt's. Angela explains her theory — Dexter went for a walk, saw Matt kill the white stag, confronted him, at which point Matt and Dexter fought. Dexter tells her she's jumping to conclusions. She guesses that he burned Matt's body when Harrison showed up. 

Dexter gives her his "theory" — Kurt lied about Matt's whereabouts and then stripped the secret room in the cabin, so it's possible Kurt killed Matt and tried to frame "Jim" to get back at Angela. Dexter suggests that Kurt probably burned down his house so that Angela would find the screw. Dexter tells Angela that she's been under a lot of pressure with the discovery of Iris. Angela blows up at Dexter, and Logan rushes in. He says they need to keep the interview "clean" to stand up in court. 

Angela and Logan confer. Logan says the story sounds plausible enough that Dexter could get away with it. Angela responds that Logan is missing context. He asks her to fill him in. She says she can't without being sure. Angela tells Teddy to bring in Kurt Caldwell. Audrey leaves with Angela. Logan takes Harrison in to see Dexter and gives them some privacy.

Dexter and Harrison hug. Dexter tells Harrison it's about Matt, not Kurt, so Harrison isn't in danger. Dexter says he will get out of it; in the meanwhile, Harrison should go to the tavern, and Tess will look after him. Logan orders Harrison out, cuffs Dexter again, and leads him to his cell.

As they walk together, Angela tells Audrey that "Jim" isn't who he says he is and that he's dangerous. Angela tells her to give Harrison some space. Audrey asks if Harrison is dangerous, too. Angela says no, and that she will explain everything to Audrey in the morning. 

Logan brings Dexter a tuna sandwich to eat. Dexter tries to get under Logan's skin by mentioning the possibility of Harrison growing up without a father, something with which Logan is familiar. Logan goes to check on Harrison. 

Logan has dinner with Harrison. Logan asks Harrison if he saw anything around the time he arrived that might exonerate Dexter. Harrison recalls the white stag but lies and tells Logan he hadn't arrived in town at that point. Logan heads back to the station, telling him to be ready for wrestling in the new year.

Dexter stares at the moon from his cell. Angela stares at the moon from her truck. 

Angela calls Batista and asks him about the Bay Harbor Butcher, saying some suspicious cases suggest something similar. She asks him specifically about Sgt. Doakes, and if Batista believes Doakes did it. Batista responds that he did at the time, but his ex-wife (the former captain) thought it was Dexter. Angela e-mails Batista a picture of her and Dexter. He is shocked to see that Dexter is still alive. Angela asks for the captain's number, but Batista informs Angela that she was murdered. He tells her that he will be in Iron Lake the next day with everything he has. 

Teddy calls Logan, telling him that it looks like Kurt Caldwell left his home in a hurry. Not only that, but his gas truck is and empty. Angela tells Teddy to stay there overnight in case Kurt returns. Angela asks Logan to put Dexter back into her office. He does so, sets up the camera, and leaves the two of them alone.

Angela tells Dexter that he could potentially get away with the Matt Caldwell murder. He stresses he didn't do it, though she insists he did. Angela tells him she will stake everything she has on the fact that he is a murderer. She mentions the ketamine he bought from Dr. Patel and tells him that Miles said Dexter punctured him in the neck with a needle. She shows him Jasper Hodge's autopsy photos, indicating the wheel mark on his neck. Angela informs Dexter that Jasper had ketamine in his system, but there was none in his house or car.

Angela pulls out autopsy reports and photos from the Bay Harbor Butcher victims, showing him the pattern of the wheel marks on the victims. She accuses Dexter of being the Bay Harbor Butcher. Dexter tells her that the Bay Harbor Butcher was Doakes. Angela tells him he will be arraigned tomorrow for Matt Caldwell's murder. Regardless of the outcome, he will have a reunion with Angel Batista, and they will extradite Dexter to Florida — a state with the death penalty — where he will stand trial as the Bay Harbor Butcher.

Dexter tells Angela he'll talk if she turns off the camera. He stares her down, and she turns it off. Dexter tells her about Kurt Caldwell's secret bunker, where she can find proof that Kurt was responsible for the missing women. He tells her about the hatch. Angela quickly leaves the station, telling Logan to put Dexter back in his cell.

Harrison goes to Audrey's to pick up his stuff. Audrey apologizes, saying she thinks it's all her fault because she told her mom what Harrison said at the party. He reassures her. They defy their parents' orders and begin making out.

In his cell, "Deb" tells Dexter that Angela will never let him go. He counters that Deb did, but she says they were family, and she loved him. Dexter calls for some water from Logan. As Logan hands him a water bottle, Dexter grabs him, smashes his face on the cell bars, and gets him in a chokehold. Dexter demands the keys. Logan reaches for his gun and shoots at Dexter blindly. Dexter breaks Logan's neck, killing him. 

Dexter grabs Logan's keys and unlocks the cell door, escaping. He takes Logan's phone and calls Harrison, who is in bed with Audrey. When Harrison tells him this, Dexter tells him to get his stuff and get in his truck, which is already in the driveway, and meet him where the white stag was found. 

Dexter leaves the station and escapes in Logan's vehicle.

Angela arrives at Kurt's cabin on Stern Road. It's deserted. She finds the hatch under the woodpile, as Dexter described. She descends into Kurt's bunker and finds the remains of all the missing women — including Molly — recognizing them all.

Angela calls Logan's radio, but it's Dexter who hears. She tries his cell, but there is no answer. Angela calls Teddy's cell. When he answers, she tells him to get state troopers, CSI, and FBI sent to Kurt's cabin as there are around 30 bodies. Before she hangs up, she asks him if he's heard from Logan recently. Teddy replies that he has not.

Angela rushes back to the station to find Logan's body. 

As the sun rises, Dexter runs through the woods to find Harrison waiting for him. Dexter tells him to grab his stuff, and they will leave the truck. Harrison is concerned and asks about the blood all over Dexter. Dexter says he will explain later, but they need to leave. Harrison recalls that Dexter called from Logan's phone, and pieces it together. Dexter tells him it had to be done. When he realizes his father killed Logan, Harrison questions Dexter's motives. Dexter stresses that it was the only way and that they need to go. 

Dexter insists that Harrison is just like him, but Harrison argues that he is not — he only wanted to be. Harrison explains that his anger is because Dexter abandoned him. Dexter says he is here and begs Harrison to come with him. Dexter insists that he can stop with Harrison's help, but Harrison says it's not his job. Harrison tells Dexter to turn himself in. Dexter says he will get the death penalty. Harrison tells him that maybe he deserves it.

Dexter realizes he is on his own and walks away. Harrison pulls the rifle on him, calling after him, asking if Rita and Deb would still be alive if it weren't for him. Dexter thinks of the innocents who have died because of him — Logan, LaGuerta, Doakes, Lundy, Harry, Rita, and Deb. Dexter realizes that Harrison is right and apologizes, saying he deserves better. 

Dexter tells Harrison to take the safety off. Harrison does so. Dexter points to his heart, telling him this is the only way out, and Harrison agrees. Harrison shoots him in the heart. As Dexter dies, he tells his son, "you did good." He has a final vision of Deb holding his hand as he takes his last breath. 

Angela arrives, telling Harrison to drop the rifle and get on his knees. Harrison obeys, telling Angela that Dexter killed Logan. Angela tells him to get up. Harrison holds out his wrists to be cuffed. Angela gives him all the money she has and tells him to drive past the truck stop and get onto I-86 West and never come back. She hugs him. He asks her to tell Audrey goodbye, but she tells him she cannot because she "hasn't seen him."

Angela wipes the prints from the rifle. Harrison finds the old note Dexter wrote to Hannah. We hear Dexter reading the letter in voiceover as Harrison drives away, out of Iron Lake forever. 

The post Dexter: New Blood Season 1 Episode 10 Recap: Sins Of The Father appeared first on TV Fanatic.