Dexter

Let's Give the Boy a Hand - S1-E4

Factual error: When Dexter and Doakes are looking at the severed foot wearing a soccer cleat, Dexter states, "The foot was severed between the tarsus and the metatarsus." However, the foot was severed proximal to the tarsus, through the tibia and fibula. The cut was easily too high to be between the tarsus and metatarsus. (00:16:45)

Limemime

Return to Sender - S1-E6

Factual error: When Dexter is reading the list of drugs found in the autopsy of the murder victim, one listed is "Cialopram." This is a misspelling of the antidepressant Citalopram; misspellings do not occur on drugs lists in toxicology reports, as they are computer-generated. (00:37:10)

eldeem

Shrink Wrap - S1-E8

Factual error: In the police report Dexter examines, Emmett Meridian's name is followed by PhD, and yet he is referred to as a psychiatrist and prescribes medication. A psychiatrist would have an MD after his name, and a psychologist (PhD) cannot legally prescribe meds.

mentalmovies

Upvote valid corrections to help move entries into the corrections section.

Suggested correction: It is possible for someone to be both a medical practitioner and have a PhD.

Someone with both a Doctor of Medicine and a Doctor of Philosophy would have both MD and PhD after their name. Not having an MD after your name means you can't prescribe medicine.

Bishop73

Yes, but in that case, both MD and PhD are listed after their name. Why would the report eliminate the MD, which is the more prestigious of the two degrees and certainly would have been noted during the investigation?

mentalmovies

Shrink Wrap - S1-E8

Factual error: Dr. Meridian's victims are suicidal following withdrawal of an antidepressant, begging for more, and Dexter refers to the doctor getting his patients addicted to antidepressants. This reflects a disappointing and fundamental misunderstanding of the science of antidepressants. Even those that have "discontinuation syndromes" do not produce mood swings this wild. It is possible (though unlikely) that a random individual would have this reaction to discontinuation of an antidepressant, but Dr. Meridian would need to be in control of his victims' descent, to be sure they would become suicidal so that he could suggest the use of a gun and be sure their suicides would be successful. There are no mainstream antidepressants that would produce this effect upon withdrawal.

mentalmovies

Father Knows Best - S1-E9

Factual error: When Dexter is in the hospital as a child, the doctor says that Dexter has a very rare blood type, AB negative. Although it's very rare, the people with AB- can receive donor blood with A-, B-, AB- and 0-. AB- is a very good blood-type when you need to receive blood. While it is true that hospitals normally have to use AB- because of the complexity of other proteins (and to prevent adverse reactions), in case of an emergency, like Dexter's, and a shortage, a hospital will use a blood type close enough to not likely cause a reaction. In this situation, the hospital would give Dexter O-, B-, or A- instead as blood loss would normally kill a patient long before a suitable donor could be located, called in, admitted to the hospital, and have the transfusion set up. (00:31:00 - 00:32:00)

Davor

I Had a Dream - S3-E11

Factual error: When Maria is looking at Miguel's file, we see his Florida Driver's License. The expires date is wrong. FL driver's licenses expire on the person's birthday, not on the day the license was issued.

Bishop73

If I Had a Hammer - S4-E6

Factual error: In the newspaper article from the Trinity killers past - the report states that someone called 911 and dispatch gave them instructions. The death occurred in 1959. The first 911 call was made in 1968. (00:39:24)

Teenage Wasteland - S5-E9

Factual error: When Dexter is punching Olivia's father in his left side, he says "That's your liver." Only the liver is on the right side. For a serial killer who routinely dismembers bodies, Dexter should know which side the liver is on. (00:42:50)

djm

Are You...? - S7-E1

Factual error: During the walk-through of the crime scene, there is a small remnant of plastic sheeting between Travis' toes. Given the entire church was consumed by flames, or more importantly, the body and foot from which the plastic is pulled are badly burnt, it's highly improbable that the plastic sheeting would still be present. At least not in the form that is shown, but rather more like a globe of melted plastic on or into the body or table. Similarly, the feet wouldn't be 'wet' or glossy with blood. (00:15:22)

Argentina - S7-E8

Factual error: When Dexter and Hannah are making breakfast, there's a calendar on the fridge from 1996. It shows January 1st as falling on a Thursday. Jan 1, 1996 was a Monday.

Bishop73

Helter Skelter - S7-E9

Factual error: In The Beginning while Dexter is on his boat in Miami, you suddenly see mountains in the background, of which there are none in Miami. Also the palms are too high, indicating they are from California. And the worst setting mistake is the Florida tags in front of the cars. Only commercial vehicles have front tags.

More mistakes in Dexter

Chemistry - S7-E7

Isaak Sirko: You didn't kill Victor out of vengeance. I have a feeling you're a different kind of animal. The question is...what kind are you, Dexter Morgan?
Dexter: The kind who hunted your friend down and strapped him to a board and put a plastic bag on his head and crushed his skull with a fire extinguisher. The kind who's gonna do the same thing to you, give or take the fire extinguisher.

More quotes from Dexter
More trivia for Dexter

Show generally

Question: Since Harry knew about Dexter's homicidal tendencies, why would he train Dexter on how to kill people who got away with their crimes instead of taking him to a psychologist?

Answer: Two reasons. First, as a cop he knows that there are lots of murderers walking around free due to flaws in the system so he uses Dexter's "urges" to right the wrongs in the system by taking out people who have no right to walk around free. Secondly, by taking him to a psychologist he runs the risk of having him committed and he doesn't want that for obvious reasons, so he figures it is best to channel his urges to what he considers a greater good.

The_Iceman

In addition to the earlier answer, in the last season (8th) of the show, we are introduced to Dr. Vogel, whom Harry had been discussing the situation with Dexter as well, and it is shown on-camera that Harry describes what Dexter has done (killing)... So, technically he did consult a psychologist/psychiatrist, just not having Dexter and her actually meet. But Dr. Vogel was aware of whom it was and how to intercede.

More questions & answers from Dexter

Join the mailing list

Separate from membership, this is to get updates about mistakes in recent releases. Addresses are not passed on to any third party, and are used solely for direct communication from this site. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Check out the mistake & trivia books, on Kindle and in paperback.