‘Dexter’ series finale debate: Is Hannah McKay really Dexter Morgan’s great love?

As we get closer to the “Dexter” series finale on Sunday, we’re taking a look back at everything that has transpired on the show to this point. We’ll have a new list every day, so be sure to keep checking back.

Following our rankings of the best adversaries for Dexter Morgan over the course of the series’ run, we’re back today to talk about something a little different: Who were some of our killer’s great loves? All of the people at one point had some sort of romantic interest in him, regardless of if he felt the same way back. This list is based solely on our own preference based on story and chemistry, so if you agree or disagree, be sure to share below!

7. Maria LaGuerta (Lauren Velez) – If you think back to the very beginning of the show, there were moments where Dexter’s boss actually flirted with him a little bit. We think that this was just an example of the show trying to find itself, since this crush disappeared quickly and was never spoken of again after the first few episodes.

6. Cassie Jollenston (Bethany Joy Lenz) – She could have been someone nice for Dexter, had he been actually interested … and had Oliver not decided to kill her shortly after she first appeared this season.

5. Debra Morgan (Jennifer Carpenter) – Easily, this “Deb loves her brother” story was the most controversial plot point ever brought up from a romantic standpoint, given that some loved it, but most seemed offended by it despite not having a problem with watching a show about a serial killer. This never fully went away, at least in the sense that it is still referenced.

4. Hannah McKay (Yvonne Strahovski) – While this is the woman that Dexter will probably end up with (if he ends up with anyone), we’ve never really bought into the chemistry here. It’s not that we think that Strahovski and Michael C. Hall didn’t do their best, but it felt at times like the show was forcing the issue and turning Dexter into someone that he’s not.

3. Rita Bennett (Julie Benz) – The original love interest, and one that some fans still remember fondly more than any other. The problem here is that while we think Dexter loved her to a degree, she was more of an ideal of what his life could be if he was normal. Clearly, it’s not, and that is what caused Rita to be the most shocking death in the show’s history.

2. Lila West (Jaime Murray) – Chemistry-wise, these two were off the charts, and Dexter could to an extent be himself around her. The problem? She was more combustible than him, and her operating without a code led to him needing to do away with her back in season 2.

1. Lumen Pierce (Julia Stiles) – Will this be a controversial choice for first place? Sure, but we will contend that there was more chemistry and a more heartbreaking, intense love story between Lumen and Dexter than any other. There was an understanding there, and what we may never understand is why producers of the show choose to forget that Lumen ever existed, or why she remains a loose end out there who knows everything about who Dexter is.

Click here if you want to read some other “Dexter” coverage leading to the series finale.

Photo: Showtime