| "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" | |
|---|---|
| Dexter episode | |
| Episode no. | Season 3 Episode 3 |
| Directed by | John Dahl |
| Written by | Scott Buck |
| Cinematography by | Romeo Tirone |
| Editing by | Matthew V. Colonna |
| Original release date | October 12, 2008 |
| Running time | 49 minutes |
| Guest appearances | |
| |
"The Lion Sleeps Tonight" is the third episode of the third season of the American crime drama television series Dexter. It is the 27th overall episode of the series and was written by co-executive producer Scott Buck, and was directed by John Dahl. It originally aired on Showtime on October 12, 2008.
Set in Miami, the series centers on Dexter Morgan, a forensic technician specializing in bloodstain pattern analysis for the fictional Miami Metro Police Department, who leads a secret parallel life as a vigilante serial killer, hunting down murderers who have not been adequately punished by the justice system due to corruption or legal technicalities. In the episode, Dexter and Miguel try to deviate attention from Freebo's whereabouts, while Dexter considers his role as a father.
According to Nielsen Media Research, the episode was seen by an estimated 1.07 million household viewers and gained a 0.5 ratings share among adults aged 18–49. The episode received extremely positive reviews from critics, who praised Hall's performance. For the episode, Michael C. Hall received a nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series at the 61st Primetime Emmy Awards.