Dexter: Resurrection

After the explosive (and controversial) conclusion of Dexter: New Blood, our favorite vigilante serial killer finds himself in an unexpected new setting, New York City. Having awoken from his coma after being shot by his son Harrison, Dexter is on the run, but his past is catching up to him in more ways than one. Not only is he trying to track down and then reestablish his relationship with his estranged son, but his old colleague from Miami Metro, Angel Batista, is hot on his trail, now more aware than ever of Dexter’s true identity. The stakes are higher, and Dexter is facing not only external threats but a new, internal struggle—will he be a changed man, or will he give in to his darkest impulses?

This new chapter, Dexter: Resurrection, seems to be all about the past catching up with our favorite killer and exploring the nature of good vs. evil, and whether true redemption is even possible for a man like Dexter. We see him in a vulnerable state, but with the return of some familiar faces and a host of new, intriguing characters, it’s clear the writers are setting up a high-stakes, cat-and-mouse game. This season promises to be a thrilling ride as Dexter navigates a new urban landscape, a familiar ghost in his head, and a whole new set of rules in a world where his secret is no longer as safe as it once was.

Review

Well, here we are again. After the last series left us with an ending that had fans arguing on the internet for years, Showtime (now Paramount+) decided to give us a second helping of our favorite slice-and-dicer. And honestly, it’s a pretty good one! Dexter: Resurrection feels a lot more like the old show, with its dark humor and a faster pace that keeps you on your toes. It’s got a great cast, some solid new characters, and a plot that actually makes sense. Plus, it’s set in New York City, which is a nice change of pace from the snowy, sleepy town of Iron Lake.

The cast, as usual, is what really sells it. Michael C. Hall is, of course, brilliant as Dexter Morgan, and it’s nice to see him in a more classic “cat and mouse” scenario. Jack Alcott returns as Harrison Morgan, and his tortured teen vibe is still in full effect. He’s trying to deal with his own “dark passenger” and the fact that his dad is a serial killer, which, you know, is a lot. The real treat, though, is the new blood. Peter Dinklage as the wealthy, serial killer-obsessed Leon Prater is fantastic, and his scenes with Hall are a highlight. Uma Thurman as his menacing enforcer, Charley, adds a lot of tension to the mix. It’s also great to have David Zayas back as Angel Batista, who now knows the truth and is a much more formidable foe than the bumbling cops of Dexter’s past.

The special effects are a definite step up from the previous series. The snowy, desolate look of New Blood was fine, but the cinematic, high-budget feel of Resurrection is a welcome change. The new setting allows for a richer and more detailed visual palette. The gore effects are, as you’d expect, on point, with Dexter’s signature kill rooms looking as chilling as ever. The sound design also seems more consistent this time around, which is a big relief for those of us who noticed the audio issues in the last series. Overall, it feels like a big-budget movie, which is a great compliment for a TV show.

Rating

4.5 out of 5 stars

Synopsis and Plot Breakdown

The series premiere of Dexter: Resurrection kicks off ten weeks after the events of Dexter: New Blood. Dexter, having been shot by his son Harrison, is in a coma in an upstate New York hospital. He eventually wakes up, but the moment is short-lived as his former Miami Metro colleague, Angel Batista, arrives to question him. Batista has pieced together the truth about Dexter being the Bay Harbor Butcher after a conversation with Angela Bishop (from New Blood). Dexter, always thinking two steps ahead, manages to escape the hospital and goes on the run.

His main goal is to find Harrison, who has disappeared after killing his father and driving off in his truck. Dexter’s search leads him to New York City, where he believes his son is now living. At the same time, Harrison is trying to start a new life in the city, working at a ritzy hotel. He gets caught up in a new, darker world after he kills a wealthy guest to protect another. This puts him on the radar of a new pair of detectives, Claudette Wallace and her partner Melvin Oliva.

The plot thickens with the introduction of Leon Prater, a rich and powerful fan of serial killers. He’s been watching the news of Dexter’s supposed “resurrection” with great interest and has his own twisted plans. He is protected by his enforcer, Charley, who is just as deadly. The series sets up a complex web of cat-and-mouse games, with Dexter trying to find his son, avoid Batista, and deal with the new threat of Prater and his crew. Dexter is also forced to confront a new, somewhat surprising challenge: a more vulnerable, less in-control version of himself, thanks to the physical and emotional toll of his coma. The show ends by suggesting that he might be pulled toward a different path, one where he actually saves people rather than just killing bad ones.

Photos and Trailer

Review Notes

” I am exactly who you want me to be”

Peter Dinklage and Uma Thurman are both amazing in this.

Dex’s conscience seemed to grow episode by episode climaxing with him being genuinely upset about Bautista’s death.

Episode-by-Episode Recaps

Episode 1: “A Beating Heart…” – After being shot by Harrison, Dexter wakes up from a 10-week coma and finds his old friend Angel Batista waiting for him, who now knows the truth about the Bay Harbor Butcher. Dexter manages to escape and begins his search for Harrison, who is in New York City and living out of a hotel. Harrison gives in to his own dark impulses, killing a sexual predator to protect a guest. Meanwhile, a mysterious and wealthy serial killer superfan, Leon Prater, is introduced, along with his menacing enforcer, Charley. The episode ends with Dexter arriving in the city, ready to track down his son.

Episode 2: “Camera Shy” – In New York, Dexter begins to track his son, who is struggling with guilt over his recent kill and the trauma of shooting his father. Dexter cleans up the evidence Harrison left behind at the hotel. At the same time, Batista, now aware of Dexter’s location, is on his way to New York to hunt him down. Dexter is also sidetracked by a new, active serial killer targeting ride-share drivers, who has been dubbed “The Dark Passenger.” Dexter, annoyed by the killer stealing his title, decides to hunt him down.

Episode 3: “Backseat Driver” – Dexter’s hunt for “The Dark Passenger” intensifies, with his new landlord Blessing acting as a valuable source of information. The media gives the killer a new name, “The Imposter,” which doesn’t sit well with Dexter. As he prepares for his first kill since his coma, he is almost caught, showing he’s a little rusty. Meanwhile, Harrison is brought in for questioning by the NYPD detectives but manages to talk his way out of it, proving to have some of his father’s cunning. Dexter successfully takes down his target, only to discover an invitation to a secret society of serial killers.

Episode 4: “Call Me Red” – Posing as “Red,” the man he just killed, Dexter attends a secret dinner party for serial killers hosted by Leon Prater. During the macabre dinner, Dexter discovers that Prater has a museum of artifacts from infamous serial killers, including Dexter’s own blood slide box. He meets a fellow vigilante killer, Lady Vengeance, who targets sexual predators. Dexter is forced to kill one of the other attendees who is about to claim a new victim. The episode ends with a dramatic reunion as Dexter reveals himself to Harrison, stopping his son from turning himself in to the police.

Episode 5: “Murder Horny” – The reunion is a mix of awkwardness and anger as Dexter tries to reconnect with Harrison. Dexter learns that Harrison is nothing like him and is wracked with guilt. Dexter also begins to grow close to Lady Vengeance, only to learn that she isn’t as principled as he thought. In a surprising move, Dexter decides not to kill her, and instead plants the watch Harrison took from his victim at her apartment, effectively framing her and getting the heat off his son. The episode ends with the two of them beginning to repair their relationship.

Episode 6: “Cats and Mouse” – Dexter is now officially in a partnership with Harrison, teaching him the “code” and helping him find a new purpose. Harrison, still hesitant, is swayed by the thought of doing good. Dexter’s new identity is also complicated by the arrival of a familiar face from his past, an old Miami Metro colleague who is now on the case in New York. The tension rises as Batista gets closer, and the NYPD detectives begin to connect the dots between the recent killings and a string of old, unsolved murders in Miami.

Episode 7: “Course Correction” – The hunt for Prater intensifies as Dexter and Harrison devise a plan to infiltrate Prater’s network. They realize Prater isn’t just a fan of killers; he is actively manipulating them for his own twisted games. The episode also gives us more insight into Charley, Prater’s enforcer, and her complex and tragic backstory. The episode ends with Dexter and Harrison getting dangerously close to Prater’s lair, with Batista hot on their trail, and a tense confrontation with the new NYPD detectives.

Episode 8: “The Kill Room Where It Happens” – Dexter and Harrison break into Prater’s museum of murder artifacts, a truly creepy place filled with things from Dexter’s past, and stumble upon a collection of evidence that incriminates Prater. However, Prater’s right-hand woman, Charley, springs the trap and captures them. They’re taken to a familiar-looking kill room, and it looks like it’s the end for the Morgans. The tension is palpable as they’re strapped to a table, and it seems like the game is finally over.

Episode 9: “Touched by an Ángel” – In a shocking twist, Angel Batista arrives and confronts Prater, who he has been working with to trap Dexter, only to realize that Prater is a monster. Batista unties Dexter and Harrison, and they must work together to take down Prater and Charley. The action is fast-paced and brutal, with a lot of close calls. The episode ends with a dramatic showdown where Dexter, with Harrison by his side, finally gets to use his skills to help someone other than himself.

Episode 10: “And Justice For All…” – In a final, climactic confrontation, Dexter, Harrison, and Batista face off against Prater and Charley. The episode is a series of twists and turns, with a shocking death and a moment of genuine emotional connection between Dexter and Batista, who finally understands Dexter’s “code” to a degree. The season finale leaves fans stunned with its unexpected outcome, as Dexter is forced to choose between his old life and a new one with his son. He kills Prater, but instead of fleeing, he chooses to turn himself in for his past crimes. The season ends with Dexter and Harrison sitting together in a police station, with a future that is finally honest, even if it is behind bars.