“Dexter: Resurrection” has become immensely popular amongst both critics and fans with an RT score of 95% and a coveted fan score of 90% to go along with it. The series was Showtime’s most streamed premiere and although the series hasn’t gotten an of final renewal, Variety did report that Paramount was opening a writers room for a season 2. Coupled with the fact that the franchise turned around and cancelled “Dexter: Original Sin” after previously renewing it for season 2 (total d*ck move) seems to indicate that the franchise is putting its eggs in the ‘Resurrection’ basket. The finale was so highly anticipated that someone ended up leaking aversion in Russian onto the internet, but the English language version aired as scheduled.
The guests featured throughout the season really complimented Dexter’s cold style and showed just how crafty the real Dark Passenger truly is. The fresh locations in NYC have offered us a sharp contrast from the franchises longtime locale of Miami or even the cold, small town feel of “Dexter: New Blood” in upstate New York. Warning, beyond this point there are spoilers for “And Justice For All…”, the season 1 finale of “Dexter: Resurrection” on Showtime.
The fresh locations in NYC have offered us a sharp contrast from the franchises longtime locale of Miami or even the cold, small town feel of “Dexter: New Blood” in upstate New York.”
The finale pick up right at the shocking moment where the penultimate episode left off. Sociopathic billionaire Prater (Peter Dinklage) murdered Day 1 franchise character, Angel Batista (David Zayas) and locks Dexter (Michael C. Hall) in a vault decorated with serial killer artifacts. Dexter realizes he is in mortal danger, while Prater gameplans with his reluctant security chief Charley (Uma Thurman). Prater’s plan to leave Dexter in the vault isn’t the most elegant, but it does make sense that the socialite wouldn’t want to involve other people in storming the vault to kill Dexter. Dexter’s increasing panic accentuates the gravity of the situation, even if dying of dehydration isn’t the most visually expressive story element. Dexter gets a stroke of luck when Quinn (Desmond Harrington) calls Batista’s phone. It’s a little wild that Charley wouldn’t have taken Batista’s phone away, but she has obviously been distracted from her job lately. Without the phone, Dexter is a goner, but as luck would have it… Dexter calls his son Harrison (Jack Alcott), endangering him once again in order to save his own skin. As luck would have it, Harrison had already gotten a job offer to work at Prater’s gala. These back to back coincidences don’t help the story flow, but overall the episode is still very enjoyable and keeps you guessing as to what will happen next.
Dexter gets to work on figuring out Prater’s code by going through all of the billionaires secret files. Harry points out that this is unlikely, but Dexter hopes he gets lucky as he only gets one shot at the combination. Harrison proves how well he adapts socially as he works his way to his father. When Harrison has to pick a lock, Dexter minds him to do it like he showed him in “Iron Lake”, where the ‘New Blood’ spin-off took place. The universe has been good about showcasing the connections to other series and hopefully they will continue to do so in the future. Harrison almost gets to his dad before Charley sniffs him out and catches him. By this time, Dexter has found Charley’s file (Charley Brown lol) and uses that incriminating information to try to extort Charley into opening the vault to free him. Charley is furious at her bosses and quits on the pot. She then counteroffers Dexter that she’ll let Harrison live and she is going to disappear, while Dexter needs to just die. Charley leaves while Harrison tries to help his dad open the code. After a last minute switch up, Dexter gives Harrison the code… as Angel’s cell phone dies. Luckily, Harrison did hear the last number and he frees Dexter.
This moment here shows Dexter’s more selfish side as he wastes precious time to take Prater’s files on other series like killers, instead of getting Harrison to safety and escaping himself. To his credit, Dexter does ultimately push Harrison to leave after he realizes he lost his thumbprint that will allow him private access in and out of Prater’s mansion. Dexter ultimately finds the thumbprint (on Angel’s corpse) and sets off on his journey, but the delay costs him. Harrison is spotted by Prater and captured at gunpoint. The billionaire uses this to lure Dexter back up to his penthouse. Prater reveals that after committing his first murder, he is exhilarated. His character here becomes even less redeemable. Dexter plays it cool as always and signals to Harrison to use the hypodermic syringe of “protection” that Dexter gave him earlier in the season. It’s funny that Harrison has a random hypodermic in his pocket, but we are going to move on.
Dexter’s kill table convo with Prater is one of the best in franchise history. Dexter is taunting and witty, losing his mask of social niceties completely. Prater predictably tries to manipulate Dexter with his money, which gets him nowhere. Imagine Dexter as a millionaire? He’d be bored to death. Dexter recaps his journey this season to Prater and it really is some of the actors best work as the character. Dinklage also meets the moment playing Prater, with his cowardice and self-preservation on full display as he pleads for his life. Dexter acknowledges that Harrison could have generational wealth, but opts for justice. Seeing this honest of a version of Dexter is intense and we wonder if more of his kill table conversations will be as raw as this. Dexter ultimately kills Prater with a classic stab to the chest after faking the billionaire out when he didn’t take blood form him for Dexter’s blood slide box. This is another subtle but masterful story stroke. The writing may be convenient and fantastical for Dexter, but it’s nothing if not entertaining. The future looks bright for Dexter and Harrison, who have each other and an honest relationship. Dexter gets rid of Prater’s body along the Hudson River in a callback to the original series, which ended up giving Dexter his serial killer moniker, the “Bay Harbor Butcher”.
A possible season 2 could go a lot of places. The series could stay in NYC as it seems Detective Claudette Wallace (Kaia Sarah) has some unfinished business with Dexter and her family. It’s also worth throwing that the ‘previously on’ before the finale shows Wallace mentioning to her partner, Detective Oliva (Dominic Fumusa), that one of his sleeves is longer than the other. This is pointed out again at Prater’s gala. This is a strange detail to focus on and may end up meaning something in the future. Is Oliva the true New York Ripper? Is the file Dexter found about the prolific killer a mistake or did Don Framt have partners? The dance sequence before the alarm goes off is one of he most surreal moments of the show, but Wallace had some moves!
There is easily enough arterial for another season in NYC, although with Dexter’s files about killers all over the world, the sky is the limit and the show could go to a new country every episode. There have been some alleged leaks on Reddit that state the show will not be announced until the winter, they will shoot in the spring which means the show would likely come out late summer or in the fall but Paramount+ and Showtime are choosing to keep things quiet for now. Showrunner Clyde Phillips has said. that the plan for the show was always three seasons, but the TV landscape is so unpredictable right now, there’s no telling what might happen. We final believe there will be more Dexter in the future, but there’s also a chance we have an extended wait.
What do you think? Where will Dexter land next? Who is the New York Ripper? Will Harrison end up killing again? WIll NYC get too hot for the father/son killer team? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
