I had my reservations when Dexter: Resurrection was announced. The lumberjack ending from the original show was one of the worst series finales of all time, and arguably the finale of Dexter: New Blood was even more disappointing, so my expectations for the new show were quite low. However, after binge-watching all ten episodes, I am a fan once again.
Dexter Morgan has Risen
Michael C Hall is back as Dexter, but the story is not about whether he can keep his Dark Passenger a secret. It is about what his survival means for his legacy and his son. Rather than dodging the past, Resurrection embraces it. The writers lean into the weight of what Dexter has already done, and instead of erasing his mistakes, they use them to deepen the stakes of the present.
Hall’s performance honours both the character’s history and its current state. Dexter is no longer the detached killer of the early seasons of the show in Miami; he is older, ridden with guilt, yet still cunning. Hall’s ability to make Dexter both monstrous and sympathetic remains unparalleled.
Harrison’s Role
In New Blood, Harrison’s character arc was uneven and poorly developed, but Resurrection gives him more complexity and agency. Harrison is not a carbon copy of Dexter, nor is he just a foil. He is his own character with his own moral conflicts.
The father-son dynamic carries genuine emotional weight, and the show resists the temptation to make it one-dimensional. Harrison does not blindly idolize Dexter, nor does he simply reject him. Their relationship is messy, full of mistrust and yearning, and it gives the story something it was missing in New Blood. Watching Harrison grapple with his father’s legacy, and what it means for his own future, provides emotional stakes that feel both authentic and compelling.
A Fresh Setting With New Energy
Relocating the story to New York City was a good decision. The density and relentless pace of the city allow Dexter to have anonymity, and yet he is both the hunter and the hunted as he navigates a new environment that could expose him at every turn. The city also allows for ambitious cinematography, creating an unsettling mood with interiors bathed in green and gold lighting, which all amplify the sense of danger.
New Characters
Leon Prater (Peter Dinklage) is a fascinating antagonist. He collects serial killer memorabilia and hosts events to celebrate them, yet he himself is not a killer. I thought Gemini (David Dastmalchian) and Rapunzel (Eric Stonestreet) were unsettling in a good way for opposite reasons. Both Gemini twins have that murderous demeanour, but Rapunzel looks and acts like a nice guy, not showing a dark personality, even when killing, making him all the more disturbing.
A Revival Worth Watching
It was quite a risk to continue Dexter’s story, especially after a failed prequel and sequel series. Resurrection is a chance to give Dexter a proper ending. This show is not perfect, but I think it captures some of the magic that was peak Dexter, and I would definitely rewatch Resurrection any day.
