Dexter Resurrection Review: The Comeback We Deserved

Rating: 10/10 ⭐️🩸

I'll be honest – when I heard about Dexter Resurrection, I was caught between excitement and pure dread. As a longtime fan of the series, I'd been burned before. New Blood didn't quite hit the mark for me, and the decision to kill off Dexter felt like a betrayal of everything that made the character compelling in the first place. I guess the writers and showrunners finally understood what we've been saying all along: we want Dexter to be Dexter and do the thing he does best.

Thankfully, Resurrection gets this right from the very beginning. The show smartly picks up right after Harrison shoots Dexter in New Blood, but this time our favorite serial killer survives. What follows is exactly what the series needed, Dexter gets a new playground to operate in and a veritable platter of serial killers to satisfy his dark urges. The setup is brilliant: Harrison is working as a bellboy in New York and ends up killing and disposing of a sexual predator just as his father taught him. When Dexter learns about this, he heads to New York to reconnect with his son and help him navigate his situation. It's here that Dexter discovers a serial killer targeting taxi drivers who goes by the moniker "Dark Passenger" and Dexter doesn't like that one bit. So naturally, he becomes a taxi driver himself to hunt down this serial killer and get him on his table.

That first kill of the season is absolutely satisfying, both for Dexter and for us as viewers who've been starving for this. But the real genius of this season comes when Dexter finds an invitation to dinner with "like-minded individuals" among his victim's belongings. Assuming the dead killer's identity, Dexter infiltrates what turns out to be a secret society of serial killers, essentially a buffet for Dexter to indulge in. It's the perfect setup that allows the show to explore new territory while staying true to its core premise.

The performances this season are absolutely stellar, starting with the incredible roster of guest stars playing the various serial killers. Krysten Ritter brings a chilling intensity as Lady Vengeance, while Neil Patrick Harris is genuinely unsettling as The Tattoo Collector – a far cry from his comedic roles. Eric Stonestreet transforms completely as Rapunzel, and David Dastmalchian delivers another memorable villain as The Gemini Killer. Hosting this gallery of monsters is Peter Dinklage as Leon Prater, a billionaire who runs this secret society and maintains a disturbing trophy collection celebrating infamous serial killers throughout history.

What makes this season truly special is watching Michael C. Hall slip back into the role with such obvious joy and comfort. You can tell he's having a blast playing Dexter again, particularly because of the show's return to its darker, more playful tone. His awkward interactions with normal people as he tries to blend in are an absolute delight to watch, reminding us why we fell in love with this character in the first place. The return of James Remar as Harry Morgan, Dexter's internal voice and conscience, adds another layer of nostalgia that feels earned rather than forced. It was also wonderful to see familiar faces like Joey Quinn and Masuka, whose ridiculous laugh is still as perfectly silly as ever. Even Angel Batista's subplot works well this time, his conviction that Dexter is the Bay Harbor Butcher and his relentless pursuit creates genuine tension without feeling repetitive.

What impressed me most about Resurrection is how confidently it sticks the landing. After the disappointing endings of both the original series and New Blood, I was genuinely worried about how they would wrap things up this time. But they absolutely nailed it. Dexter manages to connect with Harrison and form a real bond with his son, systematically takes care of the serial killer society, and even gets his hands on files detailing other serial killers for future hunts. The final scene is pure perfection: Dexter sailing off into the night, looking directly at the camera and telling us, "This is who I am, what I am. I'm Dexter Morgan. I'm exactly who I need to be, exactly who you want me to be." That direct acknowledgment of us, combined with his knowing smile, is everything this character and this series needed.

The ending leaves the door open for another season while still feeling complete and satisfying on its own terms. If this truly is the final chapter of Dexter's story, I'm more than content with where it leaves Dexter. For the first time since the early seasons, Dexter Resurrection understands what makes this character work and delivers an experience that honors both the legacy of the series and the intelligence of its fanbase. It's a masterclass in how to resurrect a beloved character without diminishing what made them special in the first place. This is the Dexter we've been waiting for, and it's absolutely perfect.