People love Dexter because, while he’s a serial killer, he is also an antihero. The original series fell off in the later seasons, and the revival mini-series made things worse. But with Dexter being resurrected, maybe the third time’s the charm.
The rise and fall of the original Dexter series
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In 2006, Showtime aired Dexter, where the titular character (played by Michael C. Hall) works for the Miami Metro Police Department as a blood spatter analyst by day. But when nighttime comes around, he is a serial killer the media later dubs “The Bay Harbor Butcher.” Dexter is no ordinary serial killer, though, since he hunts others of his kind using a personal code to judge his victims.
Each season (except season two) usually introduced a primary antagonist in the form of a serial killer that Dexter needed to hunt to satisfy his urge. Don’t get me wrong: Dexter is a very bad person, sometimes the worst. But he was written in a likable way that you couldn’t help but root for him, even against people trying to catch him.
Seasons 1-4 were peak Dexter, as they masterfully explored Dexter’s psyche—particularly, his serial killer side he personally calls “The Dark Passenger.” It was the perfect blend of dark humor, suspense, moral complexity, and character development. And, along the way, innocents died and lives were destroyed, all for Dexter to keep his secret and continue satisfying his urge.
Season 5 is when things start becoming unfocused and convoluted, and the less we talk about a certain romantic twist, the better. By the time season eight, the final one, came around, Dexter was unlikable, and the show lost its brilliance. The final nail in the coffin came when Dexter didn’t face any world-shattering consequences for his actions.
Dexter: New Blood made things worse
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In New Blood, Dexter works at a local outfitter and sporting goods store in Iron Lake, a fictional small town in upstate New York. He now goes by the name Jim Lindsay to distance himself from the past and has successfully kept his urges in check for years. However, they come rushing back when he finds someone he really needs to kill, and with the appearance of someone from his past, leading to Dexter killing again.
Soon, this leads to Dexter needing to kill more, catching the attention of the local police chief, Angela Bishop (Julia Jones), whom he is also dating. As usual, there is also some big, bad serial killer actively working in the area who only Dexter can find and stop.
New Blood started in a captivating manner, with its new and engaging storylines. However, the narrow scope, slow pace, and darker tone were too much of a stark contrast to the original. Furthermore, the rushed ending resolved very little when it came to the original’s lingering plot threads, leaving the conclusion feeling unconvincing and unsatisfying.
Dexter: Resurrection is the true revival
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Dexter: Resurrection picks up right where New Blood left off, with Dexter now working for a fictional rideshare company called UCar in New York City. He does this to earn money, but, more importantly, there is a serial killer called “The Dark Passenger” who is murdering UCar drivers in a gruesome way—Dexter can’t have that. In pursuit of The Dark Passenger, he comes across a gathering of serial killers that is hosted annually, and this is like a buffet being handed right into his hands.
The premise of this serial killer gathering sounds silly, but watching it is a whole different thing. What made the original great is back, but with different social dynamics, as Dexter openly interacts with like-minded individuals. This is a bold direction, but one that is compelling, and it perfectly repositions Dexter as the antihero vigilante we’ve come to know and somewhat love.
A very important character from the original show makes a major appearance, evoking deep emotions while enhancing nostalgia. They are pursuing Dexter and are so sure he is the Bay Harbor Butcher responsible for so much pain back in Miami. The show is trying to tell us that Dexter is not free from the consequences of his past actions and could get his comeuppance, which intensifies the tension.
It’s clear that Dexter: Resurrection is The Dark Passenger’s return that fans, including me, have been hoping for. When you consider its record-high streaming numbers and the positive critical and fan reception, it will most likely be around for a few more seasons. I hope it doesn’t fall off again.
It would be strange to end this article without acknowledging the existence of the prequel series: Dexter: Original Sin. It tells the story of how Dexter transitioned from being a medical student to a vigilante serial killer with a code.
I don’t care much about prequels and find them pointless in the grand scheme of things. Although word of mouth was good, Showtime canceled it after one season. I plan to watch it at some point, considering the revival has resurrected my love for Dexter.
