This is a non-spoiler advance review for the first four episodes of Dexter: Resurrection, which premieres July 11, 2025 with two episodes on Paramount+.
Following a pair of Dexter spin-offs that did a great job of smoothing over the dumb, jagged edges of a much-maligned series finale without retconning anything or conveniently forgetting the Showtime drama's many weaknesses, Dexter: Resurrection finds a reson to keep the shenanigans going. This fun, pulpy continuation of the deathless serial-killer series pairs well with last year's surprisingly good prequel Dexter: Original, owning everything good and bad that's happened in the saga of murderer-of-murderers Dexter Morgan (Michael C. Hall) – and that's a lovely miracle in its own way. As Cobra Kai did for The Karate Kid III and the third Star Wars prequel did for the second, these new Dexter seasons acknowledge the bumps in the road while also using them to lay a path forward for the Bay Harbor Butcher and those who pursue him.
It helps that original showrunner Clyde Phillips has been back on board for New Blood, Original Sin, and now Resurrection. It's a big reason why they match the tone and tenor of the original series' early seasons. Resurrection is as its title suggests: Dexter could have died at the end of New Blood, but the door was left open. So what happens now that Dexter's alive and without a secret identity? Angel Batista – sorry, that's Captain Angel Batista, played once more by David Zayas – has legally brought Dexter back and with that... has he also brought back the beast that is the Bay Harbor Butcher?
The first episode of Resurrection takes its time to sort out the many reasons for continuing. At face value, it's Dexter (the character), recovering from a near-fatal wound, wondering if he deserves to live. In a winking way, however, it's Dexter (the show) asking out loud "Why more?" And, crazy enough, there's a halfway decent answer. Springboarding from Original Sin's and its flashback to Harry's relationship with Dexter's mom, Laura, Resurrection gives Dexter a new sense of purpose: He'll guide and provide cover for his homicidal son Harrison (Jack Alcott) as Harry did for Dexter, the father making sure his kid doesn't wind up on death row due to clumsy error. Naturally, Dexter and Harrison have a different relationship following New Blood, so Dexter decides to work in stealth mode, secretly checking over Harrison's work – while also possibly, after 40 years, developing a true sense of empathy. Took him long enough.
The distractions and the obstacles inevitably come when Dexter once more feels the sinister urge to get back into the Butcher business. And so running in the background of Resurrection is a really silly (but also not totally out of bounds) story about a super wealthy dude who loves to "collect" serial killers as regular dinner guests. Dexter sabotaging himself (as Dexter does) leads him into this wicked web of sublime guest stars – like Peter Dinklage, Uma Thurman, Krysten Ritter, Neil Patrick Harris, Eric Stonestreet, and David Dastmalchian – and an exciting move to New York City. This new, bustling hunting ground may be one of the most overused settings in movies and TV, but it helps juice up Dexter's story nonetheless.
Dinklage's character, charity gala maven Leon Prater, also provides an in-house reason to reflect on the legacy of Dexter. Within this specific world of killers both real and fictional, the Butcher is a legend – and viewed (and revered) differently because his victims are fellow killers. And while Resurrection ruminates about its protagonist's life as a vigilante of sorts, it also continues to pull from Dexter history by making Batista, quite possibly, the first "gonna catch Dexter!" antagonist we'll actually root for. He was close to Dexter, and now he needs a lot of answers regarding the loss of his friends and loved ones. He seeks justice for characters we actually knew and cared about. When Batista arrives on the scene in these four episodes, it evokes a sense of relief more than it does an "Oh nooo!" reaction. For that, there's another savant-style investigator played by Kadia Saraf. This allows Batista, in a nice, full-circle way, to become the unexpected hero of Resurrection.
New Blood threw out the option of killing Dexter, which was something fans and critics seemed to want and need (but never got) back in season 8. Resurrection, after four episodes, seems to be leaning toward stark revelation. Not death in a remote snowy woods somewhere but Dexter Morgan (possibly) being outed for his crimes and (maybe) even paying for them in meaningful ways. This is another way Resurrection nicely locks arms with Original Sin, where we saw Dexter and Batista (and the late María LaGuerta) become co-workers and friends for the first time.
Aside from Julia Jones' Angela, everything from New Blood is intact here, with Alcott remaining a vital (and good) part of the story. Harrison could have easily been an exhausting, bitter character, but the writing and Alcott's performance kept the damage to a minimum, side-stepping most TV-teen clichés. In Resurrection we get a Harrison who's learned the "code," but now doesn't have the benefit of a guardian angel guiding him. Everything makes sense here, motivation-wise and plot-wise, so Resurrection already has several legs up on seasons 5 through 8.
I'll say this though: Dexter's gonna Dexter. You're gonna get the same trite inner monologue where people don't know they're talking to a killer and Dexter gets to be coy and corny with his thoughts. You're going to get characters wanting to be Dexter's best friend after having, basically, a one-sided conversation with him for a minute. Sometimes things will just fall into place in ridiculously serendipitous fashion. These are still the hallmarks, and Resurrection embraces them – it's not desperate to court new viewers or old fans who jumped ship during the bad years. This Dexter for people who are okay with what Dexter still is.
That being that, it does find a compelling way back in. It's a thrilling follow up to New Blood that also lands better now with Original Sin filling all the gaps. We're long past due a full and official wrap up, and with a second season of Original Sin on the way, it's hard to imagine Dexter's tale ending here. But this early stretch of Resurrection certainly have all the perfect ingredients for a final bow.
