Dexter Morgan is back for Dexter: Resurrection, and the first episode sets the scene and new tone of the show. It takes place in the modern world and in an entirely new city to the Dexter Universe.
Dexter: Resurrection Season 1 Episode 1, “A Beating Heart,” starts with Harrison Morgan (Jack Alcott) working in New York City as a bellhop. Just four hours away, Dexter Morgan (Michael C. Hall) is recovering from his son shooting him in the chest.
The new tone and city are welcome as the show manages to incorporate elements of the original show into the series and shows how integral certain characters from the past are to Dexter’s life.
Dexter is in and out of consciousness and has visitors from his past, each with a message for him. Visitors such as the Trinity Killer (John Lithgow), Harry Morgan (James Remar), Miguel Prado (Jimmy Smits), and, to the audience’s enthusiastic surprise, Sergeant James Doakes (Erik King).
And in reality, an integral person from Dexter’s past, Angel Battista (David Zayas), visits Dexter at the hospital. He lets it be known that there are suspicions that Dexter is the real Bay Harbor Butcher.
The scene switches to Harrison in New York City, saving a young woman, Shauna, from being date-raped by Ryan Foster. If fans were skeptical about the show keeping the same brutality, what follows after the saving put their worries to rest.
When Dexter catches wind of a murder in New York City, his suspicions rise that it’s Harrison who committed the murder when he learns how the body was dismembered — something he has only done and taught his son in the previous show, Dexter: New Blood.
This is what sets up fans for the rest of the season. Dexter is in the modern world, away from the city of Miami fans are used to; with his familiar narration and Harry Morgan (James Remar) as his inner conscience, he decides to head to New York City to help his son cover up his crime.
It’s a refreshing new take on Dexter as a character. Fans are used to Dexter’s internal battle of pretending to be a normal person and acting like he cares about others. It’s sickly endearing that he feels a compulsion to find and help his son.
Being in a new city also means bringing in new characters. There is intrigue in Uma Thurman’s character, Charley, who recruits serial killers for an unknown cause.
Dexter: Resurrection Season 1 Episode 2, “Camera Shy,” begins with an unidentified individual hitching a ride from a car service, but it quickly turns sinister. Apparently, there’s room for more than one serial killer in New York City.
Dexter finally tracks down Harrison, and while he doesn’t lose sight of helping his son, he cannot ignore his Dark Passenger tendencies when he catches wind of a new serial killer on the loose — also nicknamed the Dark Passenger, for killing cab drivers.
It’s a hilarious way of having Dexter see himself in a mirror. He refuses to give his own nickname to this new killer and instead coins him The Imposter.
And while that is brewing, Charley is still tracking down other serial killers. Battista continues his personal investigation of Dexter.
While the NYPD is investigating the death of Ryan Foster, Harrison has to tread lightly. Luckily for him, his maker, his father, is helping him in the shadows.
The first two episodes of Dexter: Resurrection, “A Beating Heart” and “Camera Shy,” are a promising new journey for fans to enjoy with their favorite serial killer.
It pays homage to the original show with familiar cameos, yet it has an entirely new tone that works well with the setting of New York City.
The anticipation continues to grow as each plot gets more complicated, with an interwoven chase of pursuing different killers for their versions of justice and personal gain.
New episodes of Dexter: Resurrection will premiere every Friday on Paramount+ and on Sundays on SHOWTIME at 8/7c.
Related interviews from Tell-Tale TV:
Michael C. Hall Talks Dexter: Resurrection and How Dexter Morgan Will ‘Reclaim Himself’
James Remar on Returning as Harry Morgan for Dexter: Resurrection
Jack Alcott Talks Dexter: Resurrection and Filming Harrison’s Bloody Scenes in the Premiere
David Magidoff on Returning to Dexter: Resurrection as Teddy Reed
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Samantha Barker
Samantha Barker is a writer and fangirl from New Jersey. When she's not rewatching Daredevil or listening to the Beatles, she's cosplaying and attending comic-cons with her friends. Sam also co-hosts a podcast called Fangirl Confessions and writes for her Substack, Samantha, etc. Connect with her on X: @0nyourleftsam and IG: @onyourleftsam.