Dexter: Resurrection Season Premiere Review: The Dark Passenger Strikes

Dexter Morgan is back, and this time he has his hands full. On Dexter: Resurrection Season 1 Episodes 1 & 2, “A Beating Heart… / Camera Shy,” Dexter gets to shed his Jim Lindsay persona once and for all to become Dexter Morgan once again.

It’s all thanks to Detective Angel Batista reversing his death classification. While it is very clear that Batista only did this so he could better track Dexter’s movements, it’s still fun to see our favorite serial killer embrace his true self once more.

While Dexter: Resurrection Season 1 Episode 1, “A Beating Heart…” focuses mostly on Dexter’s coma dreams, there is some depth added with the Harrison bits. Which sets things up nicely to dive deeper during Dexter: Resurrection Season 1 Episode 2, “Camera Shy.”

Dexter’s Ghosts Come Back To Haunt Him

There is a high probability that the only reason we get to spend the first half of the first episode with Dexter’s ghosts is for fan service, and I’m not complaining.

In fact, seeing John Lithgow’s The Trinity Killer giving Dexter advice to give up Harrison because you can’t have both is intriguing, considering the man was famous for leading a double life. Paired with a brief appearance by Miguel with similar advice, these two guest appearances have us hooked from the start.

As the story flows between Harrison in New York City and Dexter on the cusp of waking up from his coma, we feel like we’re being given a glimpse into just how similar the two men actually are.

During Dexter: New Blood, Harrison came off as very quiet, reserved, and eager to learn from his father. Now, Harrison has unleashed his own “dark passenger,” which he is struggling to put back inside the box.

That shift in persona helps viewers to see why Dexter is terrified to interfere in Harrison’s life. At this point, as far as Dexter knows, Harrison is another one of his ghosts, deserving of something better than to be saddled down with his father’s infamous legacy.

However, the most shocking return isn’t James Remar as Harry Morgan, who takes the place of Deb as Dexter’s moral compass; it’s actually Doakes. This is a character who never believed Dexter’s whole innocent act, so for him to encourage Dexter to embrace his goodness is a shock to the system.

Harrison’s Troubles Are Only Beginning

While any fan of the franchise is likely to condone what Harrison does to Ryan, it still should be said that Harrison has well and truly screwed himself over. Sure, Dexter taught him the code and the proper body killing and disposal method but he didn’t account for Harrison utilizing the techniques right under the noses of one of the strongest, smartest police forces in the United States: the NYPD.

The NYPD detective on the case might be able to easily see things that others fail to notice, but that doesn’t get her any closer to tracking down Harrison. At least not yet. However, she is very close to at least figuring out the possible motive for Ryan’s death.

It’s going to be fascinating to see if Dexter’s experience in forensics is going to allow him to stay a step ahead of this detective in order to protect his son. So far, the answer is a sort of yes. 

Dexter manages to see the blood spatter on the ceiling of the kitchen and cleans it up before the detectives can find it. However, this detective is extremely perceptive and hot on the trail, so it’s likely that it won’t take her much longer to discover where Harrison chopped up the body.

One of the long-running elements of the Dexter franchise is that Dexter always manages to weasel out of being discovered in the nick of time. Is that luck going to prove just as fruitful for Harrison? Or will he buckle under the pressure of his guilt?

Either way, when these two reunite face-to-face, the fallout is going to be compelling. As of right now, we are likely to get an emotional outburst from Harrison.

But, will that anger toward Dexter soften over time? So far, it’s hard to say.

Either way, having Harry Morgan throughout these two episodes as a sounding board is a gentle reminder of the evolution of Dexter. In fact, Harry even comments during Dexter: Resurrection Season 1 Episode 2, “Camera Shy,” that Dexter isn’t the same anymore now that he risks it all to save people as opposed to killing them.

This realization is going to help Dexter help Harrison pull back from the ledge he seems to have found himself on. Dexter needs to embrace his positive role as a father to Harrison if he ever hopes to successfully help Harrison out of this predicament.

Harry is already proving that Dexter will get there eventually.

Serial Killer With Dexter’s Moniker?

Despite being the 4th iteration in the Dexter franchise, Dexter: Resurrection is already proving that there is still so much more to explore with this character.

Even down to repurposing the name Dexter has given his killing urges, The Dark Passenger. It’s almost comical how put out Dexter gets when he finds out that the people of NYC have dubbed their latest serial killer The Dark Passenger because he sticks to the shadows and kills ride-share drivers. 

It’s always been something that Dexter has kept to himself, under the surface. So I can only imagine the level of discomfort he feels hearing others saying the moniker out loud in reference to something similar but different.

Dexter might be a bit softer around the edges since his days in Miami, but he’s still determined to take care of potential threats to others’ safety. Becoming a ride-share driver in order to better track the elusive killer isn’t the path we saw coming, but it’s going to be fascinating just the same.

Our beloved anti-hero is pretty good at being social in specific situations. But, as a ride-share driver, one has to be charming in a non-threatening, comfortable way if you hope to stay in the business.

Blessing is a nice foil to Dexter’s naturally stand-offish nature. In fact, it’s a dynamic that is so strong from the word go that I can foresee them becoming close and Blessing being Dexter’s cover when things get dicey.

Even more fascinating than the killer using Dexter’s “The Dark Passenger” name is that his description fits Dexter very closely. Is that a generalization made because the witness is a Black man and the killer is white, OR is the killer being a similar likeness to Dexter intentional to convolute the waters even further?

All in all, these two episodes give us a very strong start to what will either be a strong, but risky shift in tone, or will fall apart the further we explore this new setting.

Stray Thoughts:

• Not entirely sure what Uma Thurman’s character’s purpose is, but I’m intrigued
• It appears that there might be a countrywide network of serial killers, but I’m not sure how that is going to come into play on the bigger picture stage.
• Teddy Reed continues to be the most cheeky, oblivious cop on the planet
• I really hope the young woman who has befriended Harrison won’t get caught in the middle of his mess. She has a young boy to worry about and protect.
• The success of this show is going to hinge on how quickly Dexter and Harrison’s stories converge. Otherwise, there will be too many storylines going on simultaneously, and the show will fall off the rails.
• The soundtrack is phenomenal. So many good bops. I am excited to see what other songs the rest of the season will bring.

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Dexter: Resurrection streams Fridays on Paramount+ Premium and airs Sundays at 8/7c on Showtime.

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