Dexter: Resurrection Season 1 Episode 6 Review: Cats and Mouse

What’s Dexter without a few close calls? Dexter: Resurrection Season 1 Episode 6, “Cats and Mouse,” reminds us that despite how meticulous and regimented Dexter Morgan is he can still miss up from time to time.

As fans of the franchise remember, Dexter’s had his fair share of missteps over the years, some of which have brought him that much closer to being caught. However, this episode in particular shows that he can charm his way out of a paper bag if the situation calls for it.

The further we get into this season, the more we see just how different Harrison is from his father — despite having some similarities. We also get to see just how resourceful Prater’s influences are.

Dexter Puts On a Face

One of the most compelling things about Dexter is his ability to blend in with everyday people despite his sociopathic tendencies. That ability is on full display for a good chunk of this episode due in part to Blessing’s mother passing away.

Dexter is forced into the spotlight to give a eulogy of sorts to his landlord’s mother when she dies suddenly. It’s an interesting character study of how Dexter performs under pressure and on command. 

It would’ve been even more interesting if the camera had panned, even briefly, to Harrison as his father was speaking to see his reaction. If anyone currently knows Dexter’s true nature it would be his son.

As it is, we only see Blessing’s family’s reactions to Dexter’s short, albeit, sweet anecdote about Prudence. Even when he lacks emotional depth Dexter can read a room well enough to provide the exact sort of words needed.

Whether he believes them or not.

This persona, or mask if you will, has to continue throughout the episode because this sort of grief doesn’t just go away when the funeral is over. In fact, there is a sticky situation toward the end when Dexter has just killed Gemini/Gareth only for Blessing to come knocking, looking for a friend.

It’s a complex moment that on the surface feels and seems straightforward. However, Dexter’s underlying anxiety about being discovered gives this scene something more.

As far as Blessing can tell, thankfully he’s grieving so he’s not the most observant, Dexter is sharing in his sorrow over the loss of his mother. But, what he doesn’t realize is that Dexter is playing him in the hopes he will leave the apartment as soon as possible.

However, it all begs to question, how much of it is for show. We’ve seen Dexter show genuine feelings over the course of the franchise, especially with Rita. 

So, who’s to say he wasn’t truly being empathetic, to the degree he can, to Blessing’s feelings of loss? After all, Dexter loved his mother and talks occasionally how losing her was hard.

Either way, this friendship is an interesting study into just how complex Dexter can be despite his urges.

Harrison’s Goose Is Still Cooked

In my review of Dexter: Resurrection Season 1 Episode 5, “Murder Horny,” I mentioned how I appreciated the writers not making Harrison like Dexter. That assessment continues with this episode. 

We might see Harrison have a vision of stabbing Elsa’s landlord in the eye, but the important distinction to make is that it’s just that — a vision. Harrison has a trigger in his brain that stops him from being an impulsive killer.

This added context doesn’t keep with the thought that Ryan Foster was a one and done kind of situation. However, it hangs tight to the assertion that Harrison isn’t like his father. 

He might have the urge to hurt people when he gets extremely angry, but that doesn’t make him a serial killer in the making. In fact, I would say, as Dexter did, that makes him human. 

How many of us wouldn’t want to see harm come to unreasonable people in our lives, like a landlord refusing to do his job? 

That said, with Batista prattling off in Detective Claudette and Oliva’s ears, Harrison needs to be cautious. He’s not completely off the hook for Ryan just yet. 

Mia being found dead in her jail cell isn’t going to stop the NYPD and Batista from investigating Dexter and Harrison further. After all, Batista makes a solid case to Claudette about his suspicions. 

Dexter might’ve bought them more time with planting Ryan’s watch at Mia’s place, but he failed to make the dots connect more solidly before he moved on.

Prater Is Onto Something

With all the deaths happening within Prater’s circle of merry murderers, I have no doubt the man knows more than he’s letting on. I honestly wouldn’t be surprised if he’s known all along that Dexter isn’t Red and is in fact the Bay Harbor Butcher. 

There is just something about his facial expressions when he’s on the phone with “Red” while sitting outside the man’s apartment. He knows Dexter isn’t being entirely honest. 

My only question is, what does Prater have planned?

Despite Gemini showing up to the helicopter at the end — indicating a lack of a problem to Charley and Rapunzel, at least — Prater looks around suspiciously. It’s as if he can sense something isn’t quite right.

Also, can we pause briefly to salute David Dastmalchian as Gareth/Gemini? The man is sinister in that very subtle sort of way.

Now back to what I was saying. I haven’t trusted Prater since the moment he came on the scene during Dexter: Resurrection Season 1 Episode 4, “Call Me Red.” His whole schtick of wanting to collect serial killer memorabilia is strange enough, never mind his whole murder club setup.

The way he is always looking at each of these killers with a watchful eye is suspicious enough. Add in the fact that he is willing to trust these people despite knowing each of them could find a reason to kill him if they wanted to.

Which brings me back to my assumption that he knows Dexter is the Bay Harbor Butcher. What if Prater has a fascination with these killers to the point he wants them all dead.

Enter Dexter, stage left. 

His whole purpose in doing this could be to get Dexter to one of his dinners and see if the man’s notorious code will become impossible to ignore. Which is exactly what is happening.

At the end of the day, this is all just a theory, but the lack of total panic from Prater has me convinced this was his ultimate plan all along. 

Stray Thoughts:

• Why didn’t I assume the Gemini Killer was actually the Gemini Killers? Probably because the moniker could fit for the killing in pairs bit but also for if the killers were a pair as well.
• Gareth’s comment, “Fincher’s making a Gemini movie. They’re talking to one of the Culkins to play me,” had me rolling from the cultural significance it holds.
• I need Harrison and Elsa to get together. They’re sweet and it’s clear Dante cares for Harrison a lot. Reminds me of Dexter and Rita.
• It would’ve been too easy for Mia to survive long enough to be presented with a picture of Dexter, though it would’ve been interesting to see if she would have given him up.
• Prudence’s cats can go away. I’ve always found porcelain figurines to border on creepy, but most of those cats, especially the one Dexter takes were a big no from me.
• Dexter teaching Harrison how to tie a tie is so fatherly and normal. It was a heartwarming moment to remind us that underneath it all, Dexter just wants to be a good father.

 

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

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