Dexter: Resurrection Season 1 Episode 8 Review: The Kill Room Where It Happens

Dexter: Resurrection Season 1 Episode 8, “The Kill Room Where It Happens,” wastes no time reminding us that Dexter Morgan isn’t that easy to catch in the act. In fact, this particular episode does a great job of reminding us that he knows when to call off a kill in order to stay one step ahead.

Unfortunately for Batista this means missing out despite doing everything he can to track Dexter’s moves. While his AirPods ended up being a bigger help than I anticipated, at the end of the day they still failed to secure the evidence he needed.

All the while, Dexter is doing his best to connect with Harrison in an atypical fatherly fashion. Stepping up and helping his son by giving advice and offering to talk to Vinny himself is something he couldn’t have managed a even a few years ago.

Al’s Smarter Than He Looks

With Al being the last man standing, so to speak, things were bound to get more interesting between him and Dexter. The problem is, Al’s childlike demeanor is apparently all just an act.

It’s very clear from Eric Stonestreet’s tone when he answers Dexter’s call, at the start of the episode, that he’s doing his best to avoid coming into contact with the only other living killer in the club. While his words indicate that he is going to see a musical that night and then head home, his voice states otherwise. 

That’s what has been so great about this character from the beginning, he’s more subtle than the rest of the flashy crew. He comes off being simple and naive, but the reality is he observes so much more than he lets on.

Ever since Lowell disappeared, Al’s been a worried mess at each of Prater’s meetings. And he’s kept his distance from the latest addition to the club, which we now know indicates he’s had suspicions about Dexter from the start.

While its still not entirely clear if Al actually did go to see Hamilton that night, it is certain that he’s not going to be seeing Dexter ever again. To be fair, him throwing his phone out the window of his moving car might just be because Dexter was super pushy about meeting up with him.

However, I’m inclined to believe he’s started to have suspicions that Dexter is aiming at killing him because of all the deaths in their club and because he was present when Charley uttered her own doubts at the retreat.

Either way, Al is headed back to Wisconsin and his family and Dexter is out of luck on getting the last of the serial killers.

Parent Side Vs. Killer Side

Once again the addition of James Remar as Harry Morgan is a perfect sounding board to keep Dexter in check. He’s definitely pushing the limits of his code with Vinny the terrible landlord, but its not entirely outside the code. 

Having Harry there to remind Dexter that he’s letting his desire to keep Harrison out of trouble and bond with him dictate his code is a nice breath of fresh air. Dexter needs that reminder, and so do we.

In fact, Dexter wanting to be a more present dad after how hard he struggled with it back in the original series with Astor and Cody is nice to see. Sure, Dexter is a serial killer but that doesn’t mean he can’t also be the father he clearly wants to be.

Later on in the episode when Harry and Dexter are talking about how hard it is for him, Harry gives him a simple solution. Just stop killing.

Now that Al is out of the picture that bit of advice might actually be more feasible for Dexter to accomplish. That is, unless Prater discovering Dexter has a son becomes a problem.

All in all, it’s going to be interesting to see if Dexter does put murder on the backburner as he continues to bond with Harrison in meaningful ways. It’s a level of connection that we haven’t seen in Dexter since Deb was alive.

Batista Is Pushing The Envelope

Remember back during the original run of Dexter and LaGuerta didn’t believe that Doakes was the Bay Harbor Butcher? It appears that is also happening to Batista now that he’s letting Dexter consume his every move.

We as the viewers know he is right on the money, but the people around him aren’t able to see it. Therefore, the more he pushes this narrative, the more people start to discredit him.

In fact, Detective Claudette is starting to pull away from his narrative despite having looked in to Miami Metro’s terrible police record. All because when he promises evidence and only produces a clean kill room still covered in plastic it doesn’t look good.

Batista isn’t helping himself here either. He’s automatically assuming they are doubting him without either Claudette or Oliva saying anything and he’s getting erratic and making mistakes.

As a former cop he knows what he can get away with, legally, and yet he tracked Dexter without a warrant and broke into the shop where he found the kill room.

These moves aren’t doing him any favors and neither is misrepresenting himself.

When Detective Claudette calls Miami and talks to Quinn we could just tell that Batista is about to be in hot water. Quinn doesn’t hold back that Batista is retired and that he’s not even sure why his former colleague and friend is in New York.

We have to chuckle, in all honesty, because once again Dexter wins without even knowing he’s won. That’s not to say Harrison is completely off the NYPD’s radar, but hey things are definitely thrown off by Batista’s actions.

Stray Thoughts:

• I’m starting to see the cracks between Dexter and Blessing. With Blessing being a former child soldier his anger will be an interesting match for Dexter to contend with.
• Also, could Blessing be the New York Ripper? It is possible considering what we know and how he’s been acting since his mom died. If another death happens in NY the signs will point closer to him than ever before.
• I’m still not certain what to make of Prater. For a while it seemed as though he’s known all along Dexter isn’t Red, but his conversation with Charley has cast a bit of doubt on that theory. 
• Now that Quinn knows what Batista is up to, is he going to come to New York and do some investigating of his own? I would love to see that, but who knows.

 

---

What did you think of this episode of Dexter: Resurrection? Share your thoughts in the comments below, and don’t forget to leave your own rating!

Critic Rating:

Audience Rating:

 

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

Check out our latest TV recommendations, updated weekly!

Want more from Tell-Tale TV? Subscribe to our newsletter here!